The Detroit Pistons continue to struggle as they suffered their 26th straight loss on Saturday night, matching the 2010-11 Cleveland Cavaliers and the 2013-14 Philadelphia 76ers for the longest single-season losing stretches in NBA history. The Pistons fell 126-115 to the Brooklyn Nets, positioning them to break the record when the two teams face each other again on Tuesday.
The 76ers currently hold the league’s all-time mark for the longest losing streak between the end of the 2014-15 season and the start of the 2015-16 season, losing 28 straight games. The Pistons could match that number on Dec. 28 against the Boston Celtics and break it on Dec. 30 against the Houston Rockets if they continue their losing streak.
The Pistons, with a record of 2-27, last won a game on Oct. 28, giving them a winning record of 2-1 at the time. In order to get back above .500, the Pistons would need to win at least 40 of their remaining 53 games, a win rate topped only by the Celtics and Minnesota Timberwolves this season.
The team needs to make moves sooner rather than later, according to owner Tom Gores, in order to turn things around. They are relying too much on youth and their bench has been disastrous. Adding quality veterans to the team may help guide the young players and improve the team’s chances of ending their losing streak.
Unfortunately, the Pistons’ performance has landed them on the wrong side of history, and they can break the record by losing to the Nets on Tuesday. The team’s struggles have been attributed to turnovers, bad defense, and surrendering second-chance points, which need to be addressed in order to change their fortunes.