OKC Thunder: Ladder shifts shake up tank wars in week 19, Ep. 3

Detroit Pistons (19-44)

Despite getting a win against the formidable Hawks this week the Pistons moved firmly into the coveted bottom three. They were helped by the own loss to the Mavericks and a successful week by the Wolves.

Detroit has one game this weekend against the Hornets who are injury-depleted but maintaining a top-eight position.

Of their nine remaining matches, the Pistons will play six teams who are seeded eighth or better and three teams seeded 22nd or lower.

The Pistons are one of a trio of squads the OKC Thunder have in their sights to catch. Detroit has two fewer losses than the Thunder. The goal clearly is to get more losses than the Pistons by season end and at worst to tie them and rely on the coin toss to fall in favor of the Thunder to gain a better position entering the lottery.

The difference can be substantial because after the best odds of 14 percent the teams all grouped closely could land as high as sixth or nine percent which is a huge difference in the number of bingo balls that will go in the drum.