Pistons looking to halt two-game skid on Western road swing

After starting their 10-day, five-game Western road swing with victories over the Portland Trail Blazers and Sacramento Kings, the Detroit Pistons find themselves mired in a two-game skid after dropping back-to-back games to the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Clippers. 

Losing consecutive games is not uncommon in the hyper-competitive NBA; however, it is only the second such streak of the season for the 24-8 Pistons. And while there is no reason for the Eastern Conference leaders to panic, these two losses highlighted problem areas they have dealt with repeatedly this season.

The Pistons have struggled in close games

The Pistons have won 24 of their 32 games (.750) but are only 4-4 (.500) in games decided by three points or less. This suggests that they are less likely to win close games. The 10-19 Utah Jazz took advantage of that caveat, eking out a hard-fought two-point win (131-129). Close losses may not be a big deal for the Pistons now, but come playoff time, when games often go down to the wire and are routinely decided by a single possession, this obscure statistic could rear its ugly head. 

The Pistons’ three-point shooting has been erratic

According to teamrankings.com, the Pistons rank 24th of 30 NBA teams in three-point field goal percentage (34.7%). Cade Cunningham, their leading scorer, hits threes at a 33.1% clip, and Duncan Robinson, their most prolific shooter from beyond the arc (222 attempts), is at 38.7%. In their recent loss to the Clippers, the Pistons made zero three-pointers in the first half and finished seven of 29 (.241). Cunningham finished three of seven (.429), but Robinson was one of six (.167). 

The Pistons are prone to fouls

The Pistons play a physical, aggressive brand of defense that results in deflections, steals, fast break points, and very often, fouls. The Pistons lead the NBA in personal fouls per game (23.1), and per Basketball-reference.com, their opponents are attempting more free throws (29.3) and making more (23.7) than those of any other team.

In the two losses this week, the Jazz and Clippers both attempted and sank more free throws than the Pistons. The Jazz hit 25 of 26 in their two-point win.

The Pistons are 2-2 on this trip. The “getaway game” finale is Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena against the 20-10 Los Angeles Lakers.  A Pistons win would mark only the second time since 2007-08 that a Western road trip of four or more games has resulted in a record of .500 or better. It will be tough, but this Pistons team, which has been achieving the improbable all season, will attempt it once again.