I wake up late today after a long night yesterday, and when I awake, I find the totally expected had happened. No, not that Jason Taylor and Bill Parcells still don't see eye to eye, but rather that the Detroit Pistons had fired Flip Saunders as head coach. Saunders was dismissed after another failure in the Eastern Conference Finals Friday against Boston. Personally, the way game 6 ended, I was more surprised that Saunders wasn't fired then. The Pistons blew a 10 point, 4th quarter lead, and lost by 8. That was enough for me to say "He's finished!".
Is Flip to blame for the repeated failure of the Pistons? Partially. I never saw Saunders as a guy who had the respect of the core players. Remember, he had feuds with both Ben and Rasheed Wallace, and couldn't keep the ridiculous Richard Hamilton-Lindsey Hunter- Rasheed dispute from taking a life all its own before game 6. But the bottom line is that when they hired him to replace Larry Brown, they wanted rings, not near-misses. And for that, he didn't deliver. Enough said.
But the Pistons need not stop there in their attempt to transition the team. There are other things that need to be done if they are possible. They are:
Trade Rasheed: I feel that Sheed is the biggest reason this team has underachieved. Sheed doesn't take this game very seriously, and it shows in his hair-yanking willingness to defer and play passively. Take game 6; he goes 0-fer the three point line, scores just 4 points, and then shows his behind with that towel toss at the ESPN camera (a year after he hits an assistant coach with his thrown jersey in Cleveland). I'm tired of him playing like I do at the local gym! He needs to go.
Give Hunter a retirement check: I'll keep this short; Hunter stinks, period! He can't shoot, which makes him a very limited role player. All he did in the Boston series was play decent D and talk. He doesn't need to talk, and you can get defenders who can shoot. Retire, Lindsey!
Trade one of the backcourt starters: Sounds controversial, doesn't it? Remember when the Pistons made the first of six straight conference finals? That year saw them add Chauncey Billups as a FA and trade then-star SG Jerry Stackhouse to Washington for Hamilton. So why not do it again? Of the two, I would lean towards Billups because Rodney Stuckey seems more like a PG-type, but it wouldn't shock me if Hamilton and his Rasheed-like attitude went, either.
Get these guys to remember how they won the 2004 title: The biggest culprit to these Pistons is their stunning complacency (I've been saying this for three years). Even the ESPN guys said it, and Saunders admitted that the arrogance was their biggest strength and their biggest weakness. After using that thought against the Lakers in '04, they became the Lakers, and it cost them a shot at three more titles. I want to see the fire back in Detroit!
Do I know how to fix the Pistons? I'm not an expert. I just know that all eras, as Detroit News columnist Rob Parker said after game 6, usually end badly. This era of Piston basketball may not be totally over, but changes are needed to alter what has become a stale act around my parts. It may start with a new coach, but this group needs a swift kick in the pants, as well. If they don't change it, don't expect even a conference final in 2009.
You are correct sir. Rasheed must go. Hamilton must go so Stuckey can play. Lindsey Hunter should go and seek an assistant coaching job elsewhere. Billups is at heart a tough player who knows how to play. Prince is a good starter as well. The Pistons should look to add 2 legitimate big men to start at 4 and 5. Maxiell adds a great deal off the bench. Ratleff is a shot blocker, with no other talents he should be designated the 10th man. The fans will know what's up when the new coach is hired. Discipline is the key to this team.
Do you think there is any coach in the league that could keep Rasheed in check? I think Phil Jackson or Greg Popovich could, but I doubt if either one of them would have him. .
And possibly Avery Johnson, because he will get in a player's face. I think he might be a good fit for the Pistons, especially if they intend to keep Rasheed.
Spurcse, I agree that a coach like Avery is the best bet for the Pistons. While Michael Curry (the rumored successor) might make a decent coach, that is not what they need at this point. Avery has more proven ability than Curry does, and has been to the Finals, something Flip couldn't claim, so he would be an ideal candidate.
Pistons need to keep there backcourt and sink there frontcourt find a relible sf and can Jarvis Hayes old wanna be Dennis Scott butt and find someone like Big Nasty a low post presents. Thats why Detroit won in 04 nough said!
Downs'
The Pistons' real problems stem from the fact that as a coach Flip Saunders couldn't motivate a gnat , let alone a team of talented players. His coaching style was archaic and so laissez-faire that it shouldn't have come as a surprise that they've failed so miserably.
I cetainly don't blame Dumars for taking the stance that he did. As to the roster itself the players became overly complacent and that was mirrored by the attitude of Saunders.
Also what the team lacks is a real vocal leader. And they severely lack that. Who can anyone point to as the real leader on this team ? It's certainly not Billups, Hamilton Prince or even Wallace himself !
On the Pistons' teams of old you knew exactly where the leadership was coming from. On this team you'd be hard pressed to say or point as to who that might be.
It's a combination of both with regard to what ails the franchise.
I am David Downs, and I'm a sports nut who loves basketball and football and am open to good discussion about any sports subject. I am a Detroit sports fan, but I not a homer. Expect frequent vents on subjects that irritate me, and also expect the utmost respect for anybody's opinion, even if they disagree with me. Because, after all, that's what these blogs are all about, aren't they?
