WOI contributor Lydia weighs in on the Pistons recent struggles against absolutely atrocious teams…
The Pistons decided to change their lineup (yet again) to fix their so-called problems and it started off with a loss to the crappy Wizards. We gave them their 4th win, we should be so proud. Their top scorer is out, again, with another injury, and their second leading scorer only scored 10 points. Basically we got beat by Caron Butler=30+ points and Juan Dixon-16 points, 7 assists. I don’t recall Juan playing that well for us last year, do you? The redeemed themselves by beating the Pacers and barely beating the Bobcats. Ugly wins, especially the Bobcats, but we will take them…at least it is a start.
The Pistons three biggest problems are defense, learning to adapt to Iverson, and finishing the game. They know how to play defense, soooo practice and play…simple enough. For the other two problems – How about bringing Iverson off the bench? It may be a hard sell, but it could work. Even if its just temporary, it would give the Pistons and Iverson a legitimate chance to learn to play cohesively. It could provide a punch off the bench when the Pistons start to lose the lead. Utilize Iverson’s strength, let him take over in those situations. Its been working in San Antonio with Manu for years now. Or how about bringing Maxiell and Iverson off the bench? Why hasn’t Curry thought of this-oh, I know, because he SUCKS. The Sixers just fired Mo Cheeks, I say fire Curry and hire Mo.
Overall, improvement over last week and I gave all the credit to Piston veteran Antonio McDyess. His contribution has been small, but solid. Mainly he brings intensity and determination back to the team. He actually screamed at his teammates during the 4th quarter debacle in the Bobcats game imploring them not to lose the game. Maybe McDyess should yell at them every 4th quarter to get their crap together. If he can’t do it, I would be more than happy to do it…..provided I get to sit in those seats right next to the bench. You ever wonder who those people are who are sitting there? WOI and I have never been able to figure it out.
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December 16, 2008
#1
I rarely check this blog but when I do, all I see is complaining about “your” sports teams. Lions, Pistons, Spartans.
Don’t you get sick of complaining?
December 16, 2008
#2
You’re right, you don’t check this blog a lot. There have only been a handful of posts about the local teams in the last few months
December 16, 2008
#3
And they have all been very negative. PICK NEW TEAMS IF ALL YOU DO IS COMPLAIN ABOUT “YOUR” CURRENT ONES!
December 16, 2008
#4
You’re right….tomorrow, I’m writing a post entitled, “Why it’s awesome to be a Lions fan”
Followed closely by “Why the Darko pick was peaches ‘n cream for the Pistons”
December 16, 2008
#5
Pick new teams or stop your bitching.
December 16, 2008
#6
well, since you put it that way…
December 16, 2008
#7
I think Jim’s point is less: “get excited about the Lions/Pistons/Spartans”, and more: “If all you do is complaint about these teams because all they do is let you down, why are you a Lions/Pistons/Spartans fan?”
If you are a fan, talk about the good or quietly weather the bad. If there is no good, or if you sick of the bad, then stop being a fan, stop paying attention to them, and find another team(s) to follow.
December 16, 2008
#8
then, as Joey Tribbiani once said,
“Jim has a moo point”
Fan is short for fanatic. We are up when our teams are playing good, and down when they are playing like crap…
When State football was going well, we had highlights, videos, stories about it….
When MSU basketball turns the corner in a couple of weeks, it’ll be the same…
I apologize on behalf of the Lions and Pistons for sucking donkey balls thus far this year.
If you want roses and blowing smoke up your ass, this site probably isn’t for you
December 16, 2008
#9
Three quick things to munch on:
1. “Fanatic” sounds a lot like “fair
weather fan”.
2. Now the Spartans are going to turn the corner? What happened to the aftermath of the UNC game?
3. Here’s some beavis, munch on this, too.
December 16, 2008
#10
Who’s complaning Jim and Annonymous? As a true fan, you stick with your team, through good and bad. Unfortunately, now, Detroit teams are in the bad and in the Pistons case, it shouldn’t be. We have a right to criticize and state opinions and facts. If you “ditch” your team during the bad state, you are not truly a sports fan. Sports are not to “quietly weather”. They are there to support and criticze. If you can’t accept these basic facts, I can’t help you. Maybe YOU should find something new to “complain” about.
December 16, 2008
#11
I don’t know this “Jim,” and quite frankly, I wonder if that’s his real name. It sounds made up.
WOI, I support your right to bitch about your teams. “Jim” would have you believe that the world is Candyland, and we are all going to slide down rainbows while eating marshmallow pie. Sorry “Jim,” that’s now the world I live in. (And I wouldn’t want to either, because I HATE marshmallow pie.)
Excuse me if I’m wrong “Jim,” but isn’t a blog a place where one can express their opinion, as WOI does a great job of each and every day. Then in comes “Jim,” a johnny come lately, as Shawn Michaels would put it, ragging on WOI. I won’t stand for it. Not today “Jim.” How about this one, “Jim.” I don’t like your negative post about WOI’s negative posts. How do you like them apples, “Jim?” You see, many of WOI’s articles are not complaints. But every post I’ve seen from you “Jim” has been. Therefore, you are a 100% complainer, as WOI in a significantly lesser percentile.
All of this clouds the real argument “Jim.” That the Pistons haven’t been very good. From what I’ve seen “Jim,” Michael Curry is a huge problem in this scenario. The guy switches his lineup every night, apparently looking for the right mix. He needs to give some lineups a chance to jell. It reaks of desparation. Don’t you agree “Jim?” He doesn’t know how to manage a game, or how to use timeouts, (a petty argument, but true). And his insistence on playing “The One-Man Press” Walter Herrman in crunch time is baffling to me.
In the end, “Jim,” I believe WOI has a legitimate gripe. But you wouldn’t know, because you’re off eating marshmallow pie.
December 16, 2008
#12
I may be wrong (but as stated, I have the right to my opinion), but I think sports are there purely for our entertainment (exceptions, of course, to those that make their living from sports); not to agonize over. Now, you may draw some entertainment from your agony over the constant disappointment of your chosen teams, but that’s not really my brand. If all your chosen team does is let you down, why is that your chosen team? When I was in college, I rooted for my school’s teams because I felt some affiliation to that team. Does any one (at least any one outside cities that only have one professional team/connection to pop culture, such as Green Bay or Buffalo) have that kind of affiliation with a pro team? Really? REALLY??? No, not really. You grew up with them. They were your dad’s favorite. You live near there. Whatever – pro sports is more and more a business and therefore more and more transient. You like a team that has your favorite player; what happens once they’re traded? What if Michael Jordan was traded to the Pistons in the mid-ninties? Would Detroit “fans” still hate him? What is Barry Sanders (who grew up in Kansas, went to school in Oklahoma, played for the Lions a little while then walked away leaving them for dead) played for Minnesota? Still your favorite ever? See, it’s dumb.
And I think I take issue with your definition of “fan”/”fanatic” to the extent you suggest that, as a fan, you sully your teams reputation by dragging its name through the mud at any chance you get. I get that you want what’s best, and think point out flaws are ways of getting them fixed. Ok, fine. Doesn’t it also undermine any and all support you otherwise provide that team? You buy a ticket to go to a game to sit in the stands and show your support; then you boo. You don’t want empty stands on national TV, because that looks bad, but you get there and boo, as if that doesn’t sound worse.
Everyone is right in that: your free to your own opinion; blogs are for discussion; fans want what’s best for the team and want to discuss what that may be; yada yada yada. BUT, Chicken Little didn’t want the sky to fall; that boy didn’t want there to be a wolf; and sometimes you just need to cut bait.
December 16, 2008
#13
Bus,
I’m going to sit on the fence on this argument. Sure, the seat my not be comfortable, but I’m going to do it anyway. Jim might live in Candy Land, but it seems like most other sourpuss fans live in Lemonheadvilletown City.
Yes, I am guilty of expecting excellence from “my teams” and a bad game/season can change my mood. Did I complain when Dick Jauron was given an extension in Buffalo? Yep. Have I complained about the Tigers passive offseason after one of the most disappointing seasons in Detroit sports history? You know it. But, on the flip side, I’ll also be the first to point out that Marshawn Lynch is beastly and Curtis Granderson is still very underrated. I’ll discuss the excitement of the home-field advantage at Ralph Wilson Stadium and the without-a-doubt good trade that landed Cabrera in Detroit. My point? Chicken Little and Negative Nancy rear their little heads far too often for too many “fans”. Now, the bad moves shouldn’t be brushed under the rug, but the day after a good move is made, it’s back to talking about all that is wrong.
All people want to do anymore is complain. Why? Because it’s easy to do.
Pistons fans have been spoiled. The Pistons have been the second best NBA franchise in the past six, seven, eight years and it isn’t close. They’re one bonehead play by Rasheed (who-duh thunk it?) from having two rings in four years. Yet, all people want to do is complain. Complain about Curry; complain about Tayshaun; complain about Iverson. Yet, their complaints aren’t even directed correctly. A wise rapper once , “misplaced hate makes disgrace to races. We under I wonder what it takes to make this one better place, let’s erase the wasted.”
Enough Tupac.
I can’t disagree that part of the Pistons’ problem is Michael Curry (partly because I don’t give two rips about the Pistons or the NBA). But, if Curry is a main component of the problem, then Dumars has to be considered the ultimate problem.
Dumars’ “legacy” as a GM has been made up two trades that fell into his lap. Two deals that can only be dubbed as lucky. You know which trades I’m referring to. Sure, the Rip trade and the Chauncey signing worked out well. But, they wouldn’t have had nearly the same impact had the Ben and Rasheed trades not been set in his lap. Since his tenure started, Dumars has drafted two players that have been above average for the Pistons (Tayshaun and Stuckey) and recently traded for space under the luxury tax. Whoop-dee-doo. However, the head coaching spot has been a revolving door, costing Bill Davidson tens of millions of dollars for a prick, a couple “underachievers” and Curry, who apparently isn’t qualified. If Davidson wasn’t paying coaches to not coach here anymore, maybe the luxury tax threshold may have been breached, thus leading to even better teams. If Dumars hadn’t played on two World Champions in this town, he might have been canned by now. Four coaching changes in eight years? Come on. Two contributing draft picks in eight years? Wow. Not to mention that he let two once-highly-coveted players rot away into near nothing (Darko Milicic and Amir Johnson).
I’ll give propers to Lydia for her “we will take them…at least it is a start” line because that line of thinking is foreign to most fans.
Sure, it has become the way of the world to dissect sports to the nth degree. Most written work and sports radio is far too negative and, to me (and to Jim too, apparently), it’s gotten intolerable to read/listen to, especially when the hate has been misplaced.
After all of my mumbo jumbo, I’ll close with this: both Jim’s and anonymous’ points shouldn’t be dismissed as quickly as they were.