0-4(ever)

Last night the Pistons were thoroughly tossed around and manhandled by a veteran-laden Celtic squad that very much resembles the Pistons of three years ago. It's true. It was only a few years ago that the Pistons were squashing the pawns of the NBA with their efficient, calculated offense and swarming defense. They were elite, but we could all see they were on the downside of a fantastic run. The Celtics did not change much in the offseason. They are still a top-tier team, but, barring a massive rebirth from Garnett, they won't win a title.

Of course, that didn't matter last night. The Celtics used and abused the Pistons like Tyson versus Glass Joe. It was such a thorough demolition that I was left wondering if the Pistons may have actually regressed from last year's inept squad. I fear it's true. I think they're actually worse. Guys like Stuckey, Charlie V, and Gordon still put out the same effort, but I think Prince and, especially, Big Ben don't care anymore. Their heart is not in it. When Tay was on the court, the Pistons were outscored by a shocking 27 points. The dude's a good player, but he's got to be wondering how his great life turned so sour. In a sign of how far things have fallen, the once stoic, quiet Price found himself arguing with hecklers during the game. Wha?!

I predicted that the Pistons may go 0-for-November. They're well on their way. We all figured this season could be ugly, but did we really think it would be this bad? This soon? Chris Iott from MLive sees the Pistons as a team on the brink. John Niyo of the Detroit News says they're a team in crisis. Yes, they're just 4 games into an 82 games season, but, perhaps due to the gut-wrenching ways they've lost the first three games, they've got nothing left to play for. The losses sapped all the good will. They know the team's not going to the playoffs. Most of the good pieces will be traded. And Kuester will get fired. So why care?

One small positive from last night was the play of Greg Monroe. On the surface, it was a poor game - the dude was 0-6 from the field. Yet, in his first meaningful minutes of the season, Monroe pulled down 10 boards in just 18 minutes. He limited his fouls and picked up two assists. And, most importantly, he brought some much needed energy to the court. It was pretty sweet seeing the Pistons trot out a big man with some hop in his step. He outhustled the Celtics on a handful of boards and showed no fear going to the basket. His shot selection was obviously poor, but that will improve with time. It was the same way in the rookie league. He began the season not knowing his limitations and eventually settled into a groove. With a team and fanbase desperately needing something to look forward to, the answer - at least right now - should be Greg Monroe. Play the kid. Let's see what he's got. If nothing else, he's got youthful enthusiasm. The Pistons right now are the oldest young team in the NBA.

And Austin Daye finally found the net. He shot 50% from the field - 16pts, 5 reb, and 2 turns. For me, it's pretty clear. The 2010-11 season should be about Austin Daye, Greg Monroe, and Stuckey. The Pistons' hope for the future hinges on their development.