"We really need this (break)," Pistons guard Allen Iverson said. "Especially at a time like this."

Detroit heads into the All-Star break with a three-game losing streak. At 27-24, the Pistons haven't been this bad this late in the season since they finished 30-52 in 2001, which was also the last year the team failed to make the playoffs.

Detroit is tied with Philadelphia for the sixth playoff seed, one game behind Miami (28-24). Cleveland leads the Central Division with a 40-11 record.

"We have to play some really good Basketball down the stretch to get ourselves and position ourselves for the playoffs," Pistons coach Michael Curry said.

Detroit also must develop some type of team identity.

Point guard Rodney Stuckey is the team's primary ball-handler and decision-maker during games. But even he acknowledges a big part of the team's struggles has been the lack of an identity.

"If we're going to play fast, we have to play fast," Stuckey said. "That's the type of guys we have on the team, get out and push the ball.

"There are times when we run, and times when we have to settle down. But we have to find which one to do often. Hopefully, we come back from the break and get things back on track."

The style of play shouldn't matter as much as the team's inability to close games.

"Hopefully after this break, guys come back mentally and physically ready to play, and just control what you can control as a player," Curry said. "Pull for your teammates to be successful, help each other each possession offensively and defensively, and just try to play harder than the opposing team. Those are the things that you have to do."