So, it is with a putrid combination of basketball misery and hockey/baseball optimism that I present the top five reasons to support the Wings and Tigers while the Pistons play golf and pray for a high lottery pick.

5. Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterburg and…Todd Bertuzzi? Wings fans have come to expect Datsyuks’s magic and Zetterburg’s wit over the past few years, but who would have ever guessed 35-year-old Bertuzzi would have 17 goals and 25 assists at this point? Tossed aside by the league and its fans, Todd is playing like he has something to prove. And that’s a good thing.

4. Maggs. There’s a lot of buzz going on that the career of Magglio Ordonez is creeping to an end, judging from an unmistakable hit, HR, and RBI fallout in 2009. He had a late stat hike last season, and is undoubtedly looking to silence his critics.

3. Justin Verlander and Rick Porcello. Verlander is on everyone’s Top 10 starting pitcher’s list and Porcello had 14 wins in his rookie season. In Monday’s Grapefruit game against the Blue Jays, Porcello threw a no-hitter through six innings. It may be spring training, but pitching that well is a good sign any time of the year.

2. The NHL Playoffs. At 39-23-13 with 91 points, the Wings have all but solidified their playoff spot in the West. Going 8-1-1 in their last 10, Detroit is hitting their stride late and has somehow managed to crawl up to the 6th conference seed. If momentum in sports is real, few teams have as much of it going into the postseason.

1. Jimmy’s time has come. Gone are the times of Osgood, Conklin, and Hasek. Now, after spending four years with the Grand Rapids Griffins, Jimmy Howard has cemented himself as one of the most exciting up-and-coming goalies in the nation (and Canada). The big question: how will he mind the net when playoff mentality comes barreling toward him?

West Starters

Chris Paul. Continues to play out the dictionary definition of “point guard”. Leads the league with 11.1 assists per game, right on par with his recent career numbers. I have a gut feeling this won’t be his last All-Star Game.

Kobe Bryant. This is an easy one. Two phrases: “top of the West” and “championship”. And I’m not even a Lakers fan.

Carmelo Anthony. This guy is scoring up a storm, and in a hurry. The rise of the Class of 2003 continues.

Kevin Durant. Second-highest point total in the league behind James, so I did a little tweaking and made Durant the skinniest All-Star power forward ever.

Dirk Nowitzki. Another no-brainer. Just imagine how royally screwed the Mavs would be without Dirk taking insane, off-balance jumpers (while he’s falling down) in the clutch.

West Reserves

Steve Nash. He’s suddenly reverted to his 28-year-old MVP self and shows no signs of age whatsoever. Not to mention, he’s fun to watch (when the Suns are on national TV every other night).

Chauncey Billups. Sorry, Deron Williams. As incredibly valuable as Williams is to the Jazz, this is about a players value to their squad. Billups turned the Nuggets around, and now they sit comfortably at the 2-spot in the West.

Tyreke Evans. The taboo of rookies in All-Star Games needs to be demolished ASAP. Evans is averaging 21/5/5 in season one? Kevin Martin better start shopping around.

Brandon Roy. Runs the Blazers, and the Blazers are good. Every comment can’t be a zinger.

Tim Duncan. How do you stop a pinpoint-accurate bank shot and someone that just pulled down 27 rebounds? You don’t.

Carlos Boozer. He’s averaging 19&11 and continues to quietly dominate the Western Conference defensive picture.

Chris Kaman. Chris has deserved to attend at least a few All-Star weekends, and this is one of them. He is on the Clippers, which definitely hurts his chances, but his selfless, ultra-efficient play makes him the David Lee of the West.

West Head Coach

Rick Carlisle. I like George Karl, but it seems the Nuggets rise to power was solely based on the Billups trade. My heart told me to pick Mark Cuban, though.

East Starters

Rajon Rondo. Considering the staggering quality of point guards in the West, it’s pretty sad that it was this easy to choose Rondo. He leads the East in assists and steals, making him a quick pick.

Dwyane Wade. One of the NBA’s top five scorers, and continues to get more and more comfortable making big plays, whether he’s shooting the ball or not.

LeBron James.Good luck not seeing him in the All-Star Game for the next 46 years. He’s the face of the NBA, has biceps the size of my car, and plays fun make-believe camera games with Mo Williams every time he dunks on somebody. In all seriousness though, the guy is legit.

Chris Bosh. Bosh is a beast. 24 points and 11.5 rebounds per game? Game over.

Dwight Howard. His scoring numbers are down around 15% from last year, but his rebounding and inhuman amount of double-doubles is what gets him in.

East Reserves

Derrick Rose. Not many stand-out point guards in the East, but he’s one of them.

Joe Johnson. A solid point guard and the primary reason the Hawks are doing so well. Jamal Crawford didn’t hurt either.

Danny Granger. If the Pacers were decent and the media focused on more talent than James and Bryant, the world would come to see the real Danny Granger. I would pay so much to see Melo vs. Granger, but that’s beside the point.

Andre Igoudala. More well-rounded and prominent that Al Horford. Despite the garbage record, Igoudala is hardly one of the reasons for it.

Gerald Wallace. He should be here much more often, but unfortunately cannot get past his injuries sometimes.

Stephen Jackson. Captain Jack is back, and what the…the Bobcats are good?

Zach Randolph. Not sure if he was reverse-inspired by Allen Iverson’s short stint with the Grizzlies, but he has shockingly evolved into somewhat of a team player.

East Head Coach

Mike Woodson. The Hawks rose from the ashes this season and sit as a threat to the East throne.

Close, but no Sterngar:

Monta Ellis. Great player, but pretty one-dimensional. Oh yeah, and David Stern hates him, so good luck with that one, buddy.

Deron Williams. See Chauncey Billups.

Aaron Brooks. In the absemce of “you-know-who” and “you-know-who”, Brooks has stepped up tremendously. Had he posted higher assist numbers, he would have easily made the reserves.

Rodney Stuckey. Had to through this one in. His (often-present) drive has helped the Pistons avoid becoming the Detroit Nets.

Adam Debrowski is the owner and editor of the Detroit Pistons blog pistonpost.com.

Play some freaking defense. I’m sure all of you have been shouting some profane version of this at your TV screens like I have, and we have every right to. It’s exactly what was in the back of many a mind when Joe put all his chips on Gordon and Villanueva, and it’s become a reality. Apart from streaks of defensive decency, neither of them are a threat whatsoever. Charlie, who usually gets 30-ish minutes, hasn’t recorded double-digit rebounds since mid-November. Oh yeah, and pretty much every other player (except Wallace and Jerebko) looks terrible too.

Shake up the roster (again). There’s nothing consistent about the Pistons’ frontcourt right now, and when a team loses 12 in a row, changes need to be made (see Lawrence Frank). Al Jefferson was allegedly offered to the Pacers in exchange for Danny Granger, and while we have no players that are quite Granger-esque, I’m sure Joe could come up with some type of Jason Maxiell/Tayshaun Prince concoction. Kuester needs someone he can dump the ball to in the post for an easy two. Villanueva is the closest thing Detroit has to that, and he’s hardly a rough-and-tough deep post player.

We need to see more Jerebko and Wilcox. Jerebko has averaged less than 10 minutes in the past three games. 10 minutes a game for someone who, in his rookie season, has averaged Tayshaun numbers for the past two months. If this is some sort of experiment, I don’t think it’s a very good one. Chris Wilcox has also been overly efficient with his [little] playing time (leads the team in FG%) and needs to be in the game more. Wilcox played ~30 minutes a game for years with the Sonics and averaged roughly 14 & 8, there’s no reason why he should be reserved for garbage time.

John Kuester needs to make better decisions in the clutch. This is just a single bitter pill. Villanueva, who was absolutely on fire when the Pistons were in Dallas, was on the bench when Detroit needed a three to tie the game. Stuckey nearly airballed it and all Charlie could do was watch. Why?

Let’s hope all of the mysteries are solved tonight in Chicago. Until then, PLEASE NOT 13 IN A ROWWWWW!!

-Adam

The complete Detroit Pistons team is gathered near the scorer’s table. Each player wears a blue or white practice jersey with their numbers printed on both sides.

With a basketball in his hand, backup guard Will Bynum steps out of the group and firmly plants his feet just outside the right wing. He glances upward, then heaves the ball 25 feet into the Palace air. Thousands of fans watch, each one standing and momentarily silent. Bynum takes off running. The ball lands near the free throw line and bounces back up above the rim.

Bynum, all 6 feet of him, gathers and jumps – the No. 12 on his jersey almost touching the front of the rim. He grabs the ball, cocks it back with one hand and viciously slams it into the basket.

The crowd erupts; sounds of awe and stunned expletives resonate through the stands for a good 60 seconds following the dunk. And this wasn’t even planned.
The impromptu dunk contest was one of the highlights of the Pistons’ Open Practice at the Palace of Auburn Hills Saturday.

Not only did the practice provide fans with an expense-free opportunity to see NBA players in the flesh, but it also delivered a chance to see the “new-look” Pistons in action.

“The people who don’t get a chance to see us during the regular season get a chance to see us firsthand for free,” said Chris Wilcox, a former Thunder big man who signed with Detroit in July. “It’s a good way to give back to the community.”

“It’s fun to have the fans here watching what we do every day,” said rookie forward Jonas Jerebko, who took part in his first Open Practice Saturday.
“They can see a little bit of [our] personalities. It was a fun time having the fans watch us practice.”

The event, which is held during or slightly before the preseason every year, has been held at Oakland University for the past two years, but was moved back to the Palace this year. In addition to free parking and admission, hot dogs and Coke were also provided free of charge. A Pistons “garage sale” was also held in the Palace’s West Atrium, where fans could find clearance merchandise from Pistons past. Everything from basketballs signed by Rasheed Wallace to game-worn Antonio McDyess practice jerseys to autographed photos of Corliss Williamson were up for grabs.

Even a used pair of Walter Herrmann’s size 15 shoes was available for purchase.
As unique and interactive as Open Practice was for the fans in attendance, new head coach John Kuester took a moment prior to practice to stress the importance of what the team was doing.

“We have a game tomorrow at six. In that short amount of time, we need to get a lot of things done,” Kuester said over the Palace sound system.
“This is a practice day for us. I know it’s an open practice, but it’s also a practice day where we’ve got to get better.”

The fact that it was still a real practice became evident when Kwame Brown took a shot to the face during a half court drill. Brown left the floor with trainer Mike Abdenour at his side and a bloody towel at his nose. Although he returned 10 minutes later, the incident was a public reminder that on the professional level, even practices can be painful.

Before the drills, the players went through a lengthy stretching regimen, which Kuester and Assistant Coach Pat Sullivan spoke of as a key component to every practice. The stretches were followed by various offensive and defensive segments, a fast break drill, and two 10-minute scrimmages.

The team was split into a blue team and a white team for the scrimmages, one team coached by Sullivan and the other by assistant coach Darrell Walker. Rodney Stuckey led all scorers with 10 points as the white team won 28-22. Kwame Brown and Will Bynum each finished with six points.

Charlie Villanueva, who is recovering from a minor hamstring injury, was the only player who did not take part in the scrimmages.

The games gave fans a rare opportunity to see Pistons play Pistons, as well as a tiny glimpse into what the team will look like come regular season time.

“As the season goes on, other players will have to pick it up,” Kuester said afterward.
“We have a ways to go, but I’m really pleased with the energy and effort our big players have given us so far. In time, I think we have a chance to be a very good defensive team.”

Fans of other teams can point to Detroit and chuckle, catapulting comments regarding Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva and how that combination will rarely improve a team’s championship odds.

Perhaps, in that aspect, they would be right.

However, as the 2009 postseason action comes to a close, the most publicized moves may prove to be some of the least crucial.

Often times, sports media does not know best. What you see on the front page of ESPN’s website is not often the information that will prove most valuable.

Exhibit A: Chris Wilcox. When Detroit signed Wilcox, it was nothing more than a two-paragraph piece on some ticker page tucked away in the bowels of every sports website out there. I rarely saw praise for the dunker who can, unlike Jason Maxiell, do more than dunk.

Exhibit B: DaJuan Summers. Overshadowed by columnist chatter on how weak Austin Daye was, the Pistons’ second draft pick, got lost somewhere along the way. I never noticed mention of how Summers could lead to a shift in Detroit’s frontcourt. How he was like Tayshaun Prince, except a bigger, faster powerhouse.

When the dust settled, the Gordon/Villanueva signing turned out to be a bit of a debacle. Yes, I think Joe Dumars jumped the gun. Yes, I think both of their contracts are too long. And yes, I think Gordon is 95 percent Allen Iverson. But they will help this team, especially in the “here and now.”

It’s the moves that were not as widely publicized – the Wilcox signing, the Summers draft pick, the Herrmann departure, and the Afflalo trade – that may end up having the biggest impact on the future of the Detroit Pistons.

-Adam Debrowski

Article also published at The Western Herald

This time, when I heard that they had signed Chris Wilcox Saturday night, I didn’t have much to complain about.

The main reason was the contract length. Detroit inked Wilcox for two years at $3 million per season. Not only is this a bargain for a big man of his caliber, but if Wilcox can’t pick up his quality of play, he’ll be gone faster than a Pistons’ coach. What if Villanueva or Gordon slump? We’re stuck with ‘em.

Wilcox is also a big upgrade from Amir Johnson. Johnson was a foul machine who couldn’t have two consistent games in a row to save his life. Similar to Johnson, Wilcox presents himself as a forward-center tweener (is there any Piston that isn’t a tweener?) with more of a focus on power over finesse. However, unlike Amir, Wilcox has averaged around 14 points and eight boards a game for three of the past four seasons.

A lot of people are undermining Wilcox’s ability due to his sub par 2008-2009 season, which he spent with the Thunder and the Knicks. I don’t think that his numbers were relative to his skill, considering his minutes plummeted in Oklahoma City, then plummeted even further when he traveled to New York.

Considering Charlie Villanueva will likely start at power forward, I like Wilcox over Kwame Brown at center. Brown, like Amir Johnson, has also shown a lack of consistency and continues to be a non-impact player (although he has the potential to be). If Wilcox can get back on his game, the starting spot will be a no-brainer and this could turn into one heck of a free agency steal for Detroit.

Article also located at Herald Sports

The Denver Post reported Sunday that the Nuggets and Pistons were arranging a deal that would send the Pistons’ Arron Afflalo to Denver to clear cap space, which brings me to my first point.

Afflalo’s paycheck this coming season would total all of $1.09 million. In the sports world, that’s pocket change. Not even pocket change. Walter Sharpe nearly gets paid that much, and the only time fans usually see him is during timeouts, where he can be spotted in the second row donning his finest designer suit.

What Afflalo brings to the Pistons is rare. He brings a work ethic, he brings backcourt defense, and he brings an ever-improving jump shot. The front office is always talking about how important a positive attitude and hard work is to becoming a contender, so why would they think about getting rid of the one guy that does those things best?

The answer: there is none.

Like so many puzzling moves the Pistons have made over the past five years, there’s a good chance this will become the latest cherry on top of the team’s Cupcake of Confusion.

Part of the disarray lies in Dumars’ fear of commitment: six coaches in ten years, letting valuable free agents go, and, in Arron Afflalo’s case, ousting young guys before they can come to fruition.

Ironically, that fear of commitment was briefly overlooked when he signed Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva to respective five-year contracts. The contract lengths were head-scratchers, due to their streakiness and poor defense.

Newly-hired Pistons coach John Kuester, who was an assistant to Larry Brown, has already stated that he wants to emphasize defense. How many players on the current Pistons roster can boast about their defense? Two or three, tops.

Why not lock up 1/58th of your cap space on a player who meshes with Kuester’s system perfectly?

Joe only knows…

Also found at The Western Herald.

When I went online yesterday to find that Cleveland had given Anderson Varejao a $50 million contract, I said to myself, “That better be for at least 10 years, because anything over mid-level is absolutely ridiculous for this guy.” I knew, however, that would not be the case.

Instead, I was utterly sickened to see that it was for nearly half that long. $50 million for six years. Six years. Double take. Six. Years. Not only had they locked up one of the most offensively-limited players in the NBA for six years, but they’re going to pay him fifty million dollars to do it.

If you didn’t already think the state of the NBA was out-of-frickin’-control, you should now.

Let me repeat: the Cleveland Cavaliers are now paying Anderson Varejao $8.3 million for the next six years. Next season, Antonio McDyess, Rasheed Wallace, and Allen Iverson will be making $3 million less than Anderson Varejao. Antonio McDyess, a defensive force with a killer mid-range shot. Rasheed Wallace, a floor-stretcher with a near-perfect (but rarely-used) post presence. Allen Iverson, well…he can crossover, and uh…sell tickets. All getting $3 million less than Anderson Varejao.

For God’s sake, the man’s a role player! He gets thrown on the floor when the Cavs’ need to body someone up, get a quick rebound, or fall down and make it look like a foul. In no way, should a role player of this level be paid $8.3 million, especially long-term. In no way should anybody on the Cavs, save LeBron and maybe Mo Williams, be paid over $8.3 million.

Congratulations on freeing up cash for LeBron in 2010, Danny Ferry. You just spent 15% of your cap space on a role player.

However, there is a problem with Tayshaun Prince. His progression is completely stagnant.

Prince was 24 when the Pistons won the 2004 championship. He was on top of the world, and the only place he could go was up. The following year, his averages improved considerably. Since then, his stats have done nothing but hover.

Now that the Pistons have morphed into a sub-.500 team, which is in grave danger of missing the 2010 playoffs, they need a small forward who can elevate his game to compete with some of the league’s standouts. Joe Dumars probably doesn’t expect the next Kobe, but someone who could give Andre Igoudala, Rudy Gay, or Josh Howard a run for their money would be ideal.

When the Pistons used all three of their picks to draft forwards, Tayshaun Prince’s fate may have been sealed.

With their first pick, the Pistons selected Austin Daye, a Gonzaga University sophomore whose playing style and body type resemble Prince’s. At nearly seven feet, he doesn’t even crack 200 pounds.
He can shift to power forward or center, but his weight would present a problem in both positions. He has already been deemed a weight-gaining project and it is unlikely that he will find the rotation this season. His NBA career in the near future will likely mimic Walter Sharpe’s, who scored all of eight points last season.

The selection of Daye makes little sense. Joe Dumars has always been an executive that prides himself on molding a gritty team that makes up on defense what it lacks offensively. He picked Tayshaun Prince in 2002 because, despite his slenderness, his length and quickness allowed him to be a defensive stud. Rip Hamilton doesn’t exactly tip the scales, but he can get under a defender’s skin like no other. Austin Daye gets knocked around like a rag doll when he’s defending. Blocks aside, he is entirely offensive-minded. Under Joe Dumars, that type of player will never succeed. He conducted the Allen Iverson experiment, and it failed miserably.

The second pick landed DaJuan Summers, a powerful but versatile Georgetown University forward. At number 35 overall, Summers was a steal. His impact will be more immediate, possibly backing up Prince or whoever is starting at small forward when the season starts. He has strength comparable to that of Jason Maxiell, except Summers can post up and shoot the ball, as opposed to Maxiell’s “bull in a china shop” mantra.

The Pistons drafted Jonas Jerebko with the 39th pick. Jerebko has two years with Italian ball club Angelico Biella, but he has little other professional experience. His game is also similar to Prince’s and he may also be entering the rotation, although it’s more likely that he spends a year or two overseas first. His solid build, along with Summers’, also fits Dumars’ preference of tough physical play.

This was not a poor draft for Detroit. Austin Daye has a good amount of potential, but remains the type of player that can easily be a bust. The Pistons are not expected to bring Walter Herrmann back, which will leave a noticeable void at the small forward position.

It is crucial that Detroit bring in somebody to fill that void, unless they want to end up giving Walter Sharpe and DaJuan Summers gigantic promotions that they may not yet be ready for.

The Celtics’ Rajon Rondo/Ray Allen offer may have been a little too much for Joe Dumars to swallow, but the summer is still young. Trading Chauncey Billups and letting Rasheed Wallace roam in free agency is only the start. The work in the Pistons’ front office is far from being done.

The 2009-2010 Detroit Pistons will likely look very different from the team that everybody is used to seeing. Familiar “glory days” faces will be gone, replaced by new, youthful ones. Salary dumps are rampant and all draft picks are used on forwards. The Palace Prince’s reign in Auburn Hills appears to be coming to a close.

Article can also be found at The Western Herald.

Regardless, in the amount of time it took for Magic fans to read the article, Rasheed did a complete 180 from a no-good cry baby to an impeccable team player and all-around great guy. Newly ordained Sheed-worshippers commented relentlessly, and 78% of the poll voters agreed that he would fit like a glove in Orlando’s system. He would put the Magic in a lock for the championship, they said. Despicable!

But wait. How many Pistons fans thought about Rasheed in the same manner before February 19, 2004? I’m willing to bet it was a good amount.

—

For many, when the Billups-Iverson trade was announced, A.I. was golden. Finally, an energetic superstar who could penetrate the lane and had the heart of a lion. He could do no wrong. We laughed when he made his press conference “practice” allusion and we couldn’t wait for Allen to take us to the next level.

By the end of the seaons, Allen Iverson was an old, greedy, washed-up NBA antique whom the Pistons should’ve stayed as far away from as possible. Many wanted Chauncey back.

—

Ever since Boston purchased their All Star team, I’ve despised the Big Three. Yes, I hate the way Ray Allen chews gum. Yes, I hate how good Paul Pierce is at mid-range fadeaways. And yes, I think Kevin Garnett needs to lower the dose of whatever medication he’s taking.

But the truth is, when the Celtics offered us Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen, I was all over it. Rondo…a flopper? Never. He’s a future All-Star! Allen…a lucky shot-hog? Never. He’s a future Hall-of-Famer! I’ve always found it disturbing that Rajon Rondo ends up on the ground after every lay-up, but to be honest, I’d be happy to have him do it in a Pistons jersey. If the offer wasn’t so lopsided, many would have thought the same way.

Call it desperation if  you will, the desire to have a team that’s on top again. But we’re all just hypocrites in the end…in the sports world at least.

Wrong. Chauncey Billups may be in the spotlight again, but that doesn’t mean we should have kept him.

I say this with due respect for Chauncey. He was a superb leader and floor general. But it was his time to leave Detroit. His passion for the Pistons had all but faded. Only a shell of his former 2004 Finals MVP figure remained.

According to the majority of what I’ve read across the sports blogosphere, it seems like Chauncey rising to the near-top was all it took to bring back countless memories and sob stories of days past when Billups donned #1. From what I can see, these emotions stem from confusion, denial, and…dare I say…jealousy.

I’ve said it many times: Chauncey’s shipment to Denver was ultimately a wake-up call for him, in my opinion. Along the lines of “Holy crap, I just got traded, maybe I do need to step up my game.” And step up his game he did. Would we ever have seen this kind of Chauncey Billups again in Detroit? No, we would have continued to see the Chauncey that settles for long jumpers, misses too many fast break threes, and can’t find an open man like he used to.

Instead, we are now emotionally tortured by Chauncey the Nugget who plays like he’s fresh out of college again.

However, the key point that most naysayers continue to overlook is the long haul. Sure, this season was a farce, but thanks to the absence of Billups’ contract, who knows who the Pistons will be able to reel in either this summer or the next. Wait until we sign Chris Bosh or Dwyane Wade (or someone along those lines), see how the Pistons do, and then we can decide if Chauncey’s trade was worth it or not.

Again, all of this comes with respect to Chauncey. This isn’t a Billups bash. I revered the guy as much as anyone, and it’s outstanding to see him succeed and compete at a ridiculous level in his hometown.

But he needed to go, and the Pistons’ benefits of the trade are yet to come.

Turns out, according to USA Today, participants in the H-O-R-S-E event will not be spelling “horse” at all. They’ll be spelling G-E-I-C-O.

“As that contest joins dunking and three-point shooting contests as part of TNT’s NBA All-Star Weekend coverage, the as-yet unnamed three contestants — who’ll be overseen by an NBA ref — will play G-E-I-C-O. As in the insurance company that will be the event’s unavoidable sponsor. (Suggestion: The winner then takes on the famous ad lizard to really drive home the brand awareness.)”

Come on. G-E-I-C-O? Why not the Geico H-O-R-S-E game? At least that’s not rip-my-hair-out obnoxious. How many millions of basketball fans have spent countless hours playing H-O-R-S-E in their driveways or at that park down the road? Is there nothing sacred?

As stated here, the NBA’s revenue has actually increased since last year. The league is not feeling the recession, so why the desperation? It doesn’t boil down to much more than greed.

So here’s the run-down:

McDonald’s Celebrity Game, T-Mobile Rookie Challenge, Haier Shooting Stars, Playstation Skills Challenge, Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout, Sprite Slam Dunk Contest.

When the Shooting Stars competition propels you to get off the couch, drive to Sears (as fast as you can), and drop $300 on a Haier air conditioner, let me know. And nothing makes me say “Damn, I’m so thirsty. I need a Sprite.” like seeing Sprite sponsor the Dunk Contest. At least Foot Locker kind of makes sense.

Honestly, I’m surprised the actual All-Star Game itself isn’t the “Paul Blart: Mall Cop All-Star Game.”

Don’t expect that to remain untouchable for too much longer.

A team’s struggles can never be entirely placed on a coach’s shoulders, but isn’t it tempting?

In no way should the Pistons mid-season slide into mediocrity be solely put on Michael Curry. Perhaps Joe Dumars is to blame for the questionable hiring in the first place. The downward era of an aging team full of NBA Champions and All-Stars alike is not the most ideal time to experiment with a coach who has an empty resume.

Michael Curry is trying his damnedest to get this thing to work. He’s probably just as frustrated as anyone else that the team can’t maintain a flake of consistency. He was probably ecstatic when they knocked off seven opponents in a row, and he was probably crushed when they lost seven of the next nine.

I want to rant about Curry’s shortcomings just as much as the next guy, and I could think of at least 10 things off the top of my head.

However, Michael Curry’s whale of a flaw that led the Pistons into this mess is his inability to coach anything but Flip Saunders’ Pistons.

The lineup remained relatively unchanged during the two years Curry was associated with the Pistons, both of which Flip Saunders was head coach. All of the administrative experience Curry has ever had came during a period when consistency was married to an untouched roster that ultimately failed.

Michael Curry has more of an eye-to-eye relationship with Joe Dumars than Flip Saunders ever did, but in the end, Curry is no more than Saunders’ pupil.

When A.I. came to Detroit, Curry panicked. Stability turned into a hectic “does-not-compute” mentality. Lacking defense and ugly offense took over. No one knew what to do with Allen Iverson.

Sure, Detroit has a winning record. But will they get to that 50-win plateau that Pistons fans know so fondly? Probably not. If they can’t get past the Conference Finals with 64, 59, and 53-win seasons, how do they expect to make any progress with a 40 or 42-win caliber squad?

I hate to put my own team “under the radar,” but as of now, hope is quickly fading.

New coach, new players, new problems.

Short and simple: they needed someone who would punish our little drama queens when they got out of line.

Judging by his [lack of] decision-making during Sunday’s pitiful performance against the Knicks, he’s not doing a very good job.

There are so many questions. Why, after going scoreless in the first 4 minutes and finishing the first quarter down by 17 points, was the bench not in sooner? How did Walter Herrmann sit the first 3 quarters when the Pistons were getting manhandled? Why did Rodney Stuckey only notch 17 minutes when AI had the shot selection of Larry Hughes (that’s not a compliment)? AI chose a shot over an open man so many times I can’t count them on both hands. Allen Iverson does NOT deserve to start the next game. Start Stuckey in his place.

There wasn’t a problem with Rip until he decided to screw his team over just so he could throw a cheap elbow at Jared Jeffries. The Pistons were within 5 points and this game could have been won with Rip’s sharpshooting, had he not been ejected. Rip does NOT deserve to start the next game. Start Afflalo in his place.

And Sheed. Sheed, Sheed, Sheed. What are we going to do with you? You start and stop on a dime. If only there was some other way to get you started other than technical fouls (which apprently didn’t work today). Is there some magic button Michael Curry can press that turns the lackadaisical Sheed into the low-post offensive monster that he was before he won that big, shiny ring? Rasheed does NOT deserve to start the next game. Start Antonio McDyess in his place.

When the Pistons win, it seems like the headlines always mention how someone came off the bench and carried the Pistons on their back. It always seems like such a surprise to the media when Arron Afflalo scores 15 points or Rodney Stuckey gets 10 assists. Why? These guys play with exponentially greater willpower than anyone who starts (save Tayshaun Prince), and it shows by the way they actually want to win. Get these guys in the game and keep them in the game.

For 4 years I’ve watched the Pistons dwindle into some washed-up team who would like another ring, but doesn’t truly want it. It’s hard to say but it’s true. Luxury continues to trump necessity. The bench, however, has the drive. The reserves have consistently showed Michael Curry their ability time after time, but he does not seem to be understanding.

So far, all I see is Flip Saunders II.

The Spurs are gone, and now the Pistons have joined them.

What an exciting NBA Finals it will be! Surely, a feel-good story featuring a team that has risen from the ashes and a team that is just finding its niche- and with everyone’s favorite MVP!

Just like old times, right? Celtics and Lakers at it once again, after all these years. Since the Pistons have already played the Lakers in the Finals and everyone is sick of seeing the Spurs, I guess it really was time for a change in scenery.

Undoubtedly, the ratings will soar. You’ll be a very rich man, David! Maybe so many people will watch the Finals that that Tim Donaghy mumbo jumbo will just kind of slip from their memories.

This is what needed to happen to get the NBA back on its feet. I understand.

Besides, who wants to watch any more playoff games with those two boring teams that always seem to linger around? Who would want to watch that, other than the pure die-hards in Detroit in San Antonio?

No David, it’s all about the story, right? I mean think of the reaction! Boston! In the Finals! They made it! After all the struggle in years past, they traded their whole team away and made it all the way solely on the efforts of three people. From worst to best! What sports fan in their right mind will be able to flip past that?

Who wouldn’t want to watch a washed-up flopping “superstar” and two franchise players that collectively abandoned their teams and their fans for a fatter paycheck and a better shot at winning.

But we don’t hear about that do we? Nope, we hear about how much effort these guys went through to start a “band of brothers” that gave up so much to be together, happily ever after.

I can’t imagine how much emotional pain and anguish Kevin Garnett must have had to overcome to pick up that pen and John Hancock a contract to cash in $72,408 every quarter ($23,750,000 overall). How can you not give your utmost respect to such a team player? I mean, it must have killed him to leave Minnesota.

But hey, what happens happens. We can’t turn back time now.

Anyways, why would we want to?

After seeing this debacle from a “professional” newspaper’s website, I can officially state that the Orlando Sentinel has no class either.

All photos are from the Orlando Sentinel’s website.

 A bit over the top if you ask me, hard to believe a “professional” newspaper would publish this on their “professional” website.

Ehh, I’d say about $10,000 since that’s what I saw Stan Van Gundy paying to have Antonio McDyess fouled out of every game.

JJ? Who’s JJ? Ohhhh, J.J. Redick, that guy that always sits on the bench while the city of Orlando leans on the false hope that he’ll transform into the next Daniel Gibson.

Off topic, but is drinking lighter fluid an Orlando tailgate ritual?

I can’t believe I’m seeing signs like this one, not after seeing 95% of Magic fans holding signs about the shot clock fiasco in Game 2 (see below).

I’m used to seeing ample attacks on Sheed’s “whining”, but I don’t think he’s the one that needs to be quieted here. The sign should look more like this:

“We’ve been here before. A lot of guys on that team, it’s their first time.”

“We’re going to be all right. We have been here before.”

“I thought the mood was good today.”

All prime examples of what Pistons fans have had to listen to for the last three postseasons.

Well maybe the mood shouldn’t be good.  We got showed-up, at home, on national TV, tisk tisk.

And yes, I fully understand that the Pistons’ way of dealing with stress is to reminisce upon all the times they’ve been in a hole before.

This just in: you were in a hole last year in Cleveland.  Did you get out?  No.  You got manhandled in front of a gleaming sports world that was already opening its arms for a LeBron James bear-hug.

Maybe it would help if a Pistons’ press conference went like this:

“We’ve been here before.  Yeah, we blew it last year when we let our guard down, but we learned from our mistakes.  We’ll try to bring a playoff intensity as well as a respect for our opponent’s abilities in Game 2.”

Barring the presence of a “superstar” that takes 30 shots each game, the Sixers bear one too many similarities to the ’07 Cavs.  No, there’s no Gibson, Gooden, or Pavlovic.  But there is Evans, Young, and Green, seemingly evolving before our eyes.

Is it going to take a team-dismantling, sending half the team their seperate ways, to get the Pistons to realize that the lull of the regular season is over?

No more blowouts, no more easy wins. This is real.  They knew it in ’04, they knew it in ’05, what happened?  Now they reminisce.  They reminisce like old men playing shuffleboard at a country club reminisce about their glory days on the front lines.

Wake up, Pistons.  I don’t want another LeBron James or Daniel Gibson coming out of the woodwork.  Put the past behind you, because if this series turns out like last year’s Eastern Conference Finals, you’re in for a long summer.

ESPN announcer Jeff Van Gundy, whom I previously denounced for his comments on the Pistons’ whining and his nickname-bashing, had a convenient change of heart yesterday in the midst of Detroit embarrassment of Phoenix.

I’ve witnessed Van Gundy, on multiple occassions, singing the bandwagon praises of the Celtics, as well as knocking Flip Saunders’ coaching strategies (as if he should be one to talk). But all it took to change his mind was a “revamped” team getting shut down on their homecourt, in front of the entire nation.

Van Gundy was quoted Sunday afternoon saying:

“I love the Detroit Pistons, they’re still the best team in the East to me. They play smart, unselfish, they’ve gotten stronger on the bench. When it comes down to it, I see the Pistons taking on the Celtics for the Eastern Conference finals. And that will be a battle. [...] The Pistons have the advantage because of all their experience – they’re battle-tested.”

He was later quoted saying:

“It’s easy to overlook the greatness of Flip Saunders as a coach, or how the players such as Chauncey Billups have been so consistently strong.”

You have got to be kidding me.

Granted, I agree with him on everything he said, but why does it take a game like Sunday’s to wake the media up and realize that the East isn’t all Boston? I can guarantee you that Van Gundy wouldn’t have been caught saying anything to that nature before the game- not in a million years. Had the score been reversed, and the Pistons been placed in that of the Suns, you can bet your kids that “Detroit Pistons” in his comments would be replaced with “Phoenix Suns”, that “Celtics” would be replaced with “Spurs”, and “Flip Saunders” replaced with “Mike D’Antoni”.

Not that Pistons fans aren’t used to this line of treatment, but sometimes you just need to vent.

I feel better already.

Quoted material courtesy of detnews.com

When Belmont Abbey College takes the floor at Bobcats Arena to prepare for today’s 3 p.m. men’s basketball game against North Greenville College, Crusaders’ assistant coach Jonas Hayes will be following in his twin brother’s footsteps in many different ways.But don’t get the impression Jonas wishes he was taking NBA jumpshots — like twin brother Jarvis Hayes did 12 days ago in the same building for the Detroit Pistons — instead of coaching.

When Jarvis and Jonas Hayes were on the market during their college years, they came as a package. Neither of them was willing to separate from the other and they let scouting teams know that. Granted, they would have been in far higher demand had they marketed separately, but their togetherness drew only three teams to maintain interest in the Hayes’ twins.

Georgia won the gamble and they were not to be disappointed. Jarvis, who specialized in dunking and long balls, averaged about 18 points and shot 47% from the field over his two years for the Bulldogs. Jonas, on the other hand, liked to earn his stats on the glass and through nitty-gritty defensive efforts and averaged around 10 points and 6 rebounds per game while averaging 51% from the field.

Jonas even saw a little light of his brother in him when he nailed the first collegiate 3-pointer he had attempted- at the buzzer. The 30-foot downtown bomb downed Colorado in Boulder, 71-70.

Today, we all know where Jarvis Hayes is- but where Jonas stands is not so well-known.

Jonas Hayes remains an assistant coach for Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, North Carolina- and he loves every minute of it.

“I get the same feelings coaching that I did when I was playing,” Hayes said recently. “The same nervous energy, butterflies before the game and all that. And I love it.”

When Jarvis was asked if he had any advice for his brother, he replied as any decent twin brother would:

“Nah, I’m just happy that he’s happy.”

For more of the Hayes’ college statistics, check out the Georgia Bulldogs’ 2001-02 season as well as their 2002-03 season.

Quoted material courtesy of The Gaston Gazette.

This may come as a surprise to some, but I don’t think I’ve been this excited about a trade, rumors included, since we got Sheed. It really surprises me to see that everyone is waving this off as a trade for some guy that never plays, just to free up cap space. Granted, cap space played a large role, but I don’t think people realize what Walter Herrmann is capable of.

This move couldn’t have come at a better time for me, personally. Just 5 days after I wrote my modest plea to Sam Vincent to give Herrmann more playing time, he shows up in a Pistons uniform. Looks like Christmas came early for me this year…

The quote from my 12/10 recap of the Pistons-Bobcats game:

I don’t know if there’s a faith issue here, but I was hoping to see Walter Herrmann more in Vincent’s rotation. He really picked up his game toward the second half of last season and I really like his playing style (no Fabio jokes, please).

Like I said, the guy really blew up (in a good way) in the second half of last season… am I the only one that seems to remember? I wish Pistons fans wouldn’t get discouraged, because they have a lot to be excited about, in my opinion. Herrmann is an incredible prospect and could start to make an immediate impact if Flip plays his cards right.

Last season, Herrmann really stepped up behind the in-and-out Gerald Wallace, I remember a stretch where Walter was scoring 15-20 points on a nightly basis. He averaged 9.2 points in 19.5 minutes last season, and I wouldn’t complain about those numbers. He boasted a 53% FG percentage as well as going 46% from downtown, averaging 2 1/2 attempts per game.

However, this season, Herrmann’s minutes have been few and far between due to the change in personnel. A coaching change will affect the career of any professional athlete- sometimes positively, sometimes not so positively. Herrmann just so happened to get the short end of that stick.

I just hope the Pistons give this guy a chance- after seeing what happened to Carlos Delfino, it doesn’t seem like the folks from Argentina seem to have much luck in the Motor City.

Here’s to hoping that changes.

Van Gundy, who never really got anywhere in his 4-year coaching stint with the Rockets, seems to have taken up the commentator position for 3 reasons: a) because he’s bored, b) because it gives him a national stage to go on for 2 1/2 hours about what he hates about teams that gave the Rockets a hard time, and c) because he needs to tell the world how he would have coached each situation at hand with that .500 mystique of his.

The first instance of his rambling that ticked my time bomb was the comment he deemed necessary about how the Pistons are “the biggest whiners in the league.” Granted, we’ve all heard snide little side swipes about how the Pistons tend to argue calls more often than not. But Van Gundy relayed the point with such a passion, such a positive notion that the Detroit Pistons were officially the biggest whiners, hands down. Call me biased, but when I think of whiners, I think of Allen Iverson. I think of Kirk Heinrich. I think of Manu Ginobili. Sure, you might be able to tack Sheed onto that list, but there are 11 other players out there that aren’t Rasheed Wallace. And quite frankly, considering Rasheed turns out to be right about the things that he said he was right about, *cough* Donaghy, I don’t think anybody has the right to say a word.

[FYI: The Rockets squeaked out 2 wins by 12 total points in 8 meetings with the Pistons during Van Gundy's coaching term.]

All of you that watched and felt the same frustration, only came to find out that Jeff had decided to repeat himself- multiple times. Every time a Piston argued a call, sure enough Van Gundy chimed in, “See! What did I tell you? They whine about every single call! It’s despicable!” Since when did arguing calls become such a taboo? At least players that “whine” aren’t giving their teams unfair advantages, referring to the phenomenon we like to call “flopping”.

I’ll tell you what’s despicable, Jeff. It’s the fact that you can’t bank on gold when it’s right in front of you. I mean, surely you could have managed to coach the Rockets past the first round just once. It’s okay if you’re a little peeved that the Pistons can advance to the Conference Finals year after year, while your team continues to flounder around mediocrity.

As if Unnecessary Van Gundy Rant #1 wasn’t enough, wait until you hear Unnecesary Van Gundy Rant #2. When Jeff’s sane co-commentator mentions that Jason Maxiell’s teammates all love him, he also includes that his friends call him “Max.” This sends the Gundy machine reeling, somehow. When I hear “That isn’t a very good nickname,” I wonder- have my ears deceived me? Did a 45-year-old ex-NBA coach just tell the whole nation that Max’s nickname is unnacceptable? Surely not. But it was true. Why? Because it simply was not creative enough. I didn’t think he could put any more icing on that audio cake, but sure enough, he suggests that Max’s new nickname be “Eel” because of how he snakes around the basket, or whatever he was rambling on about.

Thankfully for most Pistons fans, we are blessed to have the option to listen to the soothing sounds of George Blaha and Greg Kelser when the going gets tough on the national stations (which is usually somewhere in the 2nd quarter, at the latest). I will close with a fitting “thank you” to George and Special K for being my saviors against the likes of Bill Walton, Charles Barkley, and now, Jeff Van Gundy.

Who’s next ESPN?…ABC?…TNT?

Hit me with your best shot.

Despite all the Stuckey hype, the offseason move that I’m most excited about is Jarvis Hayes. Jarvis played some solid minutes with the Wizards (again, when he was healthy), and usually dropped around 20 PPG on nights when he started. Not bad, considering any man on the same team as Gilbert Arenas isn’t going to get many touches. However, you can probably tell that the main problem at hand is that the guy just needs to not get hurt s’darn much.

Hayes always seemed to be in the background (especially last year behind the Arenas-Jamison-Butler trio) which is primarily the reason why nobody in Detroit really knows much about him or what to expect. I assure you, we will see big things from Jarvis if he remains active. I just can’t get enough of that soft, fluffy, pillow-y release in his shooting form that has an arc from heaven itself. Hayes will undoubtedly provide a boost from downtown, which may come in handy since Chauncey’s seemingly diminishing 3-point ability and Sheed’s probable focus on the post this season.

Despite the fact that Hayes will finally give our favorite small forward a solid backup, we have to remember that this guy was a starter, and an underrated one at that.

Keep an eye on Jarvis Hayes ladies and gentlemen, because he might just give Tay a run for his money.

Although that’s not to say that Delfino wasn’t a stud on defense- it was always nice to see Tayshaun come out for a bit and watch Carlos smother Kobe on the other end of the floor. He was quite the Argentinan Bruce Bowen, if you think about it. Not only would he sub in to guard the un-guardable, but he would also wait in the corner for a perimeter dish like his San Antonio counterpart.

Sure, we all winced when he made that horrible shooting foul in the last seconds of the Pacers game last season. But as far as I’m concerned, Carlos is still a rookie in the NBA. When you don’t get the playing time to match your potential, you will continue to make rookie mistakes. After all, wasn’t it all worth it just to see that posterization of Emeka Okafor?

While Carlos meshed with his teammates in Detroit (e.g. Sheed, Mo Evans), he never really clicked with Flip or the style of play that Detroit had. I can only see good things in his move to Toronto, a chance to finally strut his stuff. He’ll be a solid backup to Anthony Parker, and replacing him in the starting lineup isn’t out of the question, possibly as early as midway through the season if he plays his cards right. He also said in a press conference that he looks forward to playing the FIBA-style game that Toronto plays all too well these days. I’m sure having Garbajosa, Bargnani, and Calderon in his immediate reach could only provide as a positive.

Best of luck Carlos- see ya on January 15th…