Trying to put a newborn to bed at 4am is a bit like watching the Pistons' game. It lasts forever, neither party wants to be there, and it ruins your day.
After suffering through this interminable season, only one question remains - is this the worst Pistons team of all time?
As much as I can't believe it, last year's dreadful squad was light-years better. They actually won 39 games and beat some solid competition in the process. They were as enjoyable to watch as QVC, but they at least occasionally got results. Scanning the Piston squads of years' past, the only incarnations that rival the ineptness of this team are 79/80 and 93/94.
The 79/80 team put up an ungodly 16-66 record. Under the "guidance" of Dick Vitale, the team featured aging All-stars Bob McAdoo and Bob Lanier, but both missed significant time. Vitale brought John Long and Terry Tyler from his University of Detroit team, and both put up solid numbers - 19ppg and 12ppg, respectively. Yet, this was a team in transition. Not even slick-shooting rookie Greg Kelser could inspire this sad sack bunch. The 16 wins landed the Pistons the first pick in the 1980 draft, but OOPS they already traded it to Boston in the Bob McAdoo deal. Ouch. Boston took that first overall pick (Joe Barry Carroll) and sent it to Golden State in exchange for their 3rd pick and Robert Parish. The 3rd pick turned into Kevin McHale. In essence, the Celtics traded damaged goods Bob McAdoo and Joe Barry Carroll for future Hall of Famers Robert Parish and Kevin McHale. That, my friends, is how dynasties are built.
The 80/81 Pistons team only won 21 games but at least jettisoned Vitale, McAdoo and Lanier to build for the future. They then drafted Isiah and Kelly Tripuka which served as the foundation for future championships.
The 93/94 team went 20-62 and featured such marquee names as Joe Dumars, Isiah Thomas, Bill Laimbeer, Sean Elliot, and Allan Houston. That's five All-star calibre players who - like today's team - did not mesh. Isiah and Laimbeer were both beaten-down and weary and retired at the end of the season. Allan Houston, a rookie, rarely saw significant minutes to showcase his scoring acumen. And Sean Elliot hated every second in Detroit. He was acquired in the Dennis Rodman trade. Spent one season with the Pistons then quickly re-signed with the Spurs where he finished his career bad-mouthing Detroit at every turn. Dumars, in his prime, was the lone bright spot, averaging 20ppg. The 20 wins landed the team the #3 pick, where they drafted Grant Hill.
This year's team already has more wins (23) than the 79/80 and 93/94 teams. Yet, nobody expected much of the 79/80 team. The 93/94 team was coming off a 40 win season, and the decline was quick and brutal, much like now. The pick of Grant Hill rejuvenated the franchise. They still had painfully few players to build around (like now), but the one young star (Hill) and the aging one (Dumars) led the team back to respectability.
In the grand scheme of things, the year's Piston team is not so bad. They're bad, but not historically bad. Unlike the 79/80 team, they at least retained their draft pick. They also have promising young players in Rodney Stuckey, Ben Gordon, and Jonas Jerebko, as well as savvy veterans like Rip and Prince. That core is too talented to reside with the NBA cellar-dwellers for long. It's a true indictment of the coaching, the injuries, or both that the team underperformed so drastically.
It's hard to say who is to blame for the Pistons. The coaching was sorely lacking last year. It was clear there was no joy on the court or on the bench. Players are the ones who execute. And when players (ahem, I'm looking at you, Rasheed) don't respect the coaching, it's obvious which can't be good for the team or the locker room. It's a vicious cycle...Larry Brown and Rick Carlisle seemed to be able to handle the team...Flip and Curry didn't. What can Q do to get the best from his team and put them in positions to succeed? At the same time, can Q make the shots for BG or CV?
ReplyDeleteQ seemed to have the respect of the players until the losing streak last December.
ReplyDeleteMost coaches lose the team after a 13 game losing streak. Can't really blame Q too much. He was dealt a rough hand. Unlike with Curry, I wouldn't HATE if Q came back for a second try. I also wouldn't be disappointed if Dumars brought in a crusty veteran coach to whip these guys into shape.
I just hope it's not a West-coast minded offensive guru. That's been Dumars' biggest mistake. The Pistons should never be an offense-first team. Their identity - like the Pittsburgh Steelers - should always be defense and toughness. That's what will lead to wins and put butts back in the seats. It's a mentality that the city can relate to.