From Chris McCosky of The Detroit News:
OK, because so many of you asked, I am going to give you my two-cents worth on coach Michael Curry. No, forget that. I am going to give you a whole nickle’s worth – you are welcome.
Essentially, it comes down to this: He’s making the classic rookie mistake. He’s doing what every great coach from John Wooden to Red Auerbach forever warned young coaches against – overcoaching. He’s micromanaging just about every offensive and defensive possession, the effect of which is to paralyze his ballclub.
Take the loss to the Rockets on Sunday as an example. From what I could gather, he was trying to have his team guard pick-and-rolls one way on the strong side of the floor and a different way on the weak side. No wonder the players looked dazed and confused out there. I mean, when you can make intelligent, high basketball-IQ players like Tayshaun Prince and Rasheed Wallace look like they don’t know where they’re supposed to be on the court, you are doing something wrong.
McCosky goes on to implore readers to keep the faith in Curry. Jamie Samuelsen, blogging for the Detroit Free Press is less optimistic.
Allen Iverson has played in 37 games since the trade. Granted, Rip Hamilton missed some time. And Rasheed Wallace was injured. And the whole Antonio McDyess buyout/wait were factors. But still, 37 games since the trade happened. And we still have to be patient?
Let’s think about what can be accomplished in 37 games.
Most college teams won’t play 37 games in an entire season. But you never hear a coach say, “Well, true, we’re in the NCAA tournament, but I still feel like we’re learning to play with each other.” Those teams are expected to jell in time for conference play. And those are college teams without the same time and resources that pro teams have.
In 2004, Rasheed Wallace played in 22 games for the Pistons before the playoffs. They seemed to get accustomed to a brand-new player pretty quickly. They weren’t figuring each other out as they rolled to an NBA title that spring.
I agree with Samuelsen. It’s time to take the kid gloves off. I don’t believe Joe Dumars when he says Detroit’s struggles are expected. The Pistons haven’t hit a “bump” in the road either. Detroit is a mediocre team. And barring an unlikely shakeup, they will continue to play mediocre basketball.
Yes, Iverson’s expiring contract will free up roughly $20.8 million after this season. Rasheed Wallace’s $13.9 million dollar deal expires as well. But Iverson and Wallace’s trade value is questionable. And it’s very difficult to rebuild through free agency, even for a GM as accomplished as Dumars. Dumars made a number of smart decisions when he built the Pistons into perennial contenders. But truth be told, he got a little lucky. Chauncey Billups and Rasheed Wallace were the cornerstones of Detroit’s title team. Billups bounced around the NBA before signing with the Pistons in 2002. Wallace was the poster boy for the Jail Blazers before being acquired for peanuts (Chucky Atkins, Lindsey Hunter, a first-round pick and cash) in 2004.
Dumars deserves credit for taking a chance on Billups and Wallace. But how many lottery picks turned NBA outcasts are out there? The Pistons are poised for a lengthy rebuilding process. I agree that Detroit needed to shake things up. But what’s the point of re-signing Richard Hamilton days before trading Billups? If the Pistons are in full-blown rebuilding mode — as some analysts insist they are — why not blow the ship up and shoot for a few lottery picks?
The counter argument to that line of thinking is that Detroit is shooting for 2010 when LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh, among others, will be free agents. But what makes Detroit an attractive destination for free agents? The opportunity to play with Rodney Stuckey? Richard Hamilton? The Motor City? Remember, no one else wanted Chauncey or Rasheed before they came to Detroit. Hamilton was acquired when Dumars fleeced Michael Jordan and the Wizards. Tayshaun Prince was a late first-round draft pick.
Michael Curry is feeling the heat and patience is running thin. To be fair, the Pistons have dealt with a number of extenuating circumstances, like Hamilton’s injury and Antonio McDyess’ buyout situation. I’m sure Dumars has a plan. But Detroit is in the worst possible position for a team trying to rebuild. The Pistons aren’t good. Nor are they bad enough to rebuild through the lottery.
