After starting the season 3-19 can the pistons still make a playoff spot?

[Bobcats2013]

Only 5 games out of the 8th seed. Can big Stan get these pistons to the post season?

[Legends66NBA7]

8th seed, First round exit is a logical choice.

[Rake2204]

I think the likelihood of a run may be easier to decipher following next week's schedule. If they get through San Antonio, Dallas, and Atlanta without being humiliated by each - or at least steal a game - then we may have a better sense of what we're working with.

Some quick, possibly inaccurate math:

Last year's eighth seed in the East finished with 38 wins. To get to 38, the Pistons would have to go 29-21 the rest of the way. Not impossible, but too early to tell based off four games of post-Smith freedom.

[boozehound]

its not impossible, but I think its unlikely. I do think that most of the positive improvement since waiving Smoove is both tangible and sustainable.

But, while they have been crushing teams since the trade, the level of competition has been pretty poor. Granted, these were the same teams who were beating them before, but its not like they went 4-0 against secure playoff teams.

The hole they dug to start the season is probably too big to overcome.


It is amazing that waiving one player has sparked an entire team transformation. There was clearly something beyond "developing young guys" that went in to that. The body language of everyone has shifted significantly. I think they may even have a better shot to keep Monroe now.

[JellyBean]

It is possible. But they would have to go on a serious run. With 50 games left and it is the Eastern Conference we are talking about' where 35 wins get you in, the Pistons would need to go at least 27-23 the rest of the season in order to make the playoffs. Of course they would need for other teams (Miami, Indiana, Boston, and Orlando) to play badly. But anything is possible when it comes to sports. Remember the 2011 St. Louis Cardinals(MLB) team? They were 10.5 games out of a playoff spot with 31 games left in the season. Their bullpen was crap. They lost one of their best pitchers. Long story short, they were written off. If you are a baseball fan, you know the story. So anything is possible when it comes to sports.