The lighter side of things. Things that are fuzzy.

Sunday, June 03, 2007

Eastern Conference Good Guys

The Detroit Pistons are my team. I wanted them to succeed for so many reasons. The most appealing feature of the Pistons to me is that there are no superstars and yet they are good. I appreciate how hard they have to work to be good. But in the end, they are just good, not great. Many fans don't really get it, but the Pistons are over-achievers. They really shouldn't have gotten as far as they did.

I have never been terribly impressed with Flip Saunders. When he was hired I wrote that I'd give him a chance. I gave him a chance and I think he is a good coach but not a great coach. I don't think he is entirely to blame for the Pistons failing to win the Eastern Conference Championship, but I think he failed to inspire the players to rise up and to continue to over-achieve. It looked like the players stopped listening to him. I find it incredibly hard to believe that Flip would instruct the team to stand outside on the perimeter and to rush their shots. I find it incredibly hard to believe that Flip instructed the team to stop rebounding. I find it incredibly hard to believe that Flip instructed the team to stop playing defense the way they played all season. I find it more likely that he failed to inspire them to try to be great. I do blame him for a few things. I really wonder why Nazr Mohammed was playing in this last game. I didn't even realize that Mohammed was on the team anymore. I don't think I've seen him play, or heard his name mentioned since Chris Webber joined the team.

There are probably going to be many Sheed haters out there, but for the most part, he was the only Piston who really came to play. I would have loved to see him post up more, but he worked so hard while the rest of his team seemed to coast through the games. RIP wasn't constantly in motion like I am used to seeing. Chris Webber looked like he was 50 years old. Chauncey....where was Chauncey? I didn't see Chauncey. I

The guy I feel for the most is Antonio McDyess. He wanted to win so badly. I really wanted them to win for him.

I trust Joe Dumars to do what is right with this team. He has done an amazing job and very well may be the best GM in sports. I realize he made one of the biggest mistakes ever in drafting Darko and still think he is the best. I do think it is time for a new coach and a new player or two. I don't think it is time to blow the team up but I think a big trade or a new free agent or two, while giving one of the guys, such as Sheed, Billups, or RIP a new opportunity elsewhere may freshen things up.

LeBron James is a great player with potential to be of the greatest ever. I like LeBron. When he was in his senior year of high school and was being hyped as the next Jordan I had serious doubts. I thought he was just a man among boys and that he would really struggle when he joined the NBA and played with other grown men. I was wrong. He really has incredible talent. I wish him the best. Go Cleveland!