Comments on: Richard Hamilton ignores Joe Dumars’ and John Kuester’s requests to talk

By: rick

rick — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 20:26:18 +0000

Detroit is in a tailspin and it can be attributed all the way back to a number of decisions or indecision’s made by Dumars . I think he over valued Rasheed Wallace and paid him like he was the reason Detroit won everything. In essence he had a combination of things going for him. He fleeced Jordan by trading aging Stackhouse, got a free agent in Billups and had already drafted Okur and Prince. Carlisle had them boys playing half court stingy defense and playing as a unit. Then next you hear Carlise is a @$$hole around the Palace and nobody likes him. What the hell, I actually thought the old man had his imprints on this all the way and in the end to me it has cost them dearly. Did we ever hear the players complain about how Carlise coached? Nope, but when Larry came in after that first year everything became stale and he supposedly flirted with the Cavaliers. Gone, bye, which brings us to Saunders. He was a good coach as far as x’s and o’s but not good enough to command respect of the Wallaces. I think this is why Ben left in my opinion because he got tired of Rasheed and his antics, along with how the coach did not step up to him. Players do not want to have to step in another players face all the time. That is where the coach/gm steps up. All I ever heard from Dumars was how much a great talent Rasheed was and how most things could be excused. So hear we are two coaches in three years a total combined 83 wins in two and half years and most of those were by Curry who got fired for not communicating better with Hamilton. So what is the deal with Q and Hamilton? Who knows ,but one thing for sure is I do not think any free agent will want to come here and play for Detroit. You can play all the youngsters you want,but what fills up the seats? A good basketball team and a well run organization . The last thing you want to see is one of your best players and one that helped win a title be put on the deactivated list by a career long assistant coach who just so happened to get a job from Joe Dumars. How do you go from Carlisyle a young and up and coming coach to caoch a young group to and old bag Kuester to coach young talent with old? At what point does Dumars start getting articles written about him? The economy is bad in New Orleans and they are winning, with a new young coach.I am tired of excuses and players getting all the blame.

By: Pratik Narula

Pratik Narula — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 18:23:51 +0000

I don’t agree that the Pistons have played better basketball without RICHARD HAMILTON. Yes since he’s been gone, the rotation has not been so complicated, and guys have understood their role. When Rip was there, the entire offense was around him, stuckey gets the ball to Rip if hes open from his screens. But now guys like TMAC and Monroe are playing a lot better, and will bynum, but maybe thats because Kuester has started to give them specific roles and consistent minutes. Rip can fit into the rotation if Kuester was smart about it. He is easily a starter on any TEAM in the NBA rite now. Every player on this roster has had difficult and inconsistent performances. BEN GORDON is the biggest example, the guy is great offensively, he drops 35 against NYC. But he is a defensive LIABILITY. And he commits a lot of turnovers. The problem is that BG is use to making difficult shots, but if the Pistons simply were to get him open as consistent as Boston gets Ray allen open, he would be GREAT. However, he can’t play any defense. Especially when Charlie V is also in the game with him.
1)Stuckey 2) Tmac 3).Prince 4)Monroe 5)Ben Wallace (This definitely our best defensive lineup that can execute consistently in the half-court)
Bench: 1)Will Bynum 2). BG 3)Rip 4) Daye 5)Charlie V (This might be our best offensive lineup, even better then the starting 5
Extras: Jason Max, D. Summers, Chris Wilcox
This is how the rotation needs to be broken down
1st quarter: Starting 5 plays 75 percent, Bench plays 25 percent
2nd Quarter: Bench continues and plays 25 percent, Extras come in for defense, MIX of starters and Bench
3rd quarter: Starting 5 plays 50 percent, Bench plays 25 percent, Bench + Extras play 25 percent
4th quarter: Mix of bench and starters 40 percent, all starters play 60 percent
If Kuester could have realized this strategy in training camp. We would have had a 5-0 start and not a 0-5, a good start is crucial to setting the tempo of the season, look what San Antonio has accomplished. This team is .500 probably not better then that. But def. not worse then that.

By: Jason

Jason — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 17:54:44 +0000

I completely agree that the author of that article is clearly senile. Again, his whole tirade about AI is quite exaggerated, and for the most part ridiculous. But, there are some other very strong points, that probably should have been in an entirely different article all together, nonetheless spot on though.

His points about Stuckey, the current situation with RIP, Dumars absurdity, Media bias, i’m with him on all of these things…

I just thought it was an interesting take, an if nothing else a pretty good read for any Piston fan who is as upset with the organization as i have been. One trade/signing could really change this teams fortunes, we have solid pieces in place, but I highly doubt Dumars will do what SHOULD be done.

By: Andy Fung

Andy Fung — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 14:34:51 +0000

And you’re absolutely right about all of this being based on hearsay. All of this is based on hearsay–even the Feldman/Langlois report. Everything that we cyber-commentators write is based on hearsay. None of us (except Langlois, in this case) are in that locker room, or on the team plane, or at practices or hotels with these guys. We can only form our opinions based on the limited and filtered information that trickles down to us. Every one of these comments is based on speculation– but that’s what makes it fun! We are the Sports Illustrated/ESPN equivalents to the People Magazine/TMZ crowd.

By: Andy Fung

Andy Fung — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 14:20:57 +0000

There is no doubt Rip has handled the situation well publicly, Mike. You are correct about his refusal to overtly express his feelings to the media. (However, he did offer his initial “disrespected” comments unsolicited.) My disappointment lies in his refusal to discuss his plight with his own coach or boss. It amuses me that he wouldn’t meet with Kue because he didn’t like who was sent to summon him. It all seems very immature and childish to me– by both sides. These are grown men and professionals that spend more time with each other than their own families– yet, they can’t sit down and talk for ten minutes? I certainly don’t hate Rip, in fact I’ve written extensively in my own blog about how much love I have for him. My comparison between Rip and Zeke was made to illustrate how ugly endings often leave the most lasting impact on public perception. I’ll always remember Isiah’s glory days, his unbelievable talent and will. But, the image that will always be seared into my consciousness is how the Pistons ship began to sink, the Bad Boys-era doomed to enter Davy Jones’ locker, and how its captain tried to take everyone down with him. Thomas alienated his owner (who viewed him as a son), his teammates (whom he had gone to war with countless times), and fans that were not of the casual variety. He seemed unwilling to help teach or develop younger players (I know, not his job, but imperative to the team’s transition, and frankly, a nice thing to do), caught up in the past and self-entitlement. Don’t you think it’s strange that Zeke retired unceremoniously and without much fanfare by the organization? It’s greatest player ever? This all sounds very familiar. Rip, for all his service and triumphs with Detroit, is burning a similar brand into my mind’s eye. All the b.s. about starting/not starting– who cares, you make millions upon millions to do what the club asks of you! Disrespect? Which part is more disrespectful, Rip, the part when they gave you a 3 yr/$30 + million extension, or when you were given countless opportunities to earn a spot in the starting lineup and then eventually the rotation even when you were clearly the worst option? Rip feels entitled due to past glories and cannot handle the truth that he has lost his mojo, and, whatever you say about it, has handled it like a baby. I don’t think he’s handled it gracefully, as you insist–not horribly, but certainly not gracefully. And I also question whether or not he has said anything negative about his coach, gm, or organization publicly. Look, Rip is not Rasheed Wallace–he’s not going to hit you over the head with his opinions. He is, however, a master at shooting thinly-veiled darts through the media dating back to the Curry/Iverson fiasco. Class, to me, is not pouting about minutes or being removed from the rotation. Dignity is excepting your limitations and having respect for yourself and for your teammates. Like it or not, this ugly divorce will be the lasting memory many Pistons observers will have of one of our all-time greats.

By: gmehl1977

gmehl1977 — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 09:09:41 +0000

Good point Mike

By: Mr Happy Mushroom

Mr Happy Mushroom — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 08:03:18 +0000

Bad signing McGrady?Look, you can argue that Tracey isn’t a long term component of a good team and that his play this year has been fool’s gold if you wish. But a million dollars a year for a guy who has produced like he did? There are likely 25 other teams that wish they had done the same.The bottom line is perennial 55 win teams becoming a 25-30 win team. Yep, Joe’s been lousy. But surely you can find better examples than McGrady.

By: Mr Happy Mushroom

Mr Happy Mushroom — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 08:02:38 +0000

Bad signing McGrady?
Look, you can argue that Tracey isn’t a long term component of a good team and that his play this year has been fool’s gold if you wish. But a million dollars a year for a guy who has produced like he did? There are likely 25 other teams that wish they had done the same.
The bottom line is perennial 55 win teams becoming a 25-30 win team. Yep, Joe’s been lousy. But surely you can find better examples than McGrady.

By: Mike Payne

Mike Payne — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 07:11:39 +0000

to elaborate, when I say “I’m amazed at how quickly fans have turned on Rip” I don’t mean that fans shouldn’t desire more on court. I’ve wanted dude moved since before he signed the extension after the Billups trade. What I mean by fans turning on him is how quick they are to blame him for this mess, and how they point at him for handling it poorly. Thus far, he’s complained that he’s not playing, but he hasn’t said anything negative about Kuester, Dumars or anyone else. He’s been more graceful than I would be, I tell you that. If I was in his shoes, I’d be farting curses and throwing chairs. Dude has handled himself with a lot of class in this situation, I have to admire that in him as much as I want his contract off of this roster.

By: Mike Payne

Mike Payne — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 07:05:59 +0000

Not sure how this relates to Isiah Thomas, Andy. You say Rip hasn’t handled this with an ounce of class or dignity, but can you elaborate on what he’s done wrong? He hasn’t said anything negative about the coach, the gm, the players or the organization to the press. There’s a lot of hatred aimed at Rip right now, but what isn’t based on hearsay doesn’t have a factual base.
I’m really amazed at how quickly fans have turned on Rip, and I’d love to see an objective reasoning on what he’s done wrong publicly.