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I was misleading in the title. When we think about the Pistons; Wizards; and Spurs, there is no good to talk about. It's all bad and ugly inside those three 'chises. With the ugly getting worse and worse as we end November. The basement of the league is cold and damp with mold starting to form around the barriers and inside the foundation.
It's a complete sh**-show in Detroit right now. Pistons have lost 15 straight games and are now the laughing stock of the league. Here is a visual example on how bad teams are doing the Pistons right now:
video via Sports Fan//X
Sorry Ausar, name of the game. I am shocked by this start for the Pistons considering the young talent they have. The 15-game losing streak marks the 2nd longest skid in Pistons' franchise history behind the dreadful 1980 team that dropped 21 games in a row. Pistons have had some close losses, but frankly for the most part they have been slaughtered, posting the second worst point differential (-9.2) in the league. They do some good things on offense at times; block well; and rebound very well, but none of that matters with how they perform in all other departments... important departments.
Detroit lacks execution; lacks basketball IQ; and lacks defensive techniques and discipline. Pistons lead the league in team personal fouls per game (23.7) and their opponents are takin' advantage as teams have the 2nd most free-throw attempts against the Pistons as well as the 2nd best free-throw percentage. Pistons like to turn the rock over too, ranking 2nd in total-team turnovers per game (16.4). Which is CRAZY considering they have the best turnover per game differential in the league (+4.6). Their 16.8% turnover percentage this season is one of the worst the NBA has seen since "The Process" Philadelphia 76ers in 2015 (18.3%). Cade Cunningham leads the league in turnovers per game right now, which has been killer as the Pistons find themselves on the poor end of several big scoring runs in the meat of games. Cunningham has been a bright spot don't get it twisted, even the turnover numbers don't fully speak the right justice. The bottom line is he still has to get better. Cunningham has to find better execution; keep better control of the ball; and make better decisions movin' the rock around. The guys around him need to help and get better at awareness and basketball IQ. Both things that land on head coach Monty Williams to teach and improve. Williams is failing at that.
Monty Williams is the second-highest paid coach in the NBA behind Gregg Popovich (ironic), gettin' paid $13Ms ($78M/6YR) to start the year 2-16. He's been pathetic- yeah, I said it. Pistons aren't stuggling due to lack of skill, they are stuggling due to lack of coaching. Poor execution; understanding/awareness; and effort are all things that land on lack of coaching. Monty Williams on the state of his team:
Hmm, no sh** Monty. That would be your fault, good sir. Instead of expressin' that to the media, express that to the team in the dialogue of PROPER coaching. Hiring Williams to the 2nd-largest coaching contract to take over a rebuild after he was fired for choking in the playoffs time and time again is comedy. It was a bad decision to give that lucrative a contract, one they will suffer from financially. Troy Weaver has helped destroy what Larry Brown and Rick Carlisle rebuilt. To compile the longest playoff drought in the league, to hold the longest playoff losing streak in professional sports, to turn a once proud franchise into the laughing stock of the NBA- is just nasty work.
I don't sugar-cone "laughing stock". Pistons haven't been to the playoffs since 2019, their 82-234 record in the time since is the worst mark in the NBA by a significant margin; no other team has failed to win 100 games in the last four-plus seasons. Pistons' .259 winning percentage is the worst of ANY franchise in the Big-4 since 2019, and again, it isn't all that close; no other team has a winning percentage below .300 in that time. The NFL's worst is the Carolina Panthers (.303), the NHL's worst is the San Jose Sharks (.349) and the MLB's worst is the Kansas City Royals (.395). Pistons have played 11 more games than the NFL's Panthers, and only have one more win than they do on their season, ha. Just embarrassing stuff right now for a franchise that used to be the best around... of any sport.
If the Pistons wish to turn the gear and win some games, then they must shoot better; execute better; and reduce the turnovers & personal fouls. Pistons are towards the bottom of the league as a team shooting from the field and from deep. They also have the 4th lowest points per game mark in the league. All the talent in the world. Cunningham has had good moments, no one can call that cap. Jalen Duren as well. High level rebounder Duren has been, but he has rode the slopes of late after having a great stretch of basketball in October. First and foremost, they need to win a damn game and end the streak. They are nearing that dreaded 21, waters they don't want to be in. Step up Monty Williams.
Wizards are wandless losin' 10 out of their last 11 games and are 2-14 against the Eastern Conference. They should be grateful they played the Pistons on their 9-game losing streak; or they'd be on a double digit skid right now. Wizards have been awful on the defensive end of the court and in the rebounding department. They have allowed a league high 124.8 points per game & are dead last in the league in team rebounds per game. Not only do they have the least amount of total rebounds per, they have given up the most rebounds per. They have been abysmal on the boards, which has devalued their solid shooting clip from the field.
The record and all-around play doesn't show it, but the Wizards actually rank 7th in team field-goal percentage on the season & 8th in points per game. The defense has been THAT bad. They have given up 130+ points eight times this season including a 146-piece from Philly; 143-piece from Indy; and a 142-piece by the hands of Milwaukee. Can't expect a scoring duo of Jordan Poole and Kyle Kuzma to keep up with that, especially with how lackluster the two have been shootin' the rock. Poole being the worst of the two. Now that he is game-planned as the number one scorer in DC, he is showing his true value and potential on the grandest level. Which isn't very valuable. This is the kind of stuff you will get from Jordan Poole:
video via Underdog NBA//X
Poole is shootin' an atrocious 39.7% from the field and only has one 30-point game on the campaign to go with his -26 plus/minus. Poole is a poor 34-114 from deep (29.8%) and hasn't shot better than 50% from the field in any of his past 8 games. Frankly, he's been a negative anchor for this team. Kuzma hasn't been all that better.
Compared to Poole, I guess Kuzma isn't awful-awful, but all in all he hasn't been very good either. Kuzma is shootin' 47.0% from the field and has gone 42-117 (35.9%) from beyond the arc. His points per game is the highest of his career, but he lacks efficiency. The play on the defensive end doesn't help. I will say, at least Kuzma finds accountability in the team's poor defense:
Poor efficiency is something we have seen from Kuzma since becoming a team's 1-2 scoring option. The more the ball is in his hands, the less the efficiency. Which is the same exact issue with Poole. When you put that together, you get one of the worst 1-2 punches in the NBA. On the season, Poole and Kuzma have combined for a -32.1 net rating; 43 turnovers due to bad passes; and 31 shot attempts which led to opponent blocks. If the Wizards want any chances of winnin' games then this duo has to be better, but can they be better?
I personally have seen enough on these two to know they can't be a playoff team's number one or two scoring options. DC will remain in the bottom of the Eastern Conference with that duo. However, if the team can give better production on the boards and clamp up better on defense, then maybe they can win 15-20 games this season. That's their ceiling, sorry to cut it to you, Wizards' fans.
I have plenty to say to Gregg Popovich. You know Gregg, the highest paid coach in the league who coaches a 3-14 swifter that currently rides a 12-game losing streak? Yes, that Gregg. What an awful display thus far by the Spurs as they are just one more loss away from tying their second longest skid of all-time. Spurs set their longest losing streak ever last season with 16 Ls in a row & now are back to the same level of nastiness. GM Brian Wright has plenty of blame, but when are people going to start buzzin' at Popovich? You ask me, Tim Duncan made this cat... and that speaks loudly nowadays.
Spurs haven't made the playoffs since 2018-19 despite having some solid talent. Last year the roster was rough and only went 22-60 on the season that included the nasty 16-game losing streak. It looks like San Antonio is on their way to their 5th consecutive losing season with this campaign having the potential to be worse than last season. Spurs' offense has been below average and the defense has been rough outside of Wembanyama. They have the worst points differential in the league (-12.9) & rank 24th in points per game. The defense ranks 27th in opponent points per game; givin' up the third most in the league (123.4). Rebounding and defensive blocks are the only two departments that the Spurs are thriving in and that's because of the rookie, Victor Wembanyama.
Wemby has had some flashes early on, ranking 3rd in the league in blocks per game (2.6) and 7th in total dunks like this authority dropped hammer:
video via Bally Sports San Antonio//X
Wembanyama has posted a block in 12 of the 13 November games for San Antonio including an 8 block masterpiece versus the Grizzlies that tied legends David Robinson and Tim Duncan for the 6th most in a game by a Spurs player. Those things have been good, no doubt, but Wemby has been lackluster on the boards and can't shoot at a high clip. He has no business launchin' 91 threes... he's only made 25 of them shootin' 27.5% from deep. That's the story of Wembanyama and the story of the Spurs' season: when there is good, there is always some bad to follow.
Like the Wizards, San Antonio has been cranked by the conference they reside in posting a 3-10 record against the West. The home record is just as bad at 1-8. You go to a Spurs home game and witness losin' and sh** like this:
video via Bleacher Report
That is by far one of the more disgusting and embarrassing acts I have ever seen in professional sports. I am still appalled, the gull he has. I think Popovich should receive a life ban or have his championship stripped from him for pulling that crap. DoNt bOo hIM... for pete sake! They should do nothing but boo for 2 hours straight because of your crappy coaching. That's what they should do. Spurs actually extended this cat, to pay him $16Ms a year to lose. The two highest-paid coaches are a combined 5-30... pure comedy. Popovich has been washed since July 11, 2016. It's going to be a tough season Spurs fans.
All three squads are stinkin' the bed and adding to their L columns. The only reason all three aren't on double-digit losing skids is because of the Wiz' and Pistons playing each other. It's tough to say the Pistons or Spurs will end their streaks soon. At this rate, the Pistons could easily top their 21. It's sad to see three teams be so bad at the same time. Not good for the comp depth across the NBA, that's forsho. Hopefully the squads can get this nasty mojo off their backs and find ways to win some ball-games. They need some good to go with all this bad & ugly, cha heard.
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Opinion. Fact. Or Straight Up Cap.
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