DBB gives thanks

In the spirit of Thanksgiving the staff of Detroit Bad Boys took a few minutes out of their busy days of bringing you all-things-Pistons to share what they are thankful for this year, Pistons-related or otherwise (but mostly Pistons-related):

Ken Wallace

I am thankful that the Pistons have reached 5 wins before Thanksgiving Day this year!

I am thankful that Andre Drummond has stepped up his rebounding and scoring and looks to be committed to the Pistons' future.

I am thankful that it looks like Stanley Johnson is another strong first round pick for us.

Finally, I am thankful for DBB as a place where we celebrate after our victories and commiserate after our defeats.

Sean Wheeler/Hypnowheel

I’m thankful to have this awesome community to both celebrate and lament the Detroit Pistons as they become relevant again.

I’m thankful to be able to contribute to DBB and that so many readers appreciate what I have to say.

I’m thankful for NBA League Pass, which allows me to watch every wonderful/excruciating/unbelievable/memorable Pistons make/miss/block/steal/4QC/comeback from the distant metropolis of Atlanta.

I’m thankful that the Pistons provide me with an outlet for my passion to edit video and music. And you guys will be thankful when I release my next masterpiece ;)

Happy Thanksgiving, friends!

Jason Brunskowski

I am thankful that Stan Van Gundy had the gall to just let Josh Smith walk last season.

I am thankful that the Pistons seem like they'll have an opportunity to make the playoffs this year.

I am thankful that Drummond decided to delay his extension.

Justin Lambregtse

I am thankful that I don't feel like I'm wasting my time watching Pistons games this year because they are actually competitive.

I am thankful that I don't have to watch Josh Smith play basketball for the Pistons on Thanksgiving this year.

I am thankful that we will have Swag returning soon.

Ben Gulker

I'm thankful that Mike Payne came out of retirement, even if far too briefly.

Michael Snyder

I’m grateful that millions and millions of readers are depending on my articles so I must watch this game with zero distractions.

Most of all, I thankful that DBB has given me the opportunity to use that excuse on my girlfriend.

Ben Quagliata

I am grateful that I get the chance to write about my favourite sports team and converse with other intellectual people about the joys of basketball (although perhaps I am just a cut above, who knows).

I am grateful for Andre Drummond, our based god and spiritual leader, haunting the nightmares of Plumlees everywhere.

I am grateful for Brandon Jennings being the second best point guard on the team even with a busted Achilles. I am grateful for sitting in the front row.

I am grateful that I am Australian, and therefore by default in the top 10% most interesting people on DBB.

I am grateful that I am in the States and can watch stupid matinee games at a reasonable hour, and not 4am.

Finally, I am grateful that we took quicker to get to 2 wins than the Lions…zing!

Lazarus Jackson

I am thankful for Reggie's arms, KCP's legs, Andre's heart, and Stan's brain.

I am thankful for every #countthatbabyandafoul and #dontlooknow.

I am thankful for having the choice to not watch Josh Smith.

I am thankful that my team has a high ceiling and a high floor.

I am thankful for the writers at DBB, who dwarf my contributions and make my life easier in doing so.

I am thankful for the opportunity to partake in such a knowledgeable community.

Devin Jones

I am thankful for Stan Van Gundy aka "Not Mo Cheeks/Lawrence Frank/John Kuester/Michael Curry"

I am thankful for walls and the fu*king formation of them

I am thankful for the upside of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Dion Waiters and Thomas Robinson which allowed the Pistons to be gifted 'Dre in 2012.

I am thankful for the early-to-mid 2000s Pistons for making me a slappy and saving my sports sanity during historically bad Lions and Tigers seasons.

I am thankful for Legal Genius for giving me more Mason in my life https://vimeo.com/113745088

I am thankful for Stanimal Johnson being thankful he's a Piston

I am thankful for Turkey...the country...and every charge Ersan Ilyasova has taken

I am thankful for the doctors and trainers nursing Brandon Jennings back to health to give our bench a shot of life in the second half of the season.

I am thankful for 90's R&B artists and Motown legends for keeping Pistons halftimes smooth and funky.

But most of all, I'm thankful that this team is back to playing hard-nosed, competitive basketball and looking at the playoffs instead of ping pong balls.

J Parker Pool

I am thankful for living in an era where sport no longer involves watching wild animals devour the athletes. Live another day, Pistons!

I'm thankful for Fred Zollner bringing the Pistons to Detroit and for giving us an awesome logo that we really should go back to.

I'm thankful for Spencer Dinwiddie's mustache and its mystic powers.

Drunken-after-the-fact-add-on: But most of all, I'm thankful that DBB picked up a a certifiably crazy writer by the name of J Parker Pool and gave him an audience to which he could introduce all his absurd ideas to.  I've always thought of weird **** and cackled maniacally to myself.  Little did I know that if I had a large enough audience, a few people would cackle along with me. I don't have much time to post, but I'm truly thankful for the warm embrace I've received from the DBB community.

Ryan Pravato

I'm thankful that there's pro basketball back in Motown that means something.

I'm thankful for sometimes being able to catch portions of Pistons games in the morning via a VPN while at work in Beijing..

I'm thankful for airplanes, as I'm going to need one to return to the states soon to get back into the groove of being a proper hoops fan.

Finally, I'm thankful to be involved with so many solid writers and thinkers at DBB.

David Fernandez

I am thankful for the Charlotte Bobcats, Washington Wizards, Cleveland Cavaliers, Sacramento Kings, Portland Trail Blazers, Golden State Warriors, and Toronto Raptors for all passing on Andre Drummond in the 2012 NBA draft.

I am also thankful for Tom Gores, the Pistons' owner. Without him and Karen Davis, Motown could have lost their beloved Pistons to another market.

Lastly, I'm thankful for the Detroit Bad Boys. It's been an awesome experience being able to work with and learn from the best writers in the NBA blogosphere.

Steve Hinson

-I’m thankful for Tom Gores. I wasn’t sure about the dude at first, but he’s been a terrific owner. Whatever it’s taken, whether dumping Smith, firing Dumars, paying crazy money for SVG, he’s been willing.

-I’m thankful Stan Van Gundy and Jeff Bower are smart and good at their jobs. -I’m thankful that this roster is full of 15 guys that I actually enjoy watching play basketball.

-Most of all, I’m thankful for pie. Cherry, key lime, Kentucky, even pumpkin. For dutch, lattice, graham cracker crusts. For homemade whipped cream on top or a scoop of ice cream on the side. Yeah pie.

Christopher Daniels

I'm thankful for DBB, which provides an outlet for my jack-of-all-trades artistic talent and ungodly interest in the NBA and the Pistons.  My wife is also very thankful.

I'm thankful for my Mom who encouraged me to do a cartoon for Detroit Edison when I was in 7th grade which led me to meeting Isiah Thomas, becoming a Pistons fan, and becoming an artist (which also eventually all led me to DBB.)

I'm thankful for coming up with the idea for this article which allowed me to do very little actual work.

I'm thankful for Ben Q who in his Australian-ness had to use "grateful" instead of "thankful"

I'm thankful for something cool that might be happening that I can't share yet but will make you all happy I'm pretty sure.

And finally I'm thankful to the Pistons for bringing me less pain and more joy this year, and to all of the readers and writers who keep this sailing.

Ryan Matthews

I, for one, am thankful for what this start has done for the casual basketball fans to get back into the conversation. People know I'm a basketball junkie the same way your uncle fiends for a turkey leg come dinner time this Thursday. I'm thankful that people are texting me, calling me, reaching out to me and opening the lines of discussion about the Detroit Pistons. We're once again discussing the relevancy of the Pistons in November and it's been some time since my friends and I have had a discussion about the state of NBA basketball that didn't center around the Lakers, LeBron, or losing as much as we can for ping pong opportunities come June.

Jamie Delaney

I am thankful for Big Stan, his embroidered shirts, and commitment to making us a championship-caliber squad

I am thankful for the Platinum Player Tommy G, or Tom Gores, for blessing the Palace with the biggest T-Shirt cannons in the NBA.

Having said that, I am also thankful for tees-for-threes I am thankful for Andre Drummond and his emergence as Moses Malone 2.0

I am thankful for Reggie, KCP, Morris, Ilyasova playing more minutes than they should

Lastly, I am thankful to the DBB gods for letting your boy be charged up on the 2015-16 Pistons

Kevin Sanders

I am thankful for a coach that has a killer 'stache and who tells it like it is.

I am thankful for George Blaha and Greg Kelser, the best commentators in the biz, bringing it each night.

I'm thankful for my first son Miles being born just three weeks ago, and the many Pistons games we will watch together for many years to come.

Packey

I am thankful for my (growing) supportive family, who understands my love for the Pistons and this website and allows me to change the channel from re-runs of Modern Family or Despicable Me and Doc McStuffins to catch games.

I am thankful for the 5,290 members in the DBB community, especially those who participate regularly and help me be more knowledgeable on my favorite NBA team. (Special shout out to Chris Daniels for all the great photoshops!)

I am thankful for the fresh voices on DBB, the memory of Ron Marshall always being a part of this website and every new (or old) member who decides to jump into the conversation.

I am thankful for civil discourse.

I am thankful for this year's Pistons team, led by Stan Van Gundy, for not only wanting to be better, but for putting in the work to become better.

I am thankful for turkey, stuffing, and leftovers.

Happy Thanksgiving everybody from your friends at Detroit Bad Boys! Please take a moment to share what you are all thankful for this year below... (even you lurkers)