I know you’re frustrated. I know your expectations were higher. I know you can’t take the losing. Despite the disappointment that has become the 2008-09 season; I think we as Pistons fans should be more proud and thankful.
We should be thankful to have had the joys of watching a team make a run of six straight trips to the Eastern Conference Finals, which included 2 Finals appearances and one NBA Championship. We should also be proud to have witnessed our team succeed with “unselfish” players, who worked well off of and with one another and did it with a true tough-minded defensive identity.
But with the ravishes of time come change and one that is first met with resistance, so much so that fans and media people alike have not been thrilled about this season.
Aiding in this disappointment was the trade of the popular Chauncey Billups, the unenviable task of trying to integrate the talents of Allen Iverson, the hiring a rookie head coach in Michael Curry, seemingly uninspired play, and now a rash of injuries a month before the season concludes.
I’d like to think we as committed residence of PistonNation are smart enough to recognize that the team we had come to love and identify with had seen its best days. With three straight years of losing in the conference finals, other contenders starting to pass by like the new sports car fresh off the assembly line and players getting old, one would think that change had to happen. Moreover, if the team was kept together and went on to lose in the 2nd round or conference finals again then everyone would be screaming for something new any so what’s the difference?
I also believe we should be thankful to have a team president in Joe Dumars, who has the presence of mind to see decline and recognize a need for such change. Besides, who’s better at determining such thing than a former player who has experienced the highs of winning in the NBA and the lows of the lottery?
In case you didn’t know (or forgot), Dumars played on a championship team where during his hall-of-fame career, he was not only an integral part, by winning a Finals MVP, he also was lauded for his cerebral sense and for being a multi-dimensional talent. Unfortunately, he was also apart of a franchise that had fallen on hard times after the glory days, only to try to spray over the stink of mediocrity with bad personnel decisions and the dreaded horses head teal uniforms.
My point is that, all great teams have a point where they are off for at least a season but, stability and sound decision-making (which the Pistons have) will be the determining factor to how long the frustration will last.
None of us can predict the future but, I’m confident that we won’t see too many more seasons like this because, of the track record. Think of this as the 2001 season reincarnated (one that included: Mateen Cleaves, Joe Smith, and John Wallace) which was a season of salary cap clearing and developing youth. Just that team didn’t make the playoffs. Also the team was loaded with cap space, a new coach, and a budding star on the rise…. Sound familiar?
So let’s be appreciative of what we’ve enjoyed and also take our lumps from all the other so-called fans of the “popular” teams. It will make it that much sweater when we’re right back on top…. Right?
I think the Pistons still have fight in them. I think they are still a great team. I think they can fly into the playoffs under the radar and do some damage. What does it tell you when you have 3 starters out against the Mavs and the Rockets in back to back games on the road and lose by 2 and push another to double OT? When Rip came back the Pistons played very well for about 6 games. Bring him back along with a rested and healthy sheed and Iverson, along with the great bench play and McDyess’ heart, I think they still have a shot. I think Curry has the lineups figured out.
I agree with Nic. It’s too early to start waving the white flags. You’re not talking about a team that’s missed the playoffs. Thanks for the perspective, but “it isn’t over ’till it’s over.”
Give us Chris Bosh and we’ll be back on top!!!!!!!!
Lol! Funny you guys think that by getting another good ‘player’ that you’ll all of a sudden become this force to be recond with come this season OR next season under this HORSE you call a coach…. Do you guys HONESTLY think that any coach with serious credentials (Phil Jackson, Stan Van Gundy, Larry Brown or Avery Johnson just to name a few) wouldnt be able to take this team to the finals THIS YEAR???????? You guys have GOTS to be joking. This team will be AVERAGE at best next year, and RIP will be on the fence as to whether or not he wants to stay. Getting ANY top tier player to come here with “coach chuckles” at the helm will prove difficult indeed…….. Good luck with that…..
I’m mad for pretty much a couple reasons
1. Joe D gave up on this season before it started with the hiring of Michael Curry.
2. Lindsey Hunter was my favorite guard ever. And they showed him no loyalty
2. BUT THE MAIN, NUMBER 1, WHOLE SHIBANG REASON IS that Antonio McDyess is here. You don’t let Dyess come back like this then stack everything against him getting his ice. Screw that, I’m on Dyess’s side and seeing what this organization is doing to him has me up a wall.
Ultimately Joe D broke the trust with the fans this season. And I think that’s why we are taking it so hard.
Anyway excellent post very well thought out and written and I liked reading it
True Piston fans are behind the team in good and bad times. Period.
Dre, Your an idiot. Nick, I am a man who lives in the moment. We’ve shown that we can beat Boston and Orlando on their home courts. Why is it so doubted that we can’t contest for a title this year. You guys are all assuming that the best of the East and West will be there come the conference finals. Who knows what kind of upsets will happen this post season. Hello Hawks Celtics 7 games! Keep the faith, who knows what kind of mental state our beloved Pistons will be in come playoffs. Keep it pimpin
I agree with Nic too. Don’t give up on this season yet. The playoffs are a whole separate season. With Sheed and Rip back, (and I guess AI) the Pistons can do damage in the postseason. It would be so amazing if they could pull it off this year. Who knows what’s gonna happen!!! I’m excited though.
Well said Austin K!!!!
Fire Curry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ok i don’t like MC myself, but I think we need to give him a chance. It’s not all his fault you know. He’s not the one out there missing shots on the court. Besides, we can’t keep firing coaches. It shows that we don’t hold our players accountable at all.
Everyone seems really down here. Look, the zoo crew has gelled. The core players are all returning. Just watch, we will end the regular season with a run and everything is actually working out. We should avoid Atlanta, we need to grab that 6th seed, blow through Orlando and we’ll be highsteppin right into the second round in full force!
WHEN WE ARE A FACTOR IN THE EASTERN CONF AGAIN IT MAY BE SWEETER.. BUT I DUNNO IF IT WILL BE “SWEATER”
i have a question for the managment:
which price were offered that we have lost Chauncey Billups + a future as the past 5-7 years of success!??
i cannot understand and i will never agree this type of change through a season regarding of a francise and a team which was more than a regular team otherwise a family with a legacy, history and tradition of the DETROIT PISTONS !
With a healthy rip and sheed the pistons can finish the season strong. Seeing our team play so well with out our core players against Dallas and Houston says a lot. I bet both those games would have been wins if rip wasn’t hurt and had played, we were right there. lets go pistons!
GO PISTONS, KEEP POUNDING THE BALL TO THE HOOP AND DO WHAT YOU GUYS DO BEST..”D”
I agree with everyone who said “IT AINT OVER TILL ITS OVER.”
The thing that makes me mad is that we are clearing cap room and grooming young players yet we keep players/sign players that do our team no good. We should see big changes next year after all that money comes off the books!
I fully agree, this season AINT over not by a long shot man. Just give it time to develop, and look at the bright side, come playoff time and we’re in the 6th seed playing orlando, we’ll be in 2nd Round for sure, also heading into playoffs, we’ll have a well rested Sheed, Iverson, and Rip. We’ve been playing ball INJURED this whole season during time after we finally figured out our Swagg. MARK MY WORD, PISTONS WILL WILL WIN THE TITLE but with a healthy squad, iverson mans up to his role we will win, you cant match up against us, you double team us we will hurt you Pistons Beat Orlando Rd 1, then play a worn out Celtics in Round 2 cause i believe Sixers will make them work, Eastern Finals IF Cavs make it, its going to be after going 7 games against DWade’s Heat, we’ll stagger Lebron and depending on how he is we’ll either give him every shot adn choke his teammates or choke lebron and let the series be from his teammates, and we get to teh finals my friends a hungry Iverson, will want what he’s been waiting his whole career for the emotions will be running high and no team in the west can beat detroit
GO PISTONS
Just give it time to develop, and look at the bright side, come playoff time and we’re in the 6th seed playing orlando, we’ll be in 2nd Round for sure, also heading into playoffs, we’ll have a well rested Sheed, Iverson, and Rip. We’ve been playing ball INJURED this whole season during time after we finally figured out our Swagg. MARK MY WORD, PISTONS WILL WILL WIN THE TITLE but with a healthy squad, iverson mans up to his role we will win, you cant match up against us, you double team us we will hurt you Pistons Beat Orlando Rd 1, then play a worn out Celtics in Round 2 cause i believe Sixers will make them work
The Pistons just need a little more faith in themselves. They need to get healthy and then put their head down and not let anything get to them. They have proven they can compete with the best teams in the league but it’s more of a head game with them than anything. They’ve got to just do the thing. Oh, and I think it may be time to say good bye to most if not all of the old core and let the Zoo Crew step into that role. Young players are exciting.