Even the Knicks know the Pistons are doing it wrong
by Matt Watson on Mar 4, 2010 4:49 AM EST
in Detroit Pistons Recaps
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PrintHow bad have things gotten? On the heels of a 31-point loss to the Cavs, the Knicks came out and destroyed the Pistons 124-103. After the game, Mike D'Antoni, who's been at the helm the last two years as the Knicks have shamelessly tossed aside the present for a mere chance that a superstar or two might be enticed into moving to New York this summer, turned his nose at Detroit's self-inflicted predicament:
The Pistons are the example the Knicks can't afford to follow. Detroit used the money it freed up in last season's franchise-altering, Chauncey Billups-Allen Iverson deal to sign Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva, good players who aren't even starters.
``I don't want to point them out, but we don't want to get stuck in mediocrity and we could have done that,'' D'Antoni said before the game. ``We could've put a Band-Aid on some holes and be more competitive and right now that seems like a good idea, even to me, because we have to go through this. But this summer would not have been a good idea.''
The true irony, of course, is that making moves last summer hasn't made the Pistons more competitive! After losing on Wednesday, the Pistons (21-40) are officially worse than the Knicks (21-39), who at least have a silver lining to their wretched season in the form of salary cap space.
Can New York entice LeBron James into leaving Cleveland? I personally doubt it, but it doesn't matter: even if LBJ stays in the rust belt, the Knicks will have more than enough dough to invest in true franchise building blocks.
The Pistons? I think DBB reader Bill Higgins summed it up best:
Do you guys realize we have FOUR MORE YEARS of Gordon/Villa to look forward to?
By the time those twin albatrosses are off the books, Sarah Palin could be president! Many single people on this board could be married with kids!
It’s bad, guys. I try and try to imagine how we might trade those guys, but I just can’t picture ANYONE absorbing them. Both players are so bad! And their contracts are even worse!
At this point I feel convinced that Arron Afflalo is a superior player to Gordon. It’s amazing but true: Afflalo is much bigger; he can defend; he can play within a system better; he controls the ball better and looks more mature and composed on the court. His shooting percentages are far superior too. I’m leaving out the fact that he is worlds, worlds less expensive. We gave him away for nothing!
It’s almost like Dumars did this on purpose, like when I used to play Sim City and everything was going so well that I got bored and set it so that Godzilla would show up and wreck my city. Except for Jerebko, every single decision Joe has made since the cataclysmic Chauncey trade has actively destroyed some valuable part of the team. (I don’t count re-signing Ben as a Dumars achievement because that was a 100% luck thing predicated solely on Ben’s deciding of his own accord that he wanted to return to the city and the fans that loved him.)
I'm not so jaded to think that Palin will actually be president Gordon and Villanueva won't play better over the life of their contract than they have in this injury-ravaged, dog-crap-flavored Popsicle season -- but even at their best before arriving to Detroit they've been merely complementary pieces.
Of course, a lottery pick can change everything a lot, and despite Dumars' deservedly maligned rep as an evaluator of amateur talent, there's enough depth at the top of this year's draft to think (hope?) he won't try to outsmart himself. And, to be fair, I'd be remiss not to point out that Jerebko, the lone feather in Dumars' cap over the last couple of seasons, seems to be picking up steam rather than hitting a rookie wall. In nearly 34 minutes against the Knicks, he scored 15 points with 13 boards, his second straight double-double in March after earning Rookie of the Month honors in February. But even as moral victories go, everybody's favorite Swede is but a minor salve for the raging disappointment that surrounds this season of suck.
I don't admire what the Knicks have done the last couple of years, especially when you also take into account that sheer geography has allowed the franchise to remain among the league's most profitable while (recently) competitive franchises like Detroit are in the hands of a reluctant owner hoarding cash who may or may not render all of our fandom irrelevant by selling the team to an owner who moves it out of state. (Sad to say, but if Bill Davidson were still around, there's a very good chance Avery Johnson, Amir Johnson, Arron Afflalo, the entire Detroit Shock, Tom Wilson and numerous other behind-the-scenes employees who have either been pushed out or jumped ship over the several months would all be employed by Palace Sports & Entertainment. But I digress ...)
As painful as New York's on-court situation has been to watch, at least the Knicks' faithful have always had a future to remain fixated on, a clear-cut timetable for improvement, not to mention the knowledge that the team's ownership will spare no expense to seize the opportunity when it finally presents itself.
Pistons fans? We could only be so lucky.
There is no bright and shiny future; only blinding hindsight.
There is no plan; only ping-pong balls and teenagers.
(There is no Knicks recap; only self-indulgent rants.)
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Greetings from Central Europe (poland exactly, … yes Pistons have fans there as well).
If you asked me 2-3 years ago If I trusted iDumars (his management skill set, overall long term strategy) I’d answer definitely Yes, but now, looking at rationale (or lack thereof) behind CV/BG trades the only thing I can spit out is we are in deep shit for next 4 years
word up space ghost
just got home from work and decided to check out the game. i just finished the first period and have decided to un-friend charlie v on facebook. its bitter sweet since i enjoy seeing people dog him on fb, but i cant associate with trash, cant throw my pearls to the swine.
what a disgraceful year he is having.
by dandresden on Mar 4, 2010 5:38 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
All of that is true, the only possible sliver of hope I see is
In the idea that CV and BG are doing especially badly this year because of the unbalanced roster. In other words, both would do better with an offense in which there is a legit inside threat (like CV had with Bogut in Milwaukee). And maybe Gordon would do better with more minutes, which are hard to get if you’re playing three other guards significant minutes.
But that game last night was eye-opening about how bad those guys, and the whole Detroit team, is on defense, especially without Ben.
A bleak future
When our fearless leader has had enough of this crap, I think the writing is not merely on the wall. Perhaps JoD has a plan to win back our trust. Maybe he is shafting our roster on purpose; so he can fire himself, then re-hire himself to cleanup his mess.
I really think our only hope is the lottery, thus my support for tanking. I just hate seeing our prized recruits laying more eggs than a free range chicken farm.
insert aussie stereotype here
I’d bet 2 euros Pistons would’nt loose anything without CV/BG onboard. Probably it’d be beneficial even excluding money factor.
These are not my Pistons
I only watched the 2nd half of last night’s game intently, but that was the thought that kept running through my mind. Except Ben, Jonas, and sometimes Rip, these guys just aren’t playing like Pistons, and I have a really hard time watching (or cheering, frankly) for them.
Agreed. We’re totally regressing, and pretty much every player seems to be playing below their potential. Is this as bad or worse than last season?
by garrettelliott on Mar 4, 2010 9:07 AM EST up reply actions
I've been pondering the "is this worse than last season" question too.
On the one hand, last season was painful because AI was so unlikeable, ‘Sheed had become somewhat unlikeable, Curry was generally hard to defend, and it was the first season that Detroit had been mediocre in awhile. But at least by the end of the season, we fans could say, "OK, we’re getting rid of AI and we’ll have some cap space to make some additions, and we’re going to get a better coach."
This year, there was some entertaining and even somewhat inspiring wins near the beginning of the year when we had so many guys hurt. And we could say, “wait ‘til everyone’s healthy, and wait ‘til Joe makes that next move for a big guy that it’s so frickin’ obvious he needed to make.” Now everyone is mostly healthy, but Joe never made a move and the current roster — except Ben W., JJ, and sometimes Rip — is all playing much worse than we would have even expected this unbalanced roster to play. Plus, with BG and CV doing so little/so poorly, it does cast a big pall on the future. And while the prospect of a relatively high draft choice is intriguing, who wants to watch humiliating losses?
Plus we put our fate in hands of luck (aka draft)
No sane person in multi billion business drives company in such risky way
It’s the humiliating part that gets me. I don’t mind losing right now. This team should lose, and it should send signals to our management that we need to draft wisely and trade smartly this summer. It’s the lack of defensive effort and the resulting humiliating that gets under my skin.
This isn’t Piston basketball.
this year hasnt been worse than last year ime
last year we lost quite a few games to shit teams. i was shocked when it would happen. now i have gotten over that shock and dont expect us to automatically beat teams like the clippers. also, its nice to have all the AI stuff done with. that was draining last year.
this team is pretty awful, but i havent given up hope for the future. we do have quite a bit of players that we can get rid of even if their contracts are a bit shit. i dont think cv and bg are untouchable and perhaps jod could trade one of them this summer along with either tay or rip. joe isnt great but there are lots of stupid gms out there too who might want any of these guys. we will see i guess.
very depressing
But it was all right, everything was all right, the struggle was finished. He had won the victory over himself. He loved Big Brother.
by openwindow on Mar 4, 2010 10:51 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
We've always been at war with Eastasia.
WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH
by TDP on Mar 4, 2010 4:54 PM EST up reply actions
Finding George Orwell in a Burmese Teashop
Thinking that TDP (and possibly others) may be Orwell lovers, may I recommend the above titled book by Emma Larkin? A journalist travels through Burma (where I’m now living) and looks for the clues and conditions that formed Orwell’s work and worldview. (He was stationed here in the 1920’s.) A wonderful read.
by MrHappyMushroom on Mar 4, 2010 9:22 PM EST up reply actions
Hey Matt, you should have named this article
“Pistons leave New York walking with a limp”
That way you get the continuity from the title of the game thread while also pointing out that our boys took it up the ass from the Knicks last night.
I'm just like a sports reporter, but without the insight or money.
I think we're witnessing the beginning of a freefall...
In the remaining 21 games, we play the Wizards again, Indiana twice (0-2 already against them), in New Jersey, in Philadelphia, and in Minnesota. Other than that, every other game is against a playoff team. So likely 15 losses against the good teams. Out of the six games against other crappy teams, I’d be surprised if we finished better than 3-3.
We’ll have no need to tank.
Take it one year at a time.
They could get healthy and be much better next year and yes I know that if a cup half full statement. Still the days of contending won’t be seen for awhile.
Charlie V simply doesn’t work hard enough. He has a good God given frame, but lack of much muscle definition shows he doesn’t work out hard enough. He isn’t as quick as he should be up and down the floor for only being 24. His conditioning is crap and that has led to some of his injuries.
Come back stronger than ever Brock!
I hope that if the Pistons earn a high pick rather than get one through a trade they
Don’t take a young, tall, white, foreiner. Take a guy that can step in and play now. No more projects.
Come back stronger than ever Brock!
It hurts sometimes..
to see charlie and ben play and think about all the money the Stones owe them and of all the good players we are gonna miss on free agency this year Thank god baseball is around the corner..
LEAVE BEN GORDON ALONE!
He didn’t all of a sudden become terrible upon entering his prime seasons. He’ll be fine during the contract. Still a bit overpaid, but fine.
Also, I think they should just trade everyone ahead of BG and CV if only so writers can stop making that ‘bench player’ argument.
USE THE SOFTWARE. Actions-> Rec/Flag. Reply to comments with the reply button. Rec good fanposts/fanshots so the crud gets pushed down.
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Mar 4, 2010 10:15 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
I do not understand your fascination with Ben Gordon nor your need to defend him. Not trying to troll you or anything. You’re a very respectful commenter/blogger from an opposing team, and I respect you for being that way. That said, I just don’t get why you’re defending Gordon right now.
Gordon has played like crap while wearing a Piston jersey, and most of us don’t care what he did in Chicago. We can gripe about him sucking ass while wearing the jersey of the team we root for all we want.
THANK YOU
Seriously, enough. Gordon is not too far removed from injury and not getting anywhere near the minutes he should. BG is NOT the problem with this team.
"Ford! You're turning into a Penguin! Stop it!"
-Arthur Dent
by Thom_not_Tom on Mar 4, 2010 11:25 AM EST up reply actions
gordon sucks this year he will get better
i know you dont care for him gulk and i dont have the stats in front of me, but this has to be his worst year so far right? he will get better. i was somewhat excited to have him on this team this year but he has been awful this year. he’s gotta get better. maybe i am deluding myself.
It's his worst year by any measure
As far as the stats go, he’s worse with respect to PPG, rebounds, and FG%. However, his TS% and eFG% aren’t unprecedented — they’re almost identical to what he posted in his first two seasons.
I think you’re right. He’ll definitely get better, and I’d fully expect that last year’s Ben Gordon will reemerge next season. And yes, I don’t care for him. To be honest, I still find it hard to cheer for him.
With the first pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, the Detroit Pistons select
Al Farouq Aminu
Aminu, here we come!!11
it is important to remember
that the knicks have the pistons number. the knicks still suck and have just as confused a situation and for a lot longer. they are not out of the woods and this game is not a sign that they have found their map. they are lost except for their ability to whup the pistons over the last three seasons.
by andyfrombrooklyn on Mar 4, 2010 10:35 AM EST reply actions
i like affalo
but he is playing for a team that has come together and is in a groove. ben and charlie are on a team that is discombobulated. in the affalo situation every player looks better. in the charlie ben situation everyone looks worse. except for jerebko and ben w.
by andyfrombrooklyn on Mar 4, 2010 10:38 AM EST reply actions
jerebko and ben look best because they are our best players, duh, everyone looks better in Denver because they have better players.
by bags fly free on Mar 4, 2010 12:27 PM EST up reply actions
From Behind the Boxscore
Pouty after actually trying hard in a loss to the Celtics on Tuesday and falling short, the Pistons came out with absolutely no intensity in the world’s most famous arena, barely bothered to contest nor compete, and gave up over 136 points per 100 possessions to a team that entered the night averaging 106.1 points per 100 possessions (good for 18th in the NBA).
Just a miserable showing from Detroit. I don’t want to hear about injuries – a lineup featuring Jason Maxiell(notes), Jonas Jerebko(notes), Tayshaun Prince(notes), Rodney Stuckey(notes) and Rip Hamilton should stylistically and athletically match up just fine with the goofball Knicks rotation. Especially when you bring Will Bynum(notes), Ben Gordon(notes), and Charlie Villanueva(notes) off the bench. It’s been a tough year and the Pistons aren’t perfect, but come on. These are the Knicks. This is a team to take advantage of, to have fun with. Sure, the Knicks are at home, but that doesn’t mean you have to get blown out.
It’s been a tough year and the Pistons aren’t perfect, but come on.
Aren’t perfect? Hell to the No. They have shown they are one of the worst teams in the league this season, repeatedly.
Also, I don’t a ratshit about what Mike “Dunleavy” D’Antoni thinks about tanking, free agency, or anything else.
“They are who we thought they were. And we let ’em off the hook!” -Dennis Green, Arizona
Cardinals
"I didn’t even know Elvis was from Memphis, I thought he was from Tennessee." — Drew Gooden.
Bill Higgins surely summed it up really well. Dumars is an idiot and I never really believed he was a good GM. I actually never thought of this Afflalo/Gordon comparison but it’s hilarious how bad that move was. I mentioned this on another site before but how much of a progress we’ve made since losing game 6 to Boston in ECF? Any at all?
I never really believed he was a good GM
Say what?
"I didn’t even know Elvis was from Memphis, I thought he was from Tennessee." — Drew Gooden.
by Skylar on Mar 4, 2010 12:50 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
winning a championship does not mean you’re a good GM, winning consists of many pieces, and I do believe Dumars was bad prior to 2008 too.
by bags fly free on Mar 4, 2010 12:59 PM EST up reply actions
Don't wanna nitpick.
You said you never believed he was a good GM.. Dumars assembled that championship and ECF team. Indict him for the numerous draft mistakes and bad trades/signings…pile it high, as seemingly half of the DBB constituency is pleased to do. Go for it. To write off the success he’s had is ridiculous, though.
"I didn’t even know Elvis was from Memphis, I thought he was from Tennessee." — Drew Gooden.
by Skylar on Mar 4, 2010 1:23 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Ok agree, we were champions and I was damn proud back then. Fast forward to 2010 – please give me one reason, one good decision Dumars made this year (and 2009) that’d make me believe in this guy again, that we are building something strong and meaningful.
Have you read the Joe Dumars thread that was posted a couple weeks back?
“Joe Dumars and the Dark Side of the Force” I believe. If you haven’t seen it, take a peek.
Fast forward to 2010 – please give me one reason, one good decision Dumars made this year (and 2009)
Admittedly, there’s only a couple.
I’m gonna stop now, cause I don’t like inter-DBBeef
"I didn’t even know Elvis was from Memphis, I thought he was from Tennessee." — Drew Gooden.
by Skylar on Mar 4, 2010 1:27 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I would add not having a fire sale this season to his list of good moves.
by brgulker on Mar 4, 2010 1:48 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Yeah...
When’s he going to get into shape? He’s turned into a fat three-point chucker, much like Antoine Walker was in his later years.
"Left hand, right hand, it doesn't matter. I'm amphibious." - Charles Shackleford
""He’s a stiff." - The Legendary Doug Moe
"We have a great bunch of outside shooters. Unfortunately, all our games are played indoors." - Weldon Drew
"I really didn't want it, but now that I've won it, it's nice. It's an honor. It's nice to know people don't think you're a total idiot. ... It must have been a poor year for coaches." - Doug Moe...talking about winning 1987-88 Coach of the Year award.
"We're just tough, man" - Chauncey Billups
Please.
How quick some of you forget how many winning seasons and teams Joe D. has assembled…
He built 8 seasons of teams that could contend or win a championship and we are ready to call for his head after two abysmal seasons?
I am rather concerned about next years. If we had 2 badly years but good foundation for future , then I’d be absolutely positive, but future doesn’t look bright.
Joe D has had his job for 10 years. We were serious contenders for probably 8 of those 10 years. He’s made some bad moves, but I’m willing to wait a bit longer before I call for his head.
by garrettelliott on Mar 4, 2010 2:17 PM EST up reply actions
i think it’s easy to forget about winning seasons because they were 5 years ago..you and Skylar seem to live in 2005. 2 abysmal seasons? gee you think lol, 2 absolutely horrible seasons that are completely wasted, but last year we had curry/AI to blame, now they are gone and more people see the root of the problem.
by bags fly free on Mar 4, 2010 2:49 PM EST up reply actions
Jerebko is all about 2009 and beyond.
I don’t live in the past, man. Shit, I coined the terms Noe Dealmars and Joe Fubars.. I’m 100% up on current events my dude..
Detroit is my team, Joe is my GM. If wanna fire the guy, so be it. I’m just not in that particular picket line. I’m just maintaining, being positive.
"I didn’t even know Elvis was from Memphis, I thought he was from Tennessee." — Drew Gooden.
by Skylar on Mar 4, 2010 2:58 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
and as a good fan you should stay positive, and i commend that but for me it’s hard, when i believe ben wallace removed we’re essentially as bad as nets with bunch of money committed to RIP/Gordon/CV. as everyone else here i look forward to draft/summer deals, hopefully we can make play offs next year, i just wanna see the team progress which i haven’t seen since may 2008
by bags fly free on Mar 4, 2010 3:13 PM EST up reply actions
5 years ago? We were in the Eastern Conference Finals in 2008, and we were beaten by the eventual NBA champion. We’re a far cry from that team now, obviously, but I’m definitely not living in 2005. I feel like I’m actually living in the future because I’m not worried about the moves Jod could have or should have made this year and last; instead, I’m thinking about the draft, and hoping Jod can move some players around to get us back on track. And if you can name someone better for the GM job, feel free to throw some names out.
by garrettelliott on Mar 4, 2010 3:15 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
agreed, garret. calls for jod should only be coming w/ suggestions for replacements. Still think we’d be better with Flip as our coach right now, too.
by C$ on Mar 4, 2010 4:25 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Ugh.
Do you remember how many people here were calling for Flip’s head over a year before he actually got fired? He is a good coach, but he had this job at least a year too long. Q-ster is not perfect, but he has done a decent job with the roster he was given
i remember, but the point i’m making is rather then changing for the sake of change, i’d prefer a better alternative first. Like firing carlisle for brown.
by C$ on Mar 4, 2010 5:30 PM EST up reply actions
Agree 100%. In hindsight, perhaps the problem was Rasheed, not Flip. Sheed was on the decline and the only one (I can recall) who openly disrespected the guy.
My theory is that Dumars had a change of heart at some point during the offseason
That offseason he tried to trade Tay and Rip but no one would bite, so he decided to stick with his team and bring in a guy that could motivate them. Out Flip, in Curry. But then something happened that he decided that he could no longer keep that crew together ( a tad late ime) and then decided to start the transition (good) and rebuild on the fly(bad). The problem is that now he needed a coach to instill a new philosophy and attempt to make that experiment work. Had he originally decided to break the crew, he probably should or would have kept Flip, at least for me it would have been the right choice. But by the time he made that decision Flip was already out.
That’s my theory.
Where in the world is Cheikh Samb?
My theory is that Joe was really sure Curry would be a good head coach. That sounds ridiculous now, but at the time, I think virtually everyone thought Curry had what it takes to be a good coach. Even during his playing days, people thought he should retire and go directly to coaching. But making Curry a head coach when he had no experience would be crazy. So Joe made Curry Flip’s assistant coach for one year just to give Curry some experience. Then, when Flip’s team imploded during the playoffs, Joe had a built in excuse to can him and replace him with the guy he had wanted all along. I’m sure it made since at the time, but it’s scary in hindsight.
@ bags fly free
So you are telling me we were not a winning team in 2006, 2007, & 2008? What rock have you been living under?
we weren’t, championship teams dont create a feud with their coach and letting the whole league know how they have no respect for Flip and players run the show in detroit, even chauncey said in his FREEP interview after trade how this sort of sh*t cost us at least 1 championship, cuz u know we didnt just waste 1 year on personal problems, after ben left sheed and others carried it over to 07 and 08 seasons.
eastern conference was easy back then and every year in ECF we lost to the only team that could challenge us, that’s 0-3 for pistons, i dont really consider 06-08 ‘winning’ ‘championship’ seasons.
by bags fly free on Mar 4, 2010 6:45 PM EST up reply actions
smh.
I never said those teams were “championship” teams.
This is what I said:
He built 8 seasons of teams that could contend or win a championship
So you are telling me we were not a winning team in 2006, 2007, & 2008?
The Afflalo/Gordon comparison makes this seem like Bizarro World. When would anyone say, “Arron Afflalo is a better basketball player than Ben Gordon…”? No where, that’s where. Except he is right now. Weeeeird.
I think Afflalo was better than Gordon last year as well but you’re right, no one ever wrote he’s better than Gordon but i DO remember reading on ESPN how one analyst said right after the trade that what a deal Denver got replacing Dahntay Jones with guy who can play defense and shoot 3’s for much less $. This genius move by Denver was noticed before the season and now every time Nuggets games are televised commentators mention it too.
by bags fly free on Mar 4, 2010 12:48 PM EST up reply actions
Langlois Math Fail
They used that to sign Wilcox on a two-year deal, with a player option for the second year, at a reported $3 million per season. Gooden got 150 percent more than that, $4.5 million, from Dallas.
Doofus.
So the tanking is in full effect now
When we get Wall do we trade Stuckey or no?
Serious question, I think it’s that bad.
OT: To think we could have had Rondo/Allen/Jerebko/Villanueva/Wallace with Afflalo Daye and Bynum coming off the bench… I’d miss Rip tho.
If somehow we get the top pick and we draft Wall over Cousins (or fail to trade Wall for Cousins and a future 1st), I will freak out.
Watching Wall recently...
I wouldn’t mind keeping him and trading Stuckey/BG/CV/Tay in any combination for literally ANYONE else. Wall’s really fucking good. I feel the same way about Turner. Just trade our whole backcourt. I’m happy if we get either Cousins or Aldrich though. Especially if we get a shitty pick, like up near #10— if we can come away with Aldrich, I will have no complaints. Now my dream scenario? Wall/Turner and then trade up to get Vernado whenever he’s about to come off the board.
Turner's leading the Big Ten in points and rebounds...
and he’s a 6’7" shooting guard. He’s #2 in assists too I think. He’s D-Wade with Kobe’s body. Not a bad consolation prize if we miss out on Wall.
by The Joel on Mar 4, 2010 5:55 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I like Turner better too. *hides*
But I’d probably draft Wall over him, nervously.
Where in the world is Cheikh Samb?
The Knicks have been such a joke the last decade
M.Dan. thinks he can start crapping on the Pistons. Hey Knicks your record is almost identical. How bout you worry about your own problems
Come back stronger than ever Brock!
Take comfort in the fact that it won't last forever. We will all die.
Probably by december 2010
Where in the world is Cheikh Samb?
Side note
ping-pong balls and teenagers.
Typing that into Google while at work is a bad idea.
I'm just like a sports reporter, but without the insight or money.
That line made me think of all the Beer pong tables headed into downtown Ann Arbor.
"I didn’t even know Elvis was from Memphis, I thought he was from Tennessee." — Drew Gooden.
by Skylar on Mar 4, 2010 2:59 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
The Pistons are better than the Knicks
The Pistons are doing it right I am sorry I have to disagree with you. Yeah Ben Gordon and Charlie V are reserves but when you have Rip at SG and Prince at SF and Jonas playing like a lottery pick CV is the 6th or 7th man. Rip could be traded as could Prince in the offseason so Joe Dumars went out and got their replacements a year in advance and see how well they work together. Obviously it hasnt turned out that well. With a high draft pick maybe even the number 1 if the balls fall in our favor we can get an impact player that will help put us over the top. Joe D knows what he is doing. He has a vision and he will put another championship team out there in the next 3 years. As far as the Knicks goes the Pistons are way better than the Knicks even with the blowout. They are the Detroit Lions of the NBA.
Don't know if anyone noticed this on Draft Express
Favors Best/Worst scenarios: http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Derrick-Favors-1335/
it says, “best case: McDyess in his prime. Worst case: Chris Wilcox.”
Is that aimed at Pistons fans? Isn’t calling him Wilcox a little harsh? Wilcox would ride pine in the D League.
I saw that a few weeks ago. Made me chuckle (in fear).
by TDP on Mar 4, 2010 4:51 PM EST up reply actions
Dantoni Should Talk....
…..his team isnt any better…Always disliked that guy…..Worry bout your own team Dantoni!!!!
the knicks are a shit organization
they havent won anything in forever. they havent even tried to put an actual team on the floor now for like 2 seasons. i hate all this 2010 salary cap shit. it ruins competition and makes you see that b-ball is a business more than a sport. the best part is that lebron isnt going to go to the knicks anyways. no way he can desert his home state. the knicks are going to field a team of t-mac on a reduced contract, joe johnson and carlos boozer along with some shitty dudes on veterans minimum contracts.
And Stern will give them the #1 pick in the Draft a la Patrick Ewing ’85.
/bentcorner’d
by TDP on Mar 4, 2010 4:56 PM EST up reply actions
The best part of the Knicks summer...
is that they don’t even own a first round draft pick this year. Utah owns their pick no matter what due to what was originally the Marbury trade. The knicks can tank all they want and will never have a shot at John Wall or anyone else good in the draft.
they given away quite a few first rounders havent they?
didnt they just have to give up some more to clear out the rest of the cap space needed to sign their dream team?
oh yeah and OT: AI’s wife is divorcing him.
i almost feel bad for dantoni
he has to deal with the constant fuckery of the 2010 sweepstakes and how it affects his roster. im surprised they actually even still try and win games. the reason dantoni has to use an 8 man rotation is most likely because none of the other players give a fuck about what happens to this team.
To be fair
Matt, I’m with you on the recap. That was some disgusting “basketball” and I didn’t make it through the third quarter. But…
As painful as New York’s on-court situation has been to watch, at least the Knicks’ faithful have always had a future to remain fixated on, a clear-cut timetable for improvement, not to mention the knowledge that the team’s ownership will spare no expense to seize the opportunity when it finally presents itself.
I have to disagree here. Just a few years ago Isiah Thomas had fucked this team up so badly that nobody thought they had a future before about 2015. It was only with some big help that they were able to clear enough space to be in the discussion for the vaunted “free agent class of 2010”.
And furthermore, I don’t think they’ve done themselves any favors by clearing so much space. They’re delusional if they think that any 2 of Wade, Bosh, and James are going to end up in blue and orange. Heck, they’re probably fooling themselves to think that any ONE of them would want to play with the list of d-leaguers they currently have on the team (Lee and Galinari excepted).
D’Antoni’s main point stands: don’t spend your big money on complementary players. I agree. But the idea that the Knicks are somehow examples of how to run a franchise is so ludicrous, so irresponsibly ridiculous, that I just couldn’t let that implication get by unchecked.
by Big Z in Orlando on Mar 4, 2010 5:13 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
And what about Kwame?
Sure, the defense stunk against the Knicks, but that was a small team out there. What did Kwame do such that not only does he normally get no PT, but even with Ben out, he only gets a couple of garbage minutes?
haha
the celtics just grabbed michael finley, from the espn boards: “the celtics might have another player die on the court if they keep recruiting vets like finley”
by dandresden on Mar 4, 2010 7:16 PM EST reply actions 4 recs
On the 20th anniversary of Hank Gathers’ death, too.
by TDP on Mar 4, 2010 9:54 PM EST up reply actions
Rec'd
dandresden is my homeboy
"I didn’t even know Elvis was from Memphis, I thought he was from Tennessee." — Drew Gooden.
Hill on his first half dunk: “I haven’t been that high since ’97…”
by garrettelliott on Mar 4, 2010 11:59 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah, I liked that quote.
His hand was like a foot and a half above the rim.
Barkley is dressed like a Bulgarian gangster.
"I didn’t even know Elvis was from Memphis, I thought he was from Tennessee." — Drew Gooden.
Oh BTW
Fuck you Dantoni. You criticize the Pistons for signing mediocre free agents when your team’s whole strategy is to shed talent in a futile attempt to sign Lebron. It ain’t gonna happen numb nuts. Your shitty no-defense system will never win a championship. You had the perfect roster for that in Phoenix and couldn’t get it done. When you made the playoffs some big physical team (SA) would come along and steal your lunch money.
I'm just like a sports reporter, but without the insight or money.
Hammond Was The Real Brains Behind the Pistons Success
It has become clear as people watch the rise of the Bucks and the decline of the Pistons that it was John Hammond who was the real brains behind the Pistons success.
It appears that Dumars is nothing more than another Elgin Baylor when it comes to being a GM.
I could die waiting for the Bucks to be a success.
By success I mean win a playoff series. They won’t for awhile.
Come back stronger than ever Brock!
On the topic of Hammond vs. Dumars
Hammond’s strengths showing
All credit for that, I guess, must go to John Hammond. So far in Milwaukee he is showing the same strengths and weaknesses he and Joe Dumars showed during Detroit’s championship window. Hammond is a very so-so "high pick" draft choice selector, preferring to gamble on what he views as "upside" rather than seeking out proven production. In his few high Detroit picks, most notably Darko Milicic over Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, et al, he did the same.
But he’s certainly got a keen eye for productive, middle-of-the-road veteran talent. Like most of his Detroit teams this Bucks team now has no large minute "loss contributor" now that Bell, Gadzuric, Elson, and Meeks have been removed from the rotation.
That makes a huge difference. If you have no negative anchors you can swim upstream without needing a superstar win producer. The Bucks are still a ways away from being a championship contender, but my sense is they are a lot closer than they were last month.
Hammond’s close to turning the Bucks around. Dumars has done what Dumars has done. It’s unlikely they win a playoff series this year, but I think if Jennings can return to anything close to what he was in his first month as a pro, then they have a real shot at being pretty good in 1-2 seasons.
Yeah, I really like Bogut as a player. I hope he can stay healthy — he’s a huge dude with good speed and seems to have some pretty good basketball smarts. It sucks when talented guys (especially centres) keep getting hurt over and over again.
by garrettelliott on Mar 5, 2010 1:52 PM EST up reply actions
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