Detroit Pistons: A work in progress

With the start of the NBA season less than two weeks away, it's time to take a look at how the Detroit Pistons may fare this year after the dismal showing they put on last year.

Not much is expected of the team this year since they are clearly in a rebuilding phase with a new rookie coach in John Kuester and eight new players. However, so far in the preseason there have been a lot of positives.

Rookies Austin Daye and Jonas Jerebko have been playing well and DaJuan Summers and Deron Washington have put on decent showings.

Guard Will Bynum had flashes of brilliance last year and so far this season he has stepped up averaging a team-leading 18 points a game in 24 minutes. He's also leading the team in assists and steals.

Kuester's offensive mindedness has worked out okay and the team's strong defense hasn't been pushed aside. His 3-guard offense has been running well and his four guards have all been getting play time.

On the other hand, Tayshaun Prince has continued to be a non factor and Rodney Stuckey's shots still are a bit shaky.

It's still way too early in the season to decide how all of these things will pan out but the preseason has shone some light on how the team will perform this year.

I think that Bynum is going to end up being the best move that the team has made in the last couple of seasons. He's small but he's quick and his playing style has a lot of aspects that made Isiah Thomas the star that he was.

Bynum had that standout 20-game series last year where he averaged 12 points in 21 minutes but then he kind of faded the rest of the season. Because of that, he spent the Summer losing weight and working on his game.

The weight loss and practice has made him quicker and improved his shot.

The jury is still out on Coach Kuester but he already seems to be reading his player's abilities better than Coach Michael Curry ever did. He seems to have a knack for maximizing his player's strengths and for finding their spot in his lineup.

He's been playing Stuckey at small forward, something that surprised everyone, but the move has worked out well.

Kuester seems to understand that he needs to adapt to his team rather than trying to force his own philosophies upon them, a mistake that Curry made the entire season.

As for the team's move toward a focus on offense rather than their defense, I don't think that it's going to hurt them. With Wallace back in the middle and Kwame Brown, Chris Wilcox, Jason Maxiell and Charlie Villanueva joining him, I don't think the team needs to worry about a lapse in defensive strategy.

So far in the preseason, the Pistons remain ranked high in all defensive stats.

The 3-guard defense is nice in that it allows all of the guards to get some heavy playing time but I think that down the line Kuester is going to have to decide who he wants to be the front runner. When it comes time for big games, constantly changing guards is going to stall any momentum the team may have.

As for Stuckey and Prince's struggles, I think that Prince is the main concern. Stuckey was pushed too much too fast last year when he was thrust into Chauncey Billups' role before he was ready.

I think this season with less of the spotlight on Stuckey he will find it easier to relax. As a result, his shots should settle down. He is already shooting 43 percent in the preseason.

Prince is the main concern because he should be the team's star player going forward. Hamilton and Wallace won't be around forever and Prince is the only young player with championship experience.

In the past, Prince has been one of the Pistons' toughest and greatest players. Who could forget that infamous block on Reggie Miller? Unfortunately, injuries and shooting droughts have taken their toll on his game the last couple of seasons.

Hopefully, with a more well rounded team, Prince will be able to get more rest this season which should help him stay healthy.

I don't see the team heading very far in the playoffs this year but I think they have a shot at making the playoffs again.

General Manager Joe Dumars has gotten a lot criticism for his moves lately but he has proven over and over that he knows how to put together a team with odd parts that seem to fit perfectly together. Hopefully, the team that he has assembled this time around will once again help the Pistons become a powerhouse in the East.

Detroit Pistons use Summer to reshape team

As the Summer has moved on, Detroit Pistons General Manager Joe Dumars has continued to make moves to hopefully make his team a contender for the NBA championship once again.

After a lackluster season that ended in a early exit in the first round of the playoffs, it was time for a change.

Dumars began the season with the questionable hiring of first time Coach Michael Curry and then went on to complete the disasterous Chauncey Billups/Allen Iverson trade. By the time the season ended, it was obvious that the Pistons team was lacking big players in the middle and needed some younger, fresh blood in order to be able to compete at the level they had been used to.

Dumars started the offseason by drafting forwards Austin Daye, DaJuan Summers and Jonas Jerebko. Although none of them are powerhouse players they've played well during the Summer league and show promise.

Dumars went on to pick up shooting guard Ben Gordon and power forward Charlie Villanueva in the free agency market and traded for forwards Fabricio Oberto and Chris Wilcox. Dumars then went on to fire Coach Curry and hired another first year coach in John Kuester.

The hiring of Kuester was met with a lot of protest, particularly since Dumars had stated he was looking for more experience. The team's talks with Avery Johnson stalled after he asked for more money and guarantees than they were willing to part with.

Although Kuester's hiring was questionable, it does make sense. Kuester is known for his strong offense and previously worked as an assistant coach for the Pistons. He has a strong releationship with the Pistons top players and he understands Dumars vision.

After hiring Kuester, the Pistons made the surprising announcement that Brian Hill would become an assistant coach. Hill is an ex-head coach and Kuester used to be his assistant.

Around the same time that Kuester was hired, both Antonio McDyess and Rasheed Wallace chose to sign with other teams, leaving two huge holes in the Pistons lineup. However, this week the Pistons resigned former center Ben Wallace, which will hopefully help fill those holes.

Wallace has had his offensive issues in the past but he is still a strong presence in the middle. His defensive strength will also be a huge benefit to the team.

Many of Dumar's moves haven't been very popular but when you look at the big picture, the Pistons look a lot stronger than they did last year. With eight of the team's 14 roster spots occupied by new players it should be a interesting season.

Week of Change for Pistons

After a lackluster season that saw the Detroit Pistons fall in the first round of the playoffs, they needed to make some changes.

After the Chauncey Billups/Allen Iverson trade the Pistons were left with plenty of cap space and because of their early playoff exit they ended up with the 15th pick in the NBA Draft. With these things in place, General Manager Joe Dumars spent the draft week working on a new vision for his team.

The Pistons started out the week by acquiring San Antonio forward Fabricio Oberto in a three team deal with San Antonio and Milwaukee. The deal sent Pistons' forward Amir Johnson to Milwaukee. Oberto was a member of the San Antonio Spurs 2007 Championship team and a member of the gold-winning Argentinean Olympic team in 2004.

Two days later, Detroit used their 15th pick in the 2009 NBA Draft to select Gazaga forward Austin Daye. Daye's size and play have been compared to Tayshaun Prince's style which has increased rumors that Prince may be on the trading block.

In addition to Daye, the Pistons' also picked up three other young forwards in DaJuan Summers, Jonas Jerebko and Chase Budinger. However, they later traded Budinger to the Houston Rockets in return for a future second round draft pick.

A few days after the draft, Dumars made the surprising announcement that Michael Curry had been relieved of his coaching duties due to the Pistons' new direction. The firing was surprising since Dumars had previously stated that Curry would be back for his second season as Head Coach.

Fan grumblings and the Pistons' season struggles were certainly key factors in the change. The fact that former Detroit Pistons' player Bill Laimbeer had resigned as Head Coach of the WNBA Detroit Shock to pursue a NBA job seemed to also be a factor but Dumars has stated he is looking for a new coach with experience. The current front runner for the job seems to be former Dallas Mavericks coach Avery Johnson.

At the same time that the coaching change talks were going on, the Pistons' signed free agent Chicago Bulls' shooting guard Ben Gordon for five years at $55 million. They then signed Milwaukee Buck's power forward Charlie Villanueva for five years at $35 million.

With all of the changes it is obvious that Dumars is determined to reshape his team into one that get back to a championship level. Unfortunately, they still have not shored up the Center position that has been lacking for a few seasons now. It is also unclear how Gordon and Villanueva will fit into the lineup. Dumars has said that he sees Gordon as a sixth man but why would anyone pay out that kind of money to have a player come off of the bench?

With all of the money that the Pistons' had this year many felt that they would take the time to acquire a big name player. Detroit is still lacking a number of pieces they need to be at the level they once were.

It certainly appears that free agent forward Rasheed Wallace is going to sign with another team but no decision has been made about Antonio McDyess' status. There is speculation that the Gordon and Villanueva pickups are just the first movesin Dumar's plan for his team. Time will tell if it will be enough.

NBA Draft Preview: Detroit Pistons

With about a week left until the 2009 NBA Draft, the Detroit Pistons have some major decisions ahead of them.

For the first time in six years, the Pistons did not make it to the second round of the playoffs and it appears that some major changes to the team will be ahead.

After last season’s Chauncy Billups/Allen Iverson trade with the Denver Nuggets, the Pistons were left with quite a bit of cap space as well as four picks in the draft.

The Pistons’ position with the 15th pick in the first round has guaranteed that the team has gotten a chance to visit with a number of the top players heading into the draft. General Manager Joe Dumars told Pistons.com that the team has brought in more than 50 players for individual workouts.

Over the last week, a number of rumors regarding the Pistons draft and trade possibilities have been making the rounds.

The most prominent rumors have been that they have narrowed their 15th pick down to four players and that when the July 1st trade deadline kicks in, they will be looking to sign free agent Ben Gordon at a reported $11 million.

Hopefully, the Gordon rumor will not come to fruition. In his years with the Chicago Bulls Gordon has had his moments but overall he is a weak player. He has little drive and has a hard time playing defense. He is known to be a ball hog; which is something that does not fit into the Pistons team oriented play as was witnessed with Iverson. It is also unclear why the Pistons would want yet another shooting guard.

Over the last few seasons, the Pistons have struggled in the middle. They haven’t had a true center since the losses of Ben Wallace and Corliss Williamson. The lack of strength in the middle has been a major factor in their failure to win another championship.

There are a number of good quality centers in the draft this year and hopefully a few of them will be left when the Pistons get their first pick.

North Carolina’s Tyler Hansbrough would be an ideal pick. His relentless play, rebounding capabilities and strong jump shot would fit in well with the Pistons style.

Ohio State Center BJ Mullens would also be a good fit in Detroit. Often compared to big man Chris Kaman, Mullens has the size and length the Pistons need under the basket.

If Detroit picks up a Center in the draft, they could then look to fill another role in the free agent market. Power Forward Carlos Boozer’s name has been brought up a number of times and I think he is the team’s best option.

Boozer has had success with the Utah Jazz and has been their go to guy down the floor night after night. Some injuries have hampered his play but when he has played he has been consistent on both ends of the floor. During the 2008 season, he was among the league’s top five performers in scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage.

The Pistons have two of their big men up for free agency in Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess. Wallace’s poor play over the last couple of seasons should make him the easy option to let go. McDyess on the other hand may have a chance at getting resigned.

With Wallace gone that leaves Tayshaun Prince and Richard Hamilton as Detroit’s biggest options for trades.

Hamilton was one of the few bright spots in the Pistons’ lineup last year and I would hate to see him leave. Prince is still young and has many years ahead of him but he has failed to produce when it counts. His small frame and inconsistent offense have hurt the team and make him the smart option to shop around.

Still, no matter what the Pistons do in the free agency market and in the draft, the biggest obstacle they had last year was in their coaching staff. Although Michael Curry got along with his players, he failed to inspire any kind of enthusiasm in them. From game to game he kept changing the lineups and seemed lost and confused during the first round of the playoffs.

Unfortunately, Dumars is determined to stick with Curry this season. It’s a shame since former Pistons’ player Bill Laimbeer recently quit his head coaching job in the WNBA with the to pursue a NBA coaching job.

5 Questions Facing the Detroit Pistons This Offseason

It was a rough season for the Detroit Pistons.

The team underwent a series of changes including a new Coach and a blockbuster trade that sent team star Chauncey Billups to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Allen Iverson.

With chemistry problems and numerous injuries Detroit missed going to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in six years and ended up being swept in the first round of the playoffs by Lebron James and his Cleveland Cavaliers.

After having been a Powerhouse in the East since their surprising 2004 Championship year, it was a shock to see the Pistons struggle this season. Now in this off season team GM Joe Dumars has a number of questions facing him. These are just 5 of the most pressing ones:

5. Has this Pistons team finally reached their limit? Is it time to rebuild from the ground floor up?

The aging Pistons team had begun to show some wear and tear over the last couple of seasons with veterans Rasheed Wallace and Tayshaun Prince struggling in the playoffs. They both were non-existent in the series against Cleveland.

Richard Hamilton and Antonio McDyess have continued to play at a high level but it wasn't enough to help Detroit advance.

Over the last couple of seasons Dumars has begun to bring in some young talent like Rodney Stuckey and Will Bynum who are guaranteed to be the team's future but the question is whether or not he should ditch all of his veterans and start from scratch.

I think that the team needs to bring in some more young talent but I would like to see Hamilton stay on in the role that Dumars played on the team after the Bad Boy years: the talented veteran who helps mold the younger talent.

4. Should the Pistons make a strong attempt to keep Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess?

Both Wallace and McDyess are free agents this Summer and will be looking for the best deal available. The Pistons have the cap room to give them the money they'll be looking for but is either player worth it?

Since Wallace came to the team in '04 Detroit has sunk or swim based on his play. On nights when he is energetic and scoring the team usually wins and on nights when he seems to disappear and can't score a basket the team usually loses.

Wallace's poor play is a large factor in the Pistons poor playoff performance this year and has been a issue in past post season play. His numerous technicals have also hurt the team in key moments.

On the other hand, McDyess has been key in keeping the Pistons afloat. Despite his age, he continues to play his heart out every night on both ends of the floor.

After the Pistons traded McDyess to Denver, he turned down other offers and took a pay cut to return to Detroit despite the fact that he could have gone to a winning team.

In the end, I think Dumars should let Wallace go and make an attempt to keep McDyess. Wallace is past his prime and has become a hindrance to the team while McDyess can still play at a top level and brings a sense of urgency to the team when he is on the floor.

3. Can Detroit continue to win without a major superstar? Who should they draft/trade for this Summer?

For years the Pistons have played without any major superstar players. The team is famous for it's underdog status and true team effort.

Back in '03 Dumars put together a hodgepodge of underachievers that turned into a championship caliber team together. All of the puzzle pieces fit. Unfortunately, that strategy hasn't been working for a few seasons.

This off season Dumars will have to decide if he wants to continue with what has worked in the past or pursue a major player. He has the cap space to do it but do the Pistons really need a Lebron James?

Personally, I don't think they need a standout player to win again. The team has been missing a true center since the departures of Corliss Williamson and Ben Wallace and I think that is what they should concentrate on in the draft.

There will be a number of good players on the trading block this Summer and the Pistons should do their best to obtain a couple of them. Carlos Boozer would be a nice fit here.

2. How can the Pistons get back to playing with the same strength and urgency that they have been known for?

There were times this season when it was almost impossible to watch the Pistons. The team has always prided itself on it's heart and strong defense and both were missing throughout the year.

One of the questions facing Dumars in this off season is how to get his team back to that style of play. There were flashes of it when the second squad was out on the floor and both Hamilton and McDyess had moments where they played with some urgency.

New coach Michael Curry does not seem to be able to inspire his team like many past Pistons coaches. The team came out again and again with no drive which brings us to the final question.

1. Should the Pistons stick with Michael Curry as their coach?

Dumars has already stated that Curry will be returning next season but I think he needs to sit down and take a closer look at the situation.

There were many reasons for the Pistons poor play this season but many of them lead back to Curry.

Previous coach Flip Saunders was fired because of his poor playoff performance but he managed to get Detroit to the Conference Finals every season that he was here. Curry barely got them into the first round.

It was well known that Saunders had a hard time relating to his players and that Curry is more player friendly but in the end, you can't be their friend; you have to be their leader. Larry Brown was a tough coach and under his watch the Pistons thrived and won a championship.

One of the most interesting things to watch this season was the revolving player lineups. Curry changed lineups weekly causing frustration amongst the team and adding to the chemistry problems.

In the beginning of the season Curry stated that he wanted to use his entire team but by mid season half his bench wasn't getting any play time. Players like Bynum, who started out the season on a high, found their time dwindle until they were suddenly put back in the lineup in the playoffs. Bynum ended up being one of the few highlights.

Leaving Curry in the coach's chair for another season is a huge mistake. Anything Detroit does this Summer will be overshadowed by the fact that they have a coach who doesn't know what he is doing.

Detroit Pistons Hall of Fame Coach Chuck Daly Dead at 78

The basketball world and the Detroit Pistons organization were dealt another blow today with the death of Hall of Fame Coach Chuck Daly. He had been battling prostate cancer for awhile. Earlier this season the Pistons lost longtime owner William Davidson who was responsible for hiring Daly.

Daly came to the Pistons in 1983. At the time they were a team struggling to find their identity but under Daly's guidance they became a powerhouse in the Eastern Conference and went on to win back to back championships in 1989 and 1990. The team, known around the league as the "Bad Boys", became known for their rough play, intensity and strong defense. Daly was able to take a team filled with strong egos and make them a cohesive unit.

Daly was able to form close relationships with all of his players and never took himself seriously. Former Piston John Salley gave him the nickname "Daddy Rich" for his impeccably tailored suits after the media began to make a big deal about them and his well groomed hair.

Former Piston Isiah Thomas had this to say after learning of Daly's death this morning,``I can't explain in words how much he gave me as a player and a man.''

Daly retired after nine seasons in Detroit and two coaching for the New Jersey Nets, but he remained a vital part of the Pistons organization. Over the years he was there to lend his point of view and guidance to the various Pistons' coaches who followed him.

Daly returned to the bench in 1997 with the Orlando Magic and coached them two seasons, then retired at the age of 68. He later joined the Vancouver Grizzlies as a senior adviser.

Each playoff season Daly was on hand to provide commentary, often appearing with local Detroit Pistons' broadcasters George Blaha and Greg Kelser.

His presence has been sorely missed this year as The National Basketball Coaches' Association created pins with the initials ``CD'' that many coaches and broadcasters are wearing dedicating the postseason to him. The organization also established the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award, which will be given annually.

Because of Daly's success with the Pistons' that led USA Basketball to tab Daly to coach the 1992 “Dream Team” at the Barcelona Olympics. The team boasted the likes of Magic Johnson, Charles Barkley, Michael Jordan and Larry Bird and easily led the way to a gold medal. The gold medal win was perhaps Daly's greatest achievement. There has not been a team as good since.

``He handled that team and its talent as well as anybody could. He treated us all with respect and had us all vying for the same goal.'' said Bird.

Despite his success, Daly never won the Coach of the Year honors but was on hand to present the trophy to former Pistons' coach Rick Carlysle in 2002.

The Pistons retired No. 2 in 1997 to honor Daly's two NBA titles.

Pistons' Playoff Run Ends In First Round Sweep

"Rough Season."

These were Rasheed Wallace's only words after his scoreless game in the Detroit Pistons' sweep in the first round of the NBA playoffs Saturday against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The losses came after Detroit had made six straight trips to the Eastern Conference Finals and two trips to the NBA Finals including a 2004 championship. It was also Detroit's first opening-round playoff defeat since 2000.

The defeat was just one more disaster in a season full of injuries, in-fighting, personnel changes, lineup changes, and personal losses.

Cleveland Cavaliers 102-Pistons 84 (Round 1 Game 1)

The Pistons opened the playoffs with a strong offensive first quarter. Detroit had 25 points in the first shooting at 56 percent. They made their first four shots of the second and were within a point of the Cavaliers before things started to fall apart.

Cleveland went on a 9-1 run late in the second and took a 57-45 lead into halftime. The second half was all Cleveland as the Pistons struggled to make a basket and their defense broke down allowing Lebron James to end up with 38 points. The Pistons bench put up a good showing and Rodney Stuckey finished with 20 points.

Cavaliers 94-Pistons 82 (Round 1 Game 2)

Unlike the first game where the Pistons came out on fire, they opened the second game missing five of their first six shots. They struggled through the first three quarters before their bench was able to get things going.

Will Bynum and Aaron Afflalo turned the game around with Bynum scoring 13 and Afflalo scoring all 10 of his points in the fourth quarter and making it an eight point game. Unfortunately, after 14 unanswered points by Detroit, James returned to the Cavaliers lineup and helped his team to the win.

James ended up with 29 points, 13 rebounds and six assists.

Detroit struggled with foul trouble including two technicals from Kwame Brown and Amir Johnson.

Cavaliers 79-Pistons 68 (Round 1 Game 3)

This was Detroit's best shot at getting back into the series on their home floor and for three quarters they played strong but it wasn't enough. With both Rasheed Wallace and Tayshaun Prince struggling offensively, they had no answer for James.

James scored 11 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter and Cleveland's Joe Smith had a career high 19 points.

Cavaliers 99-Pistons 78 (Round 1 Game 4)

Detroit continued the inconsistent play that has been a staple this season. Rip Hamilton, Wallace and Prince, the only remaining Pistons members from the '04 championship, were just 2 for 16 from the floor.

The only shining moments of the game was the stellar play from Stuckey, Antonio Mcdyess and Will Bynum. The trio were responsible for 62 of Detroit's 78 points.

Mcdyess who showed loyalty in resigning with the team after he was traded to Denver was understandably upset, “It was written in stone before we stepped on that court."