A week ago, the Detroit Pistons looked firmly in control of first place in the Eastern Conference. The team had won eight of its previous nine games and had built a five-game lead over the Boston Celtics.

The situation, however, changed quickly: Detroit is now dealing with its longest losing streak of the season, which has reached four consecutive defeats after a 121-110 loss to the Miami Heat. As a result, the lead over the Celtics at the top of the conference has been cut to just two games.

According to coach J.B. Bickerstaff, this stretch falls within the normal rhythm of an NBA season:

It’s the NBA, the season is long. Everyone goes through difficult stretches or small dips in performance. We’re going through ours right now

J.B. Bickerstaff

Before this losing streak, the Pistons had never lost more than two games in a row all year, posting a 12-2 record in games following a loss. Three of the four recent defeats came against strong teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers, San Antonio Spurs, and Miami Heat, while the loss to the Brooklyn Nets stands as the exception.

Tobias Harris also addressed the difficult moment, though without sounding alarmed:

It’s probably the toughest stretch of our entire season. But we’ll move forward, staying focused and trying to figure out how to improve as a group

Tobias Harris

Just two seasons ago, Detroit finished with 14 wins and 68 losses, one of the worst records in the league. Last year the team reached 44 wins and the playoffs, and this season they have already climbed to 45 victories with 19 games still to play.

Among the few players still on the roster from that period are Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren, who combined for 50 points in the game against Miami, the core pieces around which the franchise is building its future. For the present, however, the goal remains the same: rediscover a winning rhythm and arrive ready for the playoff push.