Poor Joe Dumars

He's the face of the organization. He's the public figure who fans rail against, Millen-style, when things go wrong. He's made some terrible decisions as a GM. He's also made some incredibly shrewd acquisitions & picks, including the best deadline-day trade of the last ten years.

In effect, Joe's human. Some good moves, some bad moves. For a glorious seven years, he had the Pistons as true contenders. Not many NBA teams have that sort of staying power. Obviously, the wheels came off once he traded Chauncey. It was inevitable. The players were getting older, more content, and the league was changing around them, catering to more offense-minded teams. Through it all, though, Dumars made moves. He was never afraid to shake things up.

He traded away Jerry Stackhouse. He fired Rick Carlisle. He signed Lindsey Hunter, then traded him, then signed him again. He picked up Dice. He let Ben Wallace walk, then brought him back. He extended Rip, then inked BG and CV. There was always movement.

Until Bill Davidson died.

How important is an owner? In this case, it's the most important thing in the world. The current owner, Karen Davidson, essentially killed any chance the Pistons had at a trade. She refuses to take on any more salary. For the Pistons, they're stuck with too many high-priced guards. Other teams would gladly take them off the Pistons' books, but only if the Pistons take salary in exchange. It's the price Dumars must pay for the poor decisions. There's no way a team would give up a valuable draft pick for the steep Hamilton and Gordon contracts.

So, without financial wiggle room, Dumars was forced to into an impossible spot... at least with regard to Rip, BG, and CV. Dumars' goal is always to improve the team. Apparently, none of the trade offers last night offered improvement.

Of the trade offers made public, none really excited me. It's just sad that we, as fans, are stuck with this current roster for a few more months. The team is as listless as a three-toed sloth:

Friends, it's a bad situation. Yet, let's not crucify Joe D. I have no doubt he desperately wanted to dump these guys and atone for some bad moves. But he's got to wait until he's no longer answering to Karen Davidson.

The team of yesterday, today

Piston for life
Check out ESPN's list of all the trades. You'll notice that no Piston is in that list. This is sad, sad news, folks. The fact that the Pistons made no trades is almost unbelievable. With such chaos in that locker-room, Joe Dumars still could not pull the trigger on any deal.

Apparently, Dumars almost sent Hamilton and a protected pick to Cleveland. In return, the Cavs would buy out Hamilton's contract. Yet, Hamilton did not accept Cleveland's buyout terms. So we get to see Hamilton's sulking face for the rest of the season. Yippee!

I guess I can understand Dumars' intentions. He believes that Tayshaun has value with the expiring contract. In his mind, he can get more in return via a sign-and-trade. As for Hamilton, his value over time will actually increase because the dollars remaining contract will get smaller and smaller.

One thing I don't understand, though, is why Dumars didn't deal McGrady. With his improved play this season (and expiring, low-cost contract), I would imagine a contender would drool at the chance to pick him up, possibly in exchange for a 1st rounder. That may seem like a steep price for T-Mac, but the contender pick would be a very low 1st rounder. Those dudes rarely pan out (see: Jason Maxiell). Maybe Dumars actually wants to re-sign T-Mac this offseason. I can't imagine T-Mac would return to this circus.

End of the line

Today is the NBA trade deadline.

Every player on the roster, save Greg Monroe (who poured in 27 points last night with 12 boards), could be moved. Despite the horrible season, stifling chemistry, and general crap-vibe around the Palace, the Pistons are strangely quiet. No rumors. Nothing but this small story that Dallas wants Prince. Apparently, Dumars rejected every prior offer. After Prince's comments and poor play recently (ZERO pts last two games!), perhaps Dumars will reconsider. Unfortunately for Prince, the Pistons, and their fans, Prince injured his back last night. This is the worst possible development. Couldn't he have waited one more game to get injured?

That leaves Richard Hamilton as the most likely candidate to move. Chris Iott of MLive is not holding out hope. There's no doubt that this team desperately needs something to happen. The fanbase is demoralized as much as the players. Even the ever-positive Charlie V contributed to the negativity. He didn't directly insult the coach, but he did "re-tweet" a follower's message: "Q doesn't put you guys in the best position to win."

I suppose this is business as usual at the Palace.

Interestingly, hoopsworld posted yesterday that teams are actually asking about Ben Gordon (and Prince and McGrady). Yet, it appears Dumars is hesitant to trade him. If this is actually the case - and not just a rumor - Dumars should be fired on the spot. I love Dumars as a player, but come on. Few players personify the failure of this team more than Little Ben. The scoring acumen and killer instinct he displayed with the Bulls is nowhere to be found. It's time to cut ties and remove that contract from the books.

Tigers

In happier news... Miguel Cabrera. I haven't heard his name mentioned in at least two days!

***

Update: Dumars turned down Caron Butler and Dallas's 1st round pick in exchange for Tayshaun. Caron Butler has an expiring contract, and he's out for the season. He'd likely never play as a Piston. But they would get a late first rounder. Dumars feels Tayshaun is more valuable during the off-season in a sign-and-trade.

The Art of Player Potential

Just try to gauge my potential
As a continuation of yesterday's post breaking down the Piston's roster, I'm going to delve a bit deeper into player potential. This was inspired by Cliff's Notes comment yesterday:

Can you win a championship with Stuckey and Monroe as your top two players? Of course not. Can you win a championship with them as your #5 and #6?

I suppose the bigger question is "How do you build a champion team?" There's of course no answer to this question. It's impossible to tell which players will evolve into an All-star or, God help us, a Hall of Famer. Occasionally, there will be a can't-miss prospect like Lebron James. Yet, I should also point out that Greg Oden was considered a rare "every ten years" dominant talent as well. It's no exact science, but, heck, even science isn't an exact science.

A few years ago, I happened upon this method for classifying hockey prospects. In general, it's a system that assigns each prospect a number from 1 through 10. A player who receives a 1 is considered a player who, at best, will pan out into a career minor leaguer. A 10 is a "Generational Talent" aka Wayne Gretzky.

What I like about this system is that it attempts to measure potential or, as I often call it, a player's ceiling. Often, of course, the system is way off. I remember when Johan Franzen was first signed to the Wings. After playing his entire career in Sweden, the North American analysts did not have much to go on. They looked at his bulky frame, methodical skating, and solid defensive-awareness and thought - 3rd line grinder and assigned him a "6". What the scouts didn't see was an amazingly hard and accurate shot that would propel Franzen into an elite NHL scorer. Combine that with his bulky frame and defensive-awareness and you've got a potential All-star (8).

More often than not, though, the scouts are fairly accurate. Coming into the season, the top Red Wing prospect was Jakub Kindl at an 8.0. Yet, they also assigned him a "C" - which meant he "ultimately may not reach his potential". No Red Wing prospects received the higher grade of A (potential guaranteed) or B (should reach potential). A player like Darren Helm would be a good example of a 6-A. The 6 isn't a terribly high number, but, with his speed and tenacity, he's all-but-guaranteed to reach his potential as an NHL 3rd liner. In many respects, he's more valuable than someone like Petr Klima, who I would've classified as a 9-D. Incredible potential - almost no chance of reaching it due to attitude/brain-farts.

In basketball, it's a bit more tricky. Teams are far more reliant upon a 9 or 10 level talent. The elite players can carry a team to greatness, while partnered with 5s and 6s. The 2004 Pistons aside, teams with 7s and 8s usually don't fare as well. So, every NBA GM is looking for the 9. That's why we've got big time busts like Darko and Kwame Brown. Players with their size and athletic ability do not come around often. They've got no ceiling. So GMs take a chance and draft them ahead of more reliable picks like Wade or Shane Battier.

On the Pistons roster, the young prospects are a mixed bunch. Do they have any 9s? Let's take a look:

Greg Monroe - Fluid player with good instincts. He's found success in his rookie season due to solid rebounding and opportunistic scoring. As a starter, he's a double-double threat every game, despite never being the focal point on offense. The problem with his game is explosion. As a low-post player, he doesn't have the legs to burst toward the net like Carlos Boozer or Dwight Howard. He's a more cerebral player like Rasheed, who looks to pass first. Yesterday I compared Monroe to Lamarcus Aldridge (an 8). That's his ceiling, though it's more likely he'll stay just a role player. Without the physical tools, he won't be a 9. But he's shown vast improvement in his short rookie campaign and proved many doubters wrong.

Potential - 8-C

Austin Daye - He's a project. In many ways, he's the Petr Klima of the Pistons. Daye is blessed with incredible finesse and ball-skills for a 6'11 player. His instincts for scoring are incredible, and he has the smoothest release on the team. Yet, he's still raw and prone to mistakes. He doesn't have a high basketball IQ - meaning he doesn't see plays forming. He's often caught out-of-position, reacting too late. Regardless, he's blossomed into a decent bench player this season, and he's hit a handful of clutch shots already in his young career. Not rattled in crunch time. For player comparisons, I've often cited Danny Granger (an 8). Granger and Daye have incredible range and shooting prowess. I'd love to see Daye get to his level, but hope rarely translates to reality.

Potential - 8-C

Jonas Jerebko - Gotta give the Pistons' brass credit for unearthing this dude in the 2nd round. Who knew a Swedish baller could not only make an NBA team but actually start? Based on his rookie season, Jerebko was awkward on offense but a willing and capable defender. He patterned his game after Ben Wallace, and his wiry frame and athleticism often reminded me of Rodman. Late in the season, he became a semi-reliable 3pt threat. His release is clunky, so I doubt he'll ever shoot a high percentage.

Potential - 7-B

Will Bynum - Spark plug. He's like Vinnie Johnson when he enters the game. No player on the team attacks the rim with as much passion and skill. Unlike Stuckey, Bynum finishes at a better clip, though his outside shot is a work-in-progress. As a point guard, Bynum is shoot-first, though he's a capable passer as well. His ceiling is quite high due to his drive, athleticism, and knack for finishing. Yet, his small size and inconsistency have held him back. In a perfect world, he's Tony Parker, Steve Nash. Not likely at all... but there's a chance. And that's what this exercise is all about.

Potential - 8-D

Rodney Stuckey - He's a bit on on the old side for this exercise. He's been in the league a while, and I think we all know what he's capable of. I don't think he'll ever be an All-star. His best talent is scoring, but he doesn't do enough of it to warrant much acclaim. He's an okay player, who has the potential to be a good player. For the remainder of his career, I don't expect him to move too far up or too far down the charts.

Potential - 7-B

Conclusion - The Pistons don't have any 9s. They don't even have a 9-D (someone like the post-injury Greg Oden). They do have a handful of 8s, but the chances of Daye, Monroe, or Bynum panning out are quite low. The team would be fortunate for just one to make it, but it would take all three for them to become a real contender. For the 2004-05 seasons, the entire starting five were 8s, with Ben Wallace getting a 9 when this guy came out.

So, while I talk about rebuilding, it's ultimately just a pipe dream. The roster just doesn't have the talent or potential.

Fix the Pistons (please)

For the 4th most popular team in Detroit to be headline news is quite an accomplishment. People don't expect much from the Detroit Pistons, but their dreadful play the past two weeks received some notice. On February 8th, the Pistons lost a nip-and-tuck game to the Spurs. No major shock there. The Spurs are the best team in the league, and the Pistons actually had a chance to win before succumbing to their usual late-game miscues. They then traveled to Cleveland and eked out a win to continue Cleveland's losing streak. The next three games were at home, and, if the Pistons were going to make any run at the playoffs, this would be the time.

To not make the playoffs in the Eastern Conference would be quite an embarrassment. The fact that the Pistons, with their awful record, could even conceive of a playoff run is a testament to the lack of quality teams. In fact, when the coaches picked the All-star reserves for the East, only three teams were represented.

The Pistons opened their home-stand with a blowout loss to Miami. The game was over by the 1st quarter. They then lost to an undermanned Portland team - a game in which Kuester mysteriously subbed out Will Bynum late in 4th quarter, after Bynum repeatedly created both turnovers on defense and points on offense. Kuester's move prompted his assistant coach, Darrell Walker, to audibly criticize the move. Ironically, it was Stuckey, not Bynum, who later got into it with Kuester (once again). Following the Portland loss, the Pistons decided to at least make a token appearance on the court in a blowout loss Atlanta. The players didn't care. Minutes after the game, T-Mac tweeted about Valentines day. The team's slogan is a joke:

Now that Rip Hamilton is out with an injury, that storyline no longer distracts from the poor product on the court. With such a bleak future, it's clear the team is now Lionized.

There aren't many new faces on this roster. Most players have had a long run with the organization. It's time for some changes. In the salary cap era, how much change is possible? Let's take a look...

Starters:

Ben Wallace - Under contract next season for $2.2M. He has a tradeable salary, and a contender may actually want his still tenacious rebounding and defense. At 36, he's clearly not the same Defensive Player of the Year, but he's not embarrassing himself either. With all the drama on the Piston roster, Ben often offers the lone voice of reason (and levity). Despite his tradeable salary, I doubt the Pistons would get anything of equal value in return.

Verdict: Keep him.

Greg Monroe - The past three games, he averaged 7 points and 4 boards. It's possible he's hit the dreaded "Rookie Wall". My guess is that it's a combination of fatigue, lethargy from the losing, and general confusion from being associated with this disjointed lot. Obviously, he's one of the few bright spots on this roster and cornerstone for the future. The Pistons got a look at Lamarcus Aldridge on Sunday - a player that Monroe should emulate. Aldridge has the inside/outside game that can drive opponents crazy (like the Pistons who have allowed 40pts/game from him the last two seasons). He's a far cry from Aldridge, but the kid can grow.

Verdict - Keep him.

Tayshaun Prince - Expiring contract - free agent. I'm torn about this guy. With the walls crumbling around him, he tries so hard. I may be in the minority here, but I think the Pistons should hold onto him. Despite being the player who would bring the most value in a trade, I believe Tay is the type of player the Pistons should use as the model for the franchise. He's only 30 and has shown leadership qualities this season. If the Pistons want to build around a player, this is the friggin' guy. Despite the slow-it-down, unflashy offensive game, he does the little things that help a team win. It's an intangible quality. Unless Dumars is offered an All-star or lottery pick in return, Dumars should...

Verdict - Keep him.

Rodney Stuckey - Expiring contract - restricted free agent. The Pistons could match any offer in the offseason. Should they? The kid improved his jump shot. He plays solid defense. He's an excellent free throw shooter. He's a good ballhandler, and he attacks the rim willingly. Unfortunately, he can't finish. As a point guard, he lacks the ability to make those around him better. He doesn't have that innate ability to see plays developing. As a shooting guard, his skills are a better fit. Yet, this is a team with already too many 2-guards. And unlike Tay, he doesn't do the little things that help a team win. He never gets that key shot or key steal or block. If the Pistons let him go, I wouldn't be surprised to see him blossom into a 20pt/game player. With Detroit, the circus atmosphere and coaching carousel hindered his development. He needs a change of scenery as much as anyone.

Verdict - Trade him.

Tracy McGrady - Expiring contract - free agent. Only Jerebko, Summers, and White make less money than T-Mac. To say he's a tradeable commodity is an understatement. The former scoring champion's rebirth has gone exactly according to plan. He's stayed healthy and showed flashes of greatness. He certainly won't be pouring in 30/night anymore, but he's reborn as a point guard. His high basketball IQ and passing ability in effect outted Stuckey as a sub-par 1-guard. I wouldn't hate for the Pistons to keep him around, but this team doesn't have that luxury. My guess is the Pistons could land a late 1st rounder for T-Mac.

Verdict - Trade him.

Subs:

Ben Gordon - Under contract for 3 more seasons for $37M. Ouch. No player has disappointed the organization more than Ben Gordon. Little Ben can complain (which he hasn't) about a lack of a defined role. He's shifted around from bench player to starter and back to the bench throughout the past two seasons. He's never found a groove. Yet, he's had ample opportunities to seize the starting spot, and he's never found the consistent shooting rhythm he displayed in Chicago. He's a dreadful fit in Detroit. He's lost his mojo. And the Pistons can't get rid of him quick enough. I'd say he has an untradeable contract, but the Raptors found a way to unload an equally bad contract in Hedo Turkoglu. And the Wizards unloaded an even worse contract in Gilbert Arenas. So it's possible. My guess is that other GMs in the league still believe Gordon has value, but Dumars will have to work hard to find a taker. Don't expect anything in return.

Verdict - Trade him, dear God, trade him.

Charlie Villanueva - Under contract for 3 more seasons for $24M. He's carried the inconsistency tag around his entire career, and this season is no different. He started the season on fire, and there were rumblings of a potential 6th Man of the Year award. Then Kuester opted to move him into the starting lineup, and CV's numbers plummeted. He hasn't scored 20 points since December. For a guy who has the green light to shoot anywhere, anytime, that's quite sad. Despite his failings as a player, there's something about his personality that I like. I think he's, in general, a good dude. Unlike Ben Gordon, I don't think he has the respect of GMs around the league, so my guess is he'd be harder to unload. If I were Joe, I'd certainly listen to offers, but I can't imagine any would come. At $8M/year, his contract isn't horrible, IF he finds his groove again as the 6th man. CV embraces that role. The next coach should not tinker with it.

Verdict - Keep him (no other choice).

Will Bynum - Under contract for 2 more seasons for $7M. Like all the bench players, Bynum's minutes have been all over the map. One game he'll get a DNP-CD, and the next he'll come on in the 4th quarter and steal the win (see Phoenix, 1/22). Like CV, he's inconsistent, but I think his inconsistency is more attributable to injuries. He's healthy again, and the Pistons should exploit that. He's a perfect back-up point guard. He comes in against the subs and creates havoc. He can score, pass, and play decent defense against smallish guards. His salary is sound, and he seems to play every game with a chip on his shoulder. Perfect.

Verdict - Keep him.

Austin Daye - Under contract for $2M next season with a team option for $3M the following season. As I've discussed many times before, I believe this kid has a high ceiling as a scorer. He's the best pure shooter on the team. As a lanky 6'11 guard, he could cause major problems on both ends of the court. Like Greg Monroe, he's still learning the NBA game. He's far from polished. Someone like Stuckey was more NBA-ready. Yet, with such a high ceiling, the Pistons aren't in a position to let someone like Daye walk. They've got to groom him as much as possible. If the team keeps Prince, which I advocate, that may hinder Daye's minutes. But I believe he's just as valuable as a 2-guard. The minutes should be there for him to develop as a 20-minute/night bench player the next two seasons.

Verdict - Keep him.

Rip Hamilton - Under contract for two more seasons for $25M. I believe he's got skills, but apparently nobody wants him. His contract isn't nearly as bad as we're led to believe. For the right team, he could come in and light up the scoreboard. I'm pretty surprised Dumars hasn't found a willing taker. If Dumars miraculously deals Ben Gordon and Rodney Stuckey and then fires John Kuester, I suppose it's possible Hamilton could make a grand return to the Pistons. And I think most fans would welcome him back. The chances of all that happening, though, is remote. His time as a Piston is likely over. Like Stuckey, he desperately needs a change of scenery.

Verdict - Trade him.

Jason Maxiell - Under contract for two more seasons for $10M. This is one of Joe D's worst contracts. Maxiell is certainly not worth $5M per season, and I can't believe Dumars will find a GM that will ever take this contract off his hands. Maxiell's play has diminished greatly this season, after numerous opportunities to seize the starting role. He's just not a reliable NBA player. If at all possible, the Pistons should consider buying out his contract and opening a roster spot for somebody new.

Verdict - Buy-out contract and release.

Chris Wilcox - Expiring contract - free agent. I've actually enjoyed watching Wilcox play this season. He's wiry and athletic and not a horrible offensive player. On the defensive end, he's shown a willingness to get in people's faces. Unfortunately, he's just not that good. There's a reason that opposing big men regularly tear the Pistons apart (see Aldridge, Lamarcus and Smith, Josh), and Wilcox is part of that problem (so is Greg Monroe unfortunately). The Pistons would be best served to trade his contract or simply let him walk in the offseason. My guess is that, if Dumars is able to find a taker for Hamilton or Gordon, Wilcox will be the throw-in.

Verdict - Trade him, or, failing that, let him walk.

Jonas Jerebko - Expiring contract - restricted free agent. Like Tay, Jerebko's value can't be quantified. He seems to have that innate ability to be in the right place at the right time. For a guy with unwieldy skills, he's a winner, much like Dennis Rodman. He's not quite as wiry as Rodman (not many are), but he's got a far superior shot. Jerebko could develop into a dominant rebounder and decent scorer. He won't be an All-star, but he could be a reliable starter on a good team. It's a shame he lost this entire season. The Pistons are low on big men, and can't afford to let this kid walk. My guess is that, despite his injury, other teams will definitely make inquiries this offseason.

Verdict - Re-sign him.

John Kuester - He's effectively implemented gameplans against Carmelo and Dwight Howard. Yet, his inability to handle personnel is his undoing. Too much water under the bridge.

Verdict - Fire him.

In a perfect world, the Pistons would return Big Ben, Monroe, Tay, CV, Bynum, Daye, and Jerebko. Unloading the other players would free up $28M (not counting Maxiell's proposed buy-out). Next year's team would be extremely thin. They'd need to find a point guard, but they may get by with Big Ben as the center for one final season. It would be another lottery-bound team, but at least they'd be on the right path.

Tigers defrosting

My back yard

I saw an ad on Fox Sports Detroit last night for the upcoming Tiger season. It was a series of time-lapse photos of Comerica Park, watching the ice and snow melt into Spring. The tagline said, "It's almost here."

As I walked past the five-foot high snow bank in -10°F this morning, I can honestly say that commercial is total BS. Spring is as distant to me as the Pulitzer Prize is to blogging. Yet, it is indeed true that catchers and pitchers report to Lakeland on Sunday. While we fend off frostbite and Seasonal Affective Disorder, the Tigers will spend the next seven interminable weeks playing ball in Florida.

Despite not playing since October, the team rarely spent much time out of the news. Recently, Michael Young of the Rangers demanded a trade, and Tiger fans around the world wondered how the former All-star would look in the old English D. Young's contract states that he can turn down a trade to all but 8 teams, and the Tigers aren't one of the 8 (are they ever?). With Dombrowski saying the Tigers are set at 2nd base, it's time to stop dreaming of a Michael Young trade. I admit I did entertain the thought. With Carlos Guillen's injury problems and Will Rhymes inexperience, I figured Young would be a definite upgrade. What team couldn't use a career .300 hitter with power, who's also a Gold Glove winner?

Yet, a closer look at his 2010 stats reveal a troubling trend. At home, Young hit .307 with 16 HRs. Away, he hit .260, with just 5 dingers. That's the way it's been most of his career. Perhaps DD was wise to avoid this costly mistake. Besides, I dig Will Rhymes and his funky hair.

In other Tiger speculation, I concocted my own trade scenario last week, after hearing of Andy Pettitte's retirement. Yankee fans' quickly coined the term "Sabathia and Hughes and then we lose." The quote, by the way, is a witty update on the classic Spahn, Sain, and pray for rain. Bottom line is the Yankees need pitching. While the Tigers do not have a glut of pitching, they do have a glut of right handers. I was thinking perhaps a Porcello for Granderson swap. The Yankees must be disappointed in Granderson after a meager .247 last season. And the Tigers are surely disappointed in Porcello after such a promising rookie campaign. I, for one, have little confidence that Porcello will regain that rookie sharpness, and the Tigers desperately need a corner outfielder. Leyland has tremendous faith in Ryan Raburn in left field... and Leyland and Raburn's mom are about the only true believers. I'm a fan of Raburn as a part-time player, but giving him the keys to left field is a recipe for disaster. Granderson is a far superior glove and bat. Can the Tigers afford to give up a pitcher for a bat, though?

Mrs. Nofrownmotown says no. She thinks the Tigers should only deal Porcello for another pitcher, and she's probably right. The Tigers' farm system isn't exactly stocked with strong arms. They've got Jacob Turner, Andrew Oliver, and... ??? Not exactly a King's ransom. (If interested, here's a list of the Tigers' top prospects.) Porcello needs to stay if only as another arm to test on the mound. There's a chance he could be great, and the Tigers can't afford to throw that chance away... at least not yet. So, my hopes of bringing back the great Granderson must wait.

At this point, it's doubtful DD will swing any more moves. Tiger fans can look forward to a starting rotation of Verlander, Scherzer, Porcello, Coke, and Penny. Not much margin for error. Like last season, there are a ton of question marks. Which Porcello will show up? Can Coke handle life as a starter? Can Penny stay healthy? And Scherzer is no sure-thing either. He had an absolutely dominant run of games after May. Can he do it for a full season? If everything pans out, this team will be in the playoffs. If not... at least Dombrowski will have a moderate payroll with which to make moves.

Super (Ad) Bowl

Yes, there was a game, but for a Detroiter, with only a passing rooting interest, I was significantly more interested in the ads. They offer more entertainment value per second. Last year, I was a big fan of the Google commercial:

This year, there was no clear stand-out. For sheer originality, I dug both the Coke spots. First, the Lord of the Rings-inspired castle seige. And later, with the two guards sharing a coke. Coke deserves major kudos for creating memorable ads with absolutely zero dialog.

Another keeper was the Volkswagon ad with the kid running around as Darth Vader:

Volkswagon was wise to capitalize on the cute-factor of a kid dressed up as Darth Vader. Yet, the winner for me was one that I actually missed during the telecast. It was the 2nd Eminem commercial. The first was Em hawking Brisk (which I also liked -- "Wow, this isn't bad!"). The second was Em serving as the face and identity of our fare city:

Ultimately, I'm a homer. This ad captures all that's cool about Detroit - attitude, grit, cars, great music, and no smiles. For the first time in quite a while, we can all stand-up and cheer Chrysler. Well done.

This is just stupid

The good news is that the Pistons beat the Nets last night, with Greg Monroe playing the best game of his young career. The bad news is that Rip Hamilton was suspended. As Ben Wallace said, "it's personal."

I suppose it's always been personal. Yet, Kuester won't talk about it. As fans, we're left to dig through nebulous quotes and half-speak from players. We know Ben's pissed. So is Tayshaun. The young guys likely just want to move on. I suppose we all do.

I wonder if this situation would even be possible with an owner in place. I have no doubt that this level of drama would not happen under Bill Davidson's watch. That dude saw his share of drama, but personnel issues were handled relatively swiftly (see: Carlisle, Rick and Rodman, Dennis). With no owner, it's possible Dumars can't fire Kuester. And without a trade partner, he can't trade Hamilton. Thanks, 'Melo. I suppose that's the second time 'Melo screwed the Pistons this season. It's as if he's still pissed that the Pistons took Darko over him. Haven't we paid enough? After turning down the NJ trade, 'Melo then set a nice moving pick and injured Stuckey.

Regardless, it's not 'Melo's fault that Kuester and Hamilton can't communicate. To me, they both suck. My theory is that Kuester suspended Hamilton because Hamilton called in sick the past four games. Because only Hamilton will talk about the situation, he surprisingly comes off as the good guy. If this thing continues to drag on, it can only get worse. It'll become an even larger distraction for the players who are actually trying to win games. What a shame.

It seems impossible at this point, but I still hold out hope that Gordon gets traded instead of Hamilton. That, of course, will require a team to take Gordon's salary, and it will also require Kuester to get sent packing. He'll never play Hamilton again, so a new coach is necessary. Like I said, it's close to impossible, but a boy can hope.

On the positive front, Greg Monroe notched 20 and 10 last night. It was notable also because he did it against 3rd overall pick Derrick Favors. Nice.

Sad

Were the Pistons seeing double?
Please let it end. Last night, the Pistons lost to a dreadful team (Charlotte) in an empty Palace. To make matters worse, the organization gave away **free** tickets, and still nobody showed up. True, there was a snowstorm earlier in the day, but I have no doubt that - if the Lions, Tigers, or Wings gave away free tickets - twenty feet of snow couldn't keep people away. There's just no excitement with this team. After performances like last night, it's easy to see why.

They often give decent effort, on offense at least. Tracy McGrady runs the team fairly well. But, for some reason, the Pistons go through a stretch every game when the opposition just cuts them up like a hot knife through butter. The Pistons will carry a 6 or 8 point lead, and then BOOM. The other team will blitz them for 20, turning the game into a rout. Last night was the perfect example. Playing a road-weary Bobcats team, the rested Pistons came out of the gate shooting 39%. For the defense-challenged Pistons, that's not a recipe for success. Regardless, they were only down 3 at the break. In the 3rd, the Pistons looked to seize control of the game, running out to an 8 point lead. Yet, one particular play seemed to sway the momentum. Ben Gordon pounced on a loose-ball. He raced toward the opponent's basket. Instead of dunking or trying for a layup, he dished it off to Prince on the wing, with the defense barreling down on them. Prince had no option but to hold up and work an off-balance shot from the half-court. Charlotte responded by scoring on 8 straight possessions.

The Pistons 8 point lead morphed into an 18 point deficit, as Charlotte went on a 36-10 run.

It was ugly. Stephen Jackson finished the night with a season-high 39 points. Ex-Piston Kwame Brown, apparently feeling slighted by the Pistons for not giving him more minutes, displayed energy and determination on his way to a double-double. My guess is he'll quickly find his way back to the bench. Kwame might hold a grudge against Detroit, but he's got a selective memory. He had plenty of chances to win minutes the past two seasons, but he only seemed to bring his A-game against his former employers. Apparently that hasn't changed.

Still, it's quite an indictment on the Piston frontcourt that even Kwame Brown is having career games against them. Greg Monroe, for all the goodwill he's brought to the team, can't do it alone. Chris Wilcox notched only a handful of somewhat effective minutes. But the bench brigade of Ben Wallace and Charlie V got torched. And T-Mac struggled containing Stephen Jackson. In fact, the entire team struggled against that dude. As Justin Rogers pointed out on mLive, even career 40% shooters can thrash you if they're faced with no defensive pressure.

So what's it gonna take with this team? The Era of Good Feelings lasted about two weeks. It's clear that simply benching Rip is not the answer. The team still sucks. The Bobcats were headed the same direction earlier this season until head coach Larry Brown "resigned." Under new head coach Paul Silas, they're 12-8. Perhaps Dumars took note of that.

Q Should Go

Happier times

Since the benching of Richard Hamilton, the Pistons are more competitive. Coach Kuester can at least rest easy on that front. With so many shooting guards, it was impossible to balance all the egos. Besides, basketball is a game where depth doesn't always serve as an advantage. Often, players need time to find their rhythm. Not every player can come off the bench and drill jumpers like this man. So it makes sense that opening up minutes for a smaller core of players will improve the output.

But two problems remain. The first is that the team still sorta sucks. They're competitive on most nights, but, if the team isn't shooting 50%, they're in trouble. They don't have the defensive prowess to overcome poor shooting. Having watched this Piston incarnation for close to two years, I'm not sure it's an effort issue. The players do seem to try (Kuester can feel good about that one), but the team was so poorly constructed that they can't physically match up with a solid frontcourt. The losses are piling up.

The second problem is the method in which Kuester handled the Hamilton situation. His decision to bench him makes sense. Yet, as a leader, Kuester should've taken Hamilton aside and told him face-to-face of his decision. Hamilton is a proud player, but deep down he must know that he's tanked quite a few games this year. Three ejections? That's irrefutable proof of an unfocused mind. His actions often sabotaged his play. It makes sense. The dude is unhappy and lashing out. Every other player found time on the bench this season. This was Rip's turn. Yet, Kuester did not discuss anything with Hamilton. He simply benched him.

When Kuester did eventually reach out, Kuester sent his head of security to fetch him. Hamilton was offended and turned down the invitation. Already smarting from the blow to the ego from the benching, how did Kuester expect Hamilton to respond? Sending someone else to do the dirty work was like rubbing salt in the wound. It was an unprofessional move by Kuester. And Hamilton has responded in kind -- by basically calling in sick for the past week.

With Stuckey injured, the Pistons are short one shooting guard. Against the Heat and Knicks, the Pistons could've used Rip off the bench. Instead, they opted for Dajuan Summers. In a perfect world, Rip would come off the bench, partner with Will Bynum, and drain mid-range jumpers. That, of course, would require both Kuester and Rip to swallow their pride. At this point, their fracture appears irreparable. And, for me, this is the last straw with Kuester. His in-game management is sketchy-at-best (though his final play against the Heat was great, despite not actually working). As a coach, Kuester lacks charisma. And his management of personnel (specifically with Rip) resulted in the most public display of dysfunction for an organization with a long history of dysfunction.

It's time for Kuester to go.

An easy solution would be for Dumars to name Brian Hill interim coach. Hill may not have any more success with this bunch than Kuester, but he at least drove a team to the playoffs on a number of occasions. This team needs a change, desperately. With no Hamilton trade on the horizon, the team needs some semblance of resolution. And they can actually use him with Stuckey out. Dump Kuester. Promote Hill. Coddle Rip. And see what happens.

This plan of attack basically makes Kuester the scapegoat, but that's the way of life in the NBA. The players always win.