The Detroit Pistons need to remember what put them on Santa’s nice list if they want to turn early momentum into a 2018 playoff appearance.
Stan Van Gundy and the Detroit Pistons have taken their fans on a roller coaster ride this season. In fairness, the highs have outshined the lows on this wild ride.
The team has played scrappy, smart basketball on the road. They’ve won games against formidable teams away from Little Caesars Arena. Earlier this season the team made themselves at home when playing Western Conference opponents. They are 7-5 against teams in the West.
Detroit’s defensive mindset helps to keep them in games. This season the team is winning close games. The Pistons’ focus, scoring and improved free throw percentage have helped them post more W’s in the win column.
Fans thought the team had imploded after losing seven consecutive games and plummeting to seventh in the Eastern Conference. Since that brief skid, the Pistons have rebounded. They hold the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference and are six games behind the Boston Celtics.
After the skid, fans and experts proclaimed the Pistons were doomed to mediocrity.
But the Detroit refused to throw in the towel and came back swinging. Despite losing Avery Bradley while he recovers from injury, they’ve won four out of their last five and seem to be trending in the right direction.
Now they’ll be without Reggie Jackson for 6-8 weeks, but if they can stay afloat during that time, they may be able to continue to build on the momentum they’ve found during December once he returns.
Playing to their strengths landed the Detroit Pistons on Santa’s nice list for the first quarter of the season. Here are the three trends they need to focus on if they want their momentum to lead to a playoff berth later this season.