***Official Detroit Pistons Thread***

[rdnk]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons Thread***

I hope they revive those trade talks. If there is any chance to get out from under his contract, they should take it.

[pietasterp]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons Thread***

Agree....I'd ship Josh Smith out of town for a ham sandwich at this point.

[l3ulvl]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons Thread***

Agree....I'd ship Josh Smith out of town for a ham sandwich at this point.

Idunno man, I'm not a big fan of ham. Maybe an italian deli sub.

Been reading about a sign n trade in the works with the Kings to swap Smith for Isaiah Thomas. I'm confused though, wouldn't that mean Thomas would have to get a $14M per year contract to make it match? If we supposedly have a 3 year $24M offer on the table for him, why would we voluntarily fork over an extra $6M a year just to boot Smith? Toss in a 1st and that's a Dumars level play right there

[rdnk]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons Thread***

Depends on the salary cap situations of both teams and if they have trade exceptions.

Pistons brought in Jodie Meeks. 3 years, 19.5 M. A bit expensive, but boy did we need shooting. They also added Carter Martin for the minimum, who will add more 3 point shooting. At least it looks like SVG has a plan in place.

[DavidTheGreat20]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons Thread***

Knicks fan stopping by...


First of all, good luck for the 2014-2015 season. But I have a question about the Piston's rotation (kind of?). I was wondering why people like Peyton Siva and Tony Mitchell didn't play much last season. From my understanding, at least at Louisville, Siva can really run an offense. He seems poised and can work with a team to make those around him better. Also, Tony Mitchell seems like a high upside type of player. Athletic enough to score at the rim and long enough to defend and block shots. Are these thoughts wrong? I don't know better than any of you would, but would love to learn about them.

Would've liked for them 2 to play more last season, but our lineup was too dependent on starters. You won't see many minutes from benchers almost every game because Smith/Monroe/Jennings took most of the teams minutes.

Siva will have to prove himself more if he gets a contract. It's kind of a logjam at PG if you consider Spencer Dinwiddie a point guard.

I like Mitchell and his upside but what he needs is a higher motor. Sometimes it seems as if he's not trying at all.

[Gibbz]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons Thread***

Caught a few summer league games for my dude Tony Mitchell. Most of the time it's just not looking good for him out there.

For one thing it seems like he's playing the 5. When we had a coaching change at North Texas he got moved to the 5 and was way less productive. He really flourished as a 3/face-up creative 4. In one of the summer league games I saw him rattle in a jumper from the corner and he got pulled never to return.

He might not have what it takes to succeed as a 3 at this level but I don't think you're ever gonna get anything out of him at the 5.

[rdnk]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons Thread***

Pistons added DJ Augustin, Aaron Grey and Caron Butler. Apparently, SVG is adamant about solving our shooting issue. If SVG can get the Pistons to live up to their defensive potential, we will be in the playoffs. I think they are waiting to figure out the Monroe situation before dealing Smith. One of the two will be gone, or I suppose Jerebko could get the axe. Also, I hope they keep Peyton Siva over Will Bynum, now that they have Augustin there is a bit of a log jam.

[redsrule]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons Thread***

The season hasn't started yet and we will probably stink again, but after hearing SVG/reading comments of his about the team I am semi excited for the future. I think they should have traded Josh Smith but if he can get him to play around the basket he can still be an all star type player. If they can stay healthy/figure out the log jam at the 4/5 I think they could sneak into the 8 spot this year.

[pietasterp]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons Thread***

So the Pistons paid Josh Smith $29-million to NOT play for them. That's how you know you're f'n useless. I know SVG said he wanted to give him a chance before cutting him loose, but honestly, not taking pennies on the dollar for him in the summer when the opportunity (allegedly) was there is an early miss on his part.

We're pretty much already in tank-mode for the rest of the season, right? I mean, I know no one is going to just come out and admit that on the team, but nothing else makes sense at this point. Gotta love the NBA...

Oh, and reds - your friggin' Wildcats this year...seriously. I don't even know why any other team in the D1 is bothering this year. I think you'd beat my Spartans by 50, easily....

[pietasterp]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons Thread***

This is Josh Smith's career shot chart. Just in case anyone was wondering why we paid him a hell of a lot of money to go away.

[redsrule]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons Thread***

Oh, and reds - your friggin' Wildcats this year...seriously. I don't even know why any other team in the D1 is bothering this year. I think you'd beat my Spartans by 50, easily....

Basketball is fun At least college basketball this year.

Honestly I'm still a Pistons fan, but I've watched more Pelicans games the last 2 years than I have of Detroit in quite a few years. I trust SVG to turn it around but until then I really am not going to tune in much, because it's been nothing but ugly basketball since Jennings/Smith got here.
They waited too long to release Smith too, considering they alienated Greg Monroe.
Oh well, I guess I have "co"favorite teams now.

[pietasterp]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons Thread***

Well, to your eternal credit, reds, you're about the only Pistons fan I ever met that wasn't from (or somehow tied to) southeastern Michigan. That you maintained loyalty throughout this terribly dark era says a lot. No one would blame you for bailing at this point, especially since (from what I recall) your initial rooting interest has long since been traded to Memphis.

No reason to watch the games lately - not only are they a bad team, but they're bad AND boring...I mean, you can be not very good but entertaining (early 2000's Mavs, Nelly era Warriors), or boring but good (Spurs), but you can't be bad and boring. That's an un-watchable combination.

Maybe there'll be another UK rooting interest for you on the 'Stones soon anyway, the way this years has gone....although we are 2-0 since Smith has been gone.

[pietasterp]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons Thread***

They waited too long to release Smith too, considering they alienated Greg Monroe.
Oh well, I guess I have "co"favorite teams now.

I heard all kinds of stories, but one I heard is that SVG didn't want to dump Smith before ever trying to work with him and see how he fits in. The athleticism is seductive to any coach, and I'm sure every coach thinks "I can get him to play the right way", even if they're all wrong. Also, it took some convincing to get Tom Gores to sign-off on essentially taking a $50-million dollar bath without even getting pennies on the dollar for him.

But to me, it's a good sign that SVG was able to just cut Smith outright, despite the massive amount still owed. It suggests that the owner is at least somewhat on board with what Stan Van has to do to rebuild the team (starting with the tear-down).

[redsrule]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons Thread***

Well, to your eternal credit, reds, you're about the only Pistons fan I ever met that wasn't from (or somehow tied to) southeastern Michigan. That you maintained loyalty throughout this terribly dark era says a lot. No one would blame you for bailing at this point, especially since (from what I recall) your initial rooting interest has long since been traded to Memphis.

No reason to watch the games lately - not only are they a bad team, but they're bad AND boring...I mean, you can be not very good but entertaining (early 2000's Mavs, Nelly era Warriors), or boring but good (Spurs), but you can't be bad and boring. That's an un-watchable combination.

Maybe there'll be another UK rooting interest for you on the 'Stones soon anyway, the way this years has gone....although we are 2-0 since Smith has been gone.

Yeah Prince is basically the biggest reason I became a Pistons fan, but he was on the team for a long time so I became a fan for more than just him.

The team is finally showing signs of life now which is encouraging. They have a brutal stretch now coming up which will show how much better they really are.

Jodie Meeks went to UK too so I have another Cat to root for lol.


Regarding your next post- I really believe if he is given the time, SVG will have this team turned around. He had an awful put together roster to begin with, but slowly it is going to mold into the form he likes it. He even has his "Dwight Howard" in Drummond.

[pietasterp]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons Thread***

They're 6-0 since dumping Smith. They were 5-23 before paying him for the privilege of not playing for us, so we've now officially won more games without him than we did with him (in 1/4 the number of games).

The sample size is still way too small to draw any conclusions, but the evidence is mounting. After beating the Spurs in San Antonio tonight, it's starting to get hard to ignore. If they beat the Mavs in Dallas, look out.

I don't want to get carried away, but the Pistons may never lose again...