What's next for the Detroit Pistons?

[P J Shaker]

well another season another conference finals....out of the last 6 years they have reacehd 6 times....and made the finals 2 times.....not a very good ratio...now i know that alot of other teams would kill to go to the conference finals 6 strait years but when making it there is normal losing 4 out of 6 isnt fun...in fact the only team they lost to since their championship that was truly a better team is boston....the cavs werent a better team, and the heat werent a better team...



well indeed every year we talk about it, what should the pistons do...well here is my take....

1. Fire Flip Saunders - the guy is an underachieving coach who can never beat expectations, the biggest mistake he made this series was when Jason Maxiel had a killer night and wen 6-6 from the field and played a good chunk of minutes...so how do you reward a player when he plays an above average game....YEP you guessed it...cut his minutes in half the next game and play Theo Ratliff instead of him....GREAT MOVE FLIP!!!!!

2. Trade Teyshaun Prince....the kid has gone soft, if you look back 4 years ago when the pistons won it all Prince was a fast paced catch and shoot player who didnt think about it when he shot the ball...it was just natural for him...now look at him now...everytime he touches the ball he is looking around for someone else to pass it to....even in game 6 when Posey stole the ball from him after in the steal...he was standing there dumbfounded not knowing what to do with the ball...yes i know his D is still good but in all he has became a lazy player who is always looking or someone else to take the shots and run the floor...

3. Get rid of Rasheed Wallace, now sheed is a great player...one of the best in the NBA if he wants to be...but the problem is he never wants to be...he has no heart left in him..no ambition and no interest in anything unless it benefits him...his drama is to much for this team....his attitude is wrong and when the Pistons gain some momentum in a game you can usually bet that he will kill it by getting T'd up just like he did in game 5.....


my fix for everything....


1. Hire Avery Johnson...he will bring in a west coast style to a team that is desperate for an identity change...you cant win with only defense anymore...these teams now days are too strong with scoring to win with D

2. Try to shop around and package deal with Prince and Sheed and maybee a draft pick to get a premier forward ...maybee like Carmello Anthony...Joe D could redeem himself for passing up on melo years ago in the draft.....

3. again with the trading of sheed and prince, look for a Center and insert Rodney Stucky into the offense and run a 3 guard offense with Maxiel at PF and who ever they could land at Center....the pistons bench would still be a deep enough bench to rotate in another big man if they needed it....

the point is if the pistons sit back and do nothing there will be another year of high expectations not met....and i think most of the Pistons fans are getting sick of that...

[Ross R]

I think the problem starts with Flip, and mostly ends there. Prince and Wallace would get in line quick for a harder-edged coach, as would the rest of the team.

Flip just doesn't have any control over these Bad Boys, and he's too nice a guy. If Popovich were coaching Detroit, they would have a few more titles.

I love the Celtics, but the Pistons should have beaten them.

Also, remember that Detroit could have selected Carmelo Anthony (or Dwayne Wade) over Darko...and he is a team-killing cancer anyway, like Stephon Marbury or JR Rider...talented, but doesn't play ANY defense, and eats up too much of the clock dribbling or making silly fakes. I think Denver has already figured out that they are better without him on the floor...I hope they unload him, and soon, to some even shittier team.

[Chubz]

I just hope the Nets aren't stupid enough to do that rumored deal with nuggets for Carmelo.

[Mr. MVP]

Originally Posted by P J Shaker

What's next for the Detroit Pistons?

If they don't fire Flip the same old thing. It's a shame all of that talent going to waste because of a bum coach.

[jstchilln120]

1) Fire Flip - The team doesn't listen to him and probably hates his gut at this point (from what we've seen anyway)

2) Unload 'Sheed - Great intangibles and is one of the smartest and best players in the game when he's motivated...but otherwise he's a total headcase.

3) Emphasize Youth - Detroit has a great plethora of bench players who are young and can provide energy to the team if given the minutes.

[Darius Ali]

I agree that Sheed needs to go. He is intense but really doesn't give a Fck when it comes to getting Techs and hurting the team because of it. He is talented but Maxiell is just waiting for that starting gig. I say keep Prince. He is an allaround talent and is still very young. Rip needs to stay too. One of the best if not the best pure midrange shooters in the league. I really don't think they need any major changes at this point. I mean if your reaching the Conference finals every year your doing something right. Its the players fault that they are not getting it done. Avery Johnson has a reputation of wanting to call a set play on every possession. That will not sit well with these group of Vets. I say move Sheed, keep Flip and go for one more run at it. If it doesn't work next season then they will have to start changing things.

[Trey]

I think that if you can Avery Johnson in there to replace Flip, Sheed might fall into place. He's obviously matured compared to before, but Flip isn't someone to keep him in check, while Johnson would. The Pistons have as much talent as there is out there except for maybe the Lakers, they just need a coach to motivate and keep them in check.

[jstchilln120]

Originally Posted by finalfinally

I think that if you can Avery Johnson in there to replace Flip, Sheed might fall into place. He's obviously matured compared to before, but Flip isn't someone to keep him in check, while Johnson would. The Pistons have as much talent as there is out there except for maybe the Lakers, they just need a coach to motivate and keep them in check.

You don't think Larry Brown fit that mold? Right now 'Sheed is pretty much uncoachable when he's disinterested.

[?QuestionMark?]

The problem, IMO, with Detroit is that they just lack that superstar.

If you look back at the past 50 years, only two teams have won a title w/o a Hall of Famer--'79 Sonics and '04 Pistons. Why? Because ultimately, superstars can up their play to a level even an all-star can't. That's the difference between Kobe Bryant and Rip Hamilton. Between LeBron James and Tayshaun Prince. Duncan and Sheed. Chris Paul and Billups.

What Detroit did in 04 was an exception to the rule. But even when they did it, they did it because they were a dominant defensive team. They're still good, but they don't flat out dominate at that end like they used to.

Sheed was able to get away getting only 7 boards per game when Big Ben was next to him getting 13 boards a game. Players were able to be even more aggressive defensively knowing Big Ben was anchoring and Sheed was another swatter behind them. Can't do that now with Dice.

Even in 04, Detroit had so much balance that they don't have. They miss a Corliss Williamson who you could dump the ball into and get an easy bucket. They don't have a guy like that right now.

They need to really improve their defense like they did in 04 by getting a guy like Camby, or get that superstar to carry this team to another level.

[P J Shaker]

Originally Posted by Darius Ali

I agree that Sheed needs to go. He is intense but really doesn't give a Fck when it comes to getting Techs and hurting the team because of it. He is talented but Maxiell is just waiting for that starting gig. I say keep Prince. He is an allaround talent and is still very young. Rip needs to stay too. One of the best if not the best pure midrange shooters in the league. I really don't think they need any major changes at this point. I mean if your reaching the Conference finals every year your doing something right. Its the players fault that they are not getting it done. Avery Johnson has a reputation of wanting to call a set play on every possession. That will not sit well with these group of Vets. I say move Sheed, keep Flip and go for one more run at it. If it doesn't work next season then they will have to start changing things.

this year was supposed to be flip's "get there or go home" year...he didnt get there....flip has to go and i am saying he will be gone before the draft...and like i said in my first post..flip did a bad job coaching in the final series....it is 40% the players fault and 60% flips....he had the wrong players in there and didnt reward hard play the right way..with these young guys comming off the bench he needs to keep feeding their self esteem....meaning if they throw up 15 points in 20 minutes then they shuold play some more...dont throw theo ratliff in there...he shouldnt even be on the playoff roster if you ask me...

[Trey]

Originally Posted by jstchilln120

You don't think Larry Brown fit that mold? Right now 'Sheed is pretty much uncoachable when he's disinterested.

They won a ring with him, and Sheed has shown through teh fact he isn't getting nearly as many technical fouls called on him that's matured a little. A variation of a coach who got you a ring isn't typically a bad thing.

[Darius Ali]

Little bit of noise coming out of Detroit that Joe D really wants Melo. I wonder if they are going to make a legitimate offer.

[P J Shaker]

well a couple of things have happened in camp Pistons....


Flip Saunders is out, Michael Curry is in.....

now i agree with getting rid of Flip but im just not sure about bringing in a coach with no experience. Michael Curry has been an assistant for a little bit and has played with with pistons in the past. I will not judge him until i see something to judge him on but i hope that move was for the best.

Joe D did not pick up Avery Johnson like most people thought he should have done and i think that this is due to 2 reasons....1. Joe wants to be able in incorporate some of his own things into the pistons system. 2. Joe and other management want a "yes man" that they can tell what to do, any respectable coach isnt going to take crap from GM's and owners..


some trade rumors have been floating around....

Chauncey Billups and Teyshaun Prince are on the trading block and 2 possibilities are.....those 2 for Carmello Anthony or those 2 for Tracy Mcgrady...i would like either move but am leaning more to Mello because of T-Mac's prior injuries....

another trade rumor i heard of today was Prince to the suns for Boris Diaw and a first round pick (#15 from the Hawks). i would like this trade also but if that happens it probably wont happen until draft day.

it doesnt look like Sheed is going anywhere due to his expiring contract, if they traded him and got a guy with more years left on his deal then the pistons would have to pay a tax next year....the pistons owner doesnt want to do that.


we will have to see where it takes us but atleast there are some things going on..