DETROIT — Pistons fans have shown their toughness.
If it were my team, I wouldn't have been heading to the pitch at night**My team could have lost 25 games in a row. Detroit fans did, though. There is a butt on almost every seat. With Christmas so close to me, I wouldn't be paying for tickets, $50 for parking, gas, food, and anything else that would be needed for an in-person ball game these days. This money can be used to buy gifts, a hearty dinner. However, Pistons fans believe it's more important to do their part and not let history be made.
When Detroit plays against a team that has seven turnovers in the first quarter and doesn't have a handful of starters or rotations. As the game progressed, the voices of the Pistons fans grew louder. But the Pistons are starting to crumble again and lose, just like they've been doing this season.
This team has good reason to accept defeat. And this team is in the quagmire of a 25-game losing streak, just a few games away from being on the wrong side of history, and the stadium is packed with people who have every reason not to go there, to collapse, fold and lie down.
It's very hard to understand," Pistons head coach Monty Williams said.
Fans love this basketball team. Back in the 2000s, Detroit's old arena, Auburn Hills Palace Stadium, led the NBA in attendance year after year. If you have a good record, people will come. They don't want to leave.
These fans support this team more than you might think – believe it or not, the 2-27 Detroit team hasn't won a game in 56 days, and their overall attendance ranks 15th in the NBA. They appear proudly, smiling and optimistic. Jersey. Hoodie. Hat. Whatever they can get their hands on with the Pistons logo, they'll wear it. At this point, they should show up with a brown paper bag on their heads – just like the Lions lost 0-16 in 2008. It's too bad because it doesn't feel like it's going to get better anytime soon.
Everyone is to blame for this. Too many player turnovers. They miss open shots. The coaching staff continues to rely on underperforming benches. The handling of certain players can lead to low morale in this team. Management put too much responsibility on players who should have gone to college. There is a lack of reliable wing players in the squad. The bosses may be more interested in winning the press conference than in making sure the coach is indeed the best person to rebuild at this stage.
It is a team with a long history that fades in its brilliance as each season passes. Detroit hasn't won a single playoff game since 2008. Since then, the Pistons have only made the playoffs three times. One of the most decorated teams in NBA history has been living in the basement for nearly two decades. It doesn't even feel right.
This cannot continue. Something has to change. Because fans don't deserve this.