To say these are two franchises going in different directions is an understatement. The Detroit Pistons were losers of eight in a row and 11 of 12. The Boston Celtics were winners of nine in a row and 11 of 12. Over those dozen games the point differential between the two teams was a stark plus-300 in Boston’s favor.
That is, as they say, why you play the games.
Because sometimes a struggling team starts hitting shots, gets stops when it matters and shocks the hottest team in the NBA 112-111 in storied TD Garden.