AUBURN HILLS -- The Detroit Pistons likely will not add a Central Division banner to their collection this season. Home-court advantage in the playoffs seems a bit of a stretch as well.
However, there still is time to build momentum for a playoff berth, which for the first time in years is not a given. As the Pistons look to bounce back from a disappointing start, their best shot at improvement might be on the boards.
Even when Detroit had Ben Wallace patrolling the paint, rebounding proved difficult at times.
Although there are many factors that contributed to Detroit's high number of losses this season, the team's inability to rebound has become a glaring weakness.
One of the more recent examples occurred in Chicago on Tuesday, when Ben Gordon's go-ahead four-point play with 16.7 seconds remaining came after Chicago point guard Derrick Rose had a layup blocked, grabbed his missed shot and passed to Gordon in front of the Pistons' bench.
Gordon drained the shot and was fouled by Arron Afflalo.
After the loss, several players could not explain how they let yet another game get away from them at the end.
"I can't explain that one," Pistons forward Tayshaun Prince said after the loss. "I couldn't explain that one if I tried."
In that game, like many this season, the Pistons simply did not finish off defensive series. Defending a team well for 20-plus seconds, only to allow them to get the rebound and reset their offense, can be deflating.
Detroit ranks 20th (out of 30 teams) in rebounding this season. The Pistons' rebounding woes have been apparent in the past 10 games, seven of which they lost.
In the three wins, Detroit was plus-17 on the boards. In the seven losses, the Pistons were minus-11.
"It's definitely frustrating," Pistons forward Antonio McDyess said. "Rebounding, defending, scoring ... you can go on and on about what we need to get better at.
"We still have time to turn this around, and I think we will. But it's not going to be easy."
