Bleacher Report - Articles by Jay Wierenga

Trader Joe: Some Possible Moves Pistons GM Joe Dumars Should Consider

Jay Wierenga — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 19:05:16 -0500

It is an ominous time to be a Detroit Pistons fan.

Not only are you dealing with the first season in recent memory in which the playoffs seem like a difficult endeavor, but you are watching an entirely different team take the court this season.

In fact, due to injury, you are seeing a different team every night!

The season is still in its early stages and injuries have robbed this team of a clear way of judging the effectiveness of the roster.

However, teams are always measured by wins and losses and unless NBA commissioner David Stern steps in and gives the league a mulligan, this team is going to have to play with the hand they were dealt.

What We Know

As presently constructed, this team can not compete for a title.

You may be saying "thanks for the update, captain obvious! Any chance the Lions miss the playoffs too?", however, this is an important realization. Namely, because it means Pistons president Joe Dumars likely sees this too.

As we have seen in the past, Dumars is not shy about making big splashes, and there is no reason to think that has changed.

Also, the Pistons are not drawing as many fans as last year. While the economy of Michigan (especially Detroit) is a factor, that has never stopped Dumars before from bringing in fans.

Add to that the fact that Dumars' new boss, the late William Davidson's family, is probably not making the profits they are used to, and you have a recipe for action.

Perhaps I am wrong and they are a patient bunch. However, it seems like any new boss is looking to make their mark, and it never feels good to be at the helm when the ship starts taking in water.

We also know that this Pistons team has holes in it. Rodney Stuckey is trying hard to become the point guard that Dumars needs him to be, but with varying levels of success.

The fact is that this team is second to last in the league in assists, and that is a direct reflection of the team's point guard play.

So why does Stuckey need to be this team's point guard?

In all honesty, he doesn't, but it would be easiest if he was the "one". More on this in a second.

The front court also has holes in it, although the Ben Wallace renaissance has helped mask this fact.

Power forward Charlie Villanueva has been just about what most people expected, a scorer with limited skill at defense and on the boards (however, he has shown a willingness to at least try to defend, which has been a pleasant surprise for yours truly).

But behind these two, the front court is woefully weak. Kwame Brown is, well, Kwame Brown. He is big and he can rebound and defend a little, so he is worth keeping around, but he is not the center of the future for this team.

Chris Wilcox has been a bust so far, which is probably what most people expected. That leaves Jason Maxiell who has been, to be generous, rather inconsistent over the course of his tenure in Detroit and is likely on the trading block.

We also know that this team has a huge logjam on the wings. This has been less obvious lately with all the injuries, but I am sure this is on Dumars' mind quite often.

Currently, this Pistons team has essentially seven guys competing for minutes at two positions that should be, at most, five players deep.

Also, the three most expensive salaries on the team, by far, are among those seven, and this is also a factor. More on that as well.

A Bright Side?

The good news is that this team is not barren of talent. If you look around the league, you will see some situations that are far more dire than Detroit's.

The New York Knicks have a worse record, less talent and some terrible salaries on hand that essentially tie the hands of their general manager, Donnie Walsh.

The New Jersey Nets have yet to win a game, yet they have some likewise terrible contracts (anybody want Bobby Simmons at $11 million per season?).

New Orleans may have a stud in Chris Paul, but the Hornets have to slash salaries and they are faced with the prospect of having to trade their once untouchable star.

Detroit has no such toxic salaries. The three most expensive players, Ben Gordon, Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince, are all still in their prime and still reasonably priced in the $10 to $11.5 million a year range.

This team is also very young. Aside from Wallace and Chucky Atkins (who each make the veteran's minimum), only Hamilton is over 30.

Given Rip's reputation for physical fitness, most people would agree that he should be able to play well into his late 30's (ala former Indiana Pacer Reggie Miller).

This gives Dumars what every general manager craves ... flexibility.

With that flexibility, youth and talent, Dumars will be operating from a position of strength when other GM's start calling.

The Players

While some Detroit fans have bemoaned the injuries to Prince and Hamilton, I am sure Dumars would recognize the silver lining brought forth as a result.

Rookies Jonas Jerebko, Austin Daye and even Dajuan Summers have been forced into duty much earlier than is usually the case with Detroit rookies.

The results have been surprisingly good. Jerebko is becoming a revelation, someone that some fans are comparing to a young Dennis Rodman (insert Rodman joke here) and is easily another of Dumars' late round steals.

Daye has likewise shown flashes of brilliance, although he is likely another year and 30 pounds away from being a consistent minutes man.

The same can not be said about Summers whose name has become synonymous with "NBA body". He may be raw, but he is talented.

Additionally, Will Bynum has continued to make NBA execs salivate. With his amazing scoring ability and solid passing, he figures to be a factor in whatever moves Dumars makes.

So what might Dumars be thinking?

Well, for one, he needs to figure out his point guard situation. Given the fact that Gordon figures to be the shooting guard of the future for Detroit, he needs to be paired with a big point guard.

Call it the Allen Iverson principle; if you have an undersized shooting guard, you need a big point guard that can help defend bigger shooting guards.

The good news for Detroit is that Gordon can shoot from distance, something Iverson was inconsistent at and, as a result, forced his bosses to add "three point shooter" to the big point guard's resume.

Therefore, the Pistons' point guard of the future does not necessarily need to be able to shoot from distance.

Stuckey is big and he doesn't shoot too well from distance, but he has yet to consistently play like a point guard. As of Sunday, Stuckey is averaging a pathetic 3.9 assists per game. That is fine for a shooting guard, but terrible for a point guard.

Bynum is the only other option at point guard, but is not likely a real one considering the fact that he is so small. You could, then, pair him with Hamilton and bring Gordon off the bench, but then you leave either Gordon or Hamilton playing point guard when Bynum gets tired. Besides, Bynum is not a solid three point shooter.

So is Stuckey still the point guard of the future for Detroit? That really is the million dollar question for Dumars, and something that could create a surprise move.

Possible Moves

Likely, there are four players that Dumars is looking to possibly trade: Prince, Hamilton, Stuckey and Maxiell.

This is not to say that he is trying to get rid of any of these players, but they are the players that will be the center pieces in his next big trade due to the depth at their positions, their talent and their salaries.

Two of them will be paired together in a trade due to salaries, with a high priced player like Hamilton being paired with a low priced player like Stuckey to create a perfect mix of talent and salary matching (remember, in the NBA, salaries need to be very close in order to make a trade...you can't trade a $15 million player for a $2 million player).

Therefore, you could be looking at two different moves to bring back a point guard and a big forward or center.

Looking around the NBA, Dumars likely will be targeting two different types of teams; those that are looking to bolster their back courts for the playoff push, and those that are trying to trade potential free agents that they have no hope of re-signing.

In sticking with the latter, one name screams out ... Chris Bosh.

Think about it. Toronto is likely not in the running for Bosh's services next year when he becomes a free agent. That is part of the reason that they drafted Andrea Bargnani.

However, Dumars would only pull the trigger on this deal if he could be assured of Bosh re-signing with Detroit, and that is anything but a strong possibility.

Also, Toronto will likely have a long list of suitors for Bosh, but this trade is a possibility.

Another move that has been mentioned is a potential Carlos Boozer deal. A deal for Rip Hamilton straight up would technically work financially. It would also make Utah a serious contender.

The only question would be whether or not Boozer would fit with Detroit. A Boozer deal would definitely put Villanueva on the bench, although that might not be a bad thing. But would Boozer re-sign with Detroit? I think he might.

This would also allow Dumars the flexibility of being able to package Prince, Maxiell and Stuckey for a point guard. Would they be enough to pry Paul away from the cash-strapped Hornets? Probably not. But it could be enough to snag Monta Ellis from Golden State.

They could also elect to keep those three and draft a point guard, ensuring that their bench would be amongst the deepest in the league.

Other players that Detroit might take a long look at if they are unable to land Bosh or Boozer up front would include Tyson Chandler, Luis Scola, Hakim Warrick, Amare Stoudemire and Joel Pryzbilla. All of whom are free agents after this year and each are big men that are still in their prime.

Obviously there will be some time before Dumars pulls the trigger on a deal; injured players can not be traded, and Hamilton and Prince are still likely a few weeks away from playing.

Bet on Dumars giving his team, as constructed, a couple weeks to play once everyone gets healthy before he decides on a plan.

But the smart money is on a deal being made by the All Star break.

Who Are These Detroit Pistons? They Arent Your Daddy's, But Are They Yours?

Jay Wierenga — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 15:32:14 -0500

A funny thing happened the other day in the Wierenga household, something that undoubtedly has played out (and will play out) over the course of this NBA basketball season.

I was sitting down to watch the Detroit Pistons take on the Phoenix Suns in the early evening. While I am always excited to watch the Pistons, on this occasion I was a little more excited because it would be the first time my girlfriend would have a chance to watch the team this year.

Sara is not your typical girlfriend. She is a die hard sports fan which, coupled with her gorgeous looks, makes her quite simply the greatest woman in the world.

When we met, she was not really into sports. She had an interest in Peyton Manning (and still does), but that mainly stemmed from the fact that she is from Indiana and Manning gives that state a sort of favorite son.

She and I got together in 2003, right as the Pistons were getting swept by New Jersey in the Eastern Conference Finals. Therefore, she was with me throughout the entire magical 2004 that culminated in the Pistons first title in 14 years.

She saw the team shake off a terrible start to come together as the season moved forward.

She also saw the change in the team once Rasheed Wallace and Mike James were added.

And she was right by my side throughout the playoffs, from Tayshaun Prince's block on Reggie Miller, to the Pistons engineering their finishing touches on a great season by essentially sweeping the Lakers in five games.

She had become emotionally invested in the team, and their success became one of the building blocks of our young relationship.

The Pistons were our team, and to commemorate the season, Sara put together a poster made up of press clippings from throughout the playoffs, a poster that has hung on one of our walls in all of our adventures around the country.

As the years went on, she was there with me through all of the tough playoff losses, her zeal for the team diminishing slightly with each exit at the hands of (to us) inferior adversaries.

Last year was the breaking point. Due to our relocation to the west coast and the fact that most games were on while she was still at work, she lost track of the team.

So when she was finally able to watch a game with me this year, she asked me "who are these guys?"

Since I have been so focused on all of the Pistons moves throughout the years, I have gotten used to seeing new faces.

But to Sara, this was a whole new team. She saw Jonas Jerebko from a distance and feared that Darko Milicic had returned to Detroit. She kept looking for Rip, hoping to see at least someone familiar, but to no avail.

When she finally saw a familiar player, she got excited.

"At least Tayshaun is still there." To which I had to reply, "that's Austin Daye."

The only guy she knew was Ben Wallace, which confused her since the last time she had seen him he was Bull.

This seems to be a common occurrence. Most Pistons fans are keeping their distance from this team, fearing a Moses-like wandering through the desert of basketball mediocrity for the foreseeable future.

Critics of this team will say that they have finally fallen, and that there is a long way to go before they compete again.

Pistons apologists will no doubt smack back at these prognostications that this team has not been healthy all season and is a lot better than their record would show.

The truth is probably somewhere in the middle, although I will not get into that here (in my next article, I will discuss this in depth).

The fact of the matter is that the Pistons have endured a perfect storm of bad luck so far, and it is a terrible situation for everyone involved, from the economically challenged state of Michigan to the economically gifted Davidson family.

The Davidson family is easy to forget these days considering they do not share the same problems that most of their customers endure. However, they are dealing with a tough time as well.

Not only has the patriarch of their family, the always irascible William, passed away, but they are watching his pride and joy wallow among the dregs of the league.

This league would be a shocking sight to the man that built this franchise. The Atlanta Hawks are tied for the second best record in the league, and the Milwaukee Bucks suddenly look like a team on the rise.

The economy of Michigan is continuing to crash, and the City of Detroit just doesn't have enough money to go out and watch the Pistons. One could make the argument that even if this team was good, the fans would be forced to stay away.

Personally, I believe the fans will come back, even if the economy does not. But they have to make a connection to this team, and they still don't know what they are seeing.

They hear commentators like myself telling them that the young guys are going to be good and this team has a future. But nobody wants to wait to see talent exist in a vacuum; this is why minor league baseball games don't sell out.

And in the eyes of Pistons fans, that is essentially what they have in their town. They may go to a few games, but probably only because their is a talented individual on the other team, or because there was nothing else to do on a Tuesday night.

However, there is an opportunity here to be a part of something special. When the Pistons began their last quest for glory, they were comprised of castoffs and overachievers. There was not a flashy star that would bring in the fair-weather fans.

Instead, they were developed and cultivated and with a lot of hard work, they sprouted into a champion that was beloved in Michigan. As a result, they led the league in attendance six of the last seven years despite not having a single MVP candidate on their roster.

It was a team that allowed the fans to buy in at the ground floor and take ownership of a great franchise.

Today, the Pistons are offering that same chance. But the question is whether or not the fans buy that this team can develop into a winner.

Until the Pistons can start to put together some wins, the fans will likely continue to stay away.

And when they catch a glimpse of this team, they will ask, "who are these guys".

In order for the Pistons to answer that question, they likely are going to have to figure it out for themselves.

Growing Pains: Detroit Pistons Not Quite Ready for Showtime

Jay Wierenga — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:36:42 -0500

So far this season, the Detroit Pistons have been a hard team to figure out. Some nights they appear to be a fairly cohesive bunch, able to execute equally well with their bench and first unit.

Other nights, like Tuesday, they show how far they have left to go before they can reach elite status.

The Pistons began their first four-game trip out west with a 106-93 thumping by the Los Angeles Lakers.

For Detroit, this West Coast trip represents the first barometer for Detroit to measure itself against. Thus far this season, Detroit has played mainly second and third tier NBA teams with varying levels of success.

In order for the Pistons to become the best, they need to play the best, and there is arguably nobody better than the defending champion Lakers.

The result was not entirely unexpected for those that have been following this team.

However, teams tend to learn more about themselves from a defeat than they do from a victory, so let's explore what can be deciphered from this latest loss and why this game might be a microcosm of the Pistons' season.

Inconsistent Offense

The Pistons offense has been wildly inconsistent this season. When team president Joe Dumars put together this new cast of characters, it was understood that in order for Detroit to win games, they were going to have to put some serious numbers on the board.

For most people that examined their roster, that did not seem to be a problem.

However, through the first 11 games of the season, Detroit has only surpassed 100 points on two occasions, a loss at Orlando and a win in Washington.

Currently, this version of the Pistons is averaging 93.3 points per game, which ranks 26th in the league. That wouldn't be so bad if there were 100 teams in the league, but sadly there are only 30.

There are many reasons for the offensive struggles, not the least of which being injuries and the fact that many of the Pistons are not only playing together for the first time, but are playing NBA basketball for the first time.

First and foremost, the front court has essentially lived or died by Charlie Villanueva. When the season began, most people figured this would be the case as Detroit would likely be starting either Ben Wallace, Kwame Brown or Chris Wilcox next to Charlie at center, none of whom are exactly Hakeem Olajuwon in the post.

Villanueva is scoring a solid 15.4 points per game, however, the Pistons need to get at least that many from him in order to compete in this league. In the Pistons five wins this season, Villanueva has averaged 18 points, including games of 30 and 25.

In the Pistons six losses, that number drops down to 13, including a sad two points in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

If Detroit is going to win as presently constructed, Villanueva needs to step up every game and shoulder the load offensively.

But he's not the only reason for the offensive struggles.

Where Are The Dimes?

When Detroit traded star point guard Chauncey Billups last year, everyone knew that the assist numbers would go down. They were basically left with only one true point guard, Will Bynum, on the roster.

However, the drop has been precipitous. Actually, it has been a torrential downpour.

In the last full season Billups wore a Detroit jersey, they averaged 22.3 assists per game, which was 10th best in the league. Last year, that number dropped to 20.6, putting the Pistons in the middle of the league.

This year, that number has fallen to 15.7, which puts Detroit next to last in the league.

The biggest culprit is the fact that Detroit still only has one true point guard on the roster.

Too often, the Pistons have gone about their business on offense without proper penetration. When a perimeter player breaks down the defense, it usually leads to easy points for interior players.

Considering the offensive limitations of those interior players (save for Villanueva), that penetration is desperately needed. But so far, starting point guard Rodney Stuckey has been unable to get to the rim consistently.

This has not been due to a lack of trying, but rather because opposing teams do not yet respect his jump shot, allowing their guards to play off of him. Until Stuckey shows an ability to consistently knock down a 15 to 20 foot jumper, he will continue to be played this way.

However, Detroit does have another starting guard that can knock down shots from that distance and further.

Ben Gordon so far has lived up to his reputation as a scorer, checking in with 22 points per game and shooting a respectable 45 percent from the field.

However, too often he is the first and last stop on offense, a trend that will need to change somewhat if Detroit is going to get better ball movement.

Gordon has shown himself to be a much better ball handler than advertised. If he can learn to get his teammates more involved, especially by driving to the hoop, he could single-handedly improve a lot of what ails the Pistons offense.

Help On The Way?

Speaking of ailments, when will Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince return?

The Pistons have been without their two mainstays from their championship season in 2004 for most of the season.

All indications are that Hamilton is still several days away from returning. However, Prince may be gearing up for a return any day now, as evidenced by the fact that he traveled with the team for their four game road trip.

These two have been sorely missed by their mates, and have contributed mightily to the team's struggles.

Hamilton provides not only another scoring option, but he also tends to get his teammates involved by driving to the hoop, something that Gordon would be well-advised to mimic.

Prince will also help in this department as his ball handling ability, post play and unselfish nature will immediately this team.

Prince's return in particular will allow the Pistons to return forward Jonas Jerebko to the bench and back to a role better suited to him at this point in his career: energy player.

The Pistons have been forced to lean unfairly hard on Jerebko during Prince's absence. The Swedish import has done an admirable job, but he is just too limited offensively to help a unit that is in desperate need of firepower.

Defense, Anyone?

Times really must be changing with the Pistons. I have gone this far without mentioning the word "defense."

This is with good reason, as the Pistons have been pleasantly surprising on the defensive end, checking in at a respectable sixth in the league with only 91.5 points allowed.

This is due to several factors.

First, early reports of Ben Wallace's demise were, as it turns out, drastically mistaken. Not only has Wallace contributed much more than expected statistically (nine rebounds in 29 minutes a game), but he has strengthened the Pistons team defense by providing an intimidating inside presence.

Furthermore, he has shown a knack for mentoring, helping Villanueva to shake the label of "defensive liability" from his resume. The pride that Wallace takes in shutting down opponents is contagious, and Villanueva seems to have caught that bug.

And while Jerebko is unquestionably green on offense, the edge he plays with defensively is quite a pleasant contrast from the last European player Joe Dumars drafted (I know, it's a low blow to mention this and Billups in the same story, so I will just refer to him as D.M.).

But this isn't to say that everything has been ideal on defense. Kobe Bryant (as he always tends to do) discovered a major weakness with Detroit's defense on Tuesday night when he routinely posted up perimeter players.

Without Prince, you can be sure to see this on a much more regular basis as NBA coaches tend to pick up on weaknesses in a millisecond.

Look for Gordon, Stuckey and Bynum to get burned by this in the next few games, especially Wednesday night against Brandon Roy and the Trail Blazers.

It will be coach John Kuester's responsibility to combat this with new defensive wrinkles.

However, until Prince returns, the Pistons just don't have the personnel to avoid this technique.

Moving Forward

Brace yourselves folks, because the next few games could get ugly. This is easily the toughest stretch so far for the Pistons, and it doesn't figure to get easier for awhile.

Wednesday night they play in Portland against the surging Trail Blazers. Portland has been playing great and they will be extra motivated considering their recent winning streak was stopped by the red-hot Atlanta Hawks in overtime and they will be eager to get back on the winning track.

After that, Detroit travels to Utah where they haven't won since 2002 and then on to Phoenix to play the scorching hot Suns.

When the Pistons finally make it back home, they will be greeted by the Cleveland Cavs before finally getting a break by playing the Clippers at home.

When it is all said and done, they could be heading into that game on a six-game losing streak.

But these types of trials and tribulations tend to make a team stronger, and with the Pistons featuring such a young group, this figures to be the case.

So far, the Pistons have been an exciting team to watch, and that figures to continue, especially when Prince and Hamilton return.

The key will be for the fans to stick through the tough times, because something tells me that something may be brewing in Motown (more to come on that later).

To The Iverson Apologists: There Is No A.I. In Team

Jay Wierenga — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:35:20 -0500

On Saturday, Allen Iverson was officially granted a leave of absence from the Memphis Grizzlies to tend to a "personal matter".

To speculate on what those personal matters may be would be inappropriate, but one can not help but notice the timing.

Iverson's absence coincides perfectly with his dispute with Memphis coach Lionel Hollins over his role on the team.

For Memphis fans, they are now getting a taste of what Detroit Pistons fans went through last year- an upset Iverson.

While I can not speak for Grizzlies' fans, I can only imagine what they are feeling because Detroit fans felt it last season when Iverson was essentially shut down for the year when he refused to embrace his role as sixth man.

My advice for Memphis fans is simple...count yourself lucky!

This is one of the rare occurrences in which a subtraction nets an addition.

The Memphis Grizzlies are an up and coming team. They are blessed with a very talented young core comprised of the uber-talented O.J. Mayo in the back court and a front court packed with a smooth-scoring Rudy Gay, a promising Hasheem Thabeet and a gritty Marc Gasol who will remind people more of Chris Kaman than "Big Country" Bryant Reeves.

First off, I have absolutely no clue why Memphis would bring in Iverson. Perhaps the owner was looking for a way to sell tickets, but that is really the only reason one could possibly come up with.

This notion seems flawed based on history. Forget for a second that Iverson has lost a step and has not shown an ability to improve a team's chances of winning, even while in his prime (more on that in a minute); Iverson has not shown a ability to put fans in the seats.

Over the past five seasons, Iverson has only once played on a team that was in the top half of the league's attendance rankings, and that was last year in Detroit.

Sure, Detroit led the league in attendance. But Detroit has led the league in attendance six of the last seven years, and actually saw their attendance drop with Iverson's presence, and Denver saw their attendance rise without him.

Addition by subtraction.

Secondly, there was no way Iverson was going to start in Memphis, and if nobody told Iverson this, he should have known it already. There is no way he is that delusional to think that he would fit in the starting lineup.

Who, exactly, would Iverson start over? Currently, the two starting guards are Mike Conley and Mayo.

Granted, Conley is no sure-fire NBA star. Personally, I think Conley is a borderline NBA starter. However, he is a true point guard, and nobody (Iverson included) believes A.I. can play that position.

Therefore, it seems Iverson would have to replace Mayo. Mayo is not only bigger, stronger and more athletic than Allen, but he is a better defender, shooter, and at this point in his career, scorer.

More importantly, he is younger. Mayo just turned 22 and has a very bright future ahead of him. Iverson is 34 and a half, and is coming off of an injury-plagued season that saw him unable to turn the corner like he once did.

Furthermore, Mayo has the size needed to guard other shooting guards. Iverson has always needed to be paired with a bigger guard to hide his inability to play position defense, especially against bigger opponents. In Memphis, he would be paired with Conley, who is actually about the same size as Allen.

Can you imagine a back court of Iverson and Conley trying to cover Kobe Bryant, LeBron James or even Rip Hamilton?

By cutting bait with Iverson, it allows Hollins a chance to see a young and improving Marcus Williams spend more time on the court and gives the team another roster spot that could be used on any number of available shooting guards.

Addition by subtraction.

We are nearly half way through this article and we haven't even mentioned Iverson's attitude!

Last season, Iverson, who has been accused of being a malcontent in the past, was finally placed on a veteran team comprised of professionals playing for one of the classiest franchises in the game.

Essentially, it was the first time Iverson would be on a team that did not need him to do everything in order for the team to win.

Team President Joe Dumars saw this as the perfect fit. Not only would he be getting one of the league's purest scorers, but he would be getting a player known for toughness that could give his aging franchise a new way to win. What could go wrong?

In a word, everything.

Iverson's laziness on defense was contagious, and not only did his presence on offense not improve the team, but instead his inclusion spurred regressions in most of the Pistons' players individual numbers.

A.I. over the course of his career has been known for a certain style of play.

On offense, he needs the ball in his hands for nearly the entire shot clock, allowing him to feel his way through the defense and attack it at its weakest point.

On defense, he gambles on steals and gets overpowered by bigger players.

As a result, he needs to be surrounded by certain types of players. He needs shooters that will spread the defense, a big point guard that can play defense and does not need to shoot, and big shot blockers up front that can cover up his gambling tendencies on defense.

Most of all, he needs a team to be a supporting cast that will not raise a fuss when Iverson takes 3/4 of the team's shots.

The team he joined in Detroit was not built that way. As a result, Iverson's style of play was stamped all over Detroit's team statistics.

In the year before Iverson joined the Pistons, Detroit was in the top 10 in the league in assists, the middle of the pack in scoring, and tops in team defense.

With Iverson, the team dropped to the middle of the pack in assists, 28th in scoring and gave up over four more points per game on defense!

Interestingly, with Iverson, who is known for his ability to grab steals, Detroit actually swiped one less steal per game than they did without him.

Furthermore, Iverson became a distraction for a veteran team, and when he finally was shut down due to his inability to accept a lesser role, the Pistons season was lost.

This year's Pistons are not as talented, but they are already on pace for a better year than they had with Iverson, record-wise, and their fans are no longer subjected to Iverson apologists and their constant rose-colored assessments of their hero.

Addition by subtraction.

This brings us to Iverson's apologists.

First off, let me get this on record. I was not an Iverson hater. I was actually one of the few Pistons fans that embraced the trade that brought in Iverson in exchange for, among others, Chauncey Billups.

I, like Dumars, believed that the Pistons had gone as far as they were going to go with the Billups-led core, and that the team would need to be rebuilt following one last shot at a winner.

The addition of Iverson as a one year rental helped clear up salary cap space, putting Detroit in a position to add some younger talent in subsequent seasons.

I also thought that Iverson would allow Detroit to win in a new way, as one of the biggest problems the Pistons had in the playoffs were their long scoring droughts and a tendency to depend way too much on jump shots and not enough on getting to the hoop.

Of course in the back of my mind I feared that it could also go in the other direction, but I am an optimist by nature.

What I did not expect was the throng of followers that Iverson brings with him.

On a daily basis, Detroit fans were subjected to these "fans" and their unabashed loyalty to "the Answer". If the Pistons won a game, it was because of Iverson. If they lost, it was because they weren't letting A.I. be A.I.

And heaven forbid anyone says anything bad about their leader.

For a fan base that is loyal only to the team, and not individual players, this was strange to witness. Perhaps Pistons fans are unique (although I don't think this seems likely) in the sense that we honor our team above the individual players. While we love our players, when they leave we don't leave with them.

This, for me, is what is wrong with the league and the way it markets itself. Commissioner David Stern learned the wrong lesson from the league's hay day in the 1980's when the Celtics and Lakers dominated.

Apparently, Stern believes that it was just about Magic Johnson versus Larry Bird.

Sure, that was the centerpiece of the rivalry. But the truth is that it was more about the teams. The Lakers were comprised of high-flying finesse players that could run their opponents right out of the gym, while the Celtics were scrappy shooters that never went away.

There was also a cultural difference, with the Lakers representing the glamorous Hollywood and the Celtics representing a hard-nosed town of blue collared workers.

This spawned other rivalries, like the Celtics and the Knicks and Pistons, the Lakers and the Trail Blazers and the Pistons and the Bulls.

Perhaps a more vibrant free-agent culture added to the marketing plan, but Stern and his people began shifting away from team marketing into individual marketing.

The centerpiece, of course, was Michael Jordan. But Jordan was special for any generation, and his team's were always good anyways.

However, beginning in the 1990's, the league began focusing on a new crop of players, coinciding with Jordan's absence from the league, and Iverson was the new centerpiece of the league's push to promote players over teams.

This marketing idea is flawed by its shortsightedness. The sad truth is that an NBA player's career is quite finite. Players tend to only stick around the league for basically 10 years, give or take a few.

Therefore, if the league is successful in hooking the public on one particular player, they will lose that fan when his career is over. The league saw this phenomenon in the 1990's when Jordan retired and television ratings took a huge hit.

Instead of taking the hint and promoting its teams, they instead doubled-down on the new generation of stars.

But what happens when that crop leaves? The numbers will likely take a hit and the league will be forced to count on a new generation of fans.

If they had instead focused on the teams, those previous generations would have stuck around and the numbers would only increase due to the inclusion of new generations being added to an already strong base.

Instead, the NBA finds itself now on the third tier of sports popularity, barely edging out newcomers like MMA fighting and MLS soccer and oldies like Nascar and the NHL.

That is why I do not hate Iverson apologists, but rather pity them for being sucked into a marketing campaign that preyed on them.

I also don't view them as fans, which is why I will be glad to no longer have to sift through their comments on Pistons boards...something that Memphis fans are no doubt just now encountering.

Addition by subtraction.

Lastly, this brings us to the legacy of Iverson.

Personally, I think he will be thought of as something between "Pistol" Pete Maravich, "Tiny" Nate Archibald, World B. Free and Adrian Dantley.

He was a curiosity, a scorer, a talent and likely Hall of Famer.

But was he a winner?

If you look at Iverson's career, the answer doesn't appear to be yes.

In the year before Iverson was drafted by Philadelphia, the 76'ers were 18-64. In his first year, they improved only four games. In fact, they only made the playoffs once they secured Larry Brown as their head coach.

In Iverson's 10 full seasons in Philly, the 76'ers made the playoffs six times, and only made it out of the first round four of those six times. Therefore, 60% of his career in Philly his team did not even make it to the second round of the playoffs.

The one season that Iverson reached the NBA Finals he played brilliantly. He was motivated by the fact that Philly had tried to trade him in the off season (ironically to Detroit), and he was eager to prove them wrong. He responded with an MVP season.

But that season was certainly the outlier in his career, and in the first full year without Iverson, Philly improved from 38-44 in their last year with A.I., to 40-42 and made the playoffs.

Conversely, Iverson's new team, the Denver Nuggets, did not see a marked improvement with Iverson's arrival, continuing to lose in the first round of the playoffs.

However, when Iverson was traded to Detroit, the real story emerges. Denver went from the West's first round punching bag to a team that was two games away from the NBA Finals.

On the flip side, Detroit went from a 59 win team that had reached the Eastern Conference Finals in six straight years, to a sub-.500 team that lost in the first round in a four game massacre versus Cleveland.

Obviously, there are always other factors at work. But the fact remains that for all of his individual success, Iverson has never won an NBA Championship.

Standing here at what most likely is the end of his NBA career, the fact remains that Iverson represents the face of the "Me-First" generation of the NBA. He is essentially a cautionary tale of what happens when individual greed trumps the collective good of the team.

And those left behind are forced to face the truth of what his absence means for the future of the league...

Addition by subtraction.

Changing of the Guard?: The Significance of Detroit Pistons' Victory Over Magic

Jay Wierenga — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:44:06 -0500

There was something different about this victory.

Sure, the Detroit Pistons have had the Orlando Magic's number over the past couple seasons, going 9-3 (not including Tuesday night), including a five-game win in the playoffs two years ago.

However, the difference was that this was not one of those Pistons teams.

Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince, the last remaining (continuous) players from Detroit's 2004 title, did not suit up.

While Rip has been out the last few games, Prince's absence may have surprised you—especially if you tuned in late and confused Austin Daye with Prince (believe me folks, it will not be the last time!).

So what is the significance of their absences?

For one, it ended Prince's ironman streak of consecutive games played at 496 (second-most among active players) as well as his streak of 439 straight games started (most in the league amongst active players).

However, the real significance is that it showed fans a glimpse of the new Pistons—and it was exciting!

First off, it is important to not lose our heads over this game. Orlando played poorly for most of the night, missing wide open shots and not taking advantage of offensively weak lineups consisting of the likes of Chucky Atkins, Jonas Jerebko, Chris Wilcox, and Kwame Brown.

Add to that the fact that their own "Man of Steel," Dwight Howard, was either injured or in foul trouble for most of the game, eventually fouling out in the midst of crunch time.

Nonetheless, much of Howard's foul trouble was the direct result of aggressive play by guards Will Bynum and Rodney Stuckey (obviously there were some examples of just dumb play by Howard, including fouling Brown 12 feet from the basket, where he would have had a better shot at punting the ball into the hoop than shooting it, but I digress).

Stuckey had a very good game, playing within himself and finishing with 20 points and nine rebounds. However, Stuckey played much of the night within a three-guard rotation that saw him playing mostly off of the ball.

This leads to the real key to the night; the play of Will Bynum.

We may look back in a few years and decide that this was the night that Pistons fans fell in love with their team all over again and that is due in large part to Will Bynum.

For those that are not familiar with Detroit teams, Bynum represents what Michigan fans love about sports.

He is a gritty, tough, undrafted player that was playing overseas just a handful of months ago. He embodies a sort of "never say die" credo that Detroit fans hang their hard hats on.

Detroit fans are a different breed. They tend to never fully accept high draft picks in basketball or even football. They tend to always expect more than they get.

A perfect example of this would be Grant Hill. Pistons fans liked Hill, but they never really embraced him the way that other teams embraced high profile athletes. If you look at their career paths, you could compare Hill favorably to Vince Carter, who was loved in the early part of his career by Toronto fans.

Another perfect comparison is that of Stuckey and Bynum.

On any particular day, you can drop in on a Pistons forum and see fans ripping Stuckey apart, while they elevate Bynum. Pistons fans expect greatness from Stuckey because he was a high draft pick and they root for Bynum to beat him out because he has fought so hard to get here.

The significance of Tuesday night's win against Orlando was the fact that those two players actually complimented each other beautifully.

Bynum showed his true grit, getting poked in the eye and then returning to the game only to play with even more reckless abandon, slashing to the hoop, and propelling himself into the likes of Howard and others twice his size.

Meanwhile, Stuckey took advantage of Bynum's superior ball-handling by playing off the ball, where he appears to be more comfortable.

Add Ben Gordon and his 23 points to this mix and the Pistons back court looked pretty good.

Furthermore, the frontcourt also showed toughness. New fan favorite Jerebko finished with five rebounds and no points, but played with a lot of energy and determination.

Ben Wallace continued to show that he may have found the fountain of youth in Detroit, grabbing a game-high 10 rebounds to go with a couple blocks.

Even Brown showed a little toughness, mixing it up with Howard on more than one occasion.

So what does this game tell us? Are these Pistons for real?

Obviously, it is way too early to know for sure. On the bright side, the Pistons were not plagued by a terrible third quarter like they had been in their previous games. However, they dodged quite a few bullets and the Magic left a lot of points on the floor.

At the very least, Tuesday night's game showed Pistons fans that the future might not be as bleak as they once believed and that this team may have some players worth rooting for this year.

And for a fan base that had grown weary of a team that seemed content to rest on the laurels of a title won half a decade ago, it was a refreshing exhibition of heart.

The Detroit Pistons Have Issues: What to Watch For This Season

Jay Wierenga — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:21:38 -0400

As the NBA season fast approaches, the Detroit Pistons and their fans are in unfamiliar territory. For the first time since the beginning of this decade, the Pistons are not considered to be serious contenders for a championship.

Here is a look at some of the issues facing this team.

What is the Biggest Challenge Facing this Pistons Team this Season?

Far and away the biggest weakness on this team is their front court defense. In the past, it was easy to forget about the interior because Detroit typically had one of the strongest post defenses in the game.

This just is not the case anymore. For all the headaches he provided, Rasheed Wallace always supplied an underrated ability to disrupt opposing offenses in the post. Wallace is a cerebral player on defense, and he had an uncanny knack for playing angles and using his length and wingspan to close passing lanes.

Additionally, the loss of Antonio McDyess will surely be felt. McDyess was sneaky strong and knew how to put himself in a great spot to grab rebounds. Certain players just have a nose for the ball, and McDyess definitely fits that bill.

With both players gone, you are losing a tremendous amount of defensive intelligence and leadership.

The players that will take over their roles will be a collection of veterans that have not lived up to expectations or are past their prime. Furthermore, none of them have been vocal leaders. This is not a good combination.

Chris Wilcox is a physical specimen, but his basketball IQ leaves a lot to be desired. He will flash glimpses of promise, but is not much more than a William Bedford clone. Look for him to find his way into Kuester's doghouse with lackadaisical play.

Kwame Brown, for all of his weaknesses on offense, is a solid, on-the-ball defender and should benefit from Ben Wallace's expertise. Look for him to take a major step forward defensively. However, he has shown a lack of concentration throughout his career, and that likely will continue at points.

Wallace has little left in the tank, and is capable of not much more than 10-15 minutes of position defense. His athleticism was his biggest strength, and he just does not have that anymore.

Jason Maxiell is as strong as an ox, but his lack of height will really hurt him against taller players. Maxiell is a throwback to the days when undersized power forwards like Charles Barkley could find a niche in the game. Today's NBA is geared towards long and lean, leaving Maxiell as a round peg in a square hole.

The real wildcard of this bunch is rookie Jonas Jerebko from Sweden. So far during the preseason he has shown an ability to play at a high energy level for long stretches of time, and does not appear to back down from contact. If he can develop into a David Lee type of player, his energy could be infectious.

However, he is incredibly raw, so expectations may have to be somewhat tempered.

Realistically, you are looking at a Detroit front court that has a lot of holes and will look bad on some nights. Initially, the help-side defense will be nonexistent, and that will result in some early season shootouts. The key will be whether or not they buy into first-year coach John Kuester's system and gel together as a unit.

Additionally, the effectiveness of this unit could hinge on whether or not the back court is able to keep opposing players out of the paint and ease the pressure on the front court.

What About Charlie Villanueva?

What about him? Villanueva should supply some fireworks on offense, but defensively he will provide little more than a warm body.

Athletically, there is no reason to believe he can not become a solid defender. However, thus far in his career, he has treated the defensive end of the court as a breather before he was able to get back on offense.

Great defensive teams are not necessarily a collection of great individual defensive players. Rather, they are a cohesive unit that has bought into playing great defense. Before coming to Detroit, Chauncey Billups and Rip Hamilton were not considered great defenders, but they developed into tremendous team defenders.

Can Villanueva become a great defender? Probably not. But lightning could strike, and he could become a strong team defender.

What Should Piston Fans Expect from Austin Daye?

So far during the preseason, rookie Austin Daye has looked good. He has shown glimpses of why he was drafted so high in the draft. He has serious range on his jumper, which coupled with his tremendous length, should make his shot nearly un-blockable.

Additionally, his ball-handling ability looks a lot better than what I was expecting, meaning he could begin his career as more of a shooting guard than a frontcourt player.

Defensively, he could be a pest, much like Tayshaun Prince was in his first few years. Remember when Prince came into the series against Orlando and disrupted nearly every shot that Tracy McGrady took? Imagine adding a few inches to that wingspan and the havoc that that would have created.

However, Daye is incredibly weak and is likely at least a year away from being a solid contributor. At the NBA combine, he was one of only two players unable to do one bench press of 225 lbs.

A more likely scenario would involve rookie DaJuan Summers playing himself into the rotation before Daye. Summers has a more NBA-ready body and could provide a nice backup to Prince, provided Prince returns (more on that later).

Is Rodney Stuckey Ready to Take the Next Step?

He better be.

Last year, there were few aspects of the season more disappointing than the regression of Rodney Stuckey. After showing flashes of brilliance in the playoffs the previous year, most people assumed Stuckey was primed for a breakout year.

I know team president Joe Dumars thought so. As a result, he shipped starting point guard Billups to Denver in exchange for Allen Iverson.

There are a lot of theories out there as to why Stuckey regressed. Some believe he was just a flash in the pan and is really a shooting guard that can't shoot. Others think he stepped into an un-winnable situation and did not help things with his inconsistent play.

Put me into the latter category. Stuckey may actually be ill-equipped for point guard duties, but I am going to give Dumars credit for knowing talent. Dumars has likely forgotten more about what it takes to be a point guard than most people will ever know.

Granted, Dumars was not a point guard, but he was a combo guard that was capable of playing the point, and I think that is what Stuckey will develop into. Point guard is the most difficult position for a young player to learn. The best example of this just left town.

Billups began his career as a combo guard that just could not figure out how to become a point guard. But over time and with the help of Larry Brown, he eventually figured it out and became one of the game's best.

Kuester was an assistant coach under Brown the year that Brown helped transform Billups into a star, and I am sure he will bring some of the lessons he learned during that season into this situation.

My guess is that Stuckey will take a major step forward this year, provided he can consistently make a 15-20 foot jump shot to keep defenders honest. That, more than anything, will help determine his effectiveness.

What Do You Think Could Be the Biggest Strength of this Team?

The bench. This Pistons bench, if used effectively, could really be the difference between the playoffs and the lottery.

Offensively, they could provide a huge lift to this team. I could envision shooting guard Ben Gordon and point guard Will Bynum coming in late in the first or early in the second quarter and just torching defenders.

Add to the mix energy guys like Jerebko and Maxiell and this could be a very exciting bunch.

There are two keys to this. First, Gordon's ball handling. When Gordon was first signed, one of the biggest complaints I heard from Chicago Bulls fans was that he was terrible with the ball.

So far during this preseason he has looked good with the ball in his hands. If he is able to protect the ball and create offense, he will really open up possibilities for Kuester to use him throughout the game.

The second key to this unit will be defense. With the type of athleticism at his disposal, Kuester would do well to remember the full court trap defense that Brown used down the stretch in their year together in Detroit en route to the title.

Furthermore, a trapping defense will help make up for a lack of size on the bench and will capitalize on their high motor guys.

Essentially, energy could become the trump card of this team.

How Do You See this Offense Taking Shape?

The real key to this offense will be Villanueva. If he can stay healthy and play with his back to the hoop, he could really open up this offense. If he stays on the perimeter like Wallace used to do, this will be a long season.

By establishing a strong interior offense, it will allow Stuckey room to penetrate and create offense for perimeter players like Rip Hamilton and Prince, as well as easy hoops for limited front court players like Wallace and Brown.

However, something just does not feel complete about this team from an offensive standpoint, which could set up...

Is this Roster Complete?

In all honesty, I really don't think so. As the season approaches, the Pistons are hardly satisfied with the roster in front of them. Personally, I think Dumars is waiting for other teams to come to this same conclusion.

There are a few possibilities out there. Utah could decide that their front court is too full, and they want to boost their back court. Toronto could decide that they are not going to re-sign Bosh, and therefore they may begin to dangle him as trade bait.

There are a number of different possibilities out there, and probably quite a few that are not visible right now.

The bottom line is that in order for Detroit's offense to work, they need a three-point threat in their starting lineup. Gordon is that threat. However, with all that happened last year, Hamilton can not be put on the bench again. Since neither player is capable of playing the point, one of them has to ride the pine, and that has to be Gordon.

However, Hamilton is not really a three-point threat. Therefore, in order for him to be effective, he needs to be paired with either a small forward or a point guard that can hit the three. Neither Stuckey nor Prince really fit that bill. So somebody has to go.

Stuckey likely will not bring back the type of player that Detroit needs, namely a post presence.

Many people around the league are beginning to think that Prince may be overrated, so he likely will not bring back a strong player, either.

Therefore, Hamilton is the most likely possibility.

The rumor that will not die is that Utah could trade Carlos Boozer to Detroit for Hamilton. Some people believe that this move would help both teams.

I see how Hamilton helps Utah. Plug him in next to Deron Williams and all of a sudden the Jazz look like world-beaters.

But where would Boozer fit in Detroit? Obviously, you can not start Boozer and Villanueva together. Defensively, it would be a nightmare, as neither would be able to guard an opposing center and neither would be able to guard an opposing small forward.

So Villanueva would come off the bench, which would provide the offensive punch that they would lose by Gordon moving into the starting lineup.

But then what? Boozer would become a free agent after the year, and he likely will not want to re-sign in Detroit when he could go anywhere. Also, you just committed major cash to Villanueva, so does it make sense to relegate him to the bench for his entire contract?

Then again, a Boozer deal would free up cash for next summer, giving Dumars contract flexibility that he craves.

Who knows? But the smart money suggests that a deal will be completed in the near future to unclog this back court logjam.

Predictions?

Based on what the rest of the East looks like right now, and what the Pistons roster currently consists of, the playoffs are definitely a possibility for this team, but not by much. The margin for error is incredibly thin for this bunch.

Best case scenario: Stuckey takes a major step forward, the defense gels, and the bench provides a boost, leading the Pistons to the sixth seed in the playoffs.

Worst case scenario: The players reject Kuester's defensive plans, the offense sputters with too many redundant parts, and the Pistons finish 11th in the East, firmly in the lottery.

Most likely scenario: A little bit of both. Stuckey progresses, but the defense looks shaky. The bench impresses, but the Pistons are too perimeter-oriented on offense and they find themselves in a dogfight for the 8th and final playoff spot, which they win.

So You're Saying There's a Chance!

Of the playoffs, absolutely! The thing to remember here is that Detroit is rebuilding on the fly. To completely re-shape your roster and avoid missing the playoffs in the process would be a major coup for Dumars and this franchise.

We are witnessing a new team being formed, and my suggestion to you as fans is to temper your expectations and enjoy the ride.

Good Riddance, but Leave the Banners

Jay Wierenga — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 21:47:32 -0400

To say the least, this article is belated.

Nonetheless, just because time has passed does not mean that the wounds are any less present or visible.

A couple years ago, the Seattle Supersonics (or "Sonics," if you're nasty) left their hometown amid a dispute over a dilapidated arena.

Loyal Sonics fans were crushed, and the league in general lost a great set of fans.

Gone forever were the throngs of supporters that helped make it "reign" during an era that included a once high-flying Shawn Kemp and a "glove"-ly Gary Payton.

Earlier still (than my recollections go, at least) were the days in which Gus Williams torched opponents and big Jack Sikma loomed larger than a Pacific Redwood en route to their title in 1979.

But their banner has no home in Seattle; rather, Oklahoma City claims that honor.

This phenomenon is not new to basketball, or major sports in general. The Los Angeles Lakers claim titles won when their moniker was appropriate, back in Minneapolis. The original Cleveland Browns' titles have their home in Maryland, not alongside the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame.

This happens all of the time. And it begs the question: Is this right?

In all honesty, this really had not crossed my mind until recently.

I was having a conversation with the Northwest's version of "The Schwab," a man by the name of Erik DeLong. This Portland, Oregon regional treasure of sports knowledge recently asked me, "Should the titles won by the Lakers in Minnesota really count?"

Given that I had not really contemplated this, I gave him a quizzical look.

DeLong continued, "I mean, are there a bunch of old guys in Minneapolis still rooting for their Lakers?"

Obviously, everyone has an angle that they are coming from, and Erik is no different.

Despite being a Portland resident, he is a life-long Boston Celtics fan. As such, he has a vested interest in the bragging rights of his favorite squad, and the Lakers are beginning to move within the conversation of the Celtics when it comes to all-time supremacy.

However, the more I thought about it, the more it started to bother me.

When a team moves away from its home, a big piece of the community dies. Obviously there are financial ramifications. However, psychologically the wound may be even bigger. And by bringing the banners with them, they are essentially adding insult to injury.

Think about all of the cities that have been scarred by teams relocating. Who can forget the Baltimore Colts leaving in the middle of the night, in the process crushing an already heartbroken town? Or the new Baltimore team being brought from one of the original NFL towns?

All those years, all those moments in which the fans poured their hearts out for their team are essentially wasted. The shifts of work missed in order to watch their team. The money spent on tickets rather than rent that may have resulted in evictions is completely thrown out the door. The bar fights started in order to prove fanhood, all for naught.

For me, it always reminds me of the scene in Children of Men in which Clive Owen's character asked his art-collecting cousin why he would keep art that in 100 years nobody would be around to see.

Wasted time, plain and simple, gone the way of the Hartford Whalers.

The bottom line is that teams should not be allowed to relocate banners and titles to new cities, plain and simple.

Obviously the owner of the team has rights. It is their team and they can, technically, do what they please with it. But they should not have the right to showcase their fans' hard work like a trophy of tears.

Finally in The Right Layne?: Stafford Lifts The Lions in One Fell Swoop

Jay Wierenga — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 18:21:50 -0400

On Sunday at around 1pm Pacific time, I felt a slight breeze out on the West Coast in my small apartment in Portland.

And while the fact that I live in the Willamette Valley may have figured into this breeze, I know in my hear that the real cause was a collective sigh of relief coming from my old home in the Midwest.

That's right, folks, the Detroit Lions finally won a game!

While Monday morning quarterbacks (like myself) can argue over whether or not it was all about Detroit winning or Washington losing, the real story was about a rookie quarterback winning over a city.

Hold on east-coasters, I am not talking about your beloved Mark Sanchez and his inevitable (and premature) enshrinement in Canton, Ohio.

Sure, Sanchez and the Jets have been impressive and his head first dive into the end zone may have won over his teammates; but to those in Michigan, the real story was about another rookie and his impressive run.

Early in the first half, the Lions found themselves in a third and long situation. Upon receiving the snap, Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford scanned the field only to find his receivers well covered.

For Lions fans, this has been a common experience. On countless occasions, we have seen our newly anointed franchise quarterbacks in a make-or-break situation.

During the Chuck Long years, this would have resulted in a costly sack and a punt.

During the Andre Ware years, this would have led to an even costlier interception, if not a pick six.

During the Scott Mitchell years, this would have led to either a sack by a man half his size, or an interception that preceded the 6'6" 250 lb weakling being run over by a cornerback, leading to an injury.

During the Joey Harrington years, this would have led to a completion that fell five yards short of the first down marker.

In a lot of ways, how Stafford handled this situation would be the first opportunity for Lions fans to size up their young gunslinger.

So, instead of launching an ill-advised pass, the usual pocket passer fled his confines and decided to try to make a go of it on his own.

At one point during his scramble, Stafford appeared to be in trouble, but with a fairly slick hip shimmy, he sprung past the defender and passed the first down marker.

This alone would have been impressive. However, Stafford wasn't done. With a full head of steam, the signal caller kept going and instead of safely sliding, he offered himself up to the defender and took his hit like a man.

Instead of nursing what should have been the hardest hit of his young career, the youngster jumped to his feet and pleaded with the non-sellout crowd to acknowledge their team.

Needless to say, nobody needed his gesture; the crowd was already out of their seats.

In that moment, the fans had their new quarterback, and a new hope.

However, this time, it feels different. This time, the new franchise savior had actually earned his applause.

During the previous quarterback tenures, the loudest applause that each received was when they were first introduced.

Sure, there were some good times with many of his predecessors. Harrington in particular was at the helm of some impressive wins. But the fans never connected with those quarterbacks, and they never cheered them with unfettered hope and optimism that was rooted in something real.

Often times, when his predecessors made a big play, they followed it up with a costly mistake.

Instead, Stafford fired a 21 yard pass to Bryant Johnson for the Lions first score of the game.

So much for following the trend.

Stafford right now is the most exciting thing to happen to the Lions since Barry Sanders retired. He has a canon for an arm and just enough swagger, arrogance and perhaps ignorance to buck the trend of the past 50 plus years of quarterback futility.

Before you jump all over me and rightfully point out that this was just one game against a very flawed Washington Redskins team, lets point out some very obvious points to temper our optimism.

The Lions are still a long way away from being a contender. They are playing in a division with three playoff-caliber teams in Green Bay, Minnesota and Chicago. Additionally, the Lions have many tough non-divisional opponents on their schedule.

Add to this the fact that their defensive line is still very thin, their secondary is a mess, and their offensive line leaves a lot to be desired. This team is still likely going to lose more than twice as many games as it wins this year.

However, for the first time in years, Lions fans can actually see a real NFL team with a coherent plan for the future. Make no mistake about it, this team is finally heading in the right direction behind the best quarterback to man the position in Detroit since Bobby Layne.

Before this season began, I was one of the biggest opponents of starting Stafford from day one. I believed that the Lions lack of talent combined with a brutal schedule and the usual blunders that come from starting a first year quarterback would add up to a nightmare that could have irreparably stunted the development of Stafford and set the Lions back another five years.

And while Stafford has definitely made some of those blunders (and likely will make many more before it is all said and done), he has shown something special in his first three games for this franchise. In a word, he has shown heart.

One of my favorite expressions is that life is not about the destination, but rather about the trip.

Only time will tell whether this story has a happy ending. But if this past Sunday is any indication, it sure will be one heck of a ride.

The Future Is Now for Stafford and the Lions, But Is It the Right Move?

Jay Wierenga — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 16:03:40 -0400

The Detroit Lions have named their starting quarterback, and in doing so, they have made the decisive move on declaring their path towards the future.

They even picked the appropriate day for doing so—Labor Day.

For most Lions fans (two words when viewed together tend to suggest irony), this in itself hits the nail on the proverbial head.

For Matthew Stafford, this marks the day when the real hard work begins.

And for Lions Head Coach Jim Schwartz, it represents a curiosity at best.

So, why did Schwartz do it?

Before the preseason began, Schwartz confronted all the questions regarding his starting quarterback by insisting that the starting quarterback job will go to the player that represented the Lions best opportunity to win.

This obviously makes sense. By starting the best player, you are not only putting yourself in a better position to win, but you also are sending a message to everyone in your locker room that finances will not determine who gets the playing time and who doesn't.

In any type of team environment, this is a very important message. It strengthens morale and gives the coaching staff credibility.

So why did Schwartz go back on his word?

For anyone that watched the Lions in the preseason this year, it was obvious that Daunte Culpepper had a better feel for the Lions' offense. Given his past success in offensive coordinator Scott Linehan's offense while he was in Minnesota further underscores this point.

During the preseason, Culpepper completed 65 percent of his passes, throwing no interceptions with a quarterback rating of nearly 90.

Stafford had a middle-of-the-road 55 percent completion rating, he threw an interception in each of his four preseason games, and finished with a dismal 53 quarterback rating.

Furthermore, he showed the same type of mistakes that are appropriate for a rookie to make. He forced passes, held onto the ball too long, and often did not feel the defensive pressure until it was too late.

This is not to say that Stafford won't make a great quarterback someday. But it does mean that Culpepper is the safer choice—for many reasons.

Okay, full disclosure time. I have been a vocal critic of the Lions selection of Schwartz as coach and I was equally against picking Stafford as the No. 1 pick.

When the Lions were on the verge of signing Schwartz, they put together a press conference in which the media was permitted to ask the prospective coach some questions.

During this question and answer session, Schwartz joked that it was important for the Lions to finally find legendary Lions quarterback Bobby Layne's replacement.

This is what I said at the time regarding Schwartz and this strategy:

This is not the correct answer, and Lions fans know it. What is surprising is that Schwartz should know it too. So why was the answer Schwartz gave to the media regarding the No. 1 pick so troubling? Because he has seen first hand what must happen in order for a team to win, and it is not a flashy first-round quarterback.

Keep in mind that this was before the Lions selected Stafford No. 1 overall, but also keep in mind that Stafford went to the same high school as Bobby Layne in Texas.

It was, and continues to be, my contention that the best move for the Lions is to build up their offensive and defensive lines first, and everything else should be addressed after that.

If you can stop the run on defense and run the ball on offense, you will win in this league. Instead, if you wish to go the route of winning with a quarterback, that quarterback needs to be incredibly special.

Over the past decade, here are the quarterbacks that have won the Super Bowl: Kurt Warner, Trent Dilfer, Tom Brady, Brad Johnson, Ben Roethlisberger, Peyton Manning and Eli Manning.

Of those, only Warner, Brady and Peyton Manning were unquestionably superstar quarterbacks whose success directly effected how far their team went.

All of those teams had dominant offensive and defensive lines, and could run the ball at will.

The main point is that the teams that win it all are able to impose their will, most commonly by running the ball and stopping the run.

But I digress.

So I have not been wild about this strategy in general since it was floated seven months ago.

But now that the Lions have gone in this direction, it is important to make the most of the situation, and throwing Stafford to the wolves is not the right answer.

Since the Lions drafted Stafford, they have not substantially improved either their offensive or defensive lines.

On offense, they have added depth at tackle and Gosder Cherilus has one more preseason under his belt, but it is still essentially the same line that gave up 52 sacks last year, second worst in the entire league.

Their defensive line has actually taken a substantial step back, and their are gaping holes to fill at defensive tackle and end.

True, the Lions have improved their defensive backfield and secondary. However, without a strong defensive line, linebackers tend to get eaten up and cornerbacks tend to get burned.

Just ask Ray Lewis and the Baltimore Ravens who were destroyed once their defensive line was decimated by injuries, and revived once that line was rebuilt.

The point is that this Lions team is not built for immediate success, and only truly special quarterbacks can be thrown to the wolves and live to tell about it.

A few months back, I wrote an article that analyzed each of the first quarterbacks taken in their drafts over the past 30 years.

Based on history, the safest bet is for the Lions to sit Stafford for his first year, but if Stafford is one of the great ones, it is best for him to start right away.

So by that logic, it would seem like starting Stafford is a huge gamble that could lead to greatness. Therefore, by all means start him.

But this is not the point. The point is that Schwartz stated that the best quarterback on the roster would start, and Culpepper has proven himself to be that player.

Therefore, you have to ask yourself why Schwartz is doing this.

Obviously, it could just be a case of injury. Culpepper has an issue with his toe that required eight stitches. If it is just an issue of health, that makes sense.

However, Stafford was not just named the season-opening starter. It appears that Stafford is now the man in Detroit.

So this leads to the possibility that this decision is based on economics. Stafford is the crowd favorite, the new darling of Detroit, and perhaps management stepped in and thought that this could sell more tickets.

If this is the case, it shows that this is really not Schwartz's team, but rather management is pulling the strings.

Sadly, we have seen how this management team has fared.

Besides, this does not seem to make sense along those lines either. If you bring in Culpepper and allow him to try, you are in a no-lose situation.

He appears to be the quarterback that is most prepared to play, therefore he gives you a better shot at pulling off a few upsets and winning some games.

The worst thing that could happen is that he fails, and then you can always turn to your franchise savior, the young Stafford.

By starting Stafford, you are guaranteeing that you are looking at this team as being in a rebuilding and educational year, and therefore the signing of middle linebacker Larry Foote and the acquisition of outside linebacker Julius Peterson seem to be questionable at best.

These guys are not long term answers for the Lions, but rather one year mercenaries brought in to help you win ball games now.

By starting Stafford, it's unlikely the Lions are going to win ball games now, and your young quarterback is going to take his lumps for a below-average football team at best.

You can call it the Matt Ryan-Joe Flacco effect. Those two quarterbacks bucked the historical trend of first year signal callers suffering in their first year.

However, those two quarterbacks came to teams with strong running games and even stronger defenses.

The Lions have neither, and as a result, Stafford will likely follow in their unsuccessful footsteps.

Instead, Stafford will lead a team that has lost 17 straight games into one of the league's toughest schedules. This, folks, is more than just a recipe for disaster.

This is leading lambs to the slaughter.

If great leaders are born through adversity, now is Stafford's time to prove his mettle.

And now is the time for Lions fans to stock their antacids.

The 86 Board Presents: Who Should Go No. 1 in Fantasy Football?

Jay Wierenga — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 16:53:21 -0400

(The 86 Board is the fantasy sports edition of my column. To those of you unfamiliar with the inner-workings of the restaurant industry and it's unique vernacular, the "86 board" is the list of items that a restaurant is out of. In some restaurants, people also get put on this list if they are heading on their way out, or just on somebody's, how should I put this, other list. Therefore, sometimes things get 86'ed. Throughout the fantasy football season, you will be able to catch 86 Board articles that will be devoted to fantasy, and regular articles devoted to everything else. Think of it as my fantasy alter ego. Enjoy!)

The season is finally upon us.

Fantasy football represents the best interactive sporting experience in all of athletics.

For many of us, fantasy season is much more important than the actual sport of football.

Okay, maybe that is just people that don't live in an area that has a football team, or because of fate or the cruel sports gods were unfortunate enough to be born Detroit Lions fans and are unable to root for any other team due to a misguided sense of loyalty (okay, maybe that last one is just me).

The point is that fantasy does more for the sport of football than anything else since cold beer.

It makes the casual fan invested.

As my yearly investment begins its renewal, and my primary draft fast approaches, I am confronted by the age-old question of who should be the No. 1 pick.

Every year, there is a consensus about a can't-miss No.1 pick.

And seemingly every year, the consensus is wrong.

This year, those in the know have anointed two choices for No. 1, Adrian Peterson and Michael Turner.

How those two became the choice seems to be pretty straight forward. They both had the best numbers among running backs last season.

However, nothing in football is consistent. Gone are the days of Barry Sanders rushing for over 1,100 yards every year like clockwork. Even he abruptly retired.

Nothing is written in stone, and football fate is the cruelest of all mistresses. As such, we are bound to be victims of her whims.

However, I am a firm believer that fate rewards those that buck the trend. At the very least, it is important for us to know what we are getting into, rather than just mindlessly following the herd.

Who knows, perhaps those in the know floated their two consensus picks in order to throw off everyone. After all, most prognosticators belong to drafts as well.

You may be asking yourself, what makes me any different?

The difference is that not many people read my articles. In fact, half the members of my draft have no clue I write for Bleacher Report. As such, I have the luxury of purging my mind of fantasy knowledge without the overt threat of having it come back and bite me.

Additionally, if I am right, I can always dust off this copy next year and get in all my "I told you so's" with a credible source at my finger tips.

Who knows, maybe I am just an altruistic giver looking to brighten up someone's season.

The Problems With the Favorites

First off, I am not trying to discourage anyone from drafting Peterson or Turner. If you have a first round pick, each of these guys will likely make a good choice.

What I am trying to do is determine who is the best fantasy pick. In order to do that, some people need to be disqualified.

Adrian Peterson is a special talent. His combination of explosiveness and vision has not been seen since Eric Dickerson. Even LaDainian Tomlinson has to tip his hat to Peterson. The kid can just flat-out play.

However, I am not sold on his durability. Last year, Peterson surprised everyone by running 363 times for over 1,700 yards. He played in all 16 games and showed minimal wear and tear.

But Peterson is not used to running that many times and not paying for it down the road. Only once before had Peterson rushed more than 240 times in a season, and that was his freshman year in college in which he rushed 339 times for over 1,900 yards.

In his two subsequent years in college, he never topped 220, missing significant time with injuries.

In fact, injuries shortened his rookie campaign as well, limiting him to 14 games and 238 carries.

But to jump from no more than 238 carries in a season since his freshman year to a career high of 360+ is a huge jump, and I have a feeling it will tax him this year.

Secondly, the Brett Favre situation in Minnesota will have an effect on him.

Sure, he still has a very powerful offensive line, but he now has a gunslinger in the pocket that will throw interceptions. Because of those interceptions, the defense will likely spend more time on the field, changing the time of possession in a way that will automatically eat into Peterson's carries.

Don't believe me? Just ask Thomas Jones. With the addition of Favre, he lost 20 carries from the previous year. While 20 carries may not seem like a lot, figure that most backs shoot for 20 carries a game. Therefore, he lost a game. (In the name of full disclosure, Jones did make up for this with a much higher touchdown total, so in the long run he had a much better season...but the point remains).

Lastly, Peterson is on a better team playing in a weak division. While all three of their division opponents improved in some way, Minnesota is far and away the best team.

As a result, it is very possible that they will have plenty of games that will be over by halftime, leaving Peterson to watch from the bench.

Furthermore, they will likely wrap up their division before the fantasy playoffs begin, which could lead to Peterson being used sparingly against a weak Cincinnati team in the first round and against a tough defense in Chicago in the fantasy championship.

This all being said, I could also see Peterson getting more goal-line chances, boosting his touchdown total to around 12 or 14.

My prediction: if he stays healthy, he should have a year like his rookie campaign with about 1,300 yards and 12 touchdowns.

This leads us to the other consensus pick, Michael "the Burner" Turner.

First off, I love this kid. I drafted him last year in the fourth round and he paid off in a major way, leading me to a championship tie (I know, I know, a tie is terrible...but we didn't have a rule on the books, something we remedied this year.).

However, there is a dubious number to remember with Turner, something you are likely to hear over and over this draft season: 370.

Football Outsiders originally brought up a theory (and I learned about it through ESPN The Magazine) that observes that running backs that reach 370 or more carries in a season nearly always see their numbers plummet the following season.

Don't believe me? Listen to some of the others to eclipse this number: Jamal Anderson, James Wilder, Christian Okoye, Terrell Davis, Barry Foster and George Rogers. Including Turner, this number has been reached or passed 28 times by 21 different backs.

In my own research, I have found that only Eric Dickerson seemed to be able to substantially buck this trend, rushing 390 times as a rookie and 379 times as a sophomore. But Dickerson was a gazelle that ran away from defenders, not through them like Turner.

The best comparisons I can draw to Turner would be Larry Johnson, Jerome Bettis, Okoye, Rogers and Anderson. Each of them were 230 lbs or bigger and were known for running through contact.

After reaching 370 carries in a season, Johnson went from 416 carries to 158 carries, with a drop in fantasy points from 334 to 99.

Bettis went from 375 to 316, with a fantasy drop from 232 to 146.

Okoye went from 370 to 245, with a fantasy drop of 221 to 125 points.

Rogers went from 378 to 122, with a fantasy drop of 258 to 74.

The biggest drop was Anderson, who went from a then-record of 410 carries to a sad 19 in year two, with a fantasy drop of 304 points. Ouch!

So is history going to repeat itself? Unless Turner absorbs less punishment (which seems unlikely), he will likely be looking at a precipitous fall.

That being said, if he falls to me in the second round, he is mine. But I just can't justify a first rounder on a guy with this kind of history out there.

Quarterbacks

Okay, so now that we have disqualified those two backs, who do we take?

First off, people need to de-program themselves from the "running back in the first round" mantra. With the development of two- and three-back systems, a three-down back that carries the ball 30 times a game is going the way of the Dinosaur.

Therefore, we need to open up the discussion to quarterbacks and (I dare say) wide receivers.

As far as QBs go, Tom Brady is going to have a huge year. If you know anything about Brady, you will know that he loves adversity. When he is told that he can't do something, he will do it and do it well.

I would be shocked if he didn't throw for at least 40 touchdowns and 4,000 yards.

Of course, if we mention Brady we have to mention Peyton Manning, although I could see Manning dropping back to the pack slightly. Look for the new coach to try to establish the run, and therefore Joseph Addai may become a viable first rounder again.

Drew Brees is another QB that should grab your attention. Brees put up super-human numbers last year, and he will likely do it again.

With a healthy Marques Colston and Lance Moore, not to mention a stronger running game (more on that in a minute), he could throw more than 40 TDs. If you are currently on the clock, he should definitely be on your mind right now.

Kurt Warner is the last QB that should be considered this high. Although he is old and brittle, he has defied the odds at every stage of his career and he is returning all three of his wideouts from last year. However, they will likely run the ball more, and Beanie Wells will eat up some of the red zone touchdowns.

Personally, I will not touch Warner with a 10-foot pole ever since I drafted him No. 2 overall several years ago when he played for St. Louis, right before he promptly went down the toilet. Never again.

Wideouts

As for the guys that receive those passes, a first-round pick is a huge gamble for a wideout. Wide receivers are the only player on the field that cannot truly decide their own destiny. They are dependent on so many factors in order to get the ball.

Therefore, only those with amazing physical tools, and the penchant for reaching pay dirt should be considered.

Right now, there are three wide receivers that are worthy of a first-round selection, but each is also worthy of No. 1 overall status: Larry Fitzgerald, Randy Moss, and Calvin Johnson.

Okay, if you watched the playoffs last year, you know that Fitzgerald is a no-brainer, and anyone that saw what Moss and Brady did the last time they were paired together knows the same.

So let's move on to "Megatron" Johnson. Last year, Johnson did the impossible; he was a top performing wide receiver on a team without a quarterback, consistent running game, or a stable second receiver.

Every week, Johnson performed. In some cases, he was double-, triple-, or even quadruple-teamed, but because of his freakish physical attributes, he performed. In some cases, he only caught two passes, but he managed to make them touchdowns.

Last year, I drafted Johnson in the fifth round (after Roy Williams was drafted), and he was one of my most consistent performers.

This year, he will have some help. The Lions, though likely to still be terrible, will have a better offensive line, running game and second and third wideouts.

Additionally, a slim and rejuvenated Daunte Culpepper will be reunited with offensive coordinator Scott Linehan. The last time Culpepper played with Linehan, he threw 39 touchdown passes, most of which to a tall, freakishly athletic man by the name of Randy Moss. Enough said.

Furthermore, the Lions defense is still terrible, meaning that Detroit will have to out-gun their opponents, and that starts and ends with Johnson.

No other wide receivers should be picked in the first round, let alone No.1 overall. Some will argue that Andre Johnson is worthy of being in the conversation, but I am not wild about the health of quarterback Matt Schaub. And this year the Texans don't have Sage Rosenfels to back him up.

That being said, Johnson does have a very weak schedule coverage-wise, and therefore he could be a great value in round two.

The Rest

So who else does that leave us with? Obviously, there are some running backs that would be worthy of the No. 1 pick, even if those two don't reside in Minnesota or Atlanta.

One back that figures to have an amazing year is Maurice Jones-Drew. Look for MJD to have sick, Turner-like numbers this season. The only thing standing in his way is defensive production and quarterback play. If all things are equal, he will take it to the house.

Another back poised to tear it up this year is Matt Forte. Some people believe that new QB Jay Cutler will eat into his numbers, but I think that Chicago's defense is poised to prove that they are the real show in town, meaning that the offense should control time of possession.

Brandon Jacobs is another back worthy of top pick consideration, although I think that he could eventually blow a tire this season. Big backs just don't last that long, especially really big backs like Jacobs.

And although many people will think I am crazy, I just do not buy Steven Jackson, DeAngelo Williams, or even LaDainian Tomlinson putting up big numbers. Don't get me wrong; they should all be second-round picks at the latest, but there are just too many question marks.

Jackson has never lived up to his breakout year in 2006, and he is an upright runner that is a bruiser, so injuries will always be an issue.

Williams had a fluke year, and Jonathon Stewart should eat into some of his carries this season.

And what can you say about Tomlinson? Two words: thirty years. Tomlinson just turned 30, and that is the year that all backs begin their decline. LT just started a little early.

There are a handful of other backs that will be solid first-round picks, but all have their red flags. These include Marion Barber (Felix Jones will get some burn), Steve Slaton (can he really hold up?), Brian Westbrook (how will the wildcat affect him?), Ronnie Brown (Ricky Williams anyone?), and Frank Gore (hard to be effective in a one-dimensional offense).

In my mind, there are two or three running backs that could be sleeper No. 1 picks.

Clinton Portis is a stud, and has proven himself in this league, so it is weird to think of him as a sleeper. However, Washington will be a better team defensively and Jason Campbell will be eager to prove himself in his second year in the same system.

As a result, Portis could see his numbers sky-rocket. At the very least, the Redskins have a fairly easy first half schedule, so Portis may be just what you need to hit the ground running.

My second sleeper first-rounder is Ryan Grant. Grant quietly put together a very good sophomore season. The only knock against Grant last year was consistency and touchdowns. This year, both should improve.

The Green Bay defense is eager to bounce back from a disappointing season, and they are just young enough to do it.

Furthermore, quarterback Aaron Rodgers is poised for a big year, and he is surrounded by possession receivers that lack a lot of red zone physicality. As a result, Grant should see his red zone chances increase.

My super sleeper pick this year is Pierre Thomas. If you take nothing else from this article, take this to heart. Thomas is going to have a monster year in New Orleans.

Upon taking over as the starting back last year in week eleven, Thomas scored in all but one of his remaining six games. Additionally, he averaged nearly 80 yards per game.

This season, the Saints will likely put up excellent numbers again, and Thomas will again be the primary back. Sure, Reggie Bush will take some of his carries, but Thomas will eventually push Bush to a scat back role.

If Thomas were to continue to play the way he did last year, he could be looking at 1,300 yards and 16 touchdowns if his averages remain the same.

Add to that the fact that he averaged a touchdown receiving every other game during his starting turn last year, and you could be looking at a player with a Brian Westbrook-like upside with five less years and plenty less wear.

So there you have it, all the information you need to arm yourself for your first two rounds.

Lucky for you, you are the only person in your draft to see this article, so you can spend your remaining days and hours before your draft coming up with a funny team name. Might I suggest Mercy Flush?

Okay, I am not a funny guy and that name needs work. Hey, I can't do everything for you!

Why Does Portland Only Have the Blazers?

Jay Wierenga — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 18:31:34 -0400

What do Cincinnati, Tampa, Oakland, St. Louis, Kansas City, Atlanta, Miami, Minneapolis, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland all have in common?

Each of these cities have both a Major League Baseball and a National Football League team.

Also, each is a smaller city than Portland, Oregon.

I am a Michigander living in Portland. As such, I will volunteer that I am somewhat ignorant of the situation, but I have been perplexed by one thought since I moved to this wonderful Pacific Northwest oasis.

Why does Portland only have one major sports franchise?

This is a question that I think many people that have visited this city have asked themselves as well as those they encounter.

It is a question that people have asked me since I moved out here last September.

In all honesty, I can not even venture a guess.

Typically, there are some easy and straight-forward reasons why particular cities do not gain major franchises.

Usually, it is tied to the following four questions: Does a city have enough people, do those people have a sports passion, does the city have enough corporate clout, and is the city cheap enough to make a major franchise profitable?

The answer to the first question would have to be a resounding "yes." The city of Portland is the 29th most populous in the United States. With a population of over 550,000 people, it is larger than the above mentioned cities, and is nearly twice as big as Buffalo, and is five times as large as Green Bay.

Furthermore, it is roughly the same size as Boston, Baltimore, Denver, and Washington D.C.

Can you imagine any of those cities being without a football or baseball team?

The answer to the second question may not be obvious to those that have never visited Oregon, but this is an area that is busting with sports passion.

Before I moved to Oregon, I had some pre-conceived ideas of the people in this area. I pictured a mix of hippies and urban snobs as well as tattooed bums and rich philosophers. Above all, I pictured an area that was so post-modern that they were essentially post-sports.

Obviously, I have found much of that which I assumed to find. All of these stereotypical Portlanders are definitely found in abundance.

However, one over-riding characteristic that they all possess is that they love their Trail Blazers!

Never before have I encountered the type of people that I encounter here that are sports fans. Sure, Michigan has many of the same types.

Michigan has their hippies and urban snobs, but in the Midwest they are simply called "lazy" and "wimpy" (as well as some not too b/r friendly names), and they do not follow sports.

Additionally the ski bums, outdoorsmen, and stoners that all exist everywhere else all exist here in Portland, but they too are Blazer fans.

Quite simply, the only unifying characteristic that these people share (aside from their inability to cope with extreme weather of any kind) is their love for their Blazers.

Perhaps this goes to a sense of counter-culture that the Blazers seem to embody. Perhaps it is because they are the only show in town as far as sports goes.

However, I get the sense that it is just your basic civic pride. The Blazers are "their team", so they support them. This is reflected by the Blazers attendance numbers last year. Portland ranked third in the league with an astounding 20,524 average people per game.

Obviously the Blazers' recent resurgence has a lot to do with that, but around town it was evident that the people really cared about their players. On countless occasions I have been treated to tales of player encounters that are always positive.

When Channing Frye was recently let go, a co-worker of mine seemed bummed. When I reminded him that Frye had averaged an underwhelming four points per game, he countered, "yeah, but he was just such a nice guy."

There is an un-tapped artery of sports passion hidden here in the pacific northwest, one that is natural and pure. They love their players because they care about their town.

During the "Jail Blazer" days in the 1990's, the fans stayed away and refused to endorse their antics. Although this is a very politically liberal area, values matter more than one might expect, and the people did not want that to be the face of their city.

Furthermore, it does not appear to be just a case of basketball love that fuels Blazer-mania. There is a tremendous passion for local college teams such as Portland State and the annual Civil War Game between Oregon and Oregon State is always a hotbed for sports fanaticism.

This is a town that is itching for their sports jones to be scratched, and a MLB or NFL team would truly unlock that sentiment.

Furthermore, there are quite a few transplanted midwesterners that are eager to leave behind their terrible sports teams and come in on the ground floor of a new franchise (I'm talking to you, Lions fans).

The third question, does the city have enough corporate clout, is a good one. The answer to this is a four letter word—Nike.

Nike, the Beaverton, Oregon based mega-conglomerate is essentially a suburb of Portland. Granted, there are no other Fortune 500 companies in the state, but if you are going to only have one, might as well be one of the biggest.

Additionally, nearby Washington and California house dozens more major corporations that could easily get involved in what would be a major cash crop.

This brings me to the last question—would a major sports franchise be profitable in Portland?

The easiest way to answer that question is with three little words—no sales tax.

That's right, there is no sales tax in Oregon. So when you go to a store and buy a shirt for $19.95, you get a nickel back from your $20. That may not sound like a big deal, but for a major company that is looking to back a franchise, that makes business a lot easier.

Furthermore, Portland is a beautiful city that is relatively inexpensive by cost of living standards. They have a revitalized downtown that is very safe by big city standards, and a mass transit system that would make some European cities jealous.

And while the state of Oregon has seen some rough economic times due to the housing bubble burst (Oregon is a major lumber hub), the city of Portland has remained surprisingly upbeat economically.

So why hasn't it happened?

For a short time, the MLB had a flirtation with Portland. Before Washington was awarded the Nationals, there was mutual interest between the two sides.

Baseball in particular is in need of Portland from a logistics standpoint. The American League West, where a potential Portland franchise might land, is the only division in baseball with only four teams. A Portland team would bring much needed symmetry to the American League.

Football would be a little more tricky as the league currently has a perfectly symmetrical eight divisions with exactly four teams in each division. Unless a Portland investment group were able to pry the Rams or 49ers from St. Louis or San Francisco, it seems unlikely that the league will come knocking.

Sadly, it seems that a NFL team in particular would do the best in Portland. However, baseball would be a welcomed silver medal for the city.

So, will it happen?

My guess is yes. I just have to hard of a time imagining this city with only one major sports team. It has just too much to offer.

A promising potential sign of optimism is the fact that Portland was recently awarded a Major League Soccer team. The new team will begin play in 2011.

Personally, I think that the added revenue and attention received from a new team will just wet the appetites of the population, and as a result you will see a major push over the next decade to land a bigger fish, likely Major League Baseball.

An even more likely scenario may emerge in which the MLB comes knocking and the city of Portland refuses to answer. Because for all the attention and money that could result from a potential collaboration, many Portlanders may be unwilling to share with the rest of the country a lovely little city with just the right amount of charm and idiosyncrasies.

To Start or Not To Start Stafford: A Historical Analysis

Jay Wierenga — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 15:30:02 -0400

As training camp rapidly approaches, many eyes will be directed at a certain team in southeastern Michigan that went winless a year ago.

It's not because people outside of Michigan suddenly began to care about the Detroit Lions.

It's not even because the country is eager to mock the hapless Motor City kitties.

The real reason that millions of people will be watching the Detroit Lions with eager anticipation is because of John Matthew Stafford.

Stafford, the quarterback with the Hollywood smile and the rocket arm has already begun to captivate the country, and he has yet to even scratch the surface of his marketing appeal.

Stafford was the number one overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, and with that selection, and his ridiculous contract, comes tremendous pressure and expectations.

Not only are the Lions and all of their fans expecting a winner, but the sports world is looking for the next big superstar quarterback.

Stafford is expected to become the next John Elway, and for a Lions franchise that has only had one Pro Bowl signal caller in the last 40 years, he is expected to be the next Bobby Layne (who, as you are probably well aware, went to the same high school as Stafford, although it is believed to be in different years).

So how do the Lions put Stafford in a position to succeed?

There are two conflicting ideologies regarding the development of a quarterback.

The first school of thought, from here on referred to as Option A, is that a quarterback needs to be groomed for a year or two before he can compete for the job. He essentially needs to hold a clipboard and learn the ropes before he is given the keys to the car.

In addition to helping a QB learn the ropes, it also is thought to help ease him into a psychologically brutal situation.

They second school of thought, from here on referred to as Option B, is that a quarterback needs to just be thrown into the game, sink or swim, and learn on the fly.

The logic is that the experience of jumping right in will toughen the player up. It also allows the team to find out right away if they made a solid investment or not.

In recent years, both sides have had their success stories (Carson Palmer for Option A, Matt Ryan for Option B) and their horror stories (Alex Smith for Option A, David Carr for Option B).

In the name of full disclosure, I should point out that I have always been a proponent of Option A, sitting a quarterback for a year or two.

I have argued that a team that is bad enough to need a new quarterback probably has a multitude of holes and throwing a young player into that position is essentially like throwing a child to the wolves.

However, given my background is psychology, I know that it is important to not rush to judgment, but rather to gather evidence before jumping the gun.

So I set out to analyze both options. In order to do so, I enlisted the help of Pro-Football-Reference.com to check the players and stats.

My aim was to objectively analyze the best way to develop a pro football quarterback.

The Study

Over the past 30 years, the pro quarterback has evolved along with the game. I noticed this when I wrote a story discussing the top 10 quarterbacks of all time.

What I noticed was that the game has moved dramatically towards aerial attacks, and as a result, quarterbacks are judged much more harshly than ever before.

For instance, Terry Bradshaw, largely viewed as one of the best QBs to ever lace up a pair of cleats was horribly ineffective by today's standards. He only had four seasons with more than 20 touchdown passes and only four seasons with a QB rating over 80, none above 88, and finished with only two more touchdowns than interceptions for his career.

Therefore, I decided to focus on just the quarterbacks drafted over the last 30 years.

Furthermore, in order to have a fairly reasonable pool for evaluation, I limited my study to the first quarterback taken in the draft, not just the first round. This is an important distinction as some quarterbacks that were the first to be drafted were not taken in the first round.

I assessed whether or not a quarterback was given the starting job in his first season. In order to be fair to injuries and ineffectiveness, a quarterback was judged to be the season's starter if he started over 50 percent of his team's games.

The toughest part to gauge is what constituted a successful QB versus a bust. Basically, I judged it the way that Detroit fans will judge Stafford.

Detroit fans want Stafford to be a Pro Bowler and/or win a Super Bowl, and so therefore a QB is judged to be successful if he makes a Pro Bowl team and/or wins a Super Bowl.

This does leave some gray area, since, for instance, Tony Banks won a Super Bowl with Baltimore, but if Stafford's career follows in Banks's footsteps he will undoubtedly be considered a bust.

(Truth be told, Banks lost his starting job to Trent Dilfer and therefore it should be noted that Banks does not receive credit for being the Super Bowl winner and therefore is not considered a success in this study).

In studying these quarterbacks, I found some really interesting stories.

For instance, in the last 30 years, a quarterback did not go in the first round four times: 1984, 1985, 1988, 1996, and one of those years, 1988, a QB was not taken until round three—Chris Chandler.

In 2000, a year in which the first QB was not taken until No. 18, Marc Bulger and Tom Brady were taken in the 6th round and are considered to be miles better than any QB taken before them.

In fact, there were four times as many QB's taken in the sixth round as there were in the first and second combined!

In 1996, Tony Banks was the first QB taken, a second rounder, and three of the seven rounds were completed without a single signal caller.

More amazingly was that in 1988, six of the 12 rounds were without QBs, including four of the first seven!

The Results

Over the past 30 years, 15 of the first 30 quarterbacks taken were judged as being successful.

(Note: Matt Ryan is being judged as a success based on his stellar rookie year and the fact that the Lions would be ecstatic if Stafford played as well as the Atlanta Falcons QB. However, if we instead removed Ryan due to his inexperience and moved back one year to include 1978, we would still have the same amount since Doug Williams was a first year starter and won a Super Bowl, making him a success).

The lucky 15 are as follows:

Matt Ryan

Vince Young

Eli Manning

Carson Palmer

Michael Vick

Peyton Manning

Steve McNair

Drew Bledsoe

Troy Aikman

Chris Chandler

Vinny Testaverde

Jim Everett

Randall Cunningham

Boomer Esiason

John Elway

Of those listed, seven (Ryan, Young, Peyton, Bledsoe, Aikman, Chandler and Elway) were all first-year starters.

Of the rest, six were second-year starters and two (McNair and Cunningham) were third-year starters.

So it would seem, just from a quick glance, that it only matters slightly whether or not to employ Option A over Option B.

However, I wanted to dig a little deeper since not all of these QB's are judged equally. For example, Peyton Manning should be judged as being quite a bit more successful than Chandler.

To delve deeper, I gave each QB one point for each Pro Bowl appearance, and an additional point for each Super Bowl victory. Again, the QB had to be the SB winner, so Bledsoe does not receive a point for the ring that Brady brought him.

Based on this deeper scoring system, 12 QB's had two or more points.

Of those 12, only five were first-year starters. Therefore, it seems as though the margin is growing slightly.

However, if we delve a little deeper, and separate the successful from the very successful, something different happens.

Of the six quarterbacks with four or more points, essentially the cream of the crop, four were first-year starters: Peyton Manning, Bledsoe, Aikman and Elway.

The two that were not, Randall Cunningham and Boomer Esiason are generally considered good, but not transcendent quarterbacks. Each had a handful of good years, but neither was a Super Bowl winner.

Of the 30 quarterbacks that were the first at their position drafted in the last 30 years, there are three that are easily considered to be head and shoulders above the rest.

Elway, Aikman and Peyton Manning each won at least one Super Bowl, and Elway and Manning each won an MVP award.

All three have a couple things in common. Each was a first-year starter and each was the first overall pick in their respective drafts.

The Lesson

So what does this tell us about what the Lions should do with Stafford?

Well, it appears that the safer of the two options would be Option A, which would entail the Lions to sit Stafford for the first season and allow him to learn from a veteran quarterback, and avoid getting sacked worse than Rome.

This should lead to about a 27 percent chance that he will be a successful quarterback in the NFL. Many Lions fans will agree that this would be a major coup considering their lack of success with QBs.

However, if the Lions want a chance at a very successful QB, a chance at greatness, they have a 10 percent chance of Stafford reaching those heights if he starts immediately, if the past 30 years acts as a guide.

Personally, I still think that Stafford should sit during his first season. This has less to do with Stafford's draft status than it does the situation the Lions are in

I feel that Daunte Culpepper gives the Lions a better chance to win today.

However, the Lions are in a position to take a chance right now, and although it is a high-risk chance, it gives the best shot at a high reward.

Remember, Stafford already has one thing in common with the top three quarterbacks on this list—he was the first player selected overall. If the Lions choose to start him right away, he would have both things that each of the three have in common.

However, so did Tim Couch. You make the call.

John Kuester: The 'Ship Builder Is At It Again

Jay Wierenga — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 17:39:59 -0400

Leave it to Joe Dumars, he will always keep you guessing.

And if you are a citizen of the Detroit Pistons nation, you likely will be second guessing.

Dumars has come under fire from the folks in this small yet not so humble country. To these folks, the question "what have you done for me lately?" is less a saying and more a mantra.

To the outside observer, these fans are viewed with a sense of bewilderment. Out here on the west coast, I am constantly bumping into basketball people that cannot quite understand the mind set.

"How can they be unhappy with him? They are always contending."

It is a strange phenomenon, but Detroit fans are a strange bunch when it comes to their Pistons. The reasons are too many to get into here, but the short answer is that they have a king-sized inferiority complex.

Largely, this stems from a belief that they are constantly looked over and passed when the league's top teams are discussed.

The Current Situation

The Pistons new hire, in a way, re-enforces this feeling.

Many fans view this hire as a second-rate choice that signals a precipitous fall from the spotlight.

In a way, they are right. Dumars said as much when he discussed the reasoning why he did not want to hire Avery Johnson.

Basically, Dumars said that his team was not in a position to hire a $4 or $5 million head coach. Essentially, he said that his team is in a position similar to when they hired Rick Carlisle before eventually firing him to bring in Larry Brown.

To the ears of Pistons fans, that sounded a lot like a surrender. A surrender of the rightful place of their team at the top of the NBA food chain. All that scrapping and clawing that they did, all of the respect that they gathered over the last decade was forfeited.

That new mantra of theirs is now ringing in their ears—"what have you done for me lately?", and they realize it describes them and their team's place in the league's hierarchy.

Is it possible that they are reading this correctly? Absolutely. However, these fans have not taken the time to see this thoroughly. For all of the doom and gloom being broadcasted, there is a flip-side to this coin.

John Kuester may represent the best of both worlds.

When Carlisle was hired by Detroit, they were a middle of the pack team dealing with the loss of the cornerstone of their franchise. They were at a fork in the road, deciding how to become a winner. Their new coach, as well as their roster, dictated this direction—they would become a defensive powerhouse.

And while Carlisle did a great job developing his team, he was not a closer. However, Larry Brown was a closer and guess who was instrumental in Kuester's development as a coach? You guessed it, Larry Brown.

Today, the Pistons are in a similar situation. They are dealing with the loss of the cornerstone of their team. They are deciding how to become a winner. This time, the direction is different. They will become an offensive powerhouse.

At least that is the plan. With the additions of Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva, Dumars believes that he is on his way. And just like Carlisle was brought in to accentuate talented defenders, Kuester will be asked to lend his considerable offensive know-how to a stable of talented offensive players.

Additionally, Dumars is likely going to add another strong front court player.

Today, Dumars dealt guard Arron Afflalo and forward Walter Sharpe to Denver for a future second round draft pick. This move will give Detroit around $3.5 million to spend on a player, and given that it is a buyers market, this could easily translate into Chris Wilcox or Glen Davis.

While the Pistons roster is far from upper-tier, they are a solid playoff team. If Kuester handles this team properly, with time he could build them into a contender.

There lies the good news: This team is young. What's more is that they are talented. With the right kind of coaching and development, this team could be a contender for years to come.

This could be the beginning of something, not the end.

The Challenges

While Kuester has a great reputation and some championship pedigree, he still has to find a way to take over a new team that still has a couple crucial pieces left over from their title year.

Additionally, he has to change the culture from one predicated on defense to one that is built around offense.

If to make matters even more interesting and challenging, these two challenges conflict with one another, making a whole new issue to deal with.

This is due, of course, to the fact that one of his new players, Gordon, plays the same position as one of his crucial left over pieces, Rip Hamilton.

How he deals with the last of these challenges likely will affect his success in Detroit.

All indications are that Kuester recognizes this, and to signify this, he spent this past weekend as a guest at Hamilton's wedding. By showing Hamilton how important he is to the franchise (coupled with Dumars repeated expressions that he is not looking to trade Hamilton), he can immediately avoid a major mistake made by his predecessor, Michael Curry.

Showing Hamilton the respect that he deserves will send an important message to the incoming players. The message is that while the head of the ship has changed, the old guard remains.

This is a player's league, and Kuester apparently grasps this better than most. Why wouldn't he; Kuester just finished working with the face of the league, LeBron James. In order for a coach to have staying power, he needs veterans to help police the locker room.

If he is able to fully ally himself with Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince, his job in Detroit will be that much easier.

As far as how he integrates his new pieces with his old ones, everyone has a theory. Personally, I think he will opt to for a starting lineup consisting of Villanueva, Prince, Hamilton, and Rodney Stuckey (provided Stuckey learns to distribute better) and probably Kwame Brown manning the middle.

Detroit will likely add a power forward like Davis who will come off the bench with Gordon, providing a powerful bench. Add to this mix a few promising young players that could provide help immediately (Dajuan Summers, Will Bynum) and Detroit has the makings of a very deep team.

The Prognosis

The Pistons are far from a finished product. There are still plenty of holes on this team.

As of right now, they are not a strong defensive team. Outside of Brown, Jason Maxiell, and Prince, there are few players known for their defense.

That is not to say that some of these players can not play defense. Stuckey has the athleticism to become a stellar defensive player. Summers, Villanueva, and Austin Daye all have the youth and potential to become solid defenders. Deron Washington could also provide relief in this area, provided he makes the team.

Rebounding will also be a problem, seeing as none of the current players have ever averaged more than seven per game.

Actually, size in general is a major issue, and as presently constructed this team is woefully unprepared to battle near the hoop. This could lead to some very easy hoops to the likes of Shaquille O'Neal and Dwight Howard.

The flip side to this coin is that these Pistons are fast and athletic, and their perimeter offense should be tremendous. The NBA in general is shifting in this direction, so in some ways the Pistons are ahead of the curve.

In 2002, Dumars charted a new course and it led to a title and six straight trips to the Eastern Conference Finals. And while the skippers changed a few times during that run, the man commissioning the ship never did.

Like then, there is a new course charted and a new skipper. Only time will tell if it has the same destination.

One thing is for certain, if it doesn't, there will be a new man commissioning this ship.

Personally, I would not bet against the ship builder. Or play on one of Rasheed Wallace's colloquialisms—the 'ship builder.

An Open and Honest Plea to Joe Dumars

Jay Wierenga — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:37:17 -0400

Oh no, here we go again.

As the free agent season opened today, what has been (and figures to continue to be) the most exciting offseason in recent memory for Detroit became a little more interesting.

Just like how he attacked the offseason a few years ago when he unsuccessfully tried to lure Chris Webber to Detroit, Joe Dumars is off like a gunshot. Word is that Chicago Bulls guard Ben Gordon and Milwaukee Bucks forward Charlie Villanueva are in Detroit as I write this, and deals could be imminent.

Okay, before we do anything foolish, let's think about what we need and what these players would give us.

Detroit has a lot of needs, but mostly there is a gaping hole in the frontcourt. Free agency and a trade likely leave three of the top four big men of a year ago off of the team.

Amir Johnson has been traded, Rasheed Wallace is likely gone and Antonio McDyess is going to be a difficult talent to re-sign. That leaves (gasp) Jason Maxiell and (double gasp and a heart attack) Kwame Brown as the only, I guess you could say proven, veterans. Untested first-year man Walter Sharpe rounds out the roster.

Add to that mix the three rookie forwards that Detroit drafted this month and you have the makings of a very young and woefully inexperienced frontcourt. If this remains, Brown will be the mentoring big man—a frightful thought if you've ever had one.

Therefore, finding a big man is priority a through z.

Villanueva is technically a front court player, but you should have reservations about him. First, why is Milwaukee willing to cut loose a high first round pick of just a few years ago? If 6'10" forwards don't grow on trees, why does it seem they are treating him like they do?

Obviously, you could say that the Bucks are trying to trim salary, and that may be true. But nobody would cut loose a young big man if just a $5-$8 million contract is standing in the way.

Personally, I am not sold on Charlie "don't call me hustle" Villanueva. He has shown a decent inside game with a solid array of back-to-the-basket moves. However, he has never averaged more than 6.7 rebounds or 0.7 blocks per game. To me, that seems soft, but that's just my opinion.

But don't take it from me. Here is the opinion of ESPN's John Hollinger:

Villanueva is a lazy, soft defender whose effort and mental acuity are often found wanting. As a help defender, his support is nonexistent; as an on-ball defender, he tends to play too close to his man and allow drives. He also makes baffling blunders, like charging in to crash the offensive boards when he's the only guy back. The Bucks were a horrible defensive team last year to begin with, yet were vastly worse (5.5 points per 48 minutes more) with Villanueva on the court.

Also, this would be his third team in five years, and that is a scary.

One last thing: he has shown a tendency to spend too much time out on the perimeter shooting three pointers when he should be using his size and playing with his back to the basket. Does that sound familiar Rasheed Wallace detractors?

I would rather have Memo Okur, Carlos Boozer, Paul Millsap (I know the first two are under contract, but the third is who they really want, so one of the first two will be dealt, trust me), David Lee, Tyson Chandler or even Chris Kaman for that matter, but I will stop talking about Charlie.

The other player visiting Detroit right now is Ben Gordon, the undersized, high-scoring yet turnover-prone, poor defensive effort and terrible dribbling combo guard from Chicago.

Okay Joe, stop it already. You are killing me!

For the longest time, I felt as though I was the one little Dutch boy with his finger in the damn that is your reputation, beating back the critics with a ferocious fervor. But I can't justify these choices.

At least Villanueva is a big man and that fills a need. But Gordon would be brought in just to deal Rip Hamilton. The two can not co-exist; Gordon is essentially a younger, slightly bigger version of Allen Iverson, and we all know how well that worked out here.

Joe, please, remember what got us to the promised land: tough, strong-willed cast offs that put on a hard hat and "went to work." They played the best defense in the league, and the fans loved them (and you) for it.

We love defense, and those that love to play it. Do not bring two guys here that have the warning signs of "does not play defense" tattooed on their foreheads. You are begging for the fans to revolt.

I have stood behind you for this long, Joe, and I have drank the Kool-Aid and defended your methods with every last breath I possess. But please, I beg you, do not sign these players—they will lead to your dismissal.

If you follow through with these players, you will be fired within two years. I guarantee it.

I know this has been a tough year for you with the deaths of Chuck Daly and Bill Davidson. I know how much you loved those men, and how much they meant to the development of you as a person and a player.

But this is not the way to honor them. These players are everything they would hate.

When a friend is in trouble, it is up to those that love him or her to pull them aside and plead with them to think things through. If your friend is a drunk, take the drink from their hand. If your friend is a gambler, grab the dice. If your friend is a wife beater, take their hand.

If your friend is the president of the Pistons, grab their cash. I am grabbing your cash right now, Joe.

Please, think this through.

Auf Wiedersehen!: Michael Curry Experiment Is Over In Detroit

Jay Wierenga — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:57:57 -0400

I honestly contemplated giving this article the title "Curry Ousted, and God's Existence Proven in One Fell Swoop", but I figured this would be just a little bit hyperbolic.

But only a little bit.

This move makes sense on a number of levels, from making Detroit a more appealing venue for free agents to giving Rip Hamilton and his ilk a fresh sense of relief after a tough season to the obvious level of getting rid of a ego-maniacal, shockingly unready inexperienced coach.

Above all, this move should make you love Joe Dumars.

Dumars, though under fire lately in Michigan, is still thought of as one of the best general managers in all of sports. He built a winner out of spare parts and turned around a once proud franchise in a matter of months, not years.

Although Dumars appeared to have the Midas touch early on, he has been on a bit of a losing streak lately, from the Darko debacle to the Curry hiring to the Chauncey Billups stinker.

It has been a tough couple of years for Dumars, and this year has been the worst. Not only have his basketball moves blown up in his face, but he lost in the same calender year his two longtime mentors, former head coach Chuck Daly and owner William Davidson.

The reason you should love Dumars is not because of the mistakes he has made, but rather, how he has dealt with those mistakes.

He made a mistake by drafting Darko Milicic, but once he realized what a huge mistake it had become, he cut his losses and traded Milicic for a mid-first round pick that turned out to be point guard Rodney Stuckey. While Stuckey struggled in his second season, most basketball people agree that he has a world of potential.

Dumars made a mistake last year involving Billups; the mistake wasn't the fact that he dealt Billups, the mistake was that he received Allen Iverson in the trade. At the time, Dumars thought that Iverson would give the Pistons a new and different way to win by finally having a dependable scorer.

Obviously, we all know how poorly that decision panned out. However, Dumars realized he had made a mistake, and he is not going to bring back Iverson and as a consolation, he has an additional $12 million to spend on free agents (although the news that Mehmet Okur and Carlos Boozer are staying in Utah definitely hurt).

This move is the perfect example of this pragmatic approach to decision assessment.

His hire of Michael Curry was definitely a gamble; Curry had never been a head coach at any level and only had one year as an assistant coach.

But Curry was always regarded as a kind of coach on the court, and was known as a very cerebral player. Additionally, he has a masters degree and was a former president of the NBPA, the league's union.

However, Curry proved to be in way over his head, and one particular encounter with a player doomed his fate and offered a glimpse into his world as a coach.

After acquiring Iverson, Curry initially experimented with a three guard lineup in which Stuckey, Iverson and Rip Hamilton all played together, with Tayshaun Prince being shifted to power forward.

This lineup was a train wreck, and resulted in terrible defensive possessions and even worse offense. Curry proved to be unable or unwilling to adjust his game plan to utilize Iverson, and essentially each player took turns playing one-on-five.

After a few weeks, Curry finally switched up the lineup, but instead of moving Iverson, the obvious one year rental, to the bench, he moved Hamilton, who had just signed a contract extension.

Essentially, Hamilton was being punished for being loyal to his team. Additionally, he was dealing with losing his best friend on the team, Billups, as well as his position. To a proud person like Hamilton, this was unbearable.

But that wasn't the worst part of this ordeal. The worst part was that Curry did not notify Hamilton of his new role in private. Instead, as a showing of ego and bravado, he notified Hamilton of the move in front of the entire team.

This ambush crushed Hamilton, and while he could have handled himself better, led to Curry slowly but surely losing the respect of his players.

It did not take a genius to see that the Pistons essentially quit on their coach, and the season fell apart as a result.

Heading into this season, you would think that Curry would be in a hurry to patch up his relationship with Hamilton, right?

Of course not. Curry, in his final showing of bravado, let it be known that he was in no hurry to repair his relationship with his star player.

The rest, of course, is history.

And so too, now, is Curry.

The question now, is who is going to replace him.

If I know Dumars (and given my, and everyone else's inability to predict his actions it is safe to say nobody does), it is safe to say that Dumars will not again hire an inexperienced coach.

There will be no Bill Laimbeer (although there is a strong chance he will land here as an assistant coach) or Mark Jackson. Instead, look for Dumars to take a long look at Avery Johnson, Jeff VanGundy and even Doug Collins.

So will this new move be enough to land a top notch free agent and bring Detroit back to the promised land? We will know the answer soon enough.

One thing is for sure, Dumars took a gamble, and once again knew when to cut his losses.

The question now is whether his bosses will do the same.

Magglio Ordonez Situation Tough on Tigers and Fans: Stop the Insanity!

Jay Wierenga — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:59:31 -0400

I have had it with Magglio Ordonez.

Okay, I should preface this by saying how much I appreciate what Ordonez has meant to my beloved Detroit Tigers and the fans in general.

Maggs signed with us when we were still a losing franchise without a lot of promise. Sure, we may have overpaid for the then injured slugger, but he still had to sign the contract and we all were grateful.

After an early injury scare (sports hernia) kept him sidelined from the outset of his Tigers tenure, he eventually hit the field and tore the league apart in the process.

Over the next three seasons, Ordonez averaged over 24 home runs and 115 runs batted in and failed to hit above .300 only once (.298 being the only time he didn't reach that mark), including his high water season of 2007 in which he had 28 homers, 139 RBI, and led the league in average with an astonishing .363 average.

Furthermore, Ordonez left perhaps the most lasting image of the World Series team of 2006 when he hit the walk-off home run against Oakland that sent the motor city kitties to the Series.

Ordonez was great. But something happened on the way to the happy ending in Detroit: Ordonez stopped producing.

Last year Ordonez still had a good season, but his power numbers dropped off a bit, with the Venezuelan power hitter slugging a pedestrian 21 homers. This may seem like nit picking, but this was the lowest full season home run total since his rookie season.

Additionally, Ordonez was playing in a lineup that featured the home run champ Miguel Cabrera acting as a secret service-like protector.

Manager Jim Leyland moved Ordonez into the No. 3 spot in the lineup for just that reason, and Ordonez responded by hitting only nine homers over the last three months of the season.

Ordonez's power outage continued but at a drastic decline to only three homers over the first three months of this season.

If this were only about home runs, that would be one thing. However, Ordonez is hitting a paltry .265 and only has 24 RBI through 60 plus games. Add to that the fact that Ordonez is a below average fielder at best, and you have a real dead spot in the lineup.

If Ordonez were just an average player with an average salary, this could be overlooked. But Ordonez is making nearly $19 million this season, with a player option for $18 million for 2010. More on that later.

Obviously, some players are hot starters and some are cold. I have heard countless prognosticators and "experts" in the blogosphere claiming that Ordonez is just a notoriously slow starter.

This logic is patently false. Not only is Ordonez not a slow starter, but he is actually a pretty hot starter. Consider this: Since 2001, Ordonez has only failed to hit .300 once through the first three months of the season, and that was in 2003 while with Chicago, when he hit a respectable .285. (This does not include 2005 when he only had 10 at-bats in the first three months.)

So, are we looking at a drastic decline in what could be the end of a stellar career?

Who knows? A month ago, I would have said that this is the case. But at that time, both the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez and Boston's David Ortiz were in similar slumps.

But Ortiz has hit seven homers over the past month and appears to be breaking out of his cold spell, and Rodriguez has also hit more homers this month than Ordonez has all season. All three remain with sub-.265 averages, so it could be the case after all.

This is all beside the point. The question is not "Why is Ordonez not hitting?" The question is "What should be done about it?"

Unlike Rodriguez, and to a lesser extent like Ortiz, Ordonez is not at the beginning of a lengthy contract or extended contract. The Tigers are only on the hook for Ordonez for this season and potentially next season.

This is where the real intrigue comes into play.

As mentioned earlier, Ordonez has an option year for 2010 that kicks in if he reaches 270 games started or 1080 plate appearances over the contract years 2008 and 2009 (this year).

Last season, Ordonez had 146 starts and 623 plate appearances. So far this year, he has 62 starts and 261 plate appearances. If you're doing the math at home, that puts him at 208 starts and 884 plate appearances as of today (June 29, 2009).

That leaves him at about 200 plate appearances or 62 starts away from the option.

Therefore, if Ordonez stays healthy and plays out this contract, the Tigers will be on the hook for $18 million next season for what should be only a backup outfielder or designated hitter.

Lately, there has been some intrigue surrounding Ordonez. Tigers manager Jim Leyland has sat Ordonez a few games in order to let the slugger work out his issues and figure out his game.

Ordonez's agent, the infamous Scott Boras, blew a gasket and accused the Tigers of sabotaging his payday.

Obviously, Boras stands to lose a huge hunk of change if Ordonez misses out on his option, but that is beside the point.

The point is that the Tigers need to bite the bullet and release the suddenly soft-hitting Ordonez. Their future as a ball club truly depends on it.

Boras brought to the attention of the casual observer how much is riding on this situation, and how awkward it truly is for all involved.

For a Tigers fan, people are torn between rooting for Ordonez to supply his usual power to a contending team and rooting against him in order to secure his release. They have to compartmentalize their feelings for the slugger between what he was and what he is, what he meant to them and what he means to them.

Essentially, they have to subscribe to the most cruel, yet pragmatic idiom in baseball: "What have you done for me lately?"

For Leyland, he has to try to keep the respect of his players, and this is a tricky move. On the one hand, players respect their manager if he sits a star, regardless of his past accomplishments, if he isn't getting the job done.

However, if it is viewed as a money thing, they will turn on him.

Luckily for Leyland and the Tigers in this regard, Ordonez has not been hitting. Besides hitting a homer in his third game back since being benched, he has only two other hits in 18 at-bats.

Furthermore, Ordonez seems to hit a ground out every at-bat. Personally, I cannot bear even to watch when he comes to the plate with runners on base because I know that he will hit into a double play. He is fourth in the league in grounding into double plays with 11.

I am a Tigers fan, and as such, I want what is best for my team. I hate to say it, but that no longer means playing Magglio Ordonez.

Every morning I wake up and look at the Detroit Free Press on-line (my morning source for Detroit news, and although it is not perfect, it is free) and hope that this is the day that the headline reads "Tigers release Magglio Ordonez."

It is a tough pill to swallow, but it is the sad truth. The best move for Detroit to make is to release Ordonez. It is not the easiest thing to do today, but it will make for a better tomorrow.

Hopefully tomorrow is the day.

Phase One Complete: What The Pistons Draft Says About The Future

Jay Wierenga — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:51:34 -0400

Just when I think I know what is going on in Joe Dumars' head, he removes his cap and pulls out a surprise.

Notice I did not say rabbit. The phrase "pull a rabbit out of the hat" has come to imply something impressive. And while this draft may prove to be a solid one in years to come, at the end of June in 2009, it is not impressive.

However, it was a surprise, and one that I for one did not see coming.

I was positive, heading into this draft, that Dumars would pass on a project and instead opt to grab an immediate contributor. Perhaps Dumars was planning on this heading into last week's draft. Perhaps Daye, the six foot 11 inch small forward from Gonzaga, was so high on Dumars list that he had not planned on drafting him.

Perhaps he was planning on drafting someone like Tyler Hansbrough or Ty Lawson or another immediate contributor, but quickly reconsidered when the lanky Daye fell to him at 15. We will never know.

One thing we do know, however, is that Daye is not likely going to help Detroit this year.

Don't get me wrong, I don't hate this pick. Daye is tall, athletic and possesses a great jumper. At six foot 11 inches, he should be able to get his shot off against anyone. He also could prove to be an excellent help side defender with his incredible wingspan (Additionally, the marketing that can be done with his name is priceless...I can already hear public address announcer Mason belting out "All Daye!" after a three pointer!).

That being said, Daye is not ready to be an everyday player for the Detroit Pistons in 2009. To call him lean would be like saying Jules from Pulp Fiction was cool—a drastic understatement.

Insert your skinny joke here. My favorite is that "Daye makes Tayshaun Prince look like he's on steroids."

Regardless, if Detroit is planning on competing this year, Daye had better not be a regular contributor. He just isn't physically ready to play at this level. Can you imagine Daye being forced to guard LeBron James? Think Mr. Glass from Unbreakable (I know, two Samuel Jackson references in one article...but in my defense, he is in everything!), it wouldn't be pretty.

So what does this draft tell us about Joe Dumars' plan for this summer?

It tells us that you had better grab an umbrella because Dumars is going to make a big splash.

You may be asking yourself, "what makes you so sure?"

There are many reasons, but I will focus on the monetary and therefore, rational ones.

The city of Detroit is in trouble. In all honesty, the state of Michigan is in trouble. This is nothing new to the people of the great Wolverine State, nor to those following along in other states.

What may not be obvious to those in other states is that Michigan has been in a recession for nearly a decade, so financial troubles are nothing new to Michiganders.

However, the Pistons have managed to withstand those financial straits and against all odds, flourish in a terrible economy. They have been either the best or the second best in the league in attendance in each of the past seven seasons.

They have done this by making the Palace of Auburn Hills an entertaining place to spend an evening.

More so than the environment that he has created, Joe Dumars has built a winner that was built with team players and a commitment to defense. He developed a team that the state identified with, and as a result, loved.

However, near the end of last season, the Palace crowds began to dwindle, and the sellout streak that had reached triple digits came to an end. When Allen Iverson (and the drama that came with him) was acquired, the fans began to jump ship.

By the end of the season, opposing teams were filling the empty seats at the Palace with their fans, culminating with the disgraceful chants of "MVP" that were heaped on James and the hated Cleveland Cavaliers.

As presently constructed, the Pistons are not a playoff team, and therefore, the fans will not show up. Many other teams are in this situation, and are not expected to make wholesale changes to combat this bleak forecast.

However, Detroit and Dumars do not have the luxury of waiting on developing talent and clearing payroll for a run at the superstar free agent class of 2010. Dumars has to put a winner on the court this year, and his job may hang in the balance.

I know, I know, Dumars is a legend around the league as an executive, and if you, the reader, do not regularly follow the Pistons, you may be wondering if this is a typo.

I assure you, it is not a typo. Dumars' job security is not built on the Rock of Gibraltor. He needs to put fans in the seats this year, and avoid a serious drop off in attendance.

Why? Because he has a new boss.

That's right, the man who hired Dumars and loved him like a son, William Davidson, is no longer in charge. This is, of course, because the great Mr. Davidson passed away this year, and left his team to his family.

Davidson loved his Pistons. It was obvious to anyone that has followed the team for the past couple decades. He also loved Dumars for making the team relevant and bankable as a commodity over the last eight years.

His family will not want his legacy to come crashing down in the first year in which it is on their watch.

It is not clear yet whether his family has the same type of passion for the game as the late Mr. Davidson.

Perhaps they will take a longitudinal view of the team and treat it like a long term investment.

Perhaps they will prove to be disinterested bystanders that could care less as long as they still have a robust trust fund.

Personally, I think they will be like most Americans, and will look for immediate results.

More importantly, I think that Dumars is thinking along these lines, and is treating this situation as the defining moment of his career.

Make no mistake about it, Dumars does not need this job. He has a number of businesses around the country and is financially set for life. He also has a family that he loves, and wouldn't mind spending more time with them.

But Dumars isn't doing this job because he needs it...Dumars is doing this job because he loves it. He believes that this is his team, and he wants to continue to run it. Dumars has a love for this franchise that runs deeper than blood. This love for his franchise was ingrained in him by two men: William Davidson and Chuck Daly.

Daly was Joe Dumars' first NBA coach, and helped transform the soft-spoken scorer from a small southern school into an NBA All Star, Finals MVP and U.S. Olympian.

Daly and Davidson were family to Dumars, and they both died this year.

Dumars will be eager to rise to the occasion yet again, and build a winner. And since time is not on his side, he needs to put a winner on the court immediately.

However, since the draft did not possess too many game-changing talents, especially in the front court, Dumars made the best of the situation and drafted based on talent, regardless of whether or not they will contribute.

This could help the Pistons develop a strong foundation of depth, or at the very least, bolster a bench that has proven to be weak over the past few seasons.

Some columnists have said that this draft proves that Dumars is going in a different direction, and wants character players rather than just talented ones. Dumars has said as much, recently stating that never again will he deal with "drama" like he did this past year.

They may be on to something with this thought. Think about what Dumars has done so far in this off season, or more so what he has not done.

He has not agreed to trade one of his remaining players for someone with even a whiff of character issues (see the Rajon Rondo laugher).

He has not gotten involved in the Amar'e Stoudemire sweepstakes, even though he would appear to be a gettable player.

My guess is that Dumars has a very specific plan in mind, and a few specific players that he is targeting.

Obviously, Chicago's Ben Gordon has been discussed, and I'm sure Dumars likes Gordon. Likely, Gordon reminds Dumars of Vinnie Johnson, and sees him as a sixth man extraordinaire.

I could see Gordon ending up in Detroit. But this is not the big move. This is the reason Dumars dealt Amir Johnson to clear additional cap space. Dumars knows he needs at least two good players, and maybe more.

Personally, I think Dumars is focused on a handful of players from two teams...New York and Utah.

Dumars will definitely make a move on power forward David Lee from New York, and I think Donnie Walsh, the Knicks general manager, knows it. As a result, Walsh drafted power forward Jordan Hill from Arizona. Walsh is gunning for LeBron James next summer, and he does not want to get into a bidding war for Lee.

Lee made $1.7 million this season, but is likely to make upwards of $6 million per season this season on the open market. My guess is that he can be had for about $7.5 million, and I think there is a 50/50 chance he ends up in Detroit.

This alone would be a good move, but Dumars is likely looking for an even bigger fish than Lee.

This brings Utah into the equation. Utah has three big men, Carlos Boozer, Paul Millsap and Mehmet Okur that could all be on the open market.

Millsap is an unrestricted free agent, but Utah will likely match any offer for the power forward.

Boozer is contemplating opting out of his contract, but he likely will not make more than his current contract, which will pay him upwards of $12 million this season. Therefore, Boozer likely will stay put.

This brings us to Okur, the former Pistons bench player. Okur is leaning towards opting out of his contract and although he and his agent have stated that they prefer Utah (recently, according to Salt Lake City's Deseret News, Okur told reporters in his native Turkey that he wanted to retire in Utah), the Jazz will likely not be able to afford the contracts of all three big men.

For Detroit, Okur seems like the best fit, especially if Lee can be had as well. Okur will be looking for a raise from his current $8.5 million contract, and Detroit could conceivably offer him a contract starting at $10 million per season.

Depending on what the league sets the salary cap number at this season (and all indications are that it will be a very meager increase, if it increases at all), the Pistons likely will have between $18 and $23 million to spend on free agents this summer. With this kind of scratch, Detroit could sign both Lee and Okur to lucrative, multi-year contracts that could be back-loaded to counter an economy that will likely bounce back in the years to come.

With a starting lineup of Okur, Lee, Prince, Rip Hamilton and Rodney Stuckey, Detroit would instantly be a playoff contender again. Furthermore, they would be built with hard-working, tough players that are good defenders and strong team guys.

Add to that mix a bench composed of primarily of young and hungry players, and you have a recipe for years of contention. If Dumars was somehow able to add Gordon to this mix (admittedly doubtful if they are already spending $17.5 million on Lee and Okur), Detroit instantly turns into a top four team in the east.

This is a team that Detroit, and Michigan in general, would support and come out to see.

The league has become obsessed with superstars, and to the delight of commissioner David Stern, teams are being built around these stars.

However, I believe Dumars learned a very valuable lesson from the failed Iverson experiment; it doesn't matter what the rest of the league and the commissioner likes...they aren't the ones paying Dumars' salary. The only thing that matters is what the fans of Michigan like, and they do not crave stars, they crave workers.

Dumars will be well-served to go back to his roots within the organization and re-build his team the way his mentors Daly and Davidson did when they took a chance on that soft-spoken kid from McNeese State all those years ago.

It may just be the best way to honor those late, great men, and save his job in the process.

A New Turk in The Palace?: Detroit Pistons' Options Expanding

Jay Wierenga — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:39:05 -0400

This offseason has a retro-feel amongst Detroit Pistons fans.

Although Detroit had a lot of success over the past decade, it is somewhat easy to remember a time when the spring months meant offseason speculation rather than postseason viewing.

This post season has taken on a tone unlike any since the end of the Grant Hill era in Detroit.

Even though Detroit fans are like many fans in that they love to speculate on what moves their franchises will make, what separates those in Motown is that they never seem happy with the end result.

Even after the Pistons won their last title in 2004, the overwhelming chatter centered on which front court player should be kept, Rasheed Wallace or Memo Okur. As a result, there were many that were unhappy with the end result, and therefore the chatter continued throughout that season and the next.

While some may label those in Detroit as malcontents, it is instead likely, a sense of inevitability. Detroit fans know that nothing is forever, and they are always striving to stay ahead of the curve.

Sadly, this savvy sense of survival has eluded their employers in the auto industry, but I digress.

This offseason feels eerily similar to those that came a decade prior, in which optimism has given way to a feeling that it will take more than a single piece to reclaim the throne.

As a result, many online blogs and chats have focused on the Pistons attaining two, maybe three big pieces.

The suggestions have run the gamut, from the absurd (LeBron James) to the unlikely (Chris Paul) to the possible (Carlos Boozer).

The one overriding common factor is that most suggestions tend to ignore the relevant facts of the situation, ie contract status and salary cap.

Therefore, it is time to address the state of the Pistons free agent hunt and the likely targets, paying close attention to rationality and facts.

The Irrational

LeBron James is not coming to Detroit.

Not this offseason, anyways.

James is still under contract until next summer with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Now that is not to say that James is not going anywhere. I wholeheartedly agree that LeBron will be playing elsewhere in a year, and I think that Cavs' owner Dan Gilbert would be wise to explore trading options if by mid-season he was unable to re-sign the mega-star.

However, when James leaves, it will be for a place that will be able to take him to the next level marketing-wise, so New York seems more than likely. Why would James trade one crumbling rust belt city for another? It's not going to happen.

Chris Paul is not coming to Detroit either.

Sure, Dumars would love to grab Paul and New Orleans is trying to slash salaries.

However, Paul is the foundation for their team, as well as their city, and he is moderately priced as far as elite point guards go ($4.5 mil per season). He is not Motown-bound.

The Unlikely

Amare Stoudemire is likely not coming to Detroit.

While the biggest aim on Joe Dumars' radar is the front court, and Stoudemire would immediately make Detroit a contender again, this is beyond unlikely for much of the same reason that Paul is: He is the foundation of a city and team.

Stoudemire is one of the most dominant offensive big men in the league. While his defense is questionable at best, his athleticism makes it possible to improve much like James has.

The biggest stumbling block for Detroit is that Stoudemire is still under contract with Phoenix. And while the Suns are trying to rebuild and unload contracts, Detroit does not have the expiring contracts and young stars that the Suns would require.

That being said, it would be a major coup if Dumars were able to again bring in a great front court player with an expiring contract.

Chris Bosh is also not likely coming to Detroit this summer.

Bosh, like Stoudemire, is under contract for one more year. Like Stoudemire and the Suns, Bosh and the Toronto Raptors might part ways this summer due in large part to the fact the Bosh seems like a long shot for re-signing with Toronto.

However, Toronto will also likely ask for more than Detroit has in return for their versatile big man. Instead, look for a team like Indiana or perhaps Dallas to step in and offer the Raptors something more appealing than Amir Johnson and Rodney Stuckey (oh yeah, unlike last year, Stuckey will be on the table).

Possible

One thing that all of the previous players mentioned have in common is that they are all currently under contract for this upcoming season. This type of situation does not play to Detroit's strength.

Right now, Detroit's strength is salary cap room and roster flexibility. Additionally, the Pistons possess a number of players that are under contract that have plenty of good years ahead of them and plenty of winning experience.

This makes Detroit an attractive destination for a free agent that is looking to win. Also, the Pistons are a well-known commodity, and therefore any player that chooses to sign with them will have heightened media exposure.

Now to an established star that may not be a plus, but for a good player looking to break out, that could be a clincher.

Ben Gordon comes to mind as a player that might be intrigued by Detroit.

Gordon would give the Pistons a bonafide three-point shooter that would stretch the defense and help whomever the Pistons sign to their front court.

Gordon also contributes instant offense, another thing that has doomed Detroit in the past.

However, there are many more reasons why Detroit would balk at this than jump at it.

First off, Gordon is a shooting guard, and Detroit already has two of those. Rip Hamilton has been one of the most consistent performers that the Pistons have ever had, and his contract is not super attractive to potential suitors.

Additionally, Gordon is undersized, and Dumars is likely through with undersized shooting guards after the Allen Iverson debacle.

Hedo Turkoglu is another possible option. While he does play a position that Detroit already has covered, he is a very versatile scorer that has stepped up on the biggest stage.

However, Turkoglu's weak defense and sizable paycheck (he is turning down a $7.5 million contract, meaning his price tag could be upwards of $10 million per season) would likely cause Dumars to pass on the small forward.

Chris Kaman is also an option here, and an attractive one considering his size and position. He is under contract for the next few years, but Los Angeles Clippers' Owner Donald Sterling is likely done spending money on his team, and will be looking to trade expensive pieces.

Again, Detroit runs into the problem of not having expiring contracts that would be enticing to Sterling. However, if Dumars would be able to pry Kaman away from the thrifty Sterling, he would be a welcomed addition to an aging and thin front court.

Very Possible

In assessing where Dumars' head is at right now in assessing his team, one might look to Utah. The Jazz currently have a log jam in their front court, and two players that would not only fit Detroit, but are likely going to opt out of their contracts.

Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur are both likely heading for free agency, and given their size and skill set, they are likely at the top of Dumars' wish list.

Both players have their strengths and weaknesses, and both could create future issues for Detroit to address personnel-wise.

Boozer is one of the best power forwards in the game. He is a fantastic rebounder and low post threat on offense, and he has good size for defense. However, he has been injury-prone in the past, and his defense has been suspect on occasion.

Additionally, signing Boozer would force Detroit to add another big man to play center. The team would prefer to add a solid defender with size to pair with Boozer, and that would open the door to Rasheed Wallace staying with the team.

Given his past history with the team, Okur represents an intriguing possibility. While a lot more durable than Boozer, Okur is three years older than the power forward. He does, however, play center and that would allow Detroit to re-sign Antonio McDyess to play alongside Okur.

Like Wallace, Okur has been criticized in the past for spending too much time around the three-point line on offense. Unlike Wallace, however, Okur is a relentless defensive rebounder.

Both players will seek raises from their current contracts (Boozer makes $11.5 million per season, Okur makes roughly $3 million less), and it is not outside the realm of possibilities that one or both might not opt out of their contracts. Boozer said last Monday on "Jim Rome is Burning" that he has not ruled out staying with Utah and Jazz ownership seems confident Okur will re-sign with Utah if he opts out.

Look for Boozer to stay and Okur to leave, causing Dumars to make an all-out push to reclaim the 6'11" Turkish import. If this happens, look for Dumars to re-sign McDyess and draft a high impact power forward in the draft, such as Tyler Hansbrough, that can immediately step in and help take some minutes off of the aging McDyess.

Another strong possibility seems to be Ron Artest. Dumars understands that in order to beat James, he is going to need a player that can make life difficult for the superstar. Nobody matches up better physically with James than Artest.

Additionally, Dumars likes reclamation projects, and Artest in Detroit would be the ultimate in turnarounds.

This would also lead to a Tayshaun Prince deal that could potentially bring a needed piece.

As presently constructed, the Pistons weaknesses are front court size and depth and back court perimeter shooting. Prince could easily fetch a one or a couple of pieces. If this comes to fruition, look for Detroit to talk with Washington about Antwan Jamison and Mike James.

Outside of the Box

So far, much of what has been stated in this article centers are strong possibilities and speculation that stems from actual facts.

However, it should be mentioned that Dumars is not someone that thinks within the box. Additionally, Dumars seems to have seen the writing on the wall, and is leaning towards adding an established star. The league has decreed that they prefer a star, not team driven league, and Dumars seems reluctantly willing to comply.

Therefore, he might take a long look at Tracy McGrady.

All the way out here on the west coast, I can hear the Pistons fans howling in agony in the midwest, but let's explore this thought.

McGrady is likely done in Houston. The fact that the Rockets seemed to play better without T-Mac likely signals the end of his reign. Also, the fact that he seemed to count out his teammates does not bode well for him returning.

McGrady will be hungry to prove that he is not over the hill, and he could easily still have a lot left considering the fact that he is not yet 30.

However, his salary would require Detroit to give up both Rip Hamilton and a sign and trade player.

Instead, look for Dumars to make a serious run at McGrady next summer.

Speaking of next summer, let's re-explore Chris Bosh.

I know, I know, I said that Bosh was not likely to land in Detroit this summer. That is still true.

However, if Dumars strikes out on Okur or Boozer, he will likely instead make minor moves to keep the team from dropping to the lottery. Instead of adding an average player like Kaman, Dumars would likely hold onto his roughly $20 million in cap space and wait for Bosh to become a free agent in 2010.

This would be a major gamble considering Toronto will likely be watching Detroit this off season, and if Dumars stays put they will know that he is circling Bosh. In that case, they would likely trade him before the deadline and Detroit would be left with nothing.

Confusing? Just think about how tough of a situation Dumars is in. The Pistons top guy not only has these decisions to make, but he has a new owner and his team plays in a city with the worst economic situation in the nation.

One bad move could drastically diminish ticket sales, and in turn, put a ton of pressure on the new owners to make a change.

And you thought your summer plans were complex!

Dream Matchup? Good For The Game, Bad For Casual Fans

Jay Wierenga — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 15:28:06 -0400

A funny thing happened on the way to NBA commissioner David Stern's dream match up.

LeBron James lost.

While many casual basketball fans may be disappointed, most true fans of the game (outside of the greater Cleveland area of course) are glad to see Cleveland lose.

This is not because they are Skip Bayless clones that prefer to nit-pick the game of LeBron James. In actuality, this postseason likely proves that LeBron has in fact passed Kobe Bryant as the newest best thing.

Of course there are still holes in LeBron's game.

Although he has received defensive accolades for the first time in his young career, they are probably a little premature. When push came to shove in his series with Orlando, James reverted back to the defensive anonymity that has marked the majority of his career.

Sure, he flashed the occasional blocked shot from the weak side, but that is not what should mark a stellar defender. An NBA All-Defensive First Team member shuts down the players he guards. He makes an impact on defense, or at least makes his presence known.

Instead, viewers witnessed the Magic nail consecutive three point shots and easily reach an unguarded lane. Additionally, the penetration that they were able to get by such fleet-footed burners as Hedo Turkoglu provided for kick out passes that were rarely intercepted.

Obviously, coach Mike Brown deserves a lot of blame for failing to make adjustments. Perhaps his coronation as NBA Coach of the Year was a little premature as well. But an MVP should essentially be a coach on the floor, and in this department, James failed on defense.

However, offensively he proved that he is without peer, and has finally eclipsed Kobe Bryant.

Now before he is compared (again) to Michael Jordan or Magic Johnson, a more obvious comparison comes to mind while watching Shaquille "The King" O'Neal.

That's right, James is the most dominant player since O'Neal during his Los Angeles Lakers tenure. Defenses have the same problems matching up with his power, and more importantly, officials have the same difficulty in calling fouls.

In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Magic were called for a foul every time James reached the lane. Now either this is a conspiracy perpetrated by Stern to ensure his dream match up, or the referees just flat out don't know how to officiate James. It's safe to say that the smart money is on the latter—although I am not prepared to rule out the former!. But I digress.

The real issue is what this means about the future direction of the NBA. You can equate it to what is happening with the Republican Party (sorry to bring up politics, I will make this brief and non-partisan).

During a time of transition, two camps emerge. One camp that wants to revert back to what made them powerful in the past. In the case of the GOP, it is moving farther to the right and alienating those in the center. Essentially, shrinking back to the base in order to purify the party.

In the case of the NBA, this is focusing on stars as opposed to teams. The logic is that during the height of the NBA's popularity, the 1980's, the stars were what people watched. The Larry Birds, Jordans and Magics were what people watched, and what they cared about.

The second camp wants to change with the times and expand the tent. With the Republicans, it means becoming more inclusive to minority groups and tackling a populist issue, such as energy or health care.

The second camp in the NBA wants to focus on the teams, and allow the superstars to become the icing rather than the cake. The problem with this analogy is obvious to both casual and rabid fans of basketball—the second camp does not exist in the NBA.

Instead, the commissioner has essentially doubled-down on the superstar approach. This is a flawed logic from a business perspective because of what it leads to.

This season I saw this first hand. When Detroit traded for Allen Iverson, Pistons fans were saddled with Iverson fans. These folks were with their man Iverson through thick and thin, no matter which team he played with.

I think I speak for all Pistons fans when I say that we will be glad to be rid of these fans. No longer will we be burdened with Iverson apologists blaming anyone but "the Answer" for his sub-par and selfish play.

This is also the reason you will not see a lot of Pistons fans jumping ship to cheer for Chauncey Billups in Denver. Billups was not hyped up as a superstar during his time with Detroit, and as a result Pistons fans were sad to see him go but they stayed put.

This is the smartest business model for the league to follow if you follow through on the progression of this marketing strategy.

Imagine a girl named Emily begins to watch basketball with her mom and dad. Her folks are Portland Trail Blazer fans, not Brandon Roy fans. As a result, when Roy retires, Emily doesn't have to. Emily will continue to root for the Blazers because she has a connection with the team, not the player.

Therefore, Emily will buy Blazer jerseys for Roy and his replacement 10 years down the road. She also will buy those jerseys for her kids and the pattern will continue.

Now imagine she is brought up as a Roy fan. Suppose Roy is traded to the Knicks, and Emily is only able to watch a handful of his games due to the fact that she lives on the west coast. Her fanaticism will likely wane, and when he retires she also will hang'em up.

The NBA has now lost a fan, not to mention the succesion that that fan likely could bring.

That is what is maddening to true fans of the game. Stern missed the point of what made the NBA successful in the 1980's-the teams. People loved the Magic v. Bird match ups because they loved their teams. Bird and Magic were part of tremendous basketball teams that spawned amazing rivalries.

In the age of free agency, these rivalries become more, not less important. NBA teams need to be treated like NCAA teams. Create great programs and hype those match ups.

Those in the commisioner's camp will likely point to the 2005 NBA Finals as proof that their way is the right one.

In that match up, the two most dominant teams of this young century squared off in front of a much smaller than usual TV audience. It was the proof that Stern needed before he began changing the rules to tip the balance back to the offense rather than the defense.

The reason this matchup was not widely watched was because of the superstar marketing pitch. Most fans did not know or even care about the Spurs or Pistons. The reason was that the NBA had not marketed these teams for what they were—defensive juggernauts that could stop anyone.

Instead, the fans viewed it as two teams without high flying superstars. The most well-known player in the series was the least marketed and least appreciated player in the age of Stern, Tim Duncan. The clash was viewed as two teams that were handicapped by a lack of star power, rather than celebrated for being the two best teams of their era.

Had the league marketed these teams for what they were, fans would have learned to love them, or at least hate them. Spurs and Pistons fans recognized the beauty in what they saw, and as a result, both teams have been atop the league's attendance charts for years.

So will the latest monkey wrench in Stern's plans have an effect? Probably not. Stern has committed to his brand of marketing, and he is too stubborn to admit defeat. Sadly, he is missing out on some great basketball.

The Magic essentially built their team the way that New York Knicks fans wished their team had during the late 1980's and early 1990's when Patrick Ewing was at the top of his game. They have surrounded a dominant post player with perimeter shooters that can also slash to the hoop.

The Magic, despite playing in Florida, have a surprisingly loyal fanbase that will become much more vocal as the Finals commence. Sadly, they will be some of the only ones rooting for their team.

A large demographic of casual basketball fans likely have watched their last basketball game of the season, and that is why the superstar model of marketing will never work.

Had the league devoted even a small portion of the money they spent on the "Kobe versus LeBron" talk that dominated the airwaves for the past two months on developing the Magic as a story, viewership would remain strong though out the playoffs.

Casual fans are not what should drive a sport.

Instead, the sport should market itself in such a way that casual fans do not exist. Rather, fans have an emotional investment that makes them anything but casual.

This has just been a suggestion, Mr. Stern. Now go back to planning for LeBron wearing a Knicks uniform.

Got Tickets?: The D-Train Has Finally Arrived In Motown!

Jay Wierenga — Wed, 20 May 2009 00:09:57 -0400

Now that is how you shut up the critics!

In his second outing of the season, and just the 10th of his Detroit Tigers tenure, Dontrelle Willis notched his first victory of the season. Additionally, it was his first victory while playing for Detroit.

Willis was tremendous on Tuesday night, pitching one-hit ball for over six innings, including retiring 17 straight Texas Rangers en route to the win.

Following the trade that brought Willis and Miguel Cabrera to Detroit, Dontrelle had a disastrous year that seemed to be a microcosm for a disappointing Tigers season in 2008.

Heading into this season, expectations were beyond lowered for the left-hander. He was not guaranteed a spot in the rotation, and many believed that he was a long shot to even make the team.

To make matters worse, Willis was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder and put on the disabled list to start the season. While many fans and national columnists alike questioned the sincerity of the ailment, there was no questioning that Detroit's investment in Willis seemed to be a poor one.

Sadly, this marked a low point in a once promising career.

Willis burst onto the scene in 2003, winning games and fans alike with his unconventional pitch delivery and contagiously charismatic personality. Willis won the National League Rookie of the Year award and set the baseball world on fire.

After a solid year in 2004, Willis won 22 games in 2005 and seemed to be a runaway train on the field.

But control issues haunted him over his remaining years with the Florida Marlins, leading the team to include him in their blockbuster trade with Detroit in 2008.

When Detroit added Willis, they hoped that they could help return him to his formerly award-winning level.

Additionally, many hoped that a positive, strong-willed, and successful African American player could help return baseball to the forefront within the urban community of inner city Detroit.

With black players currently comprising their lowest numbers in decades in baseball, there was a hope that Willis was just the type of role model that could help spur the popularity of the sport in the inner city.

With this victory, Willis reminds us that there is always a place in baseball for 26 year old left-handers that can throw in the mid-90's.

Obviously, this was just a first step, but that is how all journeys begin. And, as the spring blooms in Detroit, optimism is not far behind.

In the distance a whistle blows and the track rattles below your feet. A train is pulling into the station for a journey whose destination is not yet known. And while it approaches, scores of people are asking themselves if they plan on boarding.

I, for one, am hoping this is a long and exciting ride.

For the Detroit Lions, Progress Starts With a Purr

Jay Wierenga — Mon, 18 May 2009 17:35:37 -0400

Maybe the Detroit Lions have finally figured it out.

So far this off season, the Lions have made some strikingly sane moves.

First, they dealt defensive lineman Cory Redding for linebacker Julian Peterson. Obviously, this is not a transformational move in itself, but it improved a weakness in the defense (the linebacker corps), and moved a perpetual underachiever in Redding.

Secondly, they kept their word on the draft.

Okay, there were some questionable draft picks chosen by the kitties, but that happens every year. What was striking was that coach Jim Schwartz and general manager Martin Mayhew actually showed a plan and stuck to it. They promised to draft the best available players, regardless of positional need, and that is exactly what they did.

It also showed that Schwartz has at least some power over the moves that are being made. The evidence of this is the Lions second-round pick, safety Louis Delmas.

Why does this represent a Schwartz pick? Because Schwartz is a veteran of the AFC South, a division that features the Indianapolis Colts.

Why is this significant? Because the player that essentially makes the Colts' defense is safety Bob Sanders, a player to whom Delmas is often compared.

Additionally, Schwartz' former team, the Tennessee Titans, spent big money bringing in their own impact safety, Chris Hope, from the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Schwartz realizes that a big-hitting safety can not only help the run defense, but can help intimidate typically timid wide receivers in the defensive passing game.

Thirdly, the Lions signed free agent linebacker Larry Foote.

Outside of Detroit, this signing has been received as a mild curiosity at best. When you lose 16 games in a season, most of your moves will be quietly ignored—and with good reason.

However, this signing is a big one in Detroit. It shows how versatile Schwartz can be by bringing in a player that does not necessarily fit in his system. Foote has been a 3-4 linebacker all of his career. In Detroit he will be asked to be a "Mike" linebacker in a 4-3 system.

Furthermore, it is a signing that shows a new direction for this team. During the Matt Millen years, Detroit typically brought in players that were either over the hill (Bill Schroeder), overrated (Az Hakim), or no longer hungry (Damien Woody), at least in a football sense.

Foote is still young (28) and fairly underrated, given the fact that he played in the shadow of NFL Defensive Player of the Year James Harrison in Pittsburgh. Additionally, he is still hungry—and unlike Woody, his hunger is for playing time, not cheeseburgers.

Foote is eager to prove that he is a three-down linebacker, capable of stepping back into coverage and making plays. As a result, he took a relatively small contract with only one year guaranteed. He wants to play his heart out and earn a bigger deal.

This is excellent news for the Lions given that even if he only plays one year, he will bring a winning attitude into a losing culture. He has, of course, won two Super Bowl rings with the Steelers.

Oh, and by the way, he wants to play for Detroit. Foote is a Detroit native, and even before he was released from his contract. he began courting the Lions.

To Lions fans, this signing made too much sense, and opened a lot of eyes. In the week leading up to this signing, Lions forums were cluttered with fans pleading with the Lions to sign Foote, and many of these fans assumed that it was too perfect, and therefore would not happen. The fact that they made this move signaled a changing of the guard in Detroit.

Obviously, the Lions are a long way away from becoming contenders.

While the Lions have the makings of a very deep and very talented group of linebackers, their defensive line is a mess.

They also improved their defensive secondary, but if their line does not put pressure on the quarterback, it won't matter if Deion Sanders and Ronnie Lott in their primes are in that unit—they will get torched.

On the offensive side of the ball, Daunte Culpepper looks like he is primed to have a big year. He is reunited with his former offensive coordinator, Scott Linehan, and the last time they were together, Culpepper put up career numbers.

However, the offensive line is thin at best. Many people (this writer included) thought that the Lions should have drafted an offensive lineman with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft.

And while the argument for taking quarterback Matthew Stafford is a strong one, he will not help this year. A top notch offensive tackle like Jason Smith would have made an immediate impact.

Furthermore, the offensive weapons, besides wide receiver Calvin Johnson, are unproven.

Running back Kevin Smith had his moments last year, and free agent addition Maurice Morris will definitely help this unit.

However, the stable of wide receivers leave plenty to be desired. Free agent addition Bryant Johnson has been an under achiever thus far, and rookie wideout Derrick Williams is undersized and not particularly fast.

Add to this tight end Brandon Pettigrew, the one truly questionable draft pick chosen by the new regime. Sure, Pettigrew was the best tight end in the draft, but tight end is a luxury position that could have been addressed much later in the draft.

And for those that believe Pettigrew will help with run blocking, that point is conceded. However, wouldn't Michael Oher have helped a little bit more?

Regardless, the Lions have shown in just a few months that the new boss is not the same as the old boss.

And that strange sound you hear in Detroit is that of the fans collectively holding their breaths and trying their best to temper their optimism for a team that has broken their hearts more times than not.

What's strangest of all in this era of Cowboys, Steelers, and Patriots is that there still are so many of them willing to hop on this proverbial roller coaster ride one more time, and put on those Honolulu Blues and wish for a winner.

Here's hoping that this time, the ride doesn't make them sick.

Quality Over Quantity: Detroit Tigers' Lineup Finding New Ways To Win

Jay Wierenga — Mon, 11 May 2009 15:48:56 -0400

The Detroit Tigers are having fun, and the fans are taking notice.

Coming off of their disastrous 2008 campaign, most prognosticators and fans alike had low expectations heading into 2009. Most baseball people predicted that the Tigers would finish near the bottom of the American League Central.

In all honesty, most fans agreed. As a result, season ticket sales were noticeably down in Detroit. Obviously, the economic ramifications of the recession played a role in this indicator, however, most blogs and forums exhibited a real sense of pessimism regarding the motor city kitties.

It is hard not to blame the fans for this view. The Tigers were relatively quiet this offseason, opting for complimentary players instead of big names. They signed shortstop Adam Everett and they made deals for catcher Gerald Laird, outfielder Josh Anderson and starting pitcher Edwin Jackson.

Furthermore, they cut Gary Sheffield (although most fans were excited to see him go) and promoted two very raw rookie pitchers, Ryan Perry and Rick Porcello.

A lineup that was truly feared heading into last year seemed to have gotten a lot weaker. But there was a method to the madness.

Team president Dave Dombrowski apparently had a plan heading into this season, and it seems to reflect manager Jim Leyland's personality. It is as though Leyland, managing for his managerial life (he is on the last year of his contract) went to his bosses and said "let's do it my way."

The result is a team constructed in the true sense of the word. Rather than a lineup composed exclusively of superstars, Dombrowski instead put together a team built with role players to fill the gaps between stars, sometimes referred to as "glue players."

Players like Everett, Laird, Anderson and shortstop Ramon Santiago fit this bill. None of whom is particularly gifted offensively, but they are all effective big leaguers that know their role.

Additionally, they are all stellar defensive players and this, coupled with Brandon Inge returning to third base, represents a real dedication to one of the most underrated aspects of baseball, defense.

The results have been exceptional. Thirty games into the season, the Tigers are tied for first place in the Central with a record of 17-13. What is amazing is that they are winning in a way not seen since 2006.

Obviously, a huge part of this success lies in the improved starting pitching and bullpen. The Tigers currently have the second best ERA in the A.L.

Their rotation is comprised of power arms and two of their highest paid pitchers, Dontrelle Willis and Jeremy Bonderman, have yet to throw an inning (Willis is scheduled to make his first start of the season on Wednesday).

To help their rotation, the lineup has been doing the little things. They are leading the league in sacrifice hits (11) and they are striking out a lot less while hitting a lot less fly balls.

The good news is that for the most part, the Tigers' hitters have been largely disappointing. Many of the usually strong hitting batters are struggling mightily. As a team, the Tigers are near the bottom of the pack average-wise.

You might be asking "how is that good news?" The point is that it is unlikely that the usually dependable hitters will continue to struggle all season. Therefore, if the Tigers are finding new ways of winning now, it will benefit them in the future once all the bats start to heat up.

Essentially, they are learning how to play as a team early on in the season, doing all the little things and doing them well. This makes it likely that they are building a solid foundation for the rest of the season, making it less likely that this is "fool's gold," and more likely that the Tigers will be a major contender this year.

Here is a look at what the lineup has done thus far.

The Lineup

Curtis Granderson

Granderson so far has performed more like a middle of the order player rather than a lead off man, and as a result Leyland has begun moving him around in the order. He is hitting home runs at a torrid pace, topping the team with nine.

However, with that added power he has been striking out more than normal, leading the team with 26. An encouraging sign is that he is beginning to become more aggressive on the base paths, putting him on pace to double his 12 steals of a year ago.

If the Tigers are going to continue to be successful, Granderson must raise his batting average above the middling .254 he is hitting now.

Placido Polanco

Since Polanco became a Tiger, he has always been a fan favorite due to his workman-like personality and play. He is the perfect No. 2 hitter due to his propensity for good bat work.

However, this year Polanco has begun to slip, with his average dropping down to .270. Obviously, a lot of this can be attributed to the fact that the number three hitter, Magglio Ordonez, has struggled mightily. However, Detroit needs Polanco to raise his OBP above .315 in order to set the table for the power hitters.

Magglio Ordonez

Age seems to finally be catching up with Ordonez. His power numbers are down (two homers), and his average is woefully out of character (.241). Many people have said that he is a slow starter, but his recent history does not support this idea. Over the last two seasons, Magglio's average has been at least .315 by this point in the season.

Regardless, Leyland is attempting to jump start his highest paid player by moving him around in the lineup. One thing's for sure, it is imperative that Ordonez turns this season around, and it seems likely that his numbers will improve as the weather improves.

Miguel Cabrera

There is a strong possibility that Cabrera is the best and most dangerous hitter in the American League. He seems to have a very similar game to the best hitter in baseball, Albert Pujols.

In his second season in Detroit, Cabrera is endearing himself to fans with his amazing hitting and improved leadership role with the Tigers. Free from the strong personalities of the past year (Sheffield, Pudge Rodriguez, Kenny Rogers), Cabrera has stepped from the shadows and become "the man" in Detroit.

His continued excellence will only make things easier for his teammates in the lineup.

Carlos Guillen

Guillen, more than any other player in the lineup, has been a huge disappointment thus far. His average has hovered around the Mendoza line (.200) for the entire year. More recently, an inflamed right shoulder has landed the switch-hitter on the disabled list.

Given his steady decline over the past few seasons, it is probably a safe bet to not expect much out of Guillen this year. The key with Guillen is for the Tigers to bring him along slowly.

They have acted smartly with him so far, switching him from the infield to the outfield in order to keep his bat in the lineup and reduce wear and tear on his body. However, he is in the second year of a four year extension that will see him earning a combined $26 million in 2010 and 2011 with a partial no-trade clause.

Given his salary, it is paramount that the Tigers get more productivity out of their former shortstop. Seeing as the Tigers have done well so far this year without him, there will be no damage done by keeping him off the field until he looks fully healthy.

Gerald Laird

The Tigers brought in the former Texas Ranger with the express purpose of improving their defense. Laird has been perfect behind the plate, and has been a calming influence on a young pitching squad.

His offense has been as advertised. Essentially, any hits he gives the team is a bonus. However, he has shown more speed on the base paths than most thought, resulting in a steal, a triple and two doubles.

Brandon Inge

Inge has been arguably the biggest surprise for the Tigers this year. After an atrocious 2008 season, he has shortened his swing and improved his numbers. He is currently hitting .280 with eight home runs.

His defense has been excellent as well, showing off his range and arm on a regular basis.

The key for Inge will be to cut down on his strikeouts; he is currently on pace for 140 k's. However, he is also on pace for over 40 homers and the Tigers would likely take this trade off.

Josh Anderson

After getting fleeced by the Atlanta Braves in the past regarding trades (Edgar Renteria for Jair Jurrjens, Doyle Alexander for John Smoltz), it is nice to see the Tigers get some value from their National League counterparts this time around.

Anderson has added a new dimension to the Tigers- speed. Anderson is on pace for over 40 steals this year while hitting .327 in only 55 plate appearances this year.

With Guillen confined to the dl, look for Anderson to get more at bats as the season progresses.

Adam Everett

Everett was brought in to help shore up the defense, and he has done a fine job with this assignment. While he does have four errors, he has exhibited exceptional range at shortstop, getting to many balls that a year ago were getting past Renteria.

In addition, Everett has hit the ball fairly well, hitting five doubles with an average of .281.

The Bench

Ramon Santiago, Marcus Thames, Clete Thomas, Ryan Raburn, Jeff Larish, Dane Sardinha and Matt Treanor have been the primary bench players at one time or another for the Tigers this season.

Santiago has received the most time on the field, providing a solid glove and decent offense in small doses. Combined with Everett, he keeps the shortstop position in good hands defensively.

Thames has been the primary power bat for the Tigers over the past few seasons, although a strained rib cage has limited the slugger this season. When he returns, he likely will provide the same pop that he has over his career with Detroit.

Thomas is beginning to find a niche with the Tigers. With a smooth left-handed swing and decent athletic ability, he provides Leyland with versatility, a trait that the skipper craves in his bench players. In his first game this year, Thomas missed hitting for the cycle by just a home run.

Raburn is also a versatile player, one that is able to play both the infield and outfield positions. At the plate, he is rather limited, getting only one hit thus far in 20 at bats.

Sardinha and Treanor are both backup catchers, neither of whom provides much offense. However, they are each exceptional defenders, and Treanor, when healthy, has a great arm.

The real key to the bench is Larish. Though his plate discipline needs work, Larish has shown tremendous pop at the plate. With Thames Guillen injured and struggling, Larish will be given every opportunity to take the designated hitter position.

Barry Bonds spent time mentoring Larish a couple years ago, and the lefty would be well advised to model one part of his approach after the legendary former San Fransisco Giant- plate discipline. If he is able to wait for his pitch, he should be able to cut down on strikeouts while raising his walks.

Right now, the Tigers are winning while doing the little things. If they ever start hitting, they will be a dangerous club this season.

Unrequited Legacy: Are The Pistons The Most Underrated?

Jay Wierenga — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 19:59:41 -0400

This season is all but over for the Detroit Pistons. After their most recent showing in game two of their series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, it appears that this could be the end of the Pistons as we know them.

Their face bloodied, their bones weary and their heart broken, this group of Pistons are quickly limping off center court, ready to crawl home and regroup for next year.

It is obvious from the way they are playing that they have reached the end of their will to win, and all that is left is a broken former champ, easily bested by a younger, faster and stronger opponent.

Hats off to the LeBrons...er, the Cavs. While they have not always conducted themselves with class, they have earned their chance to challenge for the title.

While their stay at the top of the Eastern Conference will only last as long as their star stays in town (and this writer believes that the fateful day that the "King" walks away is only a year away), it is clear that with the injury to Kevin Garnett in Boston, Cleveland is the top team in the East.

Good for them.

The real story is where this leaves the legacy of the Detroit Pistons.

The Pistons of the past 20 years are the most underrated franchise in basketball.

Think about what the Pistons have done since 1989.

They have won three titles.

They have only missed the playoffs five times in the last 20 years.

They ended the reigns of the great Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers teams of the 1980's, beating both teams on their way to winning their first title in 1989. Neither team won another title with Larry Bird or Magic Johnson, respectively.

They linked those two great dynasties with arguably the best legacy of that era, the great Chicago Bulls teams of the 1990's that won six titles.

Just as they are now the last stepping stone for the most transcendent talent of this generation, LeBron James, they were also the last stepping stone for the most transcendent talent of any generation, Michael Jordan.

They reached six straight Conference Finals. The last team to have a similar streak to this was the Los Angeles Lakers of the 1980's who reached eight straight Conference Finals.

They ended the reign of the great Lakers team of the 2000's, defeating Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson in five games in what would be the last season in which all three would be together.

Similarly, they were the team that stood between Karl Malone and an elusive championship. In what many viewed as a form of poetic justice given the fact that Malone, who years before had given Isiah Thomas a cheap shot that required over 40 stitches, had chased a title by leaving his beloved Utah Jazz.

While many believe that the Pistons employed a style that was unwatchable, they were loved by their home town fans, selling out a record 259 straight home games. Additionally, most people blame the economy in Michigan for the end of the streak; Michigan currently leads the nation in unemployment with 12.8%.

Furthermore, the Pistons have led the league in attendance in six of the last seven seasons.

What truly is amazing about how the Pistons have won, is that they have done it as a true team. They are the only team to win titles without the benefit of an MVP. Not only did their team in 2004 win without an MVP on their team, but their 1989 and 1990 teams likewise were without a true superstar.

However, this is probably the greatest hindrance for the fame of the Pistons. They are regularly overlooked when great teams are discussed. The level of disdain or perhaps just apathy directed towards this franchise is undeniable. Columnists and prognosticators look past the Pistons because they are not a sexy team.

They do not have a superstar, and they do not score a ton of points. They are not known for their flash, but rather for their grit and defense.

This year the Pistons bucked that trend and brought in a superstar, Allen Iverson, and the results were disastrous. For the first time since 2001, the Pistons had a losing record.

Regardless, this has helped to cement the Pistons as a thorn in the side of the league. After the Pistons lost in the 2005 NBA Finals against a similar team, the San Antonio Spurs, the league changed many of their rules in order to tilt the advantage from the defense back to the offense.

The era of defensive-minded basketball was essentially bookended by the Pistons.

Now, as the former champs exit the stage, their legacy will likely exit with them. It will look a lot like they did as far as the rest of the league is concerned; no flash, no sizzle, and no lasting memory.

Just don't expect their fans to go quite so quietly.

Pistons Playoff Preview: This Could Be a Short Ride

Jay Wierenga — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 15:52:20 -0400

Well, now the Pistons know who they will be playing in the first round of the playoffs.

Sadly, it is the team the Pistons are least built to play in the opening round.

Had Detroit won their last two games, they likely would be playing the Orlando Magic in the first round, a team that the Pistons have owned over the past several years.

Had Detroit won their last game against the Chicago Bulls, they would have controlled their own destiny for the seventh seed, and a likely first round matchup with Boston.

Sure, Boston is the defending champion, but Kevin Garnett is dinged up and playing them in the first round would be the best time to play them.

Instead, the Pistons are stuck going up against LeBron James and the LeBrons, a team that has dominated Detroit this season.

So, what are the chances Detroit is able to pull off a huge upset and unseat the king?

About 5 percent.

You may counter that just a few years ago the Warriors topped the number one seeded Mavericks in seven games.

This is true, but there are not a lot of similarities to this situation. The Warriors were an upstart team using an unconventional lineup and capitalizing on mismatches, and the Mavs were a team that had never won anything, and were depending on a star that has never been known as a clutch player.

OK, half of that situation is similar. The Cavs have never won anything, and their star player is not known as Michael Jordan in the clutch. But James does create his own offense, and offense for his teammates, while Dirk Nowitzki does not.

But this is not about the Cavs; this is entirely about the Pistons.

If this had been just about any other year, this matchup would be fine for Detroit. Cleveland is not unbeatable. Not even close. Their defense is good, but it is not better than the Boston defense of a year ago. Their offense is good, but it is not as good as the Lakers of this year or last.

They are a good basketball team composed of good role players and one great player. In a seven game series, anything can happen. Especially for a team that has never won before.

The Pistons, with their battle-tested veterans and talented young players, should give the Cavs a good match, right?

Actually, this will probably end with a sweep, and not the kind that Pistons fans like. This team is tired of this terrible season, and they just want to limp into the sunset. Furthermore, they do not have a coach that is capable of pulling them out of this malaise.

Michael Curry has painfully failed at the one aspect that was supposed to separate him from Flip Saunders: forcing the veterans to play hard every night.

When we were given Curry, we were told that he was going to whip our laurel-sitting vets back into shape, inspiring them to the old days of Larry Brown while inserting the younger players into the rotation in order to give the vets more breathers so they will be fresh for the playoffs.

Instead, this season has been a circus. Of course, the Allen Iverson situation was not Curry or any of the other Pistons' fault. But Iverson could have been handled differently. Curry, once it was clear that the small ball lineup was not working, should have placed Iverson on the bench but given him starting minutes.

Sure, it's possible that Iverson would have balked anyway, but from his perspective, he had a first time coach that was grasping at straws and trying to tear down his legacy. Had Curry approached this with more confidence, some problems might have been avoided.

A team with one of the best scoring guards of all-time coming off the bench would have given Detroit an ace in the hole, and thus they would have a shot at beating the LeBrons. However, that lineup would have likely led to more wins, and they would not have had to worry about the Cavs for another round or two.

Instead, a tired, old, miserable team and their (to be extremely kind) novice coach will probably only make the first game close. After that, they will likely be so overmatched and frustrated they will self-destruct.

Don't get me wrong, I would love to see the Pistons win. I am the biggest Detroit fan you are likely to encounter, but I know my team. They are ready for this year to be over.

For argument's sake, let's take a look at the matchups and what would have to happen in order for Detroit to steal a few games, or even the series.

Center

This position represents one of the few interesting things about Cleveland. While they are basically a full-court team made up of athletic players, Zydrunas Ilgauskus is a lumbering giant, tailor-made for the half court.

Luckily, Detroit has a lot of big guys that they can throw at big Z. If Curry was smart, he would insert Kwame Brown into the starting lineup just to bang inside with Ilgauskus.

Instead, Rasheed Wallace will be forced to guard Ilgauskus, thus sapping some of his energy. This is a shame, since Wallace represents one of the true mismatches that Detroit has in their favor.

As a result, Wallace will likely park himself on the three-point line to conserve energy, thus negating the Pistons true post presence. In a lineup with Brown at the five spot, Wallace would shift over to power forward (or the bench) and frustrate the reckless Anderson Varejao. However, with Wallace at center, the advantage has to go slightly in Cleveland's favor.

Power Forward

Antonio McDyess has had a tremendous year for Detroit. He has seen his rebounding numbers jump to nearly 10 per game, the most he has picked up since the 2000-2001 season.

Varejao is a defensive-minded energy player that will crash the boards and run the court. McDyess will definitely be too much for the youngster, and if Curry is smart, he will run the pick and roll to death, and capitalize on McDyess' mid-range game. This advantage is Detroit's.

Small Forward

Obviously, this one goes to Cleveland, as their whole team is built around this position. However, the key to this matchup is Tayshaun Prince. Prince needs to force LeBron to play defense. While James has been anointed as the best player of all time by media pundits, one of the few weaknesses to his game is still his defensive ability.

Sure, James has shown flashes of brilliance on defense, but he needs to show that he can play an entire game with the focus and skill on both ends of the floor before he reaches Kobe Bryant, let alone his "Airness."

If Prince plays with aggressiveness on offense, it will force James to focus some energy on defense, as there is nobody in his starting lineup that can check Prince. If Curry is smart, he will get Prince involved early and often, putting him in isolation on the lower left box and running screens for him beneath the hoop.

Make James play defense, and you will open the door on a possible victory.

Shooting Guard

This represents the other obvious advantage for Detroit. Cleveland has a very small starting backcourt. We are talking Pistons in the 80s small. Of course, Rip Hamilton is known for playing smaller than his 6'7" body, due in large part to his slight frame, but Hamilton needs to take advantage of his height.

When Mo Williams is checking him, he needs to post up the smaller guard. When Delonte West is guarding him, Hamilton needs to resist the urge to post him up, as West is very strong for his size, and posting him up will just frustrate Rip. Instead, he needs to play his usual game of running off of screens and drawing contact.

For Detroit, in order to have a chance at winning, Hamilton needs to play amazing basketball. If Detroit wants to steal a few games, Hamilton will need to score at least 25 points per game. If Curry is smart, he will get the ball to Hamilton any chance he can, and give him carte blanche to shoot at any time.

For Cleveland, West and Daniel Gibson have found a niche that calls to mind the Grant Hill days in Detroit. Hill was the fasciliatator, and Lindsey Hunter and Joe Dumars camped out on the perimeter and launched jumpers. West and Gibson use James in the exact same way.

Point Guard

This is going to be an interesting matchup. Rodney Stuckey is bigger, stronger, and quicker than Williams. However, Williams has proven to be a dependable second scoring option for Cleveland. Williams can penetrate and shoot, and Detroit will have their hands full with him.

However, Stuckey has the size to give Williams trouble defensively, and the quickness to keep the point guard in front of him on offense.

But Stuckey has been inconsistent during the season, and at times he is prone to needless turnovers. In order for Detroit to have a shot, Stuckey will need to limit his mistakes and play within himself while running the offense and penetrating to set up his teammates.

So, no pressure, youngster!

If Stuckey plays the way he is capable of, he will give his team a chance at an upset. He needs to make this position an advantage for Detroit; if the position is even or goes in Cleveland's favor, the Cavs will sweep the Pistons.

The Bench

Cleveland has decent size on their bench, and they have players that can shoot the lights out. They have scorers and defenders, and most importantly, they have experience. What they likely will not have is Ben Wallace, so there is some cause for hope.

Detroit's bench is comprised almost exclusively of young, but talented players. Mainly, their bench players are known for their defensive skill, but there are some scorers in the bunch as well.

Many will say that the wild card for Detroit will be Will Bynum, and they may be correct. Bynum has shown a knack for scoring during crunch time over the past month, and he seems to know how to set up his teammates. However, Cleveland's guards are aptly suited to shut down Bynum.

The real key for Detroit's bench will be Jason Maxiell and Amir Johnson. If those two can provide a defensive spark and an ability to chase down loose balls and offensive rebounds, they could change the Pistons' prospects.

Overall, however, this appears to be an advantage for Cleveland.

So is there reason for optimism? Yes, but not for the reason you may be thinking. This is a perfect opportunity for Stuckey to assert himself as the leader of this team, and gain valuable experience.

This experience is paramount in order for Detroit to make a smooth transition from the Chauncey Billups era to the new era. This new era will be given a strong boost by what will likely be a lively offseason.

If Detroit is able to pick up a star front court player like Carlos Boozer or Chris Bosh, they will be in a position to catapult back up the Eastern Conference ladder.

By taking the reins and putting together an inspiring postseason performance, Stuckey can give the Pistons reason for hope, and some momentum heading towards next season.

That may be enough to get Wallace to re-sign for a much smaller number, giving Detroit a very strong roster composed equally of young and experienced players.

So, chin up, Pistons fans: There is reason for optimism regarding the future.

Just not the immediate future. Cavs in a sweep.

Reason for Optimism?:Detroit Tigers Show They Have Plenty of Bite Left

Jay Wierenga — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 19:52:27 -0400

For the throngs of Tiger fans and critics alike, today's game was for you.

For the talking heads and assorted prognosticators who have predicted another disappointing season in Detroit, today's game was for you.

For those who called for Jim Leyland to run for governor three years ago and are now calling for his head, today's game was for you.

And for those that think the city of Detroit is a walking corpse, today's game was for you.

At no time over the past couple seasons have the Tigers needed a victory more.

Sure, Detroit won a game in Toronto, thus avoiding the same fate as last year's disastrous club.

However, the loss on the following day sapped much of the slight optimism that had begun to pool in the corners of the sports pages.

Detroit needed an emphatic victory, and their kitties delivered in a resounding way, lassoing the Texas Rangers in a 15-2 affair on Friday afternoon.

Okay, I know what you are thinking. This was one game, and the Tigers are still one game below .500. I concede these points. But there is also a lot more reason for optimism than may initially be visible.

The reason that this game was so important was for the psyche of the players, as much as it was for the fans.

Those who felt burned by a drastically underachieving team last year needed to see a glimmer of hope.

Those who howl about Leyland and the overpaid yet under performing players needed to have a season home opener that would make them eat a little crow. Believe me, it goes down easier with a smuggled pocket flask of whiskey and an $8 beer chaser.

And those pitchers that waited in vain for their run support and the hitters that saw 0-0 opening scores turn quickly into insurmountable obstacles needed a day off from the cardiac arrest which was last season.

Let's take a look at what we have seen so far through five games.

The offense has been stellar, winning with both power and manufactured runs. Typical slow starters, like Miguel Cabrera, have flourished. A player looking for a bounce back season, Brandon Inge, has looked fantastic. Even the usually terrible hitter Gerald Laird managed to get a couple hits.

Defensively, the Tigers have been relatively consistent, although three players that the team has flaunted for their defensive prowess, Inge, Adam Everett and Ramon Santiago each have errors. Inge's in particular came at a very inopportune moment. Regardless, they have looked better, and their consistency will come with time.

The real story so far has been the pitching. The bullpen has been interesting to say the least. The two players brought in to lend a stable and steady hand, Juan Rincon and Brandon Lyon, have been lit up.

Meanwhile, the usually inconsistent Fernando Rodney looked great in his inning of work and rookie Ryan Perry has looked like a real gem in his two outings. Nate Robertson has been, well, Nate Robertson.

Additionally, the starting pitching has shown some real signs for hope. Edwin Jackson was a revelation in his start, Zach Miner looked great and Armando Galarraga picked up right where he left off last year. Those three, some might say, are the key to the season (at least in the early part of the year).

Justin Verlander got lit up, but that really shouldn't trouble you too much. After two great seasons saw him reach the upper echelon of starting pitchers, one season and a start or two will not undo that reputation. Verlander still has great stuff, and word is that he is still experimenting with new techniques on the mound.

Rookie Rick Porcello showed signs of electric stuff, and didn't get roughed up until the end of his outing. Look for the rookie to bounce back next week against an anemic Chicago White Sox offense.

The key for the starting staff will be to eat up innings, and they all have the capacity to do just that. If the rotation can continue to put up solid performances, Leyland will have a tough call to make when Jeremy Bonderman returns. I am betting that the old skipper is hoping to have such a problem.

Additionally, Verlander needs to calm down and realize that the entire club's success does not rest solely on his shoulders. This one great turn through the rotation should be enough to help the young right hander begin to right his ship. Look for him to have a strong six or seven inning outing Saturday, striking out at least four and giving up only three or four runs. You heard it here first!

This season has just begun, and it is impossible to know what will happen between now and October. However, the pessimists have dominated the airwaves and the web alike, predicting doom and gloom. Consider this a residual effect from the economic pain many are feeling right now.

It does not have to be like this, not in sports. The city of Detroit has had a tough year economically, not to mention sports-wise. The Pistons have had a disappointing season, currently limping their way into the playoffs. And while the Red Wings continue to dominate hockey, nothing can erase the disgraceful season the Lions put us through.

Therefore, a little negativity can be expected. However, huge groups of fans have completely written off the Tigers. To those critics, I offer a simple plea: get off the ledge!

This season has just begun, and your Tigers just pounded a very solid Texas team. Your starting rotation has looked great, and you have one of the greatest players in the game in Cabrera. Relax!

Perhaps my writing and heartfelt pleas will not deter the vitriolic detractors.

Perhaps the Detroit Tigers will do that themselves.

Here's Your "Answer": Critics Proven Right by Allen Iverson

Jay Wierenga — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 00:52:27 -0400

Well, that was fun.

After a roller-coaster ride, the Allen Iverson experiment in Detroit appears to be over.

And Pistons fans could not be happier about it.

Today, Joe Dumars announced that Iverson would miss the rest of the season.

“While he (Iverson) has played in our last three games, he is still feeling some discomfort and getting him physically ready to compete at the level he is accustomed to playing this late in the season does not seem possible at this point," Dumars told reporters in a written statement.

In other words, Iverson has become too much of a distraction to a team that is in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time this decade.

Make no mistake about it, Iverson is being given an early release from his Pistons playing days.

This represents quite an emphatic ending to the "superstar" chapter of his career.

After this latest season built on incident after incident of Iverson cementing his "me-first" persona, it is extremely unlikely that he will be given an opportunity to start for a contending team.

Furthermore, it is hard to imagine, given the current economic climate, that any team will be able to pony up the type of money that Iverson thinks that he is worth.

Sadly, there is an outside chance that Iverson may have played his last game as a professional in this country.

This may seem melodramatic, but Iverson has said outright that he would rather retire than face another season as a sixth man.

Of the teams that will have cap room, most are loaded with young players. Iverson is not your typical mentor. In fact, his legacy is one that should likely not be emulated.

His famous rant about practice is the last thing a coach wants a young player to hear, let alone imitate.

His style of play, one that requires him to be the first through fifth option on offense will also not play on a contender. Even in his prime, Iverson was only able to get close to winning once with teams built around him, and he is no longer in his prime.

Sure, Iverson has a lot of game left in him. But he no longer has the kind of game that he thinks he has. And no coach is going to hand over the keys to his franchise after the way that Iverson played for one of the classiest teams in basketball.

Let's review his time in Detroit.

After acquiring Iverson, the Pistons trademark defense, built on personal accountability as well as strong help side defense, took a big hit. Iverson is too small to guard shooting guards, and too undisciplined to play point guards.

In order to play Iverson at his natural shooting guard position, Rip Hamilton needed to shift over to the small forward position. This forced Tayshaun Prince into the power forward spot, leaving the Pistons completely vulnerable to larger teams.

While teams were exploiting the Detroit defense like never before, they were easily able to stop the Pistons on offense. The motion offense that Detroit employed became a series of one-on-one matchups that typically started with one of the back court players attempting to penetrate, and usually ended with a turnover.

Additionally, Iverson showed his disdain for practice yet again, missing a mandatory practice during the holiday season, drawing a suspension as well as the front office's ire.

More importantly, the Pistons were not winning.

Once it finally became apparent that the small ball experiment would no longer work, the Pistons moved Hamilton to the bench in order to avoid damaging Iverson's ego.

To his credit, Hamilton handled his demotion with class. However, it was obvious that the wrong man was sent to the bench. Iverson's style of play requires him to be the focal point of the offense, which does not mesh with the balanced offense that the Pistons regulars enjoy.

Iverson was much more suited to coming off the bench, and running an offense composed of role players that are young and athletic. Iverson would be matched up against second units, and he could have dominated.

But alas, Hamilton and his mid-range game was forced out.

As a result, everyone seemed miserable. More importantly, the Pistons were not winning.

Finally, the Pistons decided to end the madness and re-insert Hamilton into the starting lineup, moving Iverson to the bench.

Strangely, this coincided with a back injury that sidelined Iverson for an extended period of time.

The Iverson back injury turned into a soap opera in itself. Reports surfaced that Iverson shrouded his injury in mystery, secretly seeking his own diagnosis without his team's knowledge.

Noted strength and conditioning trainer Arnie Kander was left out of the loop regarding Iverson despite his past success with players such as Antonio McDyess.

Regardless, the whispers regarding the legitamacy of Iverson's injury reached a crescendo when on air personality Reggie Miller publicly questioned whether Iverson was using his injury to hold the Pistons' franchise hostage.

Serendipitously, Iverson suited up and began play just a week later, albeit from his new role on the bench.

Despite the fact that Iverson had told reporters that he would embrace his new role, he immediately questioned it once he began playing, telling anyone that would listen how miserable he was as a reserve.

That, apparently, was enough for Dumars.

Some people may view this drawn conclusion as a pessimistic one. Perhaps Dumars is doing this completely based on Iverson's injury.

Anything is possible.

But given the mysterious nature of Iverson's injury and the fact that there are still a number of games to play this season and postseason, it seems odd that Dumars would be shutting Iverson down so abruptly.

What Dumars is doing is removing the distraction. He is acknowledging that the Iverson experiment did not work. A trade that was made primarily for monetary reasons with the outside chance of giving the Pistons a new way to win in the short term essentially torpedoed the season for Detroit.

Think about what that means, not only for Detroit but for Iverson's legacy. The addition of a future hall of famer destroyed the season for the Pistons, and in order to attempt to salvage the playoffs they need to annex him back to his home.

Dumars is saying that the best chance for his team to win is for the superstar to leave.

Dumars finally found his kryptonite. He finally found a player that he could not bring on board to his way of basketball.

How bizarre that it would be a player that Dumars himself has respected for years based on his toughness.

Ironically, the addition of one of the toughest players in the league made Detroit soft.

Ironically, the little scorer, so admired for his toughness and determination, could not overcome his own ego, and was admittedly not strong enough to accept his new role.

Ironically, Dumars caved on his modus operandi of building a team composed of team players in order to bring in a superstar (a sign of adapting to a league that seems poised to embrace stars above teams) only to see the worst squad on his watch.

So Iverson is done in Detroit, likely heading to either a last place team or (gulp) Europe, and the Pistons are forced to soldier on without him.

And when Iverson shows up for his next job and claims to be willing to do whatever is asked of him, take a tip from the Pistons and try not to laugh out loud.

Forget LeBron: Why Dwyane Wade Is the Real Heir Apparent

Jay Wierenga — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 19:19:55 -0400

I need to admit a few things before I begin this editorial.

I am not a huge Dwyane Wade fan. To be honest, much of the way that I feel about Wade is tied to the fact that I am a Detroit Pistons fan, and my team has battled Wade for a number of years, and often times, those battles include controversy.

In the past, I have hammered Wade on a number of things. I hate how he has been receiving the superstar calls from the refs. Regardless of where you find yourself on the Wade issue, no one can argue that he benefits from foul calls.

Some of that has to do with the aggressive way he approaches the game. But part of that has to do with Commissioner David Stern's unapologetic need to sell his league based on his stars, and not his teams.

Stern took the wrong lesson from his league's heyday in the 1980's. People loved the stars, but the fans were more into each teams' greatness, than they were in the superstars.

That is why players from great teams, such as James Worthy and Kevin McHale, are remembered more than those with far superior numbers like Alex English and Dominique Wilkens. But I digress.

The other issue that I have with Wade is his toughness. A few years ago, there was an ad campaign involving Wade. The motto was "fall down seven times, get up eight." The implication was that Wade was tough. I get it.

However, when he was forced to deal with physical adversity, in the form of a dislocated shoulder, he absolutely broke down. A truly shaken Wade not only sobbed uncontrollably, but also had to be carted off in a wheelchair.

I understand that dislocated shoulders are painful. I know they hurt a lot. But to be completely immobilized for an upper body injury is weak.

Also, I understand that real men can cry, but to sob like an eight year old with a skinned knee is going to bring your toughness into question.

So that is where I am coming from. Given this perspective, what follows is even more stunning.

Dwyane Wade is not only the unquestionable Most Valuable Player in the NBA this year, but he is the closest thing to the embodiment of Michael Jordan that this league has seen since Kobe Bryant reached his peak a few years ago.

Wade has taken such a huge step forward in his development, that he has taken a mediocre team into the middle of the playoff pack. And while his team likely will not go far in the playoffs, watching Wade this year is a sight to behold.

Wade has had an interesting NBA career thus far. He began as a scoring point guard for a talented but very young Miami Heat team. But with the acquisition of Shaquille O'Neal and the strange firing/resignation of Stan Van Gundy, Wade was put into the position of shooting guard and he never looked back.

After winning the NBA Finals and finding himself thrust into the superstar echelon of the league, he took a noticeable step backward. Following their NBA Title in 2006, Wade and his teammates were obviously not ready for the following season.

O'Neal and Wade were out of shape, and nobody aside from Alonzo Mourning seemed to really care about repeating as champs.

Admittedly, Wade dealt with plenty of injuries during the 2007 and 2008 seasons. However, his added weight and lack of conditioning likely played a role in slowing him down.

Whether it was due to injury or a lack of focus, Wade looked as though he had lost a step last season. He usual burst was not there like it was in 2006, and as a result many of his stats were the worst since his rookie season.

Most importantly, Wade no longer seemed to be part of the discussion of the league's top players. Almost overnight he stopped getting his typical superstar foul calls, and the talking heads began to leave his name out of the MVP chatter.

But a funny thing happened on the way to the glue factory for Wade: He got motivated. Before the Summer Olympics in China, Wade seemed to be a new man. He spoke with passion about winning, and the need to redeem himself.

As a result, Wade was arguably the most important player in the Olympics, and a main reason why the U.S. was able to reclaim the gold medal.

Wade used that passion and re-dedication to the sport to hit the ground running. Instead of relying mostly on his jump shot like many players such as Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady have done to combat the risk of injury, Wade has become more aggressive.

As a direct result, Wade is getting to the free throw line nearly 10 times a game.

This season has seen Wade improve in every major statistical category, reaching career highs in steals, blocks, assists, rebounds and culminating in his league leading 29.8 points per game.

What is more impressive than his scoring ability is the fact that he has transformed his defensive prowess to Kobe-levels. He is second in the league in steals per game and his 244 combined steals and blocks is second only to Dwight Howard.

Of course, steals and blocks typically only show how good of a help side defender a player is, but Wade has developed his position defense as well.

Like Bryant, but unlike LeBron James, Wade usually draws the opponents top scoring option. He relishes this challenge and does so with zeal. Given this, his high help side defensive stats are even more impressive.

Additionally, Wade has made it a point to miss very little time on the court. After missing 31 games in each of the last two years, Wade has only sat out one game this year. Also, he is averaging a career high 38.6 minutes per game.

Perhaps what is the most impressive of all is where his team finds itself in the standings. Wade has led the mediocre at best Miami Heat team to the fifth position in the Eastern Conference.

The second best player on his team is an over-the-hill Jermaine O'Neal. He has a second-round rookie as his point guard and the highly touted rookie Michael Beasley is an undersized power forward that has struggled mightily with rebounding and defense.

His top front court defender, Shawn Marion, was shipped out of town, forcing Wade to cheat defensively toward the hoop.

Despite all of this, he does not complain or throw his teammates under the bus. He encourages those teammates by letting his play do his talking.

During the Heat's victory today against the Detroit Pistons, announcer Jeff Van Gundy repeated a comment that was made by Wade's rookie coach Erik Spoelstra, and it seemed to really sum up how special Wade has been this season.

To paraphrase, Spoelstra said for the Heat to win each game, Wade had to play like an MVP not only in every game, but on every possession.

Think about that. In an era of players taking games, not to mention plays off, here is a player that is taking it upon himself to lead his team on every possession.

Sure, Bryant did this following the departure of Shaquille O'Neal, but this level of commitment is better left compared to the early days of Jordan.

Before Jordan had Scottie Pippen and Phil Jackson, he was forced to play like superman on every play. He not only dominated on offense, but he was the best defensive player on the court.

He not only wanted to dominate, but he needed to dominate. He had a chip on his shoulder that reached back all the way to his sophomore year in high school when he was cut from the basketball team.

For Wade, he used the critic's words to his advantage. He knew that his best days were not in the rear-view mirror.

The title of this article is not meant as a slight to the LeBron James fans. James is, without a doubt, a once in a lifetime talent. He is tremendous. In all honesty, he will win the MVP award this year. It is his turn.

But James has not reached a new level this year that he was not at last year or the year before. Most of his stats have stayed the same; the only noticeable change is his scoring average, which has dropped a point and a half.

If he wins, it will be more of a mini lifetime achievement award. The only thing that has changed for James are his teammates. He no longer needs to play at a super human level for his team to win.

He can take a backseat during some games and allow his supporting cast to lead the way. Mo Williams is a very good scorer and Zydrunas Ilgauskus can be a dominant post presence.

If Wade is struggling, who is going to bail him out? Jammario Moon? Daquan Cook? Please. Wade needs to lead his team every night for them to even have a shot at winning.

This, by definition, shows his value.

So, are the Miami Heat going to be the sleeper team in the East, using their over achievement in the regular season to catapult them to another NBA Title? Not likely. During the playoffs, all teams and players play harder and one superstar can usually be overcome in a seven-game series.

But the way that Wade has raised his game will directly impact his young team in ways that might not be seen on paper this year, but it will likely lead them to become better in the years that follow.

Make no mistake about it, Wade is still a spring chicken. For all that he has accomplished, the man is only 27-years-old.

While he likely will not win a title or an MVP award this year, the way that he has re-defined his career will only benefit him over the years that come, and help him become even better as his teammates raise their level of play to complement his ability.

The league must take note, and witness the rising of a transcendent player.

And for a humble Pistons fan, this is a scary proposition indeed.

Trial by Fire: Is Rick Porcello Heading to Detroit?

Jay Wierenga — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 22:29:44 -0400

It is starting to get intriguing down in Lakeland, Fla.

What appeared to be the longshot of all longshots this Spring may indeed be coming to fruition, although not in the way many believed it would happen.

Rick Porcello, the Detroit Tigers first round draft pick way back in 2007, is a strong bet to make the rotation.

That alone would merit a "wow" sentiment. What may really blow your socks off is the idea that Porcello might not be the number five starter, but rather number four.

Heading into Spring Training, Tigers manager Jim Leyland expressed doubt about Porcello making the squad, saying he was "probably a long-shot."

The unofficial line was that Porcello was technically competing with Nate Robertson, Dontrelle Willis and Zach Miner for the fifth starting position in the Tigers rotation.

Unofficially, Porcello was being assessed, and depending on how well he pitched he would likely find himself in either Single-A (Lakeland) or Double-A (Erie) in the minor leagues.

However, not only has Porcello dazzled with his pitching, but his competition has essentially laid down a red carpet for the youngster.

In two games so far, Porcello has struck out three batters, walked none and looked mature beyond his years. His sinker has been described as a heavy ball, forcing hitters into groundballs that turn into double plays with the team's new attention to defense.

Robertson has struggled with his control and his velocity, although his most recent outing saw him improve. Furthermore, Robertson has seemed almost defiant about losing his starting gig, making comments in interviews with local newspapers that have had the fans howling.

Miner has appeared in four games, and now has a 9.00 ERA although he has only walked one batter in 10 innings. But Miner does not necessarily have to prove anything; his place as the team's long reliever and spot starter is secure.

The real story amongst Porcello's competitors has been Willis and his adventures on the mound.

His control issues have not gone away, and his progression has been uneven at best. He has walked five batters, and his ERA is a whopping 12.00!

That alone would have signaled a strong possibility that Porcello would make the team. What has strengthened his resume is the fact that Jeremy Bonderman has failed to bounce back from injury like the Tigers' brass had hoped.

If Bonderman fails to make the opening day roster, Porcello will be a shoo-in for the team. However, even if Bonderman makes the team, Porcello has become a strong bet to make the squad. Here's why.

New Blood

The Tigers rotation is in desperate need for some new life. Sure, the Edwin Jackson trade shakes up the rotation. But Jackson is an inning eater, not a savior. He will add legitimacy to the pitching staff and he will give the bullpen needed rest on the days he starts.

Verlander struggled last year as the focal point of the rotation, especially given the unsteady health of Kenny Rogers and Bonderman and the disaster which was the seasons of Willis and Robertson. Of course Galarraga was a pleasant surprise, but most people agree that Verlander tried to shoulder too much of the burden.

With the attention being focused on Porcello and solid play by Jackson, Galarraga and either Bonderman or Miner, Verlander will be able to calm down and win one game at a time.

Excitement

There is no mistaking that these are tough times economically. The dollars will be tighter than ever, and the fans will be less likely to hand them over to watch an under performing ball club.

Adding a new, exciting face will help that task. Porcello is the ultimate Detroit type of guy. He is quiet but intelligent. He is humble but confident. He speaks softly but with an edge.

The fans, once they get to know him, are going to love him. He will be the most popular Tigers pitcher since Jack Morris if he continues to perform at a high level.

Pitchers who can throw hard are very popular in baseball towns, and for better or worse that is still what Detroit is considered. If he continues to exhibit a strong sense of self and refuses to get rattled, Porcello's stuff is good enough to do the rest.

20-year-old professional players are exciting by definition, and 20-year-old pitching phenoms are probably the most exciting in all of sports. Detroit needs excitement, and Porcello will be able to put fans in the seats, plain and simple.

The Time is Now

There is no tomorrow for this Tigers team. This includes Leyland and even GM Dave Dombrowski. Everyone is playing for their jobs.

Typically the front office and the manager approach pitching phenoms with kid gloves. However, given their lack of job security, those kid gloves likely will be discarded. The best players, more so this year than ever before, will make the team.

If Leyland sees Porcello as the pitcher most likely to help his team win, Leyland will bring him to Detroit and not think twice about it.

He may even introduce him to any unwed women in his extended family.

Extenuating circumstances such as player contracts and egos will not and can not be considered in times of crisis. This is one of those times for the Tigers.

Furthermore, don't disregard owner Mike Illitch's role in this whole saga. Illitch knows all of the reasons mentioned above, and not one of them flies in the face of his goals for this team.

Of course there are risks involved with this experiment. Porcello could be shelled and lose his confidence.

The fans could be treated to the all-too-familiar disappointment that accompanies talent being wasted, and another destroyed phenom to be added to the ones that came before that now litter the side of the highway which is Tigers' history.

However, these are times that breed either hope or pessimism, and it's about time that hope won out.

At least in Detroit.

Top 10 Quarterbacks in NFL History

Jay Wierenga — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 16:11:54 -0400

The quarterback position is the most captivating in all of American sports. Kids grow up wanting to throw the winning touchdown in the Super Bowl, and do their best to emulate their heroes. Over the course of football history, there have been a handful of quarterbacks that not only transcended the sport, but captured the attention of the nation as a whole. With the draft fast approaching, and in honor of the poor soul that may find himself piloting my hapless Detroit Lions, we will explore the best signal callers in NFL history. Winning is one of the biggest criteria, although equally important is the quarterback's importance to his team. Even if John Elway had never won a title, he would have found himself on this list because of his excellence for the entirety of his career. The fact that he finally received a running game during the twilight of his career is icing on the cake, but it doesn't define his legacy on this list. Other criteria include versatility, clutch performance and statistics. Included in the stats is a touchdown versus interception rating (simply created by dividing touchdowns by interceptions) that I will call the T-Pick rating. So, without further ado, here are the top 10 quarterbacks in NFL history.

Begin Slideshow

Top 10 NBA Power Forwards of All Time

Jay Wierenga — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 16:39:08 -0500

In the fifth installment of this series, power forwards will be explored and ranked. In the first four installments, the other starting positions were covered. Of the five starting positions on a typical basketball team, this is by far the easiest to rank. There are a few reasons for this. Mainly, the power forward position has gone through a number of transformations. More so than any other position, this one has evolved. In the early days of basketball, this was a very important position. However, the game moved away from it, and as a result, there were a number of decades where this position was essentially a defensive helper. Basically, in the 1960's through the early 1980's, the power forward was essentially a shorter, less offensive minded center. Players like Charles Oakley and Michael Cage became the rule rather than the exception. For example, take a look at the All Star game from 1986. There were only two true power forwards, and they both played for the East (Kevin McHale and Buck Williams). The West was composed of back court players and small fowards and centers. The closest thing to a power forward on this team was James Worthy or MarquesJohnson, neither bigger than 225 pounds. By the late 80's, the power forward began to become the position it is today. In the current league, the power forward position is arguably more important than the center position, essentially for the first time since the 1950's. The criteria is similar to the center position in how the players are ranked. As far as stats go, scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage are important. Other factors include defensive ability, clutch ability, their importance to their era and of course winning. So, here are the top 10 power forwards in NBA history.

Begin Slideshow