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After some pretty disappointing seasons the 4 time DPOY is now mulling over retirement.  Over at Life on Dumars toasterhands says that Ben Wallace is and always will be his favorite all-time Piston.  Many used to feel that way, I wonder how many people still do?

I respect toasterhands for saying that.  Despite all the his post playing days malfeasance Isiah Thomas is still my favorite player.  He’s the reason I love the Pistons’ basketball, or basketball in general for that matter.

But for the ‘04 Champion era Pistons Ben fell off.  Way off.  I used to place him a very close second behind Mr. Big Shot.  Now I’d rank him 5th:

1. Chauncey
2. McDyess
3. Rip
4. Tayshaun
5. Ben
6. Rasheed

When a member of the Pistons he embodied everything that was Piston’s hardhat style basketball.  That’s probably why it stung so bad when we as a fanbase were forsaken for the Bulls and their $$.  He went from ‘Big Ben Wallace’ to ‘Big Ben Wallets’.  That’s why we boos always rained down for the former face of the franchise.  He helped make us and we helped make him and just like that he has gone.

I think that’s also a big reason fans hardly give it a second thought that Rodney Stuckey now dons the “Big 3″.

Then to see him in that Cavaliers jersey for me was just too much.  I most times forgot he was ever a Piston at all.

If he does retire and acknowledges the Pistons Nation for embracing him when Joe traded Grant Hill for a guy hardly anyone had ever heard of then and only then can the healing begin.  Or, he could just finish out his contract and make the Cavs keep signing $14 million worth in paychecks.

Make the Cavs fear the dough!.

There’s being a lot made of LeBron’s failure to congratulate the Orlando Magic after they eliminated his highly favored Cavs team.  The Kingsy’s display of poor sportsmanship is drawing a lot of comparisons to the walkout staged by the Pistons after being swept out of the playoffs by the Bulls in 1991.

Now I don’t want to excuse the Bad Boys actions at all.  I wish it never happened personally.  But I want to draw some separation between LBjer’s  explanation that that he’s a “winner” and “competitor” and couldn’t find it within himself to shake hands and the reasoning behind the Bad Boy’s refusal to knuckle under Jordan’s Bulls.

There’s a big difference in my opinion.

“OK, on the count of 3 say karma’s a bitch” Pic: TheLakersNation.com

In the past the Pistons had always honored the tradition of the on-court congratulations at the end of tough series.  They did it year after year with Boston despite all the bad blood.  They did it after a gut-wrenching and controversial 7 game NBA Finals series with the Lakers in ‘88. Whether they accepted the defeat or not the paid their respects to the advancing team.

Much like the Celtics knew in ‘88, the Pistons probably knew they could no longer hold the Bulls down.  It was Chicago’s time.  After three straight years of playoff exits at the hands of the Pistons the Bulls were finally ready to take Detroit’s place as the Eastern Conference’s representatives.

If was a tough season for the Pistons.  Age and injuries were catching up to them. All they had left going into that series was pride and that wasn’t going to matador the Bulls.  MJ and his supporting cast was matured, battled-tested and ready to wear the belts.

The problem was that the Bulls had a little brother complex that they wouldn’t let go of.  Instead of saying the right things they set out on a smear campaign that disrespected the Pistons and their legacy.

It’s no secret that the Bad Boys played rough, but it was always within the frame work of the rules of the day.   The “Jordan Rules” made you earn your points.  They were as much psychological as they were physical.

Instead of accepting the challenge the Bulls whined and cried that the Pistons played too rough and even went as far to suggest that their championships weren’t legit.  The politicking won out.  Instead of a competitive series it was a whistle fest.

So the walk-out wasn’t due to a culmination of what transpired on the court, it was a result of what was said off of it.  It wasn’t a spur of the moment thing.  Isiah, Billy Lambs, and the rest knew they were going to do this to show the Bulls what they thought of their disrespect.  Basically, take the torch and shove it up your ass.

It’s said that the walk-out played apart in Isiah being left off the ‘92 Dream Team.  The irony is that walking out did more to tarnish the Bad Boys legacy than the Bulls contempt for their style of play ever could.

After the jump video of the last 6 minutes of game 4 of the ‘91 ECF. (more…)

Seen this via Dave Dial at mLive and needless to say I was pretty incensed.  Bill Livingston of the Plain Dealer seen fit to throw a couple of digs at the late Chuck Daly:

For all his insights, he was wrong there. The most insidious force in the game was the way Daly’s “Bad Boys” Detroit Pistons played.

They were the basketball equivalent of the Philadelphia Flyers in their “Broad Street Bullies” days. Any responsible discussion of Daly has to mention that. He was a master at handling difficult personalities, which made him the coach of the 1992 Dream Team, the first Olympic team with NBA players. But he did nothing to cramp the Bad Boys’ style.

Much of the team was intriguing. Undersized Isiah Thomas was one of the great streak scorers ever. Bill Laimbeer was the first big man to stretch defenses with three-point shooting. But brutality was their trademark. Rick Mahorn’s deliberate elbow to the head of Cavs guard Mark Price knocked the team out of a 1989 title run as much as Michael Jordan’s shot.

It was the only way the Pistons could win. Daly admitted that. And win they did, with back-to-back championships in 1989 and 1990.

[...]

But basketball isn’t much of a game if the only way to stop its great players is to mug them, is it? The league finally severely curtailed thuggery with the “flagrant foul” rule.

Daly didn’t encourage or tolerate such tactics at later coaching stops in New Jersey and Orlando. Maybe he knew he had already bruised the game enough.

Nothing like waiting until a man passes away of a viscous and cruel disease to let the world know that in your opinion he sullied the game that holds his place as one of their best.

He started the column with some complimentary words, but they were just a weak attempt to try and balance out the venom he was about to unleash.

He was just being a responsible journalist? Yeah right.  What ever the reasoning or motive won’t detour the fact that the timing reeks of cowardliness and lack of character.  The Cleveland Plain Dealer is as much at fault.  They’re the ones who chose to publish irreverence to a recently deceased man who was beloved by so many.  It has NOTHING to do with basketball or the fucking Cavs not being able to get over back in 1989.  It’s about decency you jack-offs.

If you didn’t care for the way Chuck Daly coached a team 20 years ago than why not write nothing at all and leave it at that?  I’m sure they’d still pay you if you chose to say drop to your knees and service your King like everyone else.

The first amendment protects Bill’s right to his opinion.  It protects mine too.  You’re a piece of shit Bill Livingston.

Condolences to Chuck Daly’s loved ones.  He was a classy man and may he rest in peace.

Is this funny? You bet it is, especially after the first round of the playoffs. Remember when your teacher said that those who make fun of others really don’t like themselves? Yeah, well she was fat and ugly! Screw her, go ahead and feel better about yourself

(Oh, if you you’re one of those dish it out but can’t take it types stop the video at about the :40 mark)

EMBED-Cleveland Tourism Video Part 2 – Watch more free videos

Lance Blanks.  There’s a name from the past I happened upon while scanning some of Marc Stein’s NBA commentary on ESPN.  Not only is he alive, but he’s one of Danny Ferry’s top guy in Cleveland and has been mentioned as a top candidate for the Timberwolves vacant GM position.

For those in Pistons Nation that are a year or two younger here’s a little on Blanks.  The Pistons drafted the 6′4″ guard out of the Universtiy of Texas with the 26th overall pick in the 1990 NBA Draft.  Coming off back-to-back NBA titles the Pistons were in need of some youth in the backcourt behind Isiah, Joe, and Vinnie.  I don’t remember much about Blanks as the dude only averaged 5.0 mpg in his two seasons with the Pistons.  The one thing I do recall is that he was fast.  I remember reading in the Free Press that during training camp he’d surplanted Isiah as the fastest guy on the team, a title Zeke pretty much held his whole career to that point.

The Pistons traded Blanks to Minnesota along with Brad Sellers for Mark Randall and Gerald Glass on 11/15/92.  Blanks played one season for the T-Wolves and was then out of the league.

A look at Lance’s wiki page reveals that before joining the Cavs front office he was with the Spurs from 1999-05 with duties ranging from scouting to television analyst.

Wow.  Don’t you just love the offseason?

The “Going to Work” Pistons have hung up their hard hats.  The Pistons seemed to do everything they could to stay out of the Playoffs and just go quietly into the sunset.  This first round series felt more like a mercy killing than series.  Actually, I take that back, King James and the Cavs showed very little mercy on the team that ruled over the East for the better part of a decade.

It’s a shame that the team got a twilight zone type send off where they were in their own Palace but surrounded by enemy troops who made the trek to see their team’s legacy being born while ours died right there on the same hardwood that seen so many triumphant fireworks and confetti showers.

“It was embarrassing, just to hear the fans and all the people against us in our own arena,” -Dyess (mlive)

They didn’t deserve that, McDyess least of all.  In some respect you can understand some fans not wanting to see what may have seemed like a public execution.

In all honesty though the real end to this era was marked by the trade on November 3rd.  Even though it wasn’t presented as such that was Joe throwing in the towel on the current core.  He traded away the patriarch of the family for a guy who had about as much red, white, and Pistons’ blue in his DNA as the fans chanting M-V-P yesterday.  Without the trade the death probably would have been a little longer and more drawn out.  This way there’s a better chance to keep our team from doormat status for years on end while we go through a complete engine rebuild.

It would have been nice if Tayshaun, Rip, and Rasheed would have had great games and could of been sent off like the hoop heroes they’ve been to this city but the fairy tale didn’t end that way.

Regardless of what jersey these guys pull over heads next season they’ll always be Pistons.  You can’t accomplish what they accomplished together and not be endeared.  Same goes for Chauncey.  Just like for Isiah, Joe and co. the banners will still count.

Before we look ahead to the most consequential offseason since this thing began there’ll be enough time to reflect on some pretty good times that featured a 2004 championship at the heart of it all.

We were spoiled guys.  Teams don’t stay together these days like our Pistons did.  They don’t win like our Pistons did.  They defied the odds from the jump.  Sure, were set backs but they were far out numbered with achievements.

For that we owe these Pistons a great big thank you for the memories, winning, and proud representation of us as a fan base.

It’ll be a numbing feeling for awhile.  We’ve had our collective chests pushed out for long enough to where there’s not much need to hang our heads.  I’d like to think we’re a resilient fan nation.  We’ll be back.   Stay tuned.

GO PISTONS!

Is it safe to say the Pistons are and have been over matched against the Cavaliers?  I think so.  I’ll put my fanhood up against anyone’s, but I’m not disillusional.  There’s a pretty good chance the Pistons are going to get swept out of these playoffs.  That means there’s some guys who will probably being playing their last game as a member of the Detroit Pistons.

Rasheed Wallace is in the final season of his contract.  It’s been a blast following the entertaining and enigmatic Roscoe Wallace, but the end of this run will also mark an end to Wallace’s days in Pistons’ blue in my estimation.  As it’s been pointed out during these playoffs Rasheed has lost a step.  I can’t see paying him to come off the bench and shoot three’s.  We have a need for post play and rebounding and Sheed rarely offers that anymore.  I can see him getting a good offer from a team that is perhaps closer to the Larry O’Brien chase than we are.  Somewhere where he’s not counted on to be the man, but rather an x-factor type who can stretch a defense.  Plus if Dumars plans to roll with Curry he’ll be better served without a guy who has a history of challenging the leadership of his head coach.  Curry cannot afford to lose the confidence of the younger players.

Antonio McDyess is the other guy who is likely to seek an opportunity elsewhere.  Dice could definitely still help the Piston cause.  I would love to see Dice retire as a Piston, but he seems like such a great guy I wouldn’t  begrudge him taking a stab at a ring in another city.  He’s said he doesn’t want to be a ring chaser but he might just owe it to himself.

Walter Herrmann’s contract will also come off the books at the cessation of the season.  I’ve always been a little indifferent about the Herrmannator.  He’s shown at times he can help the team, but I think it depends on which way the team is headed.

Then there’s Tayshaun.  Coming into the season Michael Curry talked about Tay’s inner all-star  finally coming out, which never really happened.  I think the Pistons had designs on Prince possibly evolving from a “glue-guy” into a 20-10 guy.  Since that hasn’t happened Joe may be willing to deal Tay, who still as plenty of trade value, for that 20-10 guy he covets.

So what I’m saying is despite the Pistons slim chances Sunday you might want to sit through all the inevitable LeBron James post-dunk posing for a last glimpse at a group of guys who have given us a whole memorable era of championship caliber basketball.

(Photo by D. Lippitt/Einstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

ROUND 1 / GAME 3
Where: Palace of Auburn Hills
When: 7:00 pm est
TV: ESPN
(Fox Sports Detroit for local coverage)
Cavs lead series 2-0

The Pistons are BEHIND. Get it?

A loss tonight and the series is over.  Many around the NBA globe thought the series has been over before it even got started, and now there’s evidence of the red, white, and Pistons’ blue faithful throwing in the towel.  I’m not going to lie, the first two games have really sucked the life out of my fanhood but I’m holding out hope that the guys can give the home fans a show tonight and send those Ohio-billys back home with long faces.  GMTR has a great suggestion on how the Pistons can get back at the fans who have lost faith:

So, really, the players have no one to be mad at but themselves. Well, okay, maybe LeBron James too, but mostly themselves. And the way to fix that is to come out and play hard and make it an effing game, so then the Detroitians will feel like jackasses for not going.

That way everyone is a winner, well, except for whomever loses the game.

There’s write ups in both the Free Press and News where Micheal is dismissing any notion that the Pistons have shown a lack of heart or passion.  Being a first year coach Curry may not have the freedom to publicly admit such a thing, but Antonio McDyess does.  And, Dice is right.  There’s a lack of playoff intensity/urgency with the leaders of this team.

Tayshaun Prince continues to struggle with a sore lower back.  And by struggle I mean he’s averaging 3 points and 2 boards in this series.  He says he’ll defer to Afflalo and Herrmann if he can’t preform at a high level.  I’m hoping that’s an emphasis on his comment that “it’s the biggest game of the year,” Prince said. “It’s all or nothing.” and not a pc way to say he’s got a consecutive start streak to think about.

ALSO OF NOTE: Chuck Daly not doing so good … SI: Six seasons on, Pistons are paying for drafting Darko over Carmelo … Dave Dial: Hope is coming for Detroit Pistons, but it won’t be until next season … The Detroit Pistons are now in full rebuilding mode … WFNY: Game 3 A Dangerous Trap For Cavaliers …

ROUND 1 / GAME 2
Where: Quicken Loans Arena
When: 8:00 pm est
TV: TNT
(FSN Plus for local coverage)
Cavs lead series 1-0

Ok, there’s been enough time gone by since game one for someone to have mentioned to the Pistons that the playoffs have started and despite their disappointing season they’re actually part of these playoffs.  It’s ok to play defense now.

It’s not going to be enough for Rasheed just to say the team has to “knuckle up“, he has to walk the talk being the team’s premier post player.  No more valeted trips down the lane for Cleveland.  Use a foul or two (Kwame, J-Max) to make the Cavs think before they go into the paint.

There needs to be a more aggressive effort to make life hard on LeBron.  Even considering that Tayshaun is trying to play trough injured ribs, Michael Curry is saying he needs to do a better job on LBJ. It has to start with Lebron, but then the Pistons can not rest on Cleveland’s depth.  That’s why nothing less then tough team defense will prevent a 0-2 hole.

On the offensive side we need to continue to patient and run offensive sets, particularly those that look to get Rip Hamilton involved in the scoring.  Fifteen points on 6/14 shooting is not going to be good enough.  It’s his team.  There’s  no Allen Iverson to deflect scoring deficiencies to, only the franchise’s most prolific post season scorer.

ALSO OF NOTE: With their victory on Saturday, the Cavs have won 5 straight playoff games over Detroit dating back to the ‘07 Eastern Conference Finals … It’s a major award! … Dan Feldman over at PistonPowered hosts a Pistons roundtable … Mike Freeman of CBS Sports takes Joe D to task with Dave Dial doing his best to counterbalance … Mike Brown is named COY … More on CasinoGate … Pistons fans: DON’T LOOK …

If the Pistons want a chance to win game two of this series and steal the homecourt advantage the Cavs have worked so hard for then they have to toughen up.  Bottom line.

They can’t exactly play “Bad Boys” defense nowadays, but they need to let the Cavs know they’re there.  No more highlight reel quality dunks for LeBron.  The bigs, Rasheed / Tay / Dice / Kwame / Maxiell all have to enforce a “No Fly Zone”. If they’re going to score in the paint make them earn it.

“What we have to do is be more aggressive at whatever we try to take away,” Detroit coach Michael Curry said. “We got to be aggressive with it. If we trap him, we have to be more aggressive. If we try to contain him and make him shoot contested jumpers, we got to do exactly that.

“We have to keep him out of the paint. He was 8-of-9 in the paint, hit the half-court shot and then was 4-of-10 outside of the paint. That’s where we got to try and keep him.” -mlive

The defense as a whole has to be better.  The Pistons hung around for most of game one because they played a respectable offensive game, but the D wasn’t there.  As we all know the NBA is a game of runs.  The Pistons made ZERO RUNS in game one because they never got stops.

Right now all the talking heads are saying that the Pistons know it’s over and they’re just going through the motions.  There’s only really one way to change opinions.  Taking game 2.  Being the first team outside of the Lakers to beat the Cavs in Cleveland with LeBron in the lineup.  I know it’s A LOT easier said than done, but it’s not impossible given the aid of a little tough Playoff defense.

ROUND 1 / GAME 1
Where: Quicken Loans Arena
When: 3:00 pm est
TV: ABC

Sure, it’s not the position we’re used to seeing out team in, but they’re still our Pistons and it’s time to get behind them once again!

“What’s an eight seed?” backup guard Arron Afflalo said. “It’s a seeding that’s just given to you for matchup purposes. It doesn’t define who you are as a player or as a team that steps on the court.

“If we were a No. 1 seed, we’re still the same group of guys. The home-court advantage makes a small difference, but we’re going out there and play.”

A few items of not before this thing kicks off tomorrow.

Piston to go with the Flo? A. Sherrod Blakely writes that due in large part to his play recently Michael Curry could being call ARRON AFFLALO’S number vs. the Cavs: “It’s been situations, especially lately when he’s come in defensively, brought a lot of energy to the game,” Curry said. “Normally when his defense is going good, he’s going to get some scoring opportunities and he’s been able to knock down some shots for us.”

Piston fan Pride: Guest blogger Rashid S. Umar is doing his part to rally the Red, White, and Pistons’ blue faithful over at Need4Sheed: “It’s the playoffs! Let’s get behind these guys for support! If not to beat Cleveland, than to celebrate eight straight playoff appearances or that they are one of only two teams in American professional sports to win at least one title in each of the last three decades — bet you didn’t realize that huh? Well that’s why I’m here. Let’s go PISTONS NATION! I implore you join me in showing the world we can be the best fans under any circumstance!”

LeBron James saying the right things: “We don’t go into the series not giving them a shot. We’ve had battles with Detroit. We know. We know how powerful that team is and what they’re capable of. We’re going into the series like it’s anybody’s series. If we don’t come out and play the right way, we could easily lose. No matter what the record is in the regular season, the top eight teams get in. When the playoffs start, everyone is 0-0.”

Coaches honoring Chuck Daly: “NBA coaches throughout the playoffs will wear a lapel pin emblazoned with the initials “CD” as a show of support for Daly, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in February and is currently undergoing treatment. [...] In addition to honoring Daly throughout the 2009 NBA playoffs, the NBCA also announced that it is developing the “Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award” to honor a current or former NBA coach”

Curry is calling for half-court execution against the Cavs: “I think in the half-court, as long as we moved the ball side-to-side, we can score and get up toward 100 points,” Curry said. “The games that we’ve been focused and moved it from side-to-side, post up and take advantage of those opportunities we’ve been really efficient.“It’s not so much the tempo that we play at. It’s more so executing well so we can shoot better than 40% or 38% against them.”

Ball Don’t Lie: Motown String Music along with Cavs’ blog Fear The Sword previews the Pistons/Cavaliers opening round matchup for J.E. Skeets over at Yahoo! : “I don’t think the Pistons are “afraid of these cats,” only this time they won’t provide the Cavs with bulletin board material. They still have a lot of talent and played Cleveland relatively tough in three out of the four games they played this year. I have to believe they sneak out some wins at the very least or I couldn’t call myself a believer.”

Game 1 – Saturday, April 18 Detroit @ Cleveland 3:00PM ABC
Game 2 – Tuesday, April 21 Detroit @ Cleveland 8:00PM TNT
Game 3 – Friday, April 24 Cleveland @ Detroit 7:00PM ESPN
Game 4 – Sunday, April 26 Cleveland @ Detroit 3:30PM ABC
If necessary —————–
Game 5 – Wednesday, April 29 Detroit @ Cleveland
Game 6 – Friday, May 1 Cleveland @ Detroit
Game 7 – Sunday, May 3 Detroit @ Cleveland

Pistons (78) @ CAVS (99) / {box score}

The Cavs wanted to wear one of their umpteen alternate jerseys leaving the Pistons to their home jerseys at Cleveland’s Quicken Loans Arena.  They might as well been white flags.  The Pistons were never in this game as they dropped a season high 6th straight game.

We’ve been talking about the Pistons playing .500 ball for a long time and last night they went out and made it official.  The effort, well there was no effort.  The defense was token if you’re being polite.

“We stunk the gym out,” Allen Iverson said. “We usually play together on the road, but we just acted like strangers out there. We didn’t get it done.”

Even that is understating it.  I was also wondering how The Answer The Contract has come to be the team’s official spokesman after every game?

In lieu of the blow out we got to see Walter Herrmann (13 pts) in action.  He was actually pretty aggressive so look for Curry’s next epiphany to be moving him to the starting lineup.