2018 NBA Power Rankings: Should the Houston Rockets be the favorites in the West?

DALLAS, TX - JANUARY 24: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets reacts after scoring against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on January 24, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - JANUARY 24: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets reacts after scoring against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on January 24, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
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21. Detroit Pistons (30-39)

The Detroit Pistons traded for Blake Griffin in hopes that he would punch their ticket to the Eastern Conference playoffs. Since the acquisition, though, the Pistons are only 8-13 with Griffin in the lineup.

I’m not sure it’s fair to throw all the blame on Griffin, and I’m pretty sure he doesn’t deserve it all, but the move doesn’t look great when you take the last 20 games as a sample size.

The Pistons are six games back of the 8th seeded Miami Heat, and have little-to-no shot at making the playoffs with roughly 14 games remaining in the regular season. It’s back to the drawing board for Stan Van Gundy and the Pistons this summer.