Wow. This is going to have to sink in for a little bit. But I tip my hat to Miami. They played like they wanted it for six games straight, while Detroit kind of meandered around for a few games, panicked and then it was just too late. If Miami plays in the Finals like they did in this series, they may even win a game or two.
But is there anything more annoying than Miami fans? If the Pistons are going to lose, I’d at least like to see them lose to a team like the Cavs whose home fans aren’t too cool to cheer the whole game. Miami had to settle for passing out those cicadas-sounding noisemakers which made the television broadcast nearly unbearable. And what’s up with these guys below? You think the guy wearing the “E” said, “Wait, put powder on my face? No, that would be weird.”
Eh, whatever. I’ll attempt to get some kind of coherent thoughts up here later tonight, but it may take a couple of days before I can put together an official post-mortem to the season. I kind of figured I wouldn’t have to do that for another couple of weeks, I was planning on a happy ending. It was a hell of a season, though, and it should be the most interesting offseason we’ve had since Joe Dumars traded Jerry Stackhouse for Rip Hamilton.
One thing I’d like to say right now while I still have your attention is that while the Pistons will be back next year, this site isn’t going anywhere. We’re definitely going to be staying active throughout the summer — without a game every other night, we’ll have a bit more time to work on some longer features that we’ve been thinking about. Plus, and this is the really cool part, it looks like we should be able to get at least a couple of really cool interviews. So don’t forget to keep us part of your daily routine even though the season is over.
But in the meantime, feel free to start venting about the game, the season, the lid someone glued onto the Pistons’ hoop and anything else on your mind in the comments below.
This is what happens when you dont play inside out basketball like good ol L.B. usto preach
The death of the jump shooting team , Thx flip!!!
Gonna be a fun offseason….
Detroit needs to bring back that grnid iit out defense which i loved, a lot of people think that is boring but thats the only thing thats going to take us back to the finals because its not going to be the draft.
I hope Dirk squashes the heat.
The only changes the Pistons need during the off-season is an attitude change. They must get rid of that arrogance they carry with them. It’s a fine line between confidence and just plain cockiness. However, I wouldn’t mind seeing KG.
They are getting old. They need an infusion of youth. And Ben will be 32 this fall… hopefully Joe will be smart enough not to give him the max.
You guys will be okay though…
Any game that I hit ten beers by the end of the fourth quarter is going ot be a bad one… Oh well I guess. Now I wait for Joe D’s moves and cheer for the Tigers…
the Pistons have shown this playoffs that we have a hard time guarding the big time guards, Lebron, Wade, I believe even Michael Redd was dropped 40 in 1 game.
This will only help us becasue the Pistons know now they aren’t a shoe in for a championship and the will be hungrier
Great hard fought series guys. I enjoyed reading your Detroit perspective everyday DetroitBadBoys! I have no doubt that you guys will be right back in the thick of things even stronger by the aide of Mr Dumars in the offseason. Keep your heads up you got a great baseball team doing something just as special for your city!
See you guys next year!
-JD
Congrats to the Heat. Good luck to you against the West. The Pistons had a nice run this year. Lots of wins. The all star game was killer. A tough playoff run, no doubt. But we come up short. It stinks, but its a part of the hunt for a title. Hopefully, Joe D has a trick or two up his sleeve, and we are back better than ever next year. Summer league starts july 8th at 2p.m. in Vegas against The Wizards. PEACE OUT. Go PISTONS!!! x the Allrights.
It’d be nice to see the Pistons get a change-of-pace point guard, like say, Dee Brown. A young, athletic low-post threat would be good too (can we still trade Darko for Al Harrington…or can we pry Gerald Wallace from the Bobcats?)
But before we dismantle the team, I think it’s important to remember that the Heat may have Wade, but the rest of that team is old, and I’d say their window is this year. Next year they could be pretty average. The only team in the East that could possibly go from good to great next year is Cleveland, but of course, within a couple years LeBron might be changing teams. If the Pistons are to keep up with the elite teams, they need to keep with the likes of Dallas who can pretty much play any style, and have speedy athletes that always make sure they score some points.
I’m not sure how the Pistons accomplish this, but last time I checked, Joe Dumars was the smartest basketball mind this side of the Mississippi, and he’s probably in his office solving this puzzle right now as we post our parting thoughts.
Buddy, how do you figure they’re old??
CBillups - 29
RHamilton - 28
TPrince - 26
BWallace - 31
RWallace - 31
The Wallaces aren’t spring chickens, but this team is NOT old.
I trust Joe D. to do the right thing during the off season. I think he is one of the greatest minds in the NBA and will make the right choices.
Thanks to the Boys in Blue for a wonderful season. I love every one of you and hope that next year we bring home the ring.
criticize miami if you want, but this is what was good for the game of basketball. if detroit made the finals they’d have to put the games on nbatv (like they did w/ your milwaukee games, which remains the most touching memory i’ll have of the 04-06 pistons — good? yes, but basically unwatchable)……
Defense wins championships.
Our best defense against Dwayne Wade would have been drafting him and sticking him on the end of the bench.
Between the Pistons and Red Wings, this has been the most disappointing postseason ever.
Amen. 2 number one seeds just to be knocked out like that… It’s a bitter pill of reality to swallow. But that’s life right there.
Time to make some adjustments now.
hey. world cup games start on the 12th!!!
…
anybody?
no? oh well. well, go tigers, i guess. there’s always next year, right?
I’m a huge pistons fan… but watching that game made me SO MAD!!! … Miami was good but not great… Wade was almost not even a factor and we still lost… ben wallace made some free throws… that should of been a huge sign of good things to come… what happened?? … us not sinking the ball in is what happened… not even easy lay ups… oh and those passes we gave up..!!!!
DALLAS in 6
well boys and girls,
I just got back from the game and partying on south beach, and i can honestly say it was great to celebrate(you understand what I mean from the past 2 years)
I’d like to think that perhaps that the Pistons (and SOME of their fans) could be a little less cocky. Maybe even give miami credit for what they accomplished up until now. Miami by far played better DEFENCE than detroit tonight.
Miami was the BETTER team in the series. Miami had two unstopable players that only were stopped by fouls. BTW, it seemed miami turned the screws to detroit in the fourth quarter without shaq….
well, as Riley says, there’s winning, and there’s misery….
Good luck next year…
The Suns and the Mavs will be lickin their lips at the prospect of playing Miami … whoever goes through out of those two … will be the title holders for season 05-06. But for Miami … well done and congrats for dismantling an era of basketball that proves that offense can win championships as well as defense.
Detroit don’t need to make too many roster changes … but some new blood would be handy because everyone will be requesting tapes of the Cavs series and this one. Has Big Ben re-signed with the Pistons or is he headed to another franchise?
This is what happens when you dont play inside out basketball,, exactly just look at miami how they played in all this 6 games, they did whatever they wanted in the paint, shaq and wade scored whenever they wanted and pistons never react,, now pistons half court offense really sucked all this series, i just got tired of seeing chauncey and rip forcing everytime the ball and shooting without confidence, a lot of people can say that rip carried us and put up his numbers but cmon his fg % struggled and instead of going to the rim to get some calls he keep shooting from mid range and never did it, chauncey also was dissapointing, he shoot bad he had a lot of turnovers, he could not make right passes, he could not stop jason williams,, and finally and most important in my opinion,, statistics dont lie, when Rasheed Wallace scores 20 + pts pistons are almost unbeatable,, so why in the hell in all this @%·$ series Rasheed got involved in the offense, all the plays was for RIP or tayshaun or simply Chauncey, and where did flip saunders let the inside paint offense, i think that killed pistons, udonis haslem and Antoine walker were guarding Rasheed so why chauncey and rip and FLIP used wallace in the low post, he can score on those guys whenever he wants, but i dont know,, PLEASE TELL ME YOUR OPINION,especially in my opinion RIP and chauncey against miami, they played really bad, low fg% and lot TO and they were not intelligent,, finally this MAGICAL season is over, unfortunately for pistons nobody remembers second place, it would be great get that championship with those 64 wins but whatever, they played bad when it most counts,, I just feel mad and very disaapointing for this finish,,
Haven’t watched pistons in action for a long time - since last year’s finals - cause I’m from Poland. Yesterday I managed to see the game. And what struck me was the fact that these guys seem to play with no intensity and intention to win. Billups was totally cut off from shooting. Also, the overall impression on the Pistons’ offensive game was that everybody tried to pass the ball as if they were afraid of shooting and never really played a proper set. The low percentage shooting may be bad luck, but then again, you can’t let luck decide when you’re a team of such a level and you play such a game 6.
And, there was hardly any D.
So to me, after a year, this team was nowhere near the one that forced game 7 vs. the spurs.
Good luck to Miami, the better team won.
I only hope that the era has not ended yet.
it’s a nightmare to watch the game
the heat is not as good as they appeared but we made them.
Why we just couldn’t shoot in?whatever to happen in this summer is useless if we still cannt make shoots in, especially in playoffs.
In response to SoNiceInTheSun: As Shaq always says, I do not think it was what Miami did to win the series rather what the Pistons did not do (mainly make wide open shots). They were clearly capable of winning the championship this year and failed. Additionally, DEFENSE is spelled with an S, not a C, but I don’t expect Miami fans to know as much.
Looking foward to the 2007 Pistons Championship, I do not know if it was complete rumor or not when I heard it or dreamed it, but what about Wallace and Wallace for Kevin Garnett. When I thought Corliss was expendable Joe D traded him and unfortunately when I thought Arroyo and Darko were expendable Joe D traded them also, so maybe this Ben and Sheed for KG deal is possible. KG would be the superstar big man who requires a double team that the Pistons presently lack. The Stones would of course have to get another center and a new bench to make this deal a winning formula , but nevertheless a KG signing guarantees jersey sales and the T-Wolves have Eddie Griffin and could throw in the ultimate white boy bench player Mark Madsen. Just a thought in case Joe D wasn’t already working on a deal.
2wallace=KG is no way!!
big ben is our spirit and sheed gets us hot.
The starting five is as one. No way to break them.
just find some guys like Robert Horry or Grant Hill for the bench, and also pick a useful guard.
don’t we have money to buy some big guys??i don’t understand who costs us so much that we just have so few players.
one more question, is there a bench can play instead of Tay when he is just too tired?
I have nothing but faith in Joe D, however, all great teams go through swings. Look at the Pistons, late 80’s early 90’s domination followed by the Teal Jersey Era (TJA…a sad time), which led to the great player moves by Joe, and then the title in ‘04 and near repeat in ‘05.
I don’t want to say it, but I’m scared to say that what we are seeing may be the begining of another downward swing. In a leauge governed by a salary cap true dynastys are hard to come by (who is the Yankees of the NBA?). There are great franchises (Lakers, Celtics, Knicks, ect), however, we must remember much of their success has come over the span of 60 or so years, and the recent post-Jordan NBA climate has been one of quickly overturned “dynastys” and sometimes unexpected champions.
The domination of the Bulls has stopped, and they are just now recovering from the loss of Mike. The Rockets won two straight, and this year are still trying to sort out their puzzle of two unhealthy superstars. The Lakers lost the luster of Shaq and Kobe, and are now trying to make due with Lamar and Kobe, and even the twice mighty Spurs have found themselves plauged by failure, and a sore foot on an aging Timmy D. Is it the unfortunate truth that the Pistons are next in line?
Our last three years have now formed a downward slope of playoff success; NBA Champions, East Conf. Champions, East Conf. Semi-Finalists. Thats not called moveing in the right direction.
Word is that Ben has been a cause for concern in the locker room and that Joe D made his way down there at halftime of one of our losses in Miami and had some choice words for the players he picked (choose not to beleive me if you want, but I swear in all honesty that those words are seperated by but one persons mouth from Tom Wilson to me. I’m not going to divuldge my source, but I am telling you the honest truth that he spoke with Mr. Wilson not three days ago, and that is what he, the Pistons President and CEO, had to say…I know!? Ben a locker room problem?! best I can figure is he is just unhappy with the play of some of his teamates and was not afraid to express it.).
So will this be the last time we see Ben in Blue? Forget max contract, howabout any contract. Not to mention Rasheed, who has suddenly lost much of his support after consitent underperformance in the post season. The core of Rip and Chauncey seem safe, and Tays blossoming game has earned nothing but praise, however our front court has left some with a bad taste in their mouth.
Ben’s block on Shaq was classic B-Dub, however, it was also one of only a few Jaw Dropping acrobatic purely ridiculous plays Ben has had in a while, the kind of plays he seemed to find once a game back in ‘03. Yes he is only 31, but look at what his game is based on, and it isnt a pretty shooting touch, so how long do the Pistons really want to risk signing him and his ailing body for? He is the face of the team, no doubt about it, but so were Grant Hill and Stack, and look what happned there. Joe D isnt scared to risk current fan support for sucess in the future, in fact, hes made a career out of it.
So if we could say ship Ben off to the Bulls who are dying for some front court defense, and in return get the kind of young talent that in the past went on to form the current core of the Pistons should we really be all that surprised? Dont get me wrong, I will always rock my Ben Wallace jersey, and if he is traded, will personaly track down anyone who even tries to boo him in his first AWAY game at the Palace, but the thought of Ben not re-signing suddenly seems to be getting more and more realistic.
As for Sheed…well….put up or shut up comes to mind, hurt or not, he hasnt had the kind of post season sucess that is demanded of such a talented and well payed player. A replacement? Well KG sure would be nice, but that is doubtful, and neither the draft (pick 60) or the Free-Agent market present much of a solution, however, once more, nothing but faith in Joe D.
And is all this garunteed? Of course not, it is simply some things to look out for, the kinds of surprises that in retrospect shouldnt have been so surprising. We could very well start game one of the 06-07 season with the same starting 5 and bench, however, something just really tells me that wont happen, and that this is going to be a very interesting summer.
All the best, Go Pistons, and get hyped for next season
-Pete-
Stunning. Did this really happen?
At least they gave us a couple of weeks to prepare for possibility, for it all to settle in…before Game 5 of the Cavs series, I was CONVINCED we were going to roll this year.
How did everything that started so well finish so bad?
Wow. Good to know you Piston fans are good sports about this whole shindig.
First: To those of you are gracious, to those of you of you admitted Miami was the better team, to those of you who wished Riles in company good luck in the finals… I thank you. I have a lot of respect for the Pistons, congratulations on a good run the past couple of years, I look forward to a rematch in the next post-season.
As for the rest of you, as for what seems to be the MAJORITY of you… You who say the Pistons were the best team last year, when Shaq and Wade were at 50% in game 7, but somehow maintain the Pistons are the better team this year, because, well, Rasheed hurt his ankle, or the league conspired against you, or the Champs just weren’t hungry this year… to you I say: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH, SUCK IT!
If you go to ESPN.com and check out the “who will win the NBA finals” poll on the front page, you’ll notice 47 states agree the Heat will win. The dissenters? Arizona (obviously), Texas (obviously), and MICHIGAN. Hahaha. So, the Heat beat the Pistons? The Pistons are the best team in the NBA (when they feel like trying, of course). And the Heat will lose to the Western Conference Champions? Hahaha, more likely you are all just bitter! And, again, I LOVE IT.
You think Dallas/Phoenix would rather play Detroit than Miami? If only the size of the hoop was as big as your egos, maybe the Pistons could’ve scored more than 14 points in a game this series. Detroit clearly outplayed Miami in the regular season. Hell, most good teams did. In contrast, Detroit has looked terrible this post-season. The only team they beat convincingly was Milwaukee, which was easily the WORST team to reach the playoffs. They squeaked by Cleveland while the world waited for Detroit to “turn it on.” Miami didn’t embarrass them, but Detroit was clearly dominated. Detroit hasn’t played great ball for months. Miami, on the other hand, is at their peak. Shaq basically admitted that he was waiting for the post-season to bring the ruckus, and guess what? He wasn’t kidding. The golden oldies like Payton, Shaq, ‘Twan, and Posey were saving themselves for a great run (Mourning isn’t included in this group, he isn’t capable of giving less than 145%) The NBA regular season is bloated and Riles knew exactly what he was doing.
When the Heat was resting up, waiting for the Pistons and the Cavs to finish their series, Heat fans were conflicted. Most importantly, we wanted an NBA championship, and Cleveland was obviously an easier route. Detroit though, Detroit crushed our spirit last season. Sure, we had some excuses due to injuries, but the Heat had a chance to win and they didn’t. We wanted redemption. Sure, we wanted to reach the Finals, but ultimately we wanted to do it by going through our enemy. We wanted to be recognized as the NBA’s best team, and to do that, we had to beat the best… not luck out. And, contrary to what every expert in the media predicted, WE DID EXACTLY THAT.
So, that’s cool. Keep spamming the message boards with arrogant rhetoric; I’ll sleep soundly tonight knowing we’ve all gotten exactly what we deserved.
Glad to hear you’ll be here all summer, Matt.
No comments about the Pistons. I don’t really want to talk about them right now.
bugger off Travis. very class move trying to kick a fanbase while it’s down. you are the essence of graciousness.
miami played well, and i tip my hat to them. but these just weren’t the real Pistons. something happened along the way that’s undefinable. and i’d be quicker to give miami its due if they beat detroit playing its A game.
Paul: The Pistons’ starting five have an average age of 29, which is about the middle age of an NBA player’s statistical prime.
In fact, they rank 4th in the NBA in oldest team. So, in terms of their biological age, they are not old, but for the NBA, they are old.
23.3 Atlanta
24.8 Portland
25 Boston
25.2 Golden State
25.3 Charlotte
25.5 Seattle
25.6 LA Lakers
25.6 Utah
25.9 Chicago
26.2 Washington
26.3 Minnesota
26.5 New York
26.6 Cleveland
26.6 Philadelphia
26.8 NO/OK
26.8 Orlando
26.8 Sacramento
27 Dallas
27 Milwaukee
27 Toronto
27.2 LA Clippers
27.4 Denver
27.5 Memphis
27.5 Phoenix
27.9 Indiana
28.2 New Jersey
28.4 Detroit
28.4 Miami
28.6 Houston
29.9 San Antonio
The good thing is that the refs didn’t beat the Pistons (unlike some of the games in the Miami series and some of the games in the Cleveland series); the bad news is that they were able to play the game they wanted, get open looks, but they just couldn’t put the ball through the basket. It was frustrating as hell watching jump shot after jump shot clank off the rim. Congrats to Miami for beating a strong Pistons team. Miami scored when they needed to but Detroit couldn’t. You can play the best defense in the world but if you can’t outscore your opponent (because you can’t even make a lay-up) you’re not going to win the game.
Hopefully Detroit can re-tool next year and come back stronger and hungrier. Let’s wait and see what moves come next….
It’s interesting to note that of the top 10 oldest teams, 9 made the playoffs. So, maybe old age isn’t even a concern.
a little humble pie will be good for detroit and rasheed wallace. i guess the school yard bully has met its match.
Well played by the Heat. Hats off to them. Dont get me started on the Pistons. They were clearly the best team in the NBA in hte regular season. Don’t ask me what happened in the Playoffs. No energy, No intensity. No Driving to the Hoop, no, no, no. I don’t know what to say. Sheed is off, Ben is getting only occasional blocks. Rip is shooting terrible and Mr.Big Shot has been anything but that. What is wrong? Sure Wade and Shaq are amazing, but Williams 10/10? Where is the defense? Whree is the offense. I better see a better post-season next year. If the heat play the same way they have been playing, they are going to win it all. In the mean time,
DEEEEETROIT BASKETBALLLLLL
All of the Miami fans can say what they want about how they’re the better team. Miami is going to be in for a track meet whenever Dallas or Phoenix wins the series and gets to the Finals.
The Heat cannot match up with either the Suns or the Mavs. Who’s going to guard Josh Howard, Dirk and Chris Terry? Who’s going to be able to keep up with Phoenix’ smaller frontcourt? I can’t see Shaq running down Boris Diaw on the fast break…Whichever team wins the west will win the Finals. Both teams run, and if Game 5 was any kind of barometer for how to beat the Heat, they can’t win when they have to run.
Nice job by the Heat, they will not be back next season. Good luck in the finals…As for Detroit? I think it’s time to bring in some new blood for starting 5. I hate to think that getting rid of Ben Wallace is the best move because that only means the defense is going to get worse but if that’s what it takes, then I’ll support it.
Problem is the coach. It is his job to motivate and have his team fired up for every game. He did a terrible job and should be fired. He may have a great understanding of the game, but his knowledge of sports psychology is really inadequate. How can a professional coach allow his team to constantly argue and whine at the referees? When was the last time a referee changed a foul call? The whining caused the team to de-focus. I noticed this trend early on and it only got worse as the season progressed. I think this may be a result of Racheed Wallace and his anger management problems on the court. By the way, did he play in this series?
GO MAVS!
ugh.
not to beat a dead horse, bigboyindonesia, (see? I spelled your name right!) but the reason they didn’t make their shots were because they were A. out of sync, B. intimidated by Shaq, C.the stars weren’t aligned, or D. the refs and the NBA conspired.
Bottom line: your team lost, and it wasn’t close. They lost their mojo, identity, lucky charm, whatever. Your team was the second best team in the east this year. If you can’t be gracious, don’t. I personally really don’t care. I’d say typical Detroit fan, “the other team wasn’t better, we were worse…”
Do check my spelling. I’m sure it will be relevant as to why your team lost….
Well, last post for a while…
See you on SoBe!!!!!!!!!!
Obviously the emotionally wrecked part has been covered. Basically, I feel like I’ve been had. I put my heart into this 64-win team, and it turned around and went completely schizo on me. But it makes me feel better that at least somebody on that team actually gave a shat:
“This feels like the end,” he said. “It doesn’t feel like I’m ever going to come close to that ring again. They always say that a lot … once you get to the Finals, it’s hard to get back. My chance, it seems like I had the best chance of winning it last year. And now, it seems like it faded away, and I don’t think it’ll ever come back.”
Antonio McDyess always makes me tear up a little.
As far as everything else moving forward:
Dudes and Dudettes, Sheed was hurt. Hurt since the ankle roll. He was a shell. That’s why health more than anything is the X-Factor in who kisses the trophy at the end of the year. (Miami fans, I’m sure, feel they can attest to that.) At the start of next season, he’s going to be the same baller we saw this season. He is NOT an off-season concern.
Ben is. It sounds like he can’t work with Saunders. And I’m going to come down on Ben’s side on this one. Flip is one of the many offensive-minded HCs that Ben’s had throughout his career that didn’t understand how to use his talents. And after the nirvana of LB, who understood exactly how to make Ben successful, this was a regression for Body. And if it comes down to a “me or him” decision and Joe Dumars chooses Flip Saunders over Ben Wallace, I would say that would be even a bigger mistake than Darko at #2.
As far as shots not falling, I was thinking that it wasn’t Flip’s fault that Chauncey and Rip were missing wide-open shots. And then I thought back to how many times I’ve gotten annoyed over the starters playing so many damn minutes during the regular season. Why don’t we have a bench like San Antonio or Dallas or Miami? We had 5 guys who played 70% or more of their possible minutes this year. Meanwhile, Dallas had 2 (Nowitz and Terry) SA had 2 (Duncan and Bowen) and Miami had ONE (Wade). Now, is this Saunders fault, because he never trusted his bench, or is it Joe D.’s fault for not compiling enough power on the bench? Probably a little of both. Either way, it has to change.
So speaking of the bench… I don’t think there’s anyone from this FA class who’s going to put the Pistons back over the top. Nazr Mohammad? Speedy Claxton? Really Delk might be the best mid-level exception around. And there’s certainly no one at pick 60 who’s going to make a dent. So, that leaves it to the guys we already have. Dale Davis is under contract, but what for? For 5 fouls a game? That’s $700,000 per foul. Hunter is done. Evans and Delfino could both be real assets if they got consistent minutes. Mo is under contract, but there was already talk today of moving Delfino. For what? A 2nd rounder? What is someone going to give up for a consistent DNP-CD? You’d be better off trying to develop him one more year and when that didn’t work out, just let him walk away for nothing.
Which brings me to the class who we’ll need to make the biggest leap next season: Max, Amir and Acker. Maxiell has to make the turn. Has to. Or we’re in big trouble. Especially if we lose Body. Acker, I think, is over-matched at this level, but Amir has major talent. Great size. Can shoot. Can LEAP. They’ve got to bring him back and start using him. He could be a contributor. If we could sign him to the contract we’d be giving to our first round pick (if we had a first round pick), it would pay off.
I don’t like the way we walked off the court this year. This team has to be more resilient in the off-season than they did in any of these must-win playoff games. If they start believing the hyenas in the press or the depressed fans pounding their heads against the wall, they’re doomed. It’s a tweak or two. Not a complete overhaul.
Unless Ben’s wearing a Bulls uni next year.
Travis - by your logic, the Pistons were the best team in the east last year, and the Heat are this year. You, however, remind me of Antione Walker.
Glad to hear you’ll be following what is sure to be an interesting offseason, Matt.
I think we should keep Ben, but not for the max. I think he has 2 or 3 good years in him. As for Sheed I think he really needs to tone in down a little. You have to give him some credit because this cat played hurt and did not say a word about it. The crying to the refs has gotten old. Dice and Carlos maybe gone.We really need to add a low post player who can score and defend. I think this will help our guys in the long run. We played with fire and got burned by the Heat. Flip has learned something this year, I hope. With Lowe on his way to NC State look for us to add a better coach to help Flip out. We have to get back to the way we use to defend. Tay is a star in the making, and look for Rip to add another part to his game this summer. Last summer he worked on his 3 pt shot. This summer he will work on putting the ball on the floor. We need better backups for Tay and Mr.Big Shot. Hunter will be a year older, and I don’t think he will play much longer. later guys
Interesting link, farlane.
My logic isn’t a necessary consideration.
Do I think Miami would’ve beat Detroit last year if Wade and Shaq stay healthy? Yes. Do I know that for sure? No. It’s obvious to even your rivals that your team plays quite well in must-win games, who knows what would’ve happened? More importantly, does it matter who would’ve won if Shaq and Wade are healthy? Not as much as most Heat fans will insist upon. Part of building a championship caliber team means planning for and adjusting to injuries. The Pistons have done a great job keeping their top guys healthy for many many years (excluding this year, and I agree with JackDutch, playing them for too many minutes during the regular season probably didn’t help their chances at staying healthy), and that being the X factor, or whatever, is what made Detroit the Eastern Conference Champions last year,
Do I feel that, health issues aside, the Heat were a better team? Sure, but health issues were NOT an aside. If the Golden State Warriors shot 100%, they’d be the champions… Detroit won last year, I was bitter, and I am just finally getting over it. The demons have been exercised. It might take a little while for your pain to go away, but you do at least have some rings to keep you company on those dark, windy nights. And hey, at least you got rid of Harrington.
As for Miami not being to match up with the Mavs? I don’t buy it. Chicago was quicker and more youthful… and I don’t expect Howard or Terry to make a great percentage of outside shots. Nowitski is key, quite obviously, but not unstoppable. Any guy who can be held to 11 points in a vital playoff game has his weaknesses. Miami has p;ayed great defense this post-season. Are Shaq and Zo slower than they’ve ever been? Sure, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to get layups against them. They are a concern in transition D, but limiting low percentage shots should cut down on fast breaks. Are the Heat a lock to win? Absolutely not, but I’ve been watching experts pick first Chicago, then New Jersey, then your Detroit Pistons, and yet the Heat still stand… I’m not going to be the one to bet against them.
I resolutely stated to a friend at least twice during the course of this season, that Detroit would not win anything playing this mid/long range basketball. Due to not hearing any words of aquiesence from the media, I fell back into line and began to think that the Pistons would win it all- only to witness the post-season that we just saw. Detroit were essentially flat and uninspired, with no solutions to moments of adversity. Okay, so they beat an upcoming Cavs team, but the Cavs ain’t that good yet (no disrespect, i’m sure you will be with LBJ at the hub) and Detroit made them look a lot better than they are. Why has Sheed been able to indulge himself by taking threes all season? He was obviously the most likely candidate to be an inside threat, something the Pistons so desperately needed. This team relied on camaradereie and chemistry, yet when it came to the business end of the season we had Ben refusing to re-enter games, despite the obvious fact that benching him was for the common good of the team. Too many minutes for starters, too many outside shots and a new liberation offense that probably only encouraged more selfish play. If this team isn’t going to end up like the last Piston championship team, something is going to have to change. Maybe Sheed needs to go, maybe Ben too and that pains me especially as my house address is 2 Wallace Close, but I don’t want to see the Pistons as one of the leagues worst only a few seasons after reaching the top. Having said that, this team may well have a few surprises up its sleeves yet, they won’t have enjoyed this play-off experience and may bounce back with a better understanding of what it takes to win a title. Our backcourt - at it’s best - is all-world and right there is a reason to keep the faith, Tayshaun is another and if Sheed just shuts up (what are you laughing at?) and uses his obvious talent as best he can, another title may well be forthcoming. Another point is that Detroit have essentially been poor for the last two series, yet have still manufactured wins against other contenders, surely the sign of a great (or potentially great) team. Miami were undoubtedly the better team against Detroit and clearly deserved the series win, but should players really be allowed to step onto the court sporting other people’s kidneys - methinks not! Come on David Stern you’re letting the NBA become a laughing stock.
Did anyone hear Stephon A. Smith’s analysis of detroit? He said that detroit was not so much a great team, but more a lucky team. They were lucky to win the championship from a team that self destructed and Karl Malone hurt, and they were lucky to get past Miami last year with Wade and Shaq not at full health.
They weren’t lucky to beat LA; if LA “self-destructed,” then it was because they got nervous at the Pistons’ intensity and instead of trying to match it, started bickering.
I would say they were “fortunate” to play Miami last year with Shaq and Wade not at full strength. But lucky? Come on. I’m not a Pistons fan, but I’m not that crazy.
I will agree that Detroit was fortunate to play against a slowed down Shaq and hurt D Wade last season but come on…teams experience injuries all the time. Does that take anything away from the 1988 Lakers, the “Showtime” Lakers that were expected to sweep the up and coming Pistons, but it took 7 games and an almost broken ankle for the Lakers to pull it out?
Let’s face it folks, injuries are a part of the game. Noone can go through a season without knicks and bruises (see Sheed’s ankle and Dice’s wrist/hand). It’s how the rest of the team steps up that makes legends. The Heat had less talent last year than they did this year. Detroit’s inability to stop D Wade when they HAD to lead to their demise. In the past they’ve let Shaq get his points (see 2004 Finals and 2005 Eastern Conference Finals), and they’ve still been able to win. Wade is too fast for Tay, and too aggressive for Rip and too big for Big Shot. I praise the Heat for this series win, no excuses from me…they outplayed our boys. I don’t think they’ll be back next season as Shaq will be one year older, Payton will be 38, Zo (I hate him) will be one year older, and ‘Toine will find a way to bring his cancer to the lockerroom. Detroit can come back next season, I’m not worried about the Cavs or the Wizards or Bucks. I’m not worried about the Nets (declining Kidd and Jefferson too injury prone). Detroit needs to get an athletic big man that is energetic on both ends (younger Ben Wallace?). I’ve been hearing Charlie Villenueva for Ben Wallace sign and trade, that’s not bad but he’s best suited to play Sheed’s spot. Sheed will be able to guard the centers in the East because, well, there aren’t any good centers beside Shaq.
All I’m saying is, keep your heads up Pistons fans. Don’t worry about LeBron taking over the league, so long as Damon Jones is still on that team LeBron will never win anything.