Comments on: The Pistons starting lineup scores 29 points in home loss to Clippers

By: Dan Feldman

Dan Feldman — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 14:11:00 +0000

Neutes, Laser, Gmehl, there's no question, the Pistons aren't rebuilding while remaining competitive. They're not competitive.

But I think rebuilding while remaining competitive was the plan, and if things had gone to plan, it would have worked. That's to say, the plan wasn't doomed from its inception, just its execution. The Pistons have players who could be traded if the team was better.

This obviously isn't to excuse the state of the team, but you can't say the Pistons neglectfully built a situation that's not conducive to rebuilding while remaining competitive. The plan didn't work, but at the time, the contracts handed out fit the plan.

By: Dan Feldman

Dan Feldman — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 14:03:20 +0000

PCB, you can’t just pick out the most valuable players traded and say you want them. There was a whole lot of salary being traded that the Pistons couldn’t, and shouldn’t, touch.

By: Laser

Laser — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 23:49:45 +0000

@feldman: no, i don’t think it’s impossible. but i don’t think joe even made moves consistent with an effort to rebuild while staying competitive. that said, this spirit of refusing to let go and move on is absurd. personnel aside, the organization’s behavior when it comes to player development is a good example of my problem here.

this attitude where young guys don’t play is fine when you’re competing for championships year after year. it’s not the best policy, but i understand how you can get away with that. when you have ZERO chance of being competitive this season, why not play your young guys consistently? i mean, they wait until the season’s all but over to give monroe the chance to start. i guess the idea is that he needs to prove himself. but the coach never had to prove himself. neither did the last one. and dumars has been a disaster lately and has a lot of work to do to prove he knows what he’s doing. austin daye might be a better and more experienced player, but by any standard he’s not a better power forward than monroe was before he logged an NBA minute. so the projection is that these people have to prove themselves and that they want to go with the veterans, but the team can’t realistically compete, so they should let the kids play. if we’re going to lose games either way, we may as well get some brains and look forward. it’s denial.

@pcb: ugh. give it a rest on bynum. you’re not going to convince anyone there’s something wrong with him or that he’s the problem here. and there’s nothing he could do on the court to earn a shred of credit from you. we get it. this guy is the sixth guy on a crowded perimeter depth chart. he doesn’t play. stuckey’s been starting for two plus years and the team’s going NOWHERE.

By: gmehl1977

gmehl1977 — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 03:53:33 +0000

@neutes
You are exactly right in 2 areas you have pointed out. #1 If rebuilding while remaining competitive is the plan then Joe needs to realize that is not what the Pistons are achieving and start to put this thing in full rebuild mode. I think he should keep Monroe, Daye and any cheap contracted players and put everyone else up for trade. The only other player i think who is be worth keeping is CV as long as he keeps performing like he has this year. The rebuilding while remaining competitive stage started when Billups was traded and was really over when Rasheed left for Boston and McDyess for San Antonio. #2 We don’t have a star and i think it is time to blow this whole thing up and start again. Piston fans cannot relate to anyone on this roster and if Joe is to remain as the GM then he needs a clean canvas to start with. The Pistons need hard nosed guys (good defenders mainly) that can contribute on both ends of the floor that have chips on there shoulder signed to manageable contracts. I am thinking of players in the mold of Mickael Pietrus or Trevor Ariza. It is a fact that players that are trying to prove themselves in this league and secure there futures are the bargain value guys you want. The hard part is getting a star player to put these kind of guys around. Blow this biatch up Joe!

By: neutes

neutes — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 02:40:41 +0000

I think rebuilding while remaining competitive is difficult, but I think if that’s your plan it has to be a well thought out plan. You can’t just wing it. You could argue Miami rebuilt while remaining competitive. They planned far in advance to clear their entire roster. I think if you want to do it you have to have a step by step plan and always leave yourself some flexibility. The Pistons have no flexibility. They can’t sign anyone, they can’t trade anyone, and all they can do is wait for the draft. Not to mention the Pistons aren’t competitive, so I suppose that throws the whole competitive while rebuilding thing out the window. The thing I’d say is you just have to give yourself the flexibility to make changes at the end of each year, and have contracts planned out so that they give you a chance to make a change. Also rebuilding without a star is pretty much pointless. The Lakers had Kobe. If you fall you can always climb back up if you just get some guys around your star, but when you don’t have a star to begin with you might as well just sell the farm and tank it.

By: detroitpcb

detroitpcb — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 02:12:06 +0000

no, but……..Gorat or J-Rich

By: Dan Feldman

Dan Feldman — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 23:41:00 +0000

PCB, did you really want to trade for Gilbert Arenas?

By: Dan Feldman

Dan Feldman — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 23:31:51 +0000

Laser, do you think it’s impossible to rebuild while remaining competitive?

By: detroitpcb

detroitpcb — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 23:22:51 +0000

man o man, the Magic just pulled oof a huge trade (two actually). They were able to move the contracts of Carter (a Tay type contract) and Lewis (a far worse contract than Rip’s). Come on Joe D!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By: dagledhill

dagledhill — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 23:15:35 +0000

This team is simply not going to win regardless of who they play at any position. The simple fact of the matter is they don’t have anybody that presently is better than a third option on any of the playoff teams, or the Clippers for that matter. Sorry but they will suck all year – no matter who you blame: players, Kuester, Dumars, or Davidson (who I largely blame).
The Pistons tried to stay relevant while rebuilding and it hasn’t worked. They need to rebuild now. The only way they will become relevant again is to get legitimate #1 and #2 caliber players.
Going forward there are only two ways the Pistons will get better: trade or draft. Since the Pistons lack the trade assets (except perhaps their #1 pick this year – which they need to retain) to land any potential stars, is there any real value to maximizing Prince and Hamilton’s trade value? Everybody in the league knows who and what they are at this point. I’m sorry but Prince won’t bring back a star.
I always thought the Pistons really acquired McGrady hoping he’d become a valuable trade asset (low salary that can be traded for a nice young player on a playoff team trying to win now).
The Pistons need to decide about their young players. In reality, their young players at their true positions. Stuckey is not a point and Daye is not a power forward.
Their best point guard is Bynum. Ive always thought Gordon and Stuckey compliment each other because of their contrasting styles of play. I could start either one, but lean towards Stuckey at the 2 because I like Gordon’s ability for instant offense off the bench. Daye needs minutes at the 3 to be properly evaluated. Is Monroe better at the 4 or 5? I tend to leans toward the 5 because of his relative lack of athleticism and his ability – at least in college – to pass gives him a strength that few centers have. Plus moving him to the 5 makes room for Charlie V at the 4.
So my lineup is Bynum, Stuckey, Daye, Villanueva and Monroe. No chance of winning now I know, but Kuester isnt around next year any way. The Pistons really need the best draft pick they can get. Personally I’m praying for Kyrie Irving.
That way they can draft a #1 caliber player and maybe Stuckey, Daye or Monroe show they can step up to be a number 2 option. In any event it’s time to find out.
As far as Hamilton, Prince and Wallace. Guys you were awesome. You made it amazing to be a Piston fan for several years. Wallace was and still is my favorite Piston. Prince was a close second. I wish Wallace could give the youngsters his intensity.
Fact of the matter is Hamilton and Prince are probably better suited for bench play on a playoff team and teaching teams how to win in the playoffs. That’s their real trade value. I’d bet teams would like to see how they can play against other teams benches.
In any event, it’s time to find out where the Pistons are headed, not where they’ve been.