FanPost

Does Mo Cheeks Seem a Little Too Shy?

Yes, count this as problem #1834 of the Detroit Pistons. There are so many arguments that we could make like Rodney Stuckey can't shoot, Smoove sucks, get rid of Monroe, get rid of Joe D, we need more spacing, the list goes on and on. I am writing this as my opinion on what needs to happen with the CURRENT roster. I'm not proposing that we make some crazy trade like Smoove for LeBron. However I do think that Mo Cheeks is a very shy coach and that is a major problem when you have 2 massive egos (Smith and Jennings) in a lineup.

On January 17th, I got amazingly cheap (relatively) court-side tickets to see the Pistons vs the Jazz. I was right across from Mo Cheeks and I could hear what they were saying (or lack there of). I remember the assistant coach was yelling a few things out, but not a peep from Mo Cheeks; he just sat there. Now of course I am not saying he needs to be screaming their game plan out for the world to hear, but when you are down by almost 30 at home, I think you need to communicate more. The fact that he was sitting down for a lot of the game really makes me feel like he was out of it. Which would you rather have, a coach sitting on the bench or a coach walking around the sideline actually looking like he is involved in the game?

However, that is not the only problem if you ask me. I think that Cheeks doesn't have control over Jennings and Smith (and possibly even Bynum). He has control over the rest of the roster most likely because they're all so young. What do I mean by control? I mean the difference between the coach making the players play through his plan or the players making the coach go by their plan.

If you go back to the Jazz game, you'll see that Monroe, Jennings and Smith played bad. Monroe played only 16 minutes (which I agree with), Jennings played 24 minutes, and Smoove played 32 minutes. Do you see what I mean? There is no discipline on the roster for the players who need it most. Jennings never gets subbed off for a long time because he is taking bad shots, same with Smoove. How do you ever expect Jennings to improve his shot selection and for Smoove to stop jacking up 3's when their minutes are given, not earned. Yet our young players like Monroe, KCP, Jerebko are 2nd priority. FYI Jerebko was having a fantastic game (making some tough shots in the post), yet he only gets 9 minutes of action.

The problem is that everything is given to Smith and Jennings. If you were Josh Smith, why would care about air balling the game winner? You'll still play 30+ minutes next game and the game after that. If you are Jennings, why would you care about shooting a fadeaway 3 with 16 seconds left on the shot clock? You'll still play the mass majority of minutes at PG spot.

My solution: You earn it. If Jerebko is playing great against the Jazz just for oen game, the play him and let him succeed. If/ when Jennings is throwing up bricks then sent him off and let Bynum or even Siva play. If KCP is playing top notch defense then play him more that game. What is the worst that could happen? If Jennings or Smith ask for a trade then everyone on DBB will celebrate like we just won the championship.

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