5 things that went wrong for Detroit Pistons in the 2020-21 NBA season

The Detroit Pistons had a difficult campaign in the 2020-21 NBA season, as they posted the worst record in the Eastern Conference and the second-worst in the entire league.

The good part about the Detroit Pistons' dismal 2020-21 NBA campaign was that they were able to win the lottery and will now have the first pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.

For a team to finish in last place in its conference, many things had to go wrong, which was the case with the Pistons. However, there were a few positives for the Detroit Pistons during the campaign - the signing and displays of Jerami Grant, who had a breakout year individually.

On that note, let us review the 20-52 Detroit Pistons' 2020-21 NBA season and have a look at five things that went wrong for them during the campaign. Without further ado, let's get started.

#5 Blake Griffin

Blake Griffin started the 2020-21 NBA season with the Detroit Pistons, but was inconsistent in 20 games for the team. He averaged 12.3 points and 5.2 rebounds per game but made a poor 36.5% of his field goals, 31.5% of his threes and 71% of his free throws.

Griffin played his last game for the Pistons on February 12th before the team waived him off three weeks later. Griffin rediscovered his mojo with the stacked Brooklyn Nets, putting up 49/38/78 shooting splits in 26 games.

While the Pistons weren't able to get the performances they expected from Griffin, they could, at least, come out of his big contract.

#4 The Detroit Pistons struggled on the road

Head coach Dwane Casey of the Detroit Pistons reacts to a call.

Not only did the 2020-21 Detroit Pistons finish in last place in the Eastern Conference, but the team was also the worst on the road among all 32 teams during the season.

In 36 away games, they won just seven, failing to win consecutive wins on the road all campaign.

Only two of the Detroit Pistons' wins on the road this season came against postseason teams. They came against the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat, who endured early exits in the playoffs.

#3 The Detroit Pistons endured rebounding woes

Mason Plumlee (#24) of the Detroit Pistons.

One of the key aspects in basketball is rebounding, and the Detroit Pistons fared poorly in that regard, which party explains their dismal performances during the 2020-21 NBA season.

The Pistons averaged 42.7 rebounds per game in the 2020-21 campaign, which was 26th best among 30 teams in the league. Moreover, they were only 23rd in the league in Defensive Rebound percentage and 17th in the Offensive Rebound category.

Moreover, the Detroit Pistons' rivals averaged 44.3 rebounds per game.

#2 The Pistons did not step up defensively

Head coach Dwane Casey of the Detroit Pistons

The Detroit Pistons defense was quite poor during the 2020-21 NBA season, as they only ranked 16th in Defensive Rating, with 112.5 points allowed per 100 possessions.

Though they were eighth in blocks per game, the Pistons were 17th in the NBA in steals and only 15th in turnovers forced to the opposition per game.

The Detroit Pistons were the 10th-best team in the NBA in 'defending' the three-point line, with rivals shooting 36.2% from distance. However, the Pistons' rivals attempted the least number of threes per game, as Detroit's defense provided them freedom in the paint and on two-point shots as well.

The Pistons allowed the fifth-highest field-goal percentage to rivals (47.6%), the sixth-most two-point field goals to the opposition and the seventh-highest two-point field-goal percentage.

#1 The Detroit Pistons' offense was inadequate

Jerami Grant (#9) of the Detroit Pistons

Even though the Detroit Pistons' defense was not among the best in the 2020-21 NBA, they were not the worst as well. The Pistons were 25th with a -4.5 Net Rating, and there is a reason for that.

Though the Pistons were in the middle of the pack in Defensive Rating (16th), the team's offense fared poorly. Even though Jerami Grant averaged 22 points per game, the Pistons were only 26th in the NBA with an Offensive Rating of 108 points (scored per 100 possessions).

The Pistons' offense ranked 24th in field-goal percentage, 23rd in three-point percentage, 24th in free-throw percentage, 28th in field goals made, 22nd in threes made and 27th in points per game.