New moon paganism is a practice rooted in the beliefs and traditions of Paganism, which is a broad term encompassing various nature-based spiritual and religious beliefs. The new moon is a significant phase in the lunar cycle, symbolizing new beginnings, fresh starts, and the potential for growth and transformation. In paganism, the moon is believed to emit powerful energies that can be harnessed for different purposes. The new moon is particularly revered as a time to set intentions, manifest desires, and embark on new projects or endeavors. It is seen as a time to plant metaphorical seeds and nurture them as they grow and develop. During the new moon, pagans engage in various rituals and practices to connect with the moon's energy and align themselves with its cycles.

The Pistons’ dismal journey to become the NBA’s worst-ever team

T he Detroit Pistons finally, formally made history on Tuesday night. Detroit lost their single-season record 27th consecutive game, the latest coming at home by a 118-112 score against the Brooklyn Nets. By falling to 2-28, the Pistons built more cushion in a perhaps inexorable quest to become the worst team in league history.

To put their woeful run in context: The 2011-12 Charlotte Bobcats won 10.6% of their games, netting out to 7-59 record in a lockout-shortened season. The 1972-73 Philadelphia Sixers won an even 11%, setting the standard for terribleness over a typical 82-game slate at 9-73. The Pistons, with a 6.6% win rate, are pacing to go 5-77. Whether it’s possible for an NBA team in the modern era to be that bad for so long remains to be seen, but the Pistons seem intent on giving the sporting world a definitive answer.

The Pistons are egregious at every facet of basketball and shockingly devoid of bright spots in a league where being as bad as they are typically reveals some light at the end of the tunnel in the form of a premium draft pick. The Pistons have had plenty of those, but the only dividend they’ve paid is to make it all the more head-scratching how a team could be this horrific. The decline has been long and slow for a franchise that still isn’t all that far removed from spending much of the 2000s as one of the league’s marquee teams. But this season has been a plunge to new depths of egregiousness for an NBA club.

What’s gone right? Very little, of course. But what’s gone wrong is multifaceted.

The Pistons struggle with nearly every part of being a functional basketball team. They are 28th of 30 teams in offensive efficiency, scoring 107.8 points per 100 possessions. They are 26th in defense, allowing 119. There are worse teams at preventing and making baskets, and even in the overall scoring margin, the Pistons aren’t the league’s worst team. (That would be the San Antonio Spurs, led by wunderkind rookie Victor Wembanyama, at minus-12.1 points per 100 possessions.) The Pistons (minus-11.2) are even within striking distance of the Charlotte Hornets at minus-10.6.

But the Hornets have won seven games. The Spurs have won four. The Pistons are 2-28 because they have been cartoonishly, cataclysmically bad on the margins. In games that have featured a scoring margin of five points or fewer in the final five minutes, Detroit is 1-12. That is the worst mark in the NBA by miles, not just this year but in any recent year. Typically, even the worst team in such games wins 25 or 30% of them, but the Pistons cannot buy a victory in crunch time. Arithmetic and spirituality suggest that the Pistons eventually get a break when it matters most, but faith is hard to come by.

There are some bright spots hidden beneath the rubble. The brightest by a long shot is 2021 no 1 overall draftee Cade Cunningham, the 6-ft-6 guard who at least keeps the team watchable as he scores 23 points and doles out seven assists a night. Cunningham even has a promising player or two around him, like 2022 first-round pick Jalen Duren, a center averaging 13 points and 11 rebounds. But Duren has lost half his season so far to injury. Bojan Bogdanovic, the leading scorer, has played in 11 of the 30 games. Skilled shooters Alec Burks and Joe Harris have missed extensive time, too.

The Pistons hired coach Monty Williams on a record contract $78.5m contract this offseason. Photograph: Noah K Murray/AP

The Pistons are the league’s second-youngest team with an average age of 23.4, not much older than a few college outfits. Blend the youth and inexperience with the injuries and bad play in clutch moments, and you get a recipe for a bad ball club. But even the worst teams do not lose 27 in a row, and charting how the Pistons got to a place where that was even possible takes longer.

Ask their loyal remaining fans what has gone wrong, and you might get a thousand answers. But many revolve around coach Monty Williams, who signed a record contract worth $78.5m to join Detroit over the offseason. Williams has not fit what pieces he has together, and he has reportedly not gotten along easily with talented young guard Jaden Ivey. The Pistons have a disjointed look under the coach who was supposed to install some structure and creativity after four dreadful years in a row under ex-coach Dwane Casey. Given his contract, Williams will probably get some time to right the ship, but his tenure has started so dreadfully that making anything of it will be an uphill battle.

Like Casey before him, Williams, is dealing with the consequences of poor roster-building by Pistons executives. General manager Troy Weaver, who took the job in 2020, did well to land Cunningham. But that was easy enough when lottery balls put the top draft pick in his lap. Weaver’s current roster does not make a lot of sense, as it lacks a go-to scorer beyond Cunningham and does not have great shooting outlets for skilled guards to find in open space. The Pistons could have traded some of their current veterans for draft picks last year but didn’t, apparently hoping they could be competitive this year. At least in being wrong, Weaver hasn’t prevented his team from having great lottery odds yet again. Team owner Tom Gores sounds poised to find a new GM soon.

To the extent poor management is the problem, the Pistons are the inverse of their old selves. The franchise has had several long, unbroken runs of postseason appearances. It won back-to-back championships in 1989 and ‘90, and added another in 2004. The latter came in the midst of a run of six consecutive seasons of at least making the final of the Eastern Conference, with three different coaches helming the team in that time.

Back in the glory years, the Pistons had extraordinary grit and defensive ability, pairing shot-blocker Ben Wallace with hard-nosed, skilled guards Chauncey Billups and Rip Hamilton. Those Piston teams had great supporting players coming off the bench, like forwards Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess. The Pistons of old had talent, but they also had an identity. Today’s team may have some talent, but if it has an identity other than that of one the worst teams ever, it has yet to show itself.

Pistons vs magic

— Franz Wagner scored 27 points, Paolo Banchero added 24 and the Orlando Magic handed the Detroit Pistons their 19th straight loss, 123-91 on Friday night.

Shot Chart

• Franz Wagner misses 4-foot two point shot
• Paolo Banchero misses layup
• Goga Bitadze makes 4-foot layup (Anthony Black assists)
• Goga Bitadze makes 1-foot dunk (Paolo Banchero assists)
• Goga Bitadze makes 1-foot dunk (Anthony Black assists)
• Anthony Black misses driving floating jump shot
• Goga Bitadze makes tip shot
• Killian Hayes blocks Paolo Banchero 's 13-foot two point shot
• Franz Wagner misses driving floating jump shot
• Paolo Banchero misses two point shot
• Paolo Banchero makes 8-foot two point shot
• Joe Ingles misses driving floating jump shot
• Gary Harris makes two point shot
• Paolo Banchero makes two point shot
• Gary Harris misses 23-foot three point shot
• Cole Anthony makes 7-foot driving floating jump shot (Goga Bitadze assists)
• Gary Harris makes driving layup (Cole Anthony assists)
• Goga Bitadze makes 2-foot layup (Joe Ingles assists)
• Joe Ingles makes 25-foot step back jumpshot
• Cole Anthony makes 3-foot layup (Joe Ingles assists)
• Joe Harris blocks Cole Anthony 's 3-foot driving layup
• Cole Anthony makes 5-foot driving floating jump shot
• Cole Anthony misses 10-foot pullup jump shot
• Caleb Houstan makes 26-foot three point jumper (Franz Wagner assists)
• Franz Wagner misses 26-foot three point jumper
• Cole Anthony misses 16-foot pullup jump shot
• Caleb Houstan misses 26-foot three point jumper
• Paolo Banchero makes 9-foot pullup jump shot
• Franz Wagner makes 2-foot driving floating jump shot (Cole Anthony assists)
• Franz Wagner makes 10-foot two point shot
• Franz Wagner makes driving layup
• Cole Anthony misses 24-foot three point jumper
• Franz Wagner misses driving floating jump shot
• Paolo Banchero makes 11-foot pullup jump shot
• Gary Harris makes 24-foot three point jumper (Cole Anthony assists)
• Gary Harris misses 23-foot three point jumper
• Franz Wagner makes 5-foot driving floating jump shot
• Paolo Banchero misses running pullup jump shot
• Gary Harris misses 25-foot three point jumper
• Paolo Banchero makes 17-foot pullup jump shot
• Franz Wagner misses 30-foot three point pullup jump shot
• Paolo Banchero makes driving layup
• Paolo Banchero misses 28-foot three point pullup jump shot
• Paolo Banchero misses driving floating jump shot
• Goga Bitadze misses tip shot
• Franz Wagner misses 10-foot jumper
• Franz Wagner makes 10-foot pullup jump shot
• Anthony Black misses 24-foot three point jumper
• Gary Harris misses 15-foot pullup jump shot
• Anthony Black makes layup
• Franz Wagner makes driving layup
• Franz Wagner makes 24-foot step back jumpshot
• Paolo Banchero makes 2-foot two point shot (Franz Wagner assists)
• Gary Harris makes 23-foot three point jumper (Franz Wagner assists)
• Franz Wagner misses two point shot
• Anthony Black makes layup (Goga Bitadze assists)
• Paolo Banchero makes 10-foot driving floating jump shot
• Goga Bitadze makes alley oop dunk shot (Gary Harris assists)
• Joe Ingles misses two point shot
• Paolo Banchero misses 25-foot three point jumper
• Joe Ingles misses driving floating jump shot
• Paolo Banchero misses 12-foot two point shot
• Joe Ingles makes 25-foot three point jumper (Paolo Banchero assists)
• Moritz Wagner makes 2-foot layup (Cole Anthony assists)
• Caleb Houstan makes 23-foot three point jumper (Cole Anthony assists)
• Paolo Banchero makes driving layup (Joe Ingles assists)
• Cole Anthony misses 25-foot three point jumper
• Cole Anthony makes driving layup
• Cole Anthony makes 25-foot three point shot (Joe Ingles assists)
• Joe Ingles misses 25-foot three point pullup jump shot
• Moritz Wagner misses tip shot
• Cole Anthony misses 13-foot pullup jump shot
• Franz Wagner makes 4-foot two point shot
• Cole Anthony makes 3-foot driving floating jump shot (Joe Ingles assists)
• Franz Wagner makes 2-foot two point shot
• Franz Wagner misses driving layup
• Franz Wagner makes dunk (Moritz Wagner assists)
• Franz Wagner makes dunk (Cole Anthony assists)
• Moritz Wagner misses layup
• Franz Wagner makes 25-foot three pointer
• Caleb Houstan misses 25-foot three point shot
• Chuma Okeke makes driving layup (Moritz Wagner assists)
• Jett Howard makes 3-foot layup (Caleb Houstan assists)
• Moritz Wagner makes 12-foot jumper (Jett Howard assists)
• Admiral Schofield makes 19-foot pullup jump shot
• Caleb Houstan misses 27-foot three point jumper
• Caleb Houstan misses 25-foot three point jumper
• Admiral Schofield misses 18-foot pullup jump shot
• Jett Howard makes 24-foot three point jumper (Anthony Black assists)
• Bojan Bogdanovic misses 10-foot two point shot
• Marvin Bagley III makes 1-foot driving dunk (Isaiah Stewart assists)
• Marvin Bagley III makes 5-foot two point shot
• Bojan Bogdanovic misses two point shot
• Cade Cunningham makes driving layup
• Cade Cunningham makes 26-foot three point jumper (Killian Hayes assists)
• Killian Hayes makes 11-foot pullup jump shot (Isaiah Stewart assists)
• Bojan Bogdanovic misses 27-foot three point jumper
• Killian Hayes makes two point shot (Cade Cunningham assists)
• Marvin Bagley III makes dunk (Cade Cunningham assists)
• Isaiah Stewart makes 25-foot three point jumper (Killian Hayes assists)
• Bojan Bogdanovic misses two point shot
• Goga Bitadze blocks Marvin Bagley III 's 5-foot two point shot
• Jaden Ivey misses 25-foot three point jumper
• Killian Hayes misses 25-foot three point jumper
• Joe Harris misses driving layup
• Ausar Thompson misses 25-foot three point jumper
• Jaden Ivey misses 25-foot three point jumper
• Killian Hayes makes 11-foot pullup jump shot
• Ausar Thompson misses 20-foot jumper
• Ausar Thompson misses driving layup
• Ausar Thompson misses tip shot
• Killian Hayes makes 12-foot pullup jump shot
• Alec Burks makes 23-foot three point jumper (Ausar Thompson assists)
• Isaiah Livers misses 22-foot three point jumper
• Cade Cunningham misses 23-foot three point jumper
• Goga Bitadze blocks Bojan Bogdanovic 's 2-foot driving layup
• Marvin Bagley III misses 8-foot hook shot
• Cade Cunningham misses 25-foot step back jumpshot
• Goga Bitadze blocks Alec Burks 's 7-foot layup
• Alec Burks makes driving layup (Cade Cunningham assists)
• Bojan Bogdanovic makes 14-foot step back jumpshot
• Killian Hayes makes 9-foot two point shot (Cade Cunningham assists)
• Cade Cunningham misses 18-foot pullup jump shot
• Goga Bitadze blocks Ausar Thompson 's 7-foot driving floating jump shot
• Killian Hayes misses 13-foot pullup jump shot
• Cade Cunningham makes driving layup (Bojan Bogdanovic assists)
• Bojan Bogdanovic misses 25-foot three point jumper
• Bojan Bogdanovic makes two point shot
• Bojan Bogdanovic makes 3-foot layup (Killian Hayes assists)
• Marvin Bagley III misses driving floating jump shot
• Marvin Bagley III makes tip shot
• Cade Cunningham makes driving layup
• Isaiah Stewart misses 23-foot three point jumper
• Killian Hayes misses 24-foot three point jumper
• Cade Cunningham misses 13-foot jumper
• Killian Hayes makes 16-foot step back jumpshot (Cade Cunningham assists)
• Alec Burks misses 12-foot step back jumpshot
• Cade Cunningham misses 18-foot pullup jump shot
• Alec Burks misses 24-foot three point jumper
• Jaden Ivey misses 25-foot three point jumper
• Alec Burks makes 26-foot three point shot (Ausar Thompson assists)
• Alec Burks makes driving layup
• Jaden Ivey makes 14-foot pullup jump shot
• Jaden Ivey makes 17-foot step back jumpshot
• Ausar Thompson misses 26-foot three point pullup jump shot
• Jaden Ivey misses 11-foot pullup jump shot
• Ausar Thompson misses 25-foot three point jumper
• Cade Cunningham makes 9-foot two point shot
• Cade Cunningham misses 25-foot step back jumpshot
• Bojan Bogdanovic makes 26-foot step back jumpshot (Killian Hayes assists)
• Killian Hayes makes layup (Cade Cunningham assists)
• Jaden Ivey misses 25-foot three point jumper
• Cade Cunningham makes 27-foot three point jumper
• Cade Cunningham makes 14-foot jumper
• Killian Hayes misses 11-foot pullup jump shot
• Cade Cunningham misses 27-foot three point pullup jump shot
• Isaiah Stewart misses 26-foot three point jumper
• Cade Cunningham makes 3-foot driving floating jump shot
• Ausar Thompson makes 5-foot two point shot (Marcus Sasser assists)
• Marcus Sasser makes 10-foot driving floating jump shot
• Ausar Thompson misses 26-foot three point jumper
• Isaiah Livers misses 17-foot pullup jump shot
• Isaiah Livers misses 25-foot three point jumper
• Ausar Thompson misses 9-foot two point shot
• Marcus Sasser misses 26-foot step back jumpshot
• Ausar Thompson misses 25-foot three point jumper
• Marcus Sasser makes 14-foot pullup jump shot
• Isaiah Livers misses 26-foot step back jumpshot
• Isaiah Livers misses 17-foot pullup jump shot
• Ausar Thompson makes driving layup (Isaiah Livers assists)

Regular Season Series

ORL leads 1-0

2023-24 Central Standings

2023-24 Southeast Standings

NBA News

During the new moon, pagans engage in various rituals and practices to connect with the moon's energy and align themselves with its cycles. These rituals may include meditation, visualization, spellwork, divination, and gathering in community to celebrate and honor the moon's influence. The main idea of new moon paganism is to utilize the energy of the new moon to manifest desires and initiate change in one's life.

Best moments from Nets, Cavaliers Paris trip

Before the 2024 NBA Paris Games, the Brooklyn Nets and Cleveland Cavaliers visited the Eiffel Tower in the City of Lights.

This involves setting intentions, visualizing goals, and utilizing various spiritual tools and practices to tap into the supportive energies of the moon. New moon paganism is not limited to any specific tradition or belief system. It is a flexible and adaptable practice that can be incorporated into various spiritual paths. Some pagans may focus on specific deities associated with the moon, while others may draw upon their own personal beliefs and practices. Overall, new moon paganism offers an opportunity for spiritual growth, self-reflection, and transformation. It is a time to honor the cycles of nature, connect with the divine energy, and embrace the potential for new beginnings. Through the rituals and practices associated with new moon paganism, individuals can cultivate a deeper sense of connection with themselves, the earth, and the greater universe..

Reviews for "The New Moon as a Symbol of Fertility in Paganistic Beliefs"

1. Jane - 2 stars - While I appreciate the concept of paganism and how it can connect individuals with nature, I found "New moon paganism" to be a shallow and misguided representation of the belief system. The author seemed more focused on creating an edgy and mysterious atmosphere rather than providing accurate and authentic information. As someone who has studied paganism for many years, I felt disappointed by the lack of depth and substance in this book.

2. Tom - 1 star - "New moon paganism" was nothing more than a superficial attempt to cash in on the popularity of paganism in modern culture. The author's portrayal of pagan rituals and practices was stereotypical and cliché, lacking any real understanding or respect for the beliefs. The book seemed more interested in fitting into the trendy genre of supernatural fiction rather than providing meaningful insights into paganism. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a genuine exploration of pagan spirituality.

3. Sarah - 2 stars - As a practicing pagan, I was excited to delve into "New moon paganism" and gain some new perspectives. Unfortunately, the book fell short of my expectations. The author sensationalized pagan rituals and seemed more interested in creating an atmosphere of mystique rather than providing accurate information. The information presented was shallow and lacked depth, making it difficult for readers to truly understand the essence of paganism. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and unimpressed with this book.

4. Michael - 1 star - "New moon paganism" was a disappointing read that felt like a cheap attempt to capitalize on the popularity of paganism. The book's portrayal of pagan practices was shallow and lacked authenticity. The author relied on clichés and stereotypes, completely missing the mark when it came to providing a genuine exploration of paganism. I would not recommend this book to anyone seeking a deeper understanding of pagan spirituality.

The New Moon as a Gateway to Transformation in Paganism