Comments on: What’s consistency worth?

By: Sauce1977

Sauce1977 — Thu, 22 May 2008 08:04:06 +0000

I’d rather have this than the T-Wolves. But this isn’t good enough.

By: Laughton

Laughton — Tue, 20 May 2008 23:16:52 +0000

Excuse me, but can I have my cake and eat it too?
Mmmmm cake.

By: slappy

slappy — Tue, 20 May 2008 22:59:34 +0000

Title, no question. That’s why the loss in ‘05 was infinitely more painful than the ‘04 title was pleasurable. I knew then that their legacy was at stake. Multiple titles solidifies them. If the ’90’s Rockets hadn’t repeated, I don’t think anyone would even remember them outside of Houston. Now their seen as an incredibly resilient team with a lot of heart (even if it wasn’t against the Bulls). The Buffalo Bills had a tremendous accomplishment in going to the Super Bowl 4 straight years (and I hated them with a passion), but their not held in particularly high regard. By the end of their run I was actually hoping they’d actually win one, just so they’d get the respect for getting their so many times. The same with the Atlanta Braves, even with a World Series win. The ‘83 Sixers are probably an exception to the likes of the ‘06 Heat.

By: LawyerBoy

LawyerBoy — Tue, 20 May 2008 21:44:14 +0000

Count: In Matt’s example, the Pistons still make the 2nd round of the playoffs for the next six years; they don’t become perennially lottery bound. The answer for me is title, title, title. If Boston doesn’t win it this year, they don’t win a title with the storyline “The Big 3 changed everything”, because even if they win a title with those 3 it won’t be before some big changes to their roster (coaching staff too?) that take some of the luster out of “The Big 3″ legend. I’ll happily live with mediocrity (not basketball oblivion) for the next six years in exchange for a title this year. I really think it’s a way harder question if it goes from “6 years of second round exits” to “6 years of lottery appearances”.

By: jay_uno

jay_uno — Tue, 20 May 2008 21:30:06 +0000

title, no question

By: Birdman

Birdman — Tue, 20 May 2008 21:22:47 +0000

If I was a Heat fan (thank goodness I’m not), I would be fine with suffering this season (and the next few, perhaps) for a championship trophy.

I’d take the ’ship.

By the way, I’m also a Minnesota Vikings fan, so I know a little about contending without ever winning a championship.

By: The Count of Detroit

The Count of Detroit — Tue, 20 May 2008 20:28:56 +0000

All I have to say is look at the Heat! They mortgaged their future to win and two years later they were THE laughing stock of the NBA!

Remaining competitive is the key. Sometimes you good breaks and sometimes you get bad breaks. What if you gamble and go for the title, get burned and then you suck for the next six years? That is more painful as fan, to me at least. And pathetic at the same time when the fan base says, “What if?” What if that call went that way, what if the shot didn’t rim out, so on and so forth.

If we continue to remain competitive, our bench and young guys gain valuable playoff experience. We will be an attractive destination for free agents. If we continue to win, players will want to play here and not make trade demands like Gasol, AI, etc. Creating a positive and successful culture is hard to do while perserving that culture is much easier.

I’ll take 6 ECF finals, gladly!

By: Mike Payne

Mike Payne — Tue, 20 May 2008 19:58:44 +0000

Tough call, don’t know if I can really choose between the two. I can tell you this, it’d be interesting to know we’d be in the ECF for the next six years. Consider that in that 6th year, Rasheed and Chauncey will have retired, Rip likely as well, Tayshaun will likely be coming off the bench if he’s still with Detroit then.

In 4 years, we could have a Stuckey that looks like Tony Parker / Dwyane Wade, an Amir that looks like Jermaine O’Neal before the injuries, and a cast of players we may not even know yet.

If anything is true about Detroit, we have built a legacy in six straight Eastern Conference Finals appearances. Six more would mean we’d continue that legacy with a new cast. Also, it would all but guarantee Joe Dumars a 2nd Hall of Fame induction, this time as an Executive.

By: Glenn

Glenn — Tue, 20 May 2008 17:20:45 +0000

I’d take the 6 ECF appearances. What hope do you have as a fan knowing that you’re not going to make it past round 2 for the next 6 years? Yeah we’re good enough to get there, but who cares if we absolutely know we’re going to lose. On the other hand, if Dumars is able to retool and keep us competetive enough when the current 5 are almost all in their late 30’s, that probably means we’re going to continue to be good after that, and probably win a title or two. I take the very good team and the chance to win several over a title and then perpetual mediocrity.

By: LanierFan

LanierFan — Tue, 20 May 2008 16:35:28 +0000

Darn you Juskimo, you beat me to it. But well said.

By: LanierFan

LanierFan — Tue, 20 May 2008 16:34:16 +0000

Win the title now.

I’ll put it this way. Do you want to be compared to the New York Knicks of the 1970s (2 titles), or to the Atlanta Braves of the 1990s (1 title, perpetual contention)?

Bookend titles put the Pistons beyond everyone in this era except the Spurs. With 2 titles, the consistency gains added luster. Without 2 titles, you can’t silence the one-and-done ring whores like Miami (or, heaven forbid, Boston).

By: Juskimo

Juskimo — Tue, 20 May 2008 16:24:49 +0000

The title. 100% of the time.

The best comparison would be the 97-03 Florida Marlins and the 97-03 Atlanta Braves. Would you rather win two titles and be terrible in between or be consistently good, but not good enough to win it all in that span?

By: ohad

ohad — Tue, 20 May 2008 15:09:03 +0000

Umm god, we don’t tlk too often but arrange a title for us?
Oh and if it’s not too much trouble can paul pierce get hurt (i mean reallllly hurt) by running into maxi or something?
thanks

By: Ron

Ron — Tue, 20 May 2008 13:59:56 +0000

The title, of course! THAT you remember for many years to come! But 6 ECF’s or no, you won’t want remember your 2nd round (or 3rd round) loss to someone else!

By: Steve in OH

Steve in OH — Tue, 20 May 2008 13:36:37 +0000

I’d say that given the scenario you laid out, Matt, it’s not too hard of a decision.

Win the title. Period.

Given, that includes us making the playoffs for many more years and simply losing earlier. It would be frustrating, no doubt, but not nearly as frustrating as not making the playoffs. So a title and still making the playoffs every year and even advancing a round - that’s not a bad deal.