Pacers must avoid this disturbingly common Eastern Conference trend in 2025

2. Charlotte Hornets get stung three times (technically)

All three of the latest trips to the playoffs by Charlotte were first-round exits. The four-game sweeps in 2009-10 and 2013-14 were as the Bobcats. But when the team returned to their original mascot, the Hornets, they went seven games against the Miami Heat before being ousted in the first round.

The team has never returned since. Then-head coach Steve Clifford led a team that owned the league's ninth-best offense and eighth-best defense. Winning 48 games that season, Charlotte was a well-balanced team.

Point guard Kemba Walker averaged nearly 20 points and just over five assists a game.

Unfortunately, they could not duplicate that success the next season. Much less, they have not been able to duplicate that level of success since as they currently are on an eight-season playoff drought.

3. No Playoffs Recently for Mo-Town

The Detroit Pistons have been at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings for the past few seasons. The last three times the Pistons have made the playoffs they left without a win.

Starting in 2001, Detroit would advance to the second round or deeper in seven straight seasons. The next year was the first of those three early exits.

They would do so again seven seasons later. Coach Stan Van Gundy took a 44-38 team with a solid defense and efficient offense. The trio of Tobias Harris, Reggie Jackson, and Andre Drummond was not enough to avoid the four-game sweep by the Cleveland Cavaliers, again.

Detroit fans would have to wait another three seasons before the Pistons made a rare appearance in the playoffs. The Bucks were the victorious team in the opening round of the 2018-19 playoffs.