20. Detroit Pistons (11-19)
The Detroit Pistons remind me of the Heat from a couple of years ago, with the exception that the former has two really big names on their roster (Blake Griffin, Andre Drummond). The Pistons are stuck in NBA purgatory with an expensive roster. They aren’t bad enough where they can earn a top draft pick and aren’t good enough where anyone expects them to make any noise in the Eastern Conference.
At the same time, they don’t have much wiggle room and are forced down the status quo. It’s not a great place to be, but Detroit doesn’t have many options at this point.
19. San Antonio Spurs (11-17)
It might be a bit strange to see the San Antonio Spurs so low on our NBA Power Rankings, but this is the new normal that is taking place with the once-proud franchise. While there are still some familiar faces in place, this is a team that has no real identity and one that will likely see a few more lows before it sees another supreme high.
The big question is whether or not they begin to wave the white flag and punt on the season by trading DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge at the trade deadline.