Pistons stuck in rut, but playoffs still within reach
They've won just once in the last seven games, but players, coach still confident things can turn around
What a difference a couple weeks can make.
Following consecutive home wins over Cleveland and New York earlier this month, Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy was focused on his team's playoff seeding and chances for a postseason run.
Now in a downward spiral, Van Gundy has to keep his team afloat with nine games left in the regular season.
The Pistons (34-39), losers of three straight and six of seven, are 10th in the Eastern Conference, a half game behind No. 9 Chicago and a game behind No. 8 Miami.
The Pistons face the Knicks (27-46) tonight at Madison Square Garden.
"Look, if you can get the next two games, we're either going to be tied for a playoff spot ... or going to be half a game out, with the tiebreaker," Van Gundy said after Sunday's practice in Auburn Hills. "Everything you want to accomplish is still there."
The Pistons' slide began after wins over the Cavs and Knicks on March 9 and 11, respectively. Their current losing streak includes a last-second loss to the dreadful Nets, and blowouts at Chicago and Orlando.
"We beat Cleveland at home, beat New York by 20, and you guys were asking me, 'You feel like you've turned the corner?' " Van Gundy said. "Two weeks ago, we were good, on the right path, everything was good, everybody's happy with us. Two weeks later, we suck.
"(People) dig the grave and then pull you out of it. Then throw you back in and pull you out. That's where we are. That's what you learn to deal with. We got to play through this."
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Despite hitting this recent rough patch, the Pistons are committed to a strong playoff push.
"You clear your mind and reflect," said point guard Ish Smith, who has replaced Reggie Jackson in the starting lineup the last two games. "When you're on the floor, that's when you lock in. When you leave, you have to clear your mind and relax. Whatever problems you have on the floor, you deal with it through hard work and reflection.
"I think the effort's still there. When you play for Coach (Van Gundy), you have no choice but to bring 110% effort. You go through lulls where you're down, but ... we're still playing hard. Throughout all this, we're still having fun. The locker room is upbeat."
The Pistons' offense is averaging a mere 92 points during this 1-6 skid.
"We've hit a wall, fatigue issues," Van Gundy said. "The issues are confidence and everybody is really, really frustrated. We open games wanting to play a certain way, and when it doesn't go our way, the frustration sets in. We try to free up their minds and get them back to playing basketball and enjoying basketball.
"What I need to do better is not react. That's not helpful, that detracts. But I can't tell them, 'Hey, you're shooting great.' You got to deal with that."
Van Gundy tried to shake things up, moving Tobias Harris and Smith into the starting lineup. Van Gundy declined to announce his starting point guard — Smith or Jackson — against the Knicks.
"We've messed with (the starting lineup) twice, and it hasn't dealt with anything," Van Gundy said. "We haven't gotten a ton of results. I'm not saying we will or won't do anything, but it's not like we've got guys on fire, just waiting for more minutes. It's a team-wide thing."
Smith remains confident the Pistons will make the playoffs.
"Despite all we're going through, we're still right there," he said. "That makes us very optimistic. If we go on a little roll and win four in a row, all of a sudden, not only are you back in there, you have a commanding lead. We have to think like that."