Winning Streak Snapped, Playoff Positioning, and Big Sean | The Weekly Drive
The Pistons saw their eight-game winning streak come to an end, but they sit comfortably in the playoff picture.
Hey everyone, it’s time for the first Palace of Pistons Weekly Drive in the month of March. Whether it’s your first time here or you’re a loyal reader, thanks for tapping in. The Pistons saw their winning streak end, but it doesn’t change the fact that they are firmly in position for a playoff spot - not just a Play-In lottery ticket. Let’s get into it.
Game Recaps
Game 58: Los Angeles (Clippers) 97, Detroit 106
Rapid Detail: This was Detroit’s seventh win in a row, the first time the organization had reached that number since 2014-2015, nearly a full decade ago. The Pistons pulled away in the third quarter, outscoring the Clippers by eight points, and secured their best 58-game start since…2007-2008 when George W. Bush was still president.
Crazy? An understatement.
Game 59: Boston 97, Detroit 17
Rapid Detail: You like seven? How about eight? The Pistons mauled the reigning champion Boston Celtics in the second half after being tied 55-all, using the physicality that they’ve shown all season. Detroit out-rebounded Boston 49-33, a big reason for the big win.
Game 60: Denver 134, Detroit 119
Rapid Detail: All good things must come to end, and thats exactly what happened here. The Pistons were due for a bad game after the winning streak, and Denver’s Nikola Jokic logged a triple-double in the process. The Pistons’ starters were outscored by the Nuggets’ 113-54. That won’t get it done against one of the better teams in the league.
Game 61: Brooklyn 94, Detroit 15
Rapid Detail: The Pistons did what good teams do, and that is take care of business against bad teams. The Nets were outplayed the entire game, never led for even a second, and trailed by 17 after the first quarter. Former Piston Killian Hayes, the starter for the Nets that night, was booed loudly by the fans at Little Caesars Arena.
News and Notes
Malik Beasley has been a revelation for the Pistons, and he has embraced not only the organization but the city in general. As he put on X, he’s always loved Detroit.
Remember Malachi Flynn? The one who had a stunning 50-point game for the Pistons last season? Yeah, that one. He reportedly signed a 10-day contract with the Charlotte Hornets.
The Memphis Grizzlies signed former Motor City Cruise forward Lamar Stevens to a 10-day contract, and recently a second one.
Shortly after last weeks Weekly Drive posted, the Pistons announced they will be having Big Sean night on March 25th against the San Antonio Spurs.
As of the time of this writing, the Pistons sit comfortably in sixth-place in the Eastern Conference, a full five games over the Miami Heat. More interestingly, Detroit are just one game out of the four seed - trailing the Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers. Those are tough customers, but this is a different Pistons team than any of the last decade-plus.
See you next week.
Mike
Want more Pistons content? Check out the latest Palace of Pistons Podcast: