Comments on: Joe Dumars: I provide input, but Lawrence Frank sets the lineup

By: jamesjones_det

jamesjones_det — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 19:31:37 +0000

Larry was known for “stifling” PGs too, but he did worlds of good for CB’s game.

Maybe Deron should grow up already and take some advise, Deron is a good player but he looks to be a headcase waiting to happen these days.

By: ZekeKhaseli

ZekeKhaseli — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 17:47:15 +0000

Frank gave the credits to the assistant coach for the bench player’s developments. Albeit, he seems to be very precise about bringing Drummond slowly.

By: DG

DG — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 12:34:38 +0000

Frank is not a great in game tactician. But he has done well with player development. Since the Pistons best players are young and need developing, Frank is the man for the job right now. I would argue that part of Drummond’s success is based as much on the Pistons using him properly to this point — not asking him to do too much. Hell Frank even seems to have Daye and Villanueva developing a bit. Singler exceeded his draft position for a while. He seems to figure out, albeit slowly, how to best use each player. He just is lousy at in game adjustments.

Larry Brown, by contrast, was partially responsible for Darko’s demise. He was lousy at player development but a great in game adjuster. Maybe Joe has learned something from his coaching decision mistakes.

By: tarsier

tarsier — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 03:43:51 +0000

Defense may not have been Flip’s specialty, but every coach cares about D. Even D’Antoni. And it’s not like Detroit’s defense fell off much when Saunders replaced Brown.

By: Ryank

Ryank — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 20:53:01 +0000

Dumars would find it harder to fire a coach if he’s telling the coach what to do. Frank has been far from perfect, but he’s better then the last two clowns. Flip…he didn’t care about defense. LB…great coach, but way too much drama. Carlisle…he improved greatly after leaving the Pistons…he made a lot of errors when he coached here.

By: David

David — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 20:48:42 +0000

Dumars can do one thing to influence lineups: As GM, the roster (not the lineup) is his responsibility. If he wants to give Drummond more playing time, trading Maxiel for a guard would probably accomplish that.

By: Marcus

Marcus — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 18:41:36 +0000

I agree buddy, but Dumars won’t hire his friends. Everyone knows that Laimber deserved a shot. I also believe he still honors the late owner Davidson’s wishes to never give Zeek a piece of the pie. Isaiah would flourish with this team. Brandon Knight would learn so much from the greatest point guard ever!!!

By: Keith

Keith — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 18:11:25 +0000

As for the article, it feels like there isn’t much to glean. Dumars says they talk all the time, and that he is often asked for input. It doesn’t sound like Dumars isn’t expressing what he sees and wants. And it’s also the typical “say something that means nothing” move that smart players learn in their career. He says he gives autonomy and respect, and that he supports Frank. It’s the same thing you hear from a blue-collar kind of player when asked why a teammate had a bad game (“Maybe to you he took to many shots, but they were all good looks and I know he can make them”).

I have felt for years now that Joe is too lenient/hands off. That’s a good thing most of the time, letting coaches be coaches and all. But at a higher level it’s led to a complete lack of team identity and direction. He’s always letting each coach do his thing, but then firing that coach before anything long term can be built. Since Joe has been ceding the direction of the team to each coach, suddenly we have a bunch of ill fitting parts from different regimes every couple years. That can work to some degree when you have great players – veterans who are versatile enough to play in any system – but it’s a recipe for sustained failure working with rookies and still learning young players.

By: sebastian

sebastian — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 17:56:42 +0000

Solution: Fire L. Frank and hire Isiah Thomas. Zeke loves the Pistons. Isiah would be great tutor to B. Knight. Zeke would play the young players and put Singler in his most effective role as 8th or 9th-man and keep Stuckey in his most effective role, as 6th-man; and probably would be wise enough to give English some starts at the “2″. Fans would return to the Palace.The Pistons would win, again!

By: Keith

Keith — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 17:55:10 +0000

If we’re already looking for new coaches, I’d love to get Jerry Sloan. He puts his PGs in position to succeed, and knows how to utilize a passing big man with defensive issues at PF. Get him to teach Knight-Drummond how to run a pick and roll, and suddenly we start maximizing our best players all together.