Pistons Basketball

[Skulley]

Well sports fans, the Pistons after having an 11 game winning streak are starting to stumble a bit.  Sports talk radio on 97.1 FM are calling for the trade of Tashaun Prince.  They are saying he isn't getting it done.  Is that the real problem or is there something else deep seeded that you may think is the problem...........

Personally, the UAWBigDog is not a fan of Flip Saunders.  Didn't like him when he got here and don't like him now.  I think the Joe D. needs to get a coach that can win in the playoffs.........well let's just say that he wins in the playoffs but can't win in the Championship Series.  They won a championship when Big Ben was here and that team was coached by Larry Brown.  Ever since Brown left the Pistons get to the big dance and then blow it. 

I also like Tashaun.  He is the youth that the Pistons can build around.  I also like Maxiell off the bench and I think they should play Stuckey more with Rip and Chauncey.  Also it wouldn't hurt them to play Hunter more too.  The smartest thing that Joe D. did this year was get rid of Nazi Mohammed.  What a waste of an acquisition that was.  And what about that "pretty boy" they got for Mohammed.  He at least has made the game exciting lately or at least since the winning streak ended. 

So what do you think???       I think the Pistons actually have a squad right now that can win it all.  Some say they should build for the future.  Well, the future is now.  Win a championship NOW!!!!  Not next year or the year after...........NOW!!!!


BD             

[TCook]

I think the Pistons have the best 5 starters in the NBA and has a real shot this year at winning it all. Although I would like to see Maxiell start, I love how that guy played since college. What really worries me being a piston fan is the Boston Celtics. I said before the season they are going to be the Patriots of the NBA and its looking that way. Hopefully that dynasty can be prolonged until next year, that trio is deadly when healthy. Keep the Pistons together, they have a special team right now, and Flip I could care less if he stays or goes. Its going to be a fun season Ill tell ya that much.

T

[Skulley]

I honestly don't think the Pistons are going to catch the Celtics during the regular season.  They need to make the playoffs and then worry about them if they meet in the Eastern Conference Finals or in an earlier round.  I agree.  They have the best five going right now and a strong bench if Saunders had confidence in them.  I remember when Daly was coaching and they were consistantly winning.  Daly had confidence in his bench.  Saunders does not and for that he needs to go........the sooner the better.

BD         

[cameraguy]

Hmmm, only two weeks later (from Jan. 22) and the Pistons are only three games behind the Celtics.  Plus, last night the bench rocked the Blazers in the first half.  With over thirty games left in the regular season, do you still think the Pistons won't catch the Celtics...and does it really matter going into the playoffs?

[Skulley]

Yes, it does really matter going into the playoffs for home court advantage.  I realize they are now only three games back of the Celtics but the Pistons will still have to play hard every night.  I don't think it is Saunders saying.....I will use the bench more.  Did you forget who the GM is.  He was one of the starters under Daly. 

I believe that Dumars has told Saunders, and I quote "Flip, I got you a bench.  It is as good a bench as when I was playing and Vinnie and James Edwards, along with Salley were coming off it to win games.  So start using it or find yourself a coaching job somewhere else."  Now if I was Joe D. that is exactly how I would have put it to Saunders.

I hope they can catch the Celtics, but remember it will take a combination of 3 wins by the Pistons when the Celtics lose 3 to tie.

Eastern Conference Final will be the Pistons vs. Celtics and the Pistons are going to want home court advantage.

BD               

[cameraguy]

Bench has been playing all season, sometime well, somtimes not.  Starters minutes are down quite a bit.  Maxiell has been strong all season and impresses visiting teams most of the time.  Jarvis Hayes has been inconsistant but has made some big shots.  Aflallo and Stuckey both play hard but have their share of difficult moments, which is to be expected of rookies, expecially in the case of Stuckey who suffered an injury in the pre-season.  Both are improving each game.  New guys, Herrmann and Brezec, work hard in practice and will get some minutes, as well.  Saunders is doing a good job in getting the bench in the mix and they are getting valuable playing time.     

[Duke]

I've said this for a few years now and I've yet to be wrong. As long as Flip Saunders is their coach, they will not reach the NBA finals. I don't care how good of a regular season they have. Saunders has always had good regular seasons, but has never had success in the playoffs.

I was a huge Pistons fan until they gave Brown the boot. Not sure how you justify pushing someone off after reaching the finals 2 times in a row and winning it once.

Maybe it was Dumars as a player that got rid of Chuck Daly after a few championships with him as coach??

[Skulley]

Duke they have gotten to the finals.  They just can't win the big one.  You know the old saying.........always a bridesmaid and never a bride.  That's Flip Saunders..........I agree with cr.......give Laimbeer a shot.  He may take them all the way.........after all he has already been there.

BD           

[Durand Dan]

Lambeer and Mahorn Have my vote for coaches. There is a double you would have trouble pushing around!!

[cameraguy]

Larry Brown never won a championship until he got here.  Flip is doing just fine.  The players play the game.  The coach can't make shots for them.  Ask the players.

[cameraguy]

Why are you shouting?

[Skulley]

Maybe cr doesn't know that when you write everything in a blog with the capslock on that he is yelling in cyber world.  So hey cr if you don't know..........when you write everything in capitol letters, it is considered yelling.  Try not to yell so much because sometimes people don't like to be yelled at.  I am used to it so it doesn't bother me, but sometimes other people live in quieter worlds.  You and I don't live in quiet worlds so we have to yell.  As you can see by this blog........I don't yell anymore...........at least for now..........today...............oh yeah, I only yell at my kids, but that's chicken soup for the soul. 

Go Pistons!!!!!!!  Coach Laimbeer and Coach Mahorn.  I like that.  Get rid of Flip.  Let's go with Coach Laimbeer and Coach Mahorn.

BD             

[cr]

Sorry about the noise, I truly didn't know . Thanks BigDog. Newbie to the cyber-world here,49yrs old and still learning something new everyday. Now I'm wondering who else I've annoyed by doing this in the past, on other forums and here. I joined GLB to get fishing tips and ideas , and end up learning something about communicating . I hate doing stupid things twice , so please tell me when I'm screwing-up. Even if you have to YELL ! lol . But in my defense , I do suffer from TMB , too many birthdays. Thanks again ...CR

[Duke]

Duke they have gotten to the finals.

Not with Coach Saunders.

[cameraguy]

Sheesh, some people are hard to please...10 game winning streak, second best record in the NBA, and gaining on Boston.  Every coach who's team won a championship has, at one point, never won one.  Another words, there has to be a first time.  It seems to me that Phil Jackson had a tough time winning that first one with Chicago, but they stuck with him.  Look how long it took Larry Brown even though most experts would agree that he is a fine coach. 

It's extremely tough winning a championship.  And it's not just the coach, it's many factors.  Joe Dumars hired Flip and I respect his judgement, don't you?  These guys spend every day with these players during practice and games.  Do you really think that you know more than Joe D. and Flip about how to run and coach this team?  Really? 

Chaucey recently said that he feels fresher at this point in the season than he has in many years.  Rip says that he feels great.  What great insight do y'all have that would lead you to believe that you know better than the people involved?  How much time do you spend at practices or games for that matter?  Do you have personal relationships with the players that leads you to think Flip should be fired? 

I guess we're pretty spoiled around here for the last few years with the Pistons, Red Wings, and Tigers.  Maybe we just don't appreciate how hard it is to win a championship in any sport.  Tigers were supposed to win the World Series against the Cards, the Red Wings achieve the best record in the NHL time after time and get knocked out of the playoffs early, the Pistons get to the conference finals and championship finals, but haven't won it in a few years.  It just ponts out how hard it is to win the whole enchilada.  The Pistons have had incredible success over the past, what is it now, five or six years, but still people whine.  They have had an incredible run and are at the top again.  Can't we just appreciate their success and enjoy the game? 

[Revtro]

Addendum:  Hey guys, I just replied to a message from CG and want to publicly amend my statement to be as clear as possible.  My only point is that we can disagree, but let's not ever make it personal.  So I'm sorry for posting regarding that issue publicly.  I should have just PM'd him.  So I'm removing it now and PMing him instead.  ..my bad.

CG, please see my PM for clarification and accept my apology for not PMing you in the first place.  Brain fart I guess.

By the way, as an avid Pistons fan, I love what they're doing so far this year.  I'm still up in the air about Flip, but I am hopeful that he can win his first one here in Detroit.  My only gripe is now that they are doing so well, I don't get all the free tickets I used to get.  My wife works indirectly for Bill Davidson and used to get a lot of free tickets.  Now, not so much. 

[djkimmel]

Everyone has a right to their opinion on this forum. And everyone has a right to say what they think about those opinions. No one should be surprised by that, BUT please, don't do it in a way that causes people to feel like they aren't allowed to have their opinion if they might differ from others.

I don't want people quitting for those kinds of reasons please. None of us have all the answers and we can all learn from each other - that is the real value of this forum.

People are going to have opinions. That's just the way it is. No surprise there. Shoot - you want to see opinions that might seem unrealistic, head down to Alabama and listen to an Auburn or similar call-in show when 'fan' after fan calls in because THE WHEELS HAVE COME OFF!!! the Auburn basketball team because they are 21 and 3!?! Horrors!!!

The sportscaster keeps telling the caller, but we've won 21 games faster than ever before and are in the top five!!! And caller after caller, like a broken reel, says, "you're missing 'the point' Bob" (or whatever his name was)!! We've got to stop this slide before it ruins everything. 'The team is collapsing.' 'The coach needs to be fired cause he doesn't know what he's doing...'

I once heard a joke skit that played on this type of fan reaction, but having been in Alabama and heard the real thing, the skit can not do real fans justice. Caller after caller saying the same thing and the DJ becoming more and more exasperated... but you know what? They do that all the time down there. Both sides - the fans and the talk show host.

That's the thing about these forum interactions. Everyone has different opinions and expectations. Different points of views. Different points of reference. Lets try to remember that when we interact. Some of us are aggressive. Some of us our passive. Some are passive aggressive. But we are ALL anglers!!!!!!!!!!!! Dernit!!

Frankly, from my point of view, what the Pistons do or don't do is about as significant as who wins the presidency of Kerplopistan, but that's just me. I imagine if I was born and raised in Montgomery Alabama, I'd be calling that dern radio guy too and 'setting him straight'... before it's too late... and all the wheels come off...

[cameraguy]

Who is the president of Kerplopistan?  Do they have cheap labor there?  I need to pour some jigheads and don't have time.

[cr]

Hey its all good , the Pistons are a premier team , and watching a good game should be entertainment , no matter who wins . The term "Emotional Quotient" ,  or EQ , comes to mind . We all have opinions and the right to express them , within reason . I was thinking out loud on a couple posts , and typed them in all capital letters , not realizing I was shouting . When I was informed of this I removed my posts , and now I wonder if I should have left them on because the replies seem out of context . While I love a debate , I hate being shouted at , and doubt anybody does . That being said , I still think the best way to improve the Pistons is a better coach. But I will admit as a"fan" , I'm never happy . When RC was coach I complained about set plays and the slow tempo of the game . With LB it was his loyalty to the starters and failure to develop the young players . Now with flip its his easy demeaner and deferring to the players . Maybe I just like watching the game to have something to express an opinion about ?  But I agree with Dan the outcome of the NBA is a minor issue compared to current events . ... CR

[djkimmel]

I missed your 'yelling' altogether... you can leave them. Everyone has to learn something at least the first time... Heck, where I work, half the employees 'talk' in all caps all the time. It's very loud there... WHAT?!?

As far as Kerplopistan, I think the president is Michael Jackson... and they do have cheap labor... apparently a bunch of chimps previously belonging to some entertainer...

I don't think they have email there... or phones... so I'm not sure how you would go about getting in touch with them... possibly Passenger Pigeon?