Since the trade of the year went down between the Denver Nuggets and the Detroit Pistons, which sent Allen Iverson to the Pistons, Detroit has turned in a record of 7-9.
Not exactly the champagne toasting winning percentage Dumars and his organization was looking for.
I argued at the time of the trade that the Pistons were making a mistake. I believed it was a gamble that I would not want to take since I was unsure how; Iverson would fit in with the chemistry of the team and how the all of the players’ styles would mesh on the court. I was confused on who would be starting and thought that Dumars did not understand how important Billups’ role as a team leader would affect the team with his departure, particularly on strong personalities such as Rasheed Wallace.
I write this not to “toot my own horn” and tell everybody I was right–ok maybe alittle–but I write this because, according to the Detroit Free Press, coach Michael Curry says not to blame Allen Iverson for the team’s struggles.
Curry says referring to Iverson,
“A lot of times you look at that individual player,” Curry said. “But for the most part, except when he gambles, he’s been solid for us defensively.”
I must say that I have to agree on Curry’s assessment to a certain degree. Don’t blame Iverson for all of the team’s struggles as there should be plenty of blame on the aforementioned Michael Curry.
In a time where pink slips to NBA head coaches are being handed out as much as federal indictments to Illinois politicians, I am surprised by the lack of criticism on the part of the head coach of the Pistons. Everybody is quick to blame the obvious scapegoat in Iverson, but Curry should be shouldering some of the blame– not to mention Dumars but I believe he is getting his fair share at the moment.
Let’s be honest here, the Pistons are obviously talented and I believe that is one attribute any coach would agree on that they want on their team. The Pistons are underachieving and doesn’t that usually point the finger directly at the head coach?
Over the off-season, the Pistons fired then coach Flip Saunders, again, I said that was a mistake at the time, but that is not important right now. When you fire a coach and hire a new one, you want to see your team moving in the right direction.
I think you would have to agree that the Pistons were better under Saunders, for starters their record from last year proves it at 13-7. But, do you think the Pistons would be 11-9 if Saunders was their coach? I don’t. I think they would be better. Probably, at that 13-7 mark, but more importantly, I believe the team would be moving in the right direction.
Bottom line is that Curry is a young coach who was just an ex-player a few years ago. He is a hard worker and a very nice, friendly and a player’s coach, but he is inexperienced. Unfortunately for him, the Pistons need a firm voice leading the team and somebody who understands how to create a system for his talent heavy team–that is not Michael Curry.
Look at the Pistons when they were their best and when Iverson was at his best. They had Larry Brown as their coach and you don’t get much firmer of a coach than him and a coach who knows how to utilize his players better.
If you watch the Pistons, the offense is stagnant and slow. I am confused by the system Curry has established and there seems to be less and less offensive flow through Hamilton, which is a mistake. Hamilton is not getting the shots he was getting in years past. Everybody on the team seems to be confused by the struggles of the team and that is when a good experienced coach steps in to offer a leading voice and a fix, I have not seen that yet out of Curry.
For Piston fans, maybe that is coming, but I would say the likelihood is the same as an auto bailout package getting passed in the senate for Detroit.
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In Detroit, there are plenty calling for Curry’s head, and very few blaming Iverson. Just head over to DetroitBadBoys and read Matt Watson’s analysis or any of the comment threads. Fans are furious, they know who is to blame here.
Isn’t some of the problem here with Joe D?
I know most Piston faithful will call for my head in saying so but isn’t he just hesitating a tad bit on pressing the “blow it up” button?
Doesn’t he make the coaching and player changes to the team?
There are too many problems in Detroit and I am not just talking about having to pay for your drinks at the casinos there. What’s up to all my peoples at the MGM Detroit by the way!
Sheed is definitely at a place where he only plays when he wants and he is also at a place where he figures shooting 25 footers is the weapon of choice.
Rip absolutely is not getting anything set up for him to get going which is a horrible idea because he can put points up on the board simply by running your offense.
AI…is a coach killer/team killer…only person worse is Terrell Owens at that job…in Sports history and I am including US SPRINTER Tim Montgomery…
There is a good young nucleus…Amir J., Maxiell, Stuckey, etc…I just think they waited about a year or two too long to pull the trigger on making a move…
Agree?
I’ve been planning on writing a blog on the two teams who have been very successful in the past, and now, have made big changes this season in an effort to give themselves a better chance to win a championship. Both Phoenix and Detroit have made large gambles.
Concerning this blog, I think everybody is being a little too impatient. The Pistons made a huge change when they traded Billups, their point guard and leader on the floor, for Iverson. Iverson is not a point. Detroit is having to make an adjustment to a new point. Actually, one could argue that Prince is actually becoming their point, a page out of Don Nelson’s playbook. Iverson is a gambling defender, not the solid defender like Billups is. Another big adjustment as Detroit has lived on their defense for a number of years. Also, the chemistry in the locker room has been changed a great deal. Nobody can call Iverson a wall flower, who tries to just fit in. All those changes need time to work out, and needs time in order to make a solid judgment about how it’s worked out.
Pertaining to Dumars and Curry, I think Joe has proven himself to be a solid GM. I trust that he had solid reasons for this change. With Curry, he’s a young and inexperienced coach. However, I knew when I was coaching him that he possessed good coaching qualities. He’s bright. He’s a very hard worker. He has good knowledge of the game. He’s only 20-30 games into his first season. He’s been given a real challenge with this trade. Give him time to feel things out.
A coach always wants to have a talented team, but it can be a double edged sword. In this particular case, only getting to the Finals will suffice. That’s a lot of pressure, but, as a coach, I would rather have that pressure than having less talent, and no chance to win.
This wholesale scapgoating of Iverson for the Pistons’ struggles misses the mark completely and in the process maligns a future hall-of-famer who, in my opinion, is the most victimized player in Detroit’s offense.
First of all, let’s bear in mind that for most of his stay, Iverson has been buried somewhere on the wing or in the corner because Tayshaun Prince has been acting as point forward and Rasheed Wallace. When Rodney Stuckney plays the pg position, he thinks shot first and when he does look to set up others, invariably he passes to his right where Rip Hamilton is. He almost never passes or dribbles to his left where Iverson is. The result is that one of the still most potent and dangerous guards in the history of the NBA averages between 8-10 shots per game. Incredible! And probably three of those shots are bail-out heaves when he’s thrown the ball in desperation with the shot clock running out.
Iverson, to his credit, doesn’t mope and still seems to be determined to be a distributor in this offense.
Virtually forgotten is the impact of the loss of McDyess, which has had a disastrous effect on the rotation and which has made it virtually impossible for the team to have Rasheed 20-25 feet from the basket. McDyess is a rebounder and accurate shooter from the 10-15 ft range. Once he left, playing Brown or Amiri at center became a liability the team simply couldn’t afford.
McDyess is back and he’s already having a positive impact. My suggestion, put the ball in Iverson’s hands, tell him to shoot 15-20 times per game, and play Stuckey with the second unit. Yeah, Stuckey’s got potential-at his best he reminds me of the assassin,Andrew Toney- but he’s so intent on scoring that he makes almost no attempt to pass to-much less defer to-Iverson. So let him be the first guard off the bench for A.I. or Rip. He’ll still get his minutes.
And fans, stop all this whining about Hamilton not getting his shots. He’s leading the team in shots taken and Iverson consistently finds him when he’s in motion.
Hal Miller
Years past does not need an apostrophe.
I don’t understand why everyone treats the pistons as if they are the defending champs every year. They are mentioned as the team to beat in the east.
here’s some facts
the last time Detroit was good was 2005. That is the last time they were Eastern conference champs.
2004 – won championship
2005 – eastern conference champs (lost to spurs)
2006 – Miami Heat – eastern conference champs
2007 – cavaliers ”
2008 – celtics ”
2009
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