Monty Williams Criticizes Pistons for Lack of ‘Resolve’ Amid Losing Streak

Detroit Pistons coach Monty Williams expressed disappointment with his team’s lack of “fight” after another loss, stating his players are not respecting “the organization and the jersey.”

Williams passionately addressed reporters following Detroit’s 126-107 defeat against the Washington Wizards, emphasizing the team’s poor performance and their failure to uphold the spirit of Pistons basketball.

The Pistons, with a record of 2-15, suffered their fourteenth consecutive loss, owning the NBA’s worst rank and failing to secure a win for a month. On the other hand, the Wizards (3-14) ended their drought since Nov. 8, shooting 51% from the floor and securing double-figure scores from seven players against the Pistons.

“That wasn’t Pistons basketball by any stretch of the imagination,” Williams remarked. “We have to have people that honor the organization and the jersey by competing at a high level every night.”

“I’m not talking about execution, just competing. That wasn’t it, and that’s on me,” Williams added.

Williams described the Pistons’ overall spirit in the game as “poor” during a postgame media session that lasted only one minute. Despite a players-only meeting focused on “accountability” and working with a young roster, Williams criticized the lack of maturity, discipline, and game-plan understanding within the team.

Third-year forward Isaiah Livers echoed Williams’ sentiments, expressing concern over the team’s lack of effort and responsibility in fulfilling their roles.

The Pistons’ star guard Cade Cunningham acknowledged the team’s issues, emphasizing the need for greater physicality and aggressiveness to secure victories.

“There are a lot of little things we can talk about, but we just didn’t play hard,” said Livers.

The Pistons are currently on a 14-game losing streak, close to approaching the franchise’s record of a 21-game skid. Their upcoming games against strong opponents will test their resilience and ability to bounce back from this challenging stretch.

“We all wanna win really bad,” Cunningham expressed. “Everybody’s doing it out of the spirit of that — wanting to win, wanting to do what’s best for the team.

“I think we need more aggressive mess ups. Where we’re struggling right now is slip ups where we’re not physical enough or not aggressive enough. That’s what we need to lean towards instead of trying not to press.”

If the Pistons fail to secure a win in their upcoming games, they run the risk of facing their longest losing streak in franchise history. Cunningham emphasized the importance of holding each other accountable and maintaining mental stamina to overcome challenges as a team.