| NFL | |
|
NFL Mock Draft 2009 Draft of 2009 Lacks Star Power NFL Draft 2009: Getting Started Super Bowl Well Worth Tuning In For
|
| NBA | |
|
Prospects On Center Stage NBA Preview 2008/09: Final Call
|
|
The End Of An Era By Ron Jumper Normally, when trades of substantial magnitude occur, it impacts the teams involved for the next decade. That being said, depending on which side your on, that can lead to wins and playoff appearances or it can lead down the path to lottery picks and an indifferent fan base. After watching the Celtics dismantle the A.I. led Pistons 88-76 (and it really wasn't even that close until garbage time) Sunday night, I have to say I'm not even remotely optimistic. My readers know I have always spoken very highly of Joe Dumars and have pulled for the Pistons over the years. That being said, this Pistons team is not one I can stand behind. It has nothing to do with losing to the Celtics by 12. Everyone in the league has lost to the Celtics by 12 or more lately. It is how they lost. They stand around and watch Iverson dribble. With Chauncey Billups, they ran sets and got clean looks. The most glaring proof is Richard Hamilton. When Rip is at his best, he is coming off screens knocking down mid-range jumpers. However, Sunday night he went 0-8 because he had to create his own shot off the dribble. That is simply not his game. My belief all along was that the Pistons now have no one who will become a facilitator or distributor for everyone else to play off of. AI, Rip, and Rodney Stuckey are all scorers, not playmakers. Billups could run the show and play “winning” basketball as I like to say. Iverson plays “stat” ball, meaning he shoots a low field goal percentage, doesn't defend, and turns the ball over frequently but scores 30 and everyone loves him. That is just offense, I haven't even started on defense yet. Before, this was as good a defensive team as any in the league. Now, with Iverson and Amir Johnson in the starting lineup, they are not near as intimidating to the opposition. They don't control the tempo, leading to poor transition defense. They don't protect the rim, leading to way too many points in the paint. They turn the ball over, leading to breakaway dunks. All in all, I could see the wheels falling off. The question now is if rookie head coach Michael Curry can figure it all out. If it were me, the first thing I would do is cut Amir Johnson's minutes and get Jason Maxiel on the floor as much as possible. Maxiel has been the spark off the bench in the past, but now is the time for him to step up and be counted on. They need to get that toughness back. The other option is to go small and have their five best players on the floor with Stuckey, Iverson, Hamilton, Prince, and Wallace for long stretches. They can get away with it on most nights inside defensively in the Eastern Conference and it creates mismatches all over the floor on offense. If necessary, depending on the matchup, Aaron Afflalo can play in place of one of the guards because he defends so well. Either way they don't defend at the same level, so why not speed the game up and let those guards put up points? Aside from the coaching and personnel, I have to wonder what Joe Dumars was thinking. He has always done such a terrific job bringing in guys that fit what they do in terms of defense and toughness. They were not the Bad Boys of old, but they weren't too far off either. I just have to wonder what made Dumars break away from the formula that worked so well and go in the complete opposite direction. More specifically, why didn't they go after Jermaine O'Neal or Ron Artest when they had the chance this offseason? Both of those guys were traded at a bargain rate, so why give up Billups for Iverson? Specifically, the plan was to turn the reins over to Rodney Stuckey which made Billups expendable, why add another guard to stand in his way? Stuckey only played 12 minutes Sunday night. That couldn't be the way they envisioned it this summer when trade talks first originated. I also don't understand the thought that if it doesn't work out they don't have to keep Iverson after this season. Then what? You're out Billups and Iverson, as Rasheed Wallace's contract is up, and you're supposed to lure an All-Star free agent to join the mess? Good luck. If they let Iverson go, they are basically rebuilding. How you can potentially turn a title contender into a team rebuilding in just one year is a mystery to me. Isiah Thomas couldn't even screw up that bad. Chew on that for a second. Dumars has done so good for so long, however, his failure to pull the trigger over the offseason compounded with the knee-jerk trade for Iverson may have cost his team another title run. I wish I could say only time will tell, but I'm pretty sure the glory days in Detroit are over. I enjoyed it while it lasted. This opens the door wide open for LeBron and the Cavs to challenge Boston for East supremacy. Why Joe Dumars? Why? November 9, 2008 |
| NCAA Football | |
|
Be Careful What You Wish For
|
| NCAA Basketball | |
|
Jumpology: My Bracket Jumpology: Scouting The Heavyweights Jumpology: Reviewing The Bracket
|