Bleacher Report - Articles by Justin Sucher

Despite Injuries, Detroit Pistons are Still Underachieving

Justin Sucher — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:57:59 -0500

When a team loses its two best players to injuries, there's a very noticeable difference in the way a team performs without said players.

For the Detroit Pistons, their current slump is starting to wear old with Pistons fans, and some are even calling for change.

Now, I'm not a fan of what President Joe Dumars has put together in Detroit. I didn't think that Ben Gordon or Charlie Villanueva were what the team needed to start fresh, especially with the price tags that they came with.

However, the signings did give the team some flexibility in the backcourt and at the small forward position, which, as of late, has come in handy.

Even though Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince have been absent from the lineup for quite some time, I thought this Pistons team would still compete on a similar level that they would with Hamilton and Prince.

There's an obvious lack of defense without Prince, but Hamilton's scoring is definitely replaceable, as shown by Will Bynum and Ben Gordon.

But, the Pistons have lost five straight and seven of their last 10 games. In that stretch, the Pistons have scored over 100 points twice.

I could sit here and talk about all of the potential trades, which I could do forever, but I'm going to be a bit realistic and try and see what we can't fix in house.

Over the last stretch, the Pistons' best player has arguably been Will Bynum. You know, the backup point guard.

It's apparent that something isn't working with Rodney Stuckey, who is shooting just under 38 percent on the year. If you're worried about Bynum's ability to play the point rather than just score, you'll be happy to know that both players average four assists per game and Bynum is averaging less turnovers per game as well.

It may not be a massive overhaul, but it is a change nonetheless.

Another change that I wouldn't mind seeing is moving Austin Daye into the starting lineup. You picked the guy with your first-round pick, and while I understand he's not fully developed, you are managing to start a second-round pick over him.

At this point, there's really nothing to lose, so let's not see if he can't show some promise with an increased role.

To be honest, there isn't much that the Pistons can change without knowing the statuses of Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince.

Dumars won't make a trade without knowing a timeline for either player's return, but there's got to be some sort of change made to try and snap the team out of this funk that led to the winless road trip.

So, let's see a lineup of Will Bynum, Ben Gordon, Austin Daye, Charlie Villanueva, and Ben Wallace.

Why the Detroit Pistons Need To Trade Richard Hamilton

Justin Sucher — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 17:59:41 -0500

If there's one player on the Detroit Pistons in the last six years that you could define as consistent, Richard Hamilton is that guy.

He has led the Pistons in points per game since 2002 and provided much of the scoring on the team that prided itself on defense.

And, even though Hamilton hasn't shown any signs of decline, I'm not sure what was going through Joe Dumars' head when he gave him a three-year extension for $34 million.

Rip is set to make over $12 million in each of the next three years. When his contract expires in 2013 he will have just turned 35 years old.

Nobody questioned Dumars' logic at the time, but rather when the Pistons decided to spend $55 million on Ben Gordon. It is apparent that the plan is for Gordon to be the team's long-term shooting guard, which leaves Hamilton as the odd-man out.

The Pistons have not had the ideal start to the 2009 season. Hamilton has been absent for two of the team's games, but the frontcourt play has many people worried about the team's potential success this year.

In most cases, I, like most, wouldn't object to having a great sixth man coming off the bench. However, it has shown in the Pistons' first three games that there is an absence of scoring in the frontcourt.

Charlie Villanueva has yet to break out of his shell and other reserves like Kwame Brown and Ben Wallace aren't known for their offensive production.

If the opportunity presents itself, this team needs to strongly consider adding a scoring big man. I'm not sure what teams are looking to do or whether there's a market for Hamilton, but if there is, Dumars needs to pull the trigger, because if he doesn't, this season will be just as long, if not longer, than the 2008 season.

Many are pleading for the trade of Tayshaun Prince, and while I'm not necessarily against it, there is no player on the bench ready to assume the role that Tayshaun plays on this team.

Austin Daye is too underdeveloped to assume a starting role at this point, but maybe testing what the market would offer for Tayshaun in the offseason would be a smart move.

Carlos Boozer is an option that I would consider pursuing this season. It became known that Dumars was not a fan of the Boozer experience, and while I can't say I know him personally, I sure wouldn't mind having him on my team, regardless of whether it was a sign-and-trade or whether they let Boozer walk at the end of the year.

The financial flexibility that shedding Hamilton's contract would provide is worth the price of admission itself, which is why I am in favor of trading of Richard Hamilton.

Detroit Tigers Outlook: It's Time To Fire Jim Leyland

Justin Sucher — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 22:11:21 -0400

It's been a slow, painful ride, but the Detroit Tigers have managed to defy all odds and handed over the division title tonight in Minnesota. No team had ever blown a three game lead with four games to go until the Tigers did this season.

But, the past is the past, and there is no reason to reminisce about the less-than-stellar 2009 Tigers campaign any longer. We must look to the future and fill in some major voids that were apparent down the stretch.

First of all, it is my firm belief that Jim Leyland must be out as the team's manager. What he was able to do with this team was very impressive and he should be a strong candidate for manager of the year, but the team simply collapsed down the stretch and the team looked dead offensively.

The turmoil that has taken place within the team in the last few weeks has shown that this team needs something to stimulate the clubhouse and bringing in new blood is definitely a way to do so.

Along with new management, this team needs to take a serious look at the bottom of the batting order.

You can't have three guys hovering between the .230 and .240 marks. There's just no way to win baseball games when they are deemed as automatic outs. It was apparent tonight in Gerald Laird's performance that stellar defense is not going to suffice.

This team needs a new catcher and the farm system is not the method of choice. Trading for a catcher would be beneficial to this team, if the deal is right.

Along with a catcher, the Tigers need to address the shortstop position. Everett and Santiago are both adequate defensively, but there will be better options via free agency or trade.

Speaking of free agency, the Tigers may want to begin talks with Placido Polanco soon, because Scott Sizemore is not going to help this team contend. A short-term deal would be beneficial for both Polanco and the Tigers.

And then, there's Brandon Inge. He's definitely a defensive specialist, and while I don't think the Tigers are going to trade for another third baseman, he's not my first choice for now or the long-term.

They need to address the long-term third base replacement for Inge within the farm system so that when Inge's time is up, we will have a replacement ready.

Why The Detroit Tigers Should Bench Miguel Cabrera

Justin Sucher — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 21:05:08 -0400

The last week of Detroit Tigers' baseball has been utterly painful to watch. We've seen a team that has led the American League Central division by as many as seven games slowly hand the chance at the playoffs to another team.

And it's only been a week.

However, the Tigers' recent miserable play is not the subject of this article. In fact, the subject of this article concerns the Tigers' best player, Miguel Cabrera, and his lack of common sense and judgement.

For those who haven't noticed, Miguel Cabrera showed up for Saturday's game with some noticeable cuts and bruises on his face. Cabrera swatted any questions from the media with a simple statement that the scratches were from his dog.

However, earlier this morning, an official statement was made as to how Cabrera acquired the aforementioned cuts and bruises.

Following Friday's game with the Chicago White Sox, Cabrera joined some of his buddies from the visiting team at the Townsend Hotel in Birmingham.

Several hours and several drinks later, Cabrera proceeded to return to his home. However, his wife was not pleased with such partying the night before a game.

The couple continued to argue, which led to some physical abuse and a 911 call. Cabrera blew a .26 when police arrived on the scene.

There is no excuse for Cabrera to be drinking on the night before a game, regardless of whether it's just with friends at a bar. As high profile athletes, these guys should know what is expected of them. More importantly, they should know right from wrong.

I understand that he doesn't get to see guys from other teams too often, but if he doesn't get his head on straight, he'll have plenty of time in October when both the Tigers and White Sox aren't playing anymore.

If the Tigers do bench Cabrera, there's no doubt that Tigers fans would be livid. Cabrera has hit 30 homers and has knocked in 100 runs with a batting average well over .300.

Yet, I don't recall there being a rule that says it's acceptable to be out partying all night if you bat over .300.

The Tigers need to make an example of him for the sake of the countless kids who idolize him, other aspiring athletes, Major League Baseball, and most importantly, for the world of professional sports.

Even if Cabrera didn't commit any serious crime, he's going to lose the respect of many people in the sports world, I guarantee it.

Why the Detroit Tigers Don't Deserve to Make the Playoffs

Justin Sucher — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:08:40 -0400

If there was one manager in baseball who should be rewarded for what he's done this season, Jim Leyland is that guy.

He has piloted this Detroit Tigers team, who had no business making the playoffs, to the top of the American League Central standings for much of the 2009 season.

This team's pride and joy lies in the pitching staff, where a dominant trio of Justin Verlander, Edwin Jackson, and Rick Porcello have single-handedly won this team several games.

However, on the other end of the spectrum lies the Tigers' offense, which has been all but invisible throughout much of the season. Only Miguel Cabrera has a batting average over .300 this season, with Magglio Ordonez coming alive as of late just short at .297.

Curtis Granderson, the team's leadoff hitter, is in the midst of his worst offensive season since 2006. With a current average of just .251, Granderson is striking out at a rate of nearly once every four at-bats, which is rarely associated with any leadoff hitter in professional baseball.

Many believe that Granderson is not a leadoff hitter, which may be true. Yet, there has never been an issue with Granderson's production at the leadoff spot until now and frankly, there is no better option with speed comparable to Granderson's on the roster.

Throughout the last year or two, Curtis has transitioned from a leadoff hitter into a power hitter with the second-highest slugging percentage of the team's full-time starters.

Another player suffering from the same strikeout plague as Granderson is the Tigers' third baseman Brandon Inge. Inge strikes out at an even higher rate of 1.2 times for every four at-bats.

Like Granderson, Inge has turned into a power hitter as well, with the third-highest slugging percentage behind Inge and Cabrera.

You know something's not right when the Tigers' leadoff hitter and ninth hitters are the second and third highest source of power.

The Tigers' offensive woes don't stop there. Gerald Laird and Adam Everett, two other starters, are batting .229 and .235 respectively.

There's no way for me to sugarcoat any offensive production from either player. Laird and Everett have combined for two triples and seven home runs this season. That speaks for itself.

Placido Polanco, the team's full-time second baseman, is having his worst offensive season in the last decade. He's been extremely reliable for the Tigers since he's arrived, and believe me, I'm not taking what he has done for the team for granted.

But it's the facts that I am stating and I have to point out that this was not a good season for him. It may cost him some money as he will be looking for a new contract following the 2009 season.

There's no doubt that people who read this will criticize me for being a pessimist and not appreciating the fact that this team is still in contention for a playoff spot. I'm not a pessimist, I'm a realist.

With the lack of offense, this team is extremely lucky that this division is comparable to a strong minor league division. In any other division, the Tigers would be in third or fourth place.

If they happen to clinch the AL Central in the coming days, Jim Leyland should be the unanimous choice for Manager of the Year. He has taken one of the worst offensive teams in recent history and a half-depleted rotation into the month of October. That's not luck, that takes skill.

With the most important start of the 2009 season, Justin Verlander will take the mound tonight and as they finish out the season against the Minnesota Twins and the Chicago White Sox, we will see how much this Detroit Tigers team wants to keep playing.

Will they look like they have through much of 2009 or will they look like the team that put up 20 hits on the White Sox after being dealt a 5-0 deficit to begin the game?

2009-2010 Detroit Pistons Outlook: They Will Win 45 Games

Justin Sucher — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 23:18:39 -0400

It's been awhile since anybody's had to speculate on how the Detroit Pistons would perform heading into a new season.

The team has always had a certain flow that assured that they would cruise through the regular season without any major problems and then the playoffs roll around and at times, it seemed like there was a totally different team out there.

In another month, the new-look Pistons will take the floor with a new coach—and definitely a new ego.

With the recent acquisitions in both the rookie draft and free agency, the formerly-defensive Pistons will now pride themselves on offense, regardless of what any player or coach may say. They have the talent to score over 100 points a night, but how much they give up is the real question.

I don't think this roster is very talented as a whole, but I do think that the new guys on the team are talented.

That sentence may not make sense, but to put it simply, I believe this team will win some games based on individual performances rather than the usual team effort that the Pistons earned their reputation from.

Earlier in the summer, just after the team signed Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva, I predicted this team was worthy of 45 wins. I still stand by that prediction, which will likely earn the team anywhere between the sixth and eighth seeds in the Eastern Conference.

However, my prediction is based on the team's current roster, which I think will vary by the All-Star Break. It is my belief that Richard Hamilton's days as a Piston are numbered and that he will be packaged in a deal near the trade deadline, if not sooner.

It would eliminate any playing time discrepancy between Hamilton and Gordon, which is inevitable. Gordon is the team's two guard of the future. The sooner that this team can unload Hamilton's contract the better.

Stuckey and Bynum will join to be a decent one-two punch at the point, but I'm not expecting great things from either player. Stuckey's an inconsistent offensive player, but because of his ability to limit turnovers, he will be effective in this system.

Tayshaun Prince is another player that could be shipped out, but I believe that Austin Daye's development is the x-factor in Tayshaun's future in Detroit. Until Joe Dumars is comfortable with starting Daye, Tayshaun will be in a Piston uniform. DaJuan Summers should be an effective option off the bench in the near future.

Like Gordon, Charlie Villanueva is in the long-term plans for the team. He'll be a solid four who will take some of the scoring load off of Gordon and Hamilton, though his defensive deficiency may prove to be costly down the stretch. Jason Maxiell will return as the first post player off of the bench.

Center is the big question mark in the Motor City, with Chris Wilcox currently penciled in as the starter. Kwame Brown and Ben Wallace are the team's backup centers, but I do believe that a trade is possible for a guy like Marcus Camby or even Joel Przybilla down the road.

No further analysis of this team is required, because it's all a crapshoot. When you change coaches and bring in three new starters, there can't be any credible predictions, because nobody really knows how these guys will mesh. However, I will stand by this team and my prediction of 45 wins.

The Beginning of the End of Joe Dumars' Reign in Detroit

Justin Sucher — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 20:15:47 -0400

If you can't tell by now, I'm not very happy with the Detroit Pistons.

I wasn't necessarily against their decision to go out and spend $16 million right away, but when team President Joe Dumars came out today and said the team wasn't ready, I've decided to throw in the towel.

I've said before that this team has holes to fill before it can compete with the likes of Boston, Orlando, and Cleveland, and with today's decision to make long-time assistant coach John Kuester the team's head coach, the Pistons may have widened the gap that much more.

I can understand if the team was skeptical of bringing in a guy like Avery Johnson for the long term. Johnson's most notable for putting his ego ahead of the team, and for a rebuilding team, maybe a long-term contract wasn't the right move.

Yet, why not make him convince the team otherwise and give him a little more money in the first couple seasons to make it worth his while?

If there was one thing that Johnson brought to the table that made him a better candidate, it would have been his ability to shape Rodney Stuckey into a point guard.

I am aware of the fact that Kuester was a point guard at North Carolina and in the NBA, but Johnson was a much more successful player at the professional level.

However, I believe one man, Joe Dumars, did have something to say about the kind of coach he would choose to fill the void.

"We think it's best to move forward with a more experienced coach to get us through these times right now," said Dumars.

And with that, I don't think there was anyone who disagreed with him. Michael Curry was thrown into a rocky situation, which may have been handled better with additional time spent as an assistant.

Dumars continued to elaborate on what kind of coach he was looking for.

"That's probably a little bit too much for a first-time head coach," Dumars said. "It's a little unfair of me to put him in that kind of situation."

Absolutely. I don't think anyone wouldn't have preferred to keep Curry as an assistant with a different candidate selected last year for the job.

Wait, did Dumars just say he didn't want someone who would be in their first year of head coaching?

Oh yeah, he did.

Good thing Kuester has been a head coach for a long time.

Wait, he hasn't.

Kuester has been an assistant for 16 years now, which is fantastic. He has probably paid his dues and is ready to be a head coach in this league, but not for this team at this time.

I'm not necessarily against Kuester, but more against Dumars. He is slowly eroding away any credibility that this organization has by doing what he has.

Johnson was clearly the right choice, but because Dumars wouldn't meet him half way in terms of the contract's value or length, he goes out and finds a secondary choice.

Yet, Dumars' statement when the choice was made to bring in Kuester was, "We are in the same sort of transition mode as we were at the beginning of the Rick Carlisle era."

I'm not necessarily disagreeing with that statement, but when you're in a transition mode, you don't go out and overpay for two free agents who aren't "superstars."

Great teams are built with a foundation of a superstar whois taken in the draft. For example, Dwight Howard is the centerpiece in Orlando, LeBron James is the centerpiece in Cleveland, and Kevin Durant is the centerpiece in Oklahoma City.

These guys are great players, not Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva.

I'm not taking anything away from them, though. They're solid role players and can make a big contribution, but if this team is looking to get back to the type of basketball that this city has grown accustomed to, then giving that money to those type of players isn't the most efficient way to begin.

Essentially, this team traded Chauncey Billups and Rasheed Wallace for Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva. I wouldn't make that trade now, let alone after Wallace's contract expired. Ever.

So, I leave you with this bold prediction: The Los Angeles Clippers, the same team that won 19 games last year, will win as many or more games than the Detroit Pistons next season.

What Are The Detroit Tigers Waiting For?

Justin Sucher — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 17:32:15 -0400

As it stands, the Detroit Tigers sit atop the American League Central Division with a modest two-game lead. Yet, looks can be deceiving when you look at the AL Central.

This is definitely the worst division in the majors, with no team standing far above the others. At this point, the Tigers, Minnesota Twins and Chicago White Sox are the three teams that will contend for the division championship.

Now, it should be known that I'm not here to promote certain players that the Detroit Tigers should go after or players that they should look to trade, but I am here to question the team's motive as they head into the All Star Break.

Does this team want to win or are they content with being a mediocre team?

If the latter be the case, then you can stop reading here. Otherwise, you may continue on reading and wonder the same things that I am wondering.

Why haven't the Tigers made a move to try and extend their division lead and fill some weak areas in the depth chart?

There are certain players like Washington Nationals' outfielder Adam Dunn and Milwaukee Brewers' outfielder Corey Hart who have been rumored to be on the Tigers' wish list, but there haven't been any serious discussions with either team about a deal.

It is apparent that a proven outfielder is among the top priorities for the team at the deadline and bringing a power hitter like Dunn could prove to be the missing ingredient.

However, the Tigers don't have many pieces that they can part with. With a young, diminished farm system and no surplus players within the big league team, it is unknown as to what other teams may be interested in.

Like I said, this is more of a question than an article. I am curious to see how others feel about the Tigers' lack of change in a thus far mediocre season.

Where Do The Detroit Pistons Go From Here?

Justin Sucher — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:27:20 -0400

After making a huge splash in the free agency market, the Detroit Pistons still have some unfinished business awaiting.

Currently, the Pistons boast six players who will receive a majority of the playing time—Rodney Stuckey, Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, Kwame Brown and newcomers Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva. Jason Maxiell, Will Bynum and Arron Afflalo will play critical roles within the rotation as well.

However, most are unsatisfied with the current product and do believe that more moves are essential to the rebuilding process.

Tyson Chandler seems to be the name that is being mentioned the most when it comes to finding the inside presence that the Pistons currently lack.

The Hornets are actively shopping Chandler, which puzzles me as to why Dumars hasn't cashed in on the opportunity to land a defensive, high-flying center for less than he would have to give up for another of the same caliber.

A potential trade that was proposed by some insiders would send Kwame Brown and Jason Maxiell to New Orleans for Tyson Chandler, and maybe even Julian Wright.

Now, I have no problem with the Pistons making such a trade, under one stipulation: The Pistons' medical staff needs to be very thorough in any examination of Chandler if a trade is in fact made.

If you don't remember, a trade sending Chandler to Oklahoma City was nixed by the Thunder after Chandler failed the physical.

If he does pass the physical and is deemed healthy, then I would applaud the Pistons for making such a move.

The Pistons probably missed their opportunity to nab current Clipper Chris Kaman now that Zach Randolph was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies. However, I wouldn't necessarily dislike a trade for Marcus Camby.

He's very old, and probably close to retiring, but he could come in here and play a nice role until his contract expires at the end of next year. Then, the Pistons could part ways with him and pursue Tyson Chandler in free agency.

If the Pistons were to make such a move, and had a lineup of Stuckey, Hamilton, Prince, Villanueva, and Chandler with Gordon as the sixth man, I would agree that the team has made a successful turnaround in terms of talent.

Yet, that is just one scenario. Another way that the Pistons could address their lack of a big man would be to trade current two-guard Richard Hamilton.

There have been some rumblings of a Hamilton-Boozer swap, though I wouldn't see why Utah would be willing to do such a deal. Their main concern was Boozer's contract on their payroll for the upcoming year. Hamilton has four years left on his contract, which wouldn't make sense for the Jazz financially.

Yet, the Jazz do need to do something, because if they don't make some move and surround Deron Williams with talent, he could be on his way out of Utah as well.

There is no easy way to fix the Pistons. They quickly spent the bulk of their available money this year for two players who will provide them with inconsistent scoring and little defense.

Now, the Pistons have a large gap in the middle, which isn't the smartest thing due to the lack of true centers in the NBA.

Rebuilding a team in one year seems outrageous, and yet, the Pistons are aiming to complete such a feat. Great teams begin their renovations within the draft by choosing a franchise player and then surrounding that player with talent.

Financially, it's the best way to be successful and it makes that team look that much more appealing when it is time to rebuild once again.

The Pistons have some work to do, but not as much financial flexibility as they did 96 hours ago. My question to you is, what do you think the Pistons should do with the $3-$4 million remaining and an abundance of guards?

Pistons, Ben Gordon And Charlie Villanueva Equals 45 Wins

Justin Sucher — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:25:45 -0400

It was obvious that the Pistons were going to be major players in free agency this summer.

With nearly $20 million available to rebuild, Pistons GM Joe Dumars made it clear that he was going to try and lure multiple impact players to Detroit. And on the first day of free agency, he did just that.

Joe Dumars reached agreements with former Connecticut Huskies Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva. Gordon's deal is rumored to be approximately $55 million over five years, while Villanueva's is said to be worth at least $35 million over five years.

With Gordon and Villanueva making up about $14 to 15 million of the team's current available cap room, there is only about $3 to 5 million left for the team to play with.

However, just because the Pistons brought in these names, I am a firm believer that there is still much work to do. Gordon and Villanueva are not known for their defensive abilities, and as it stands, this team is going to rank very low in many defensive categories.

By bringing in Gordon, you would have to assume that Richard Hamilton is now on the trading block. Though, I don't know what's available at this point, a defensive center with exceptional rebounding abilities has to be near the top of the list. Unfortunately, there aren't too many in the league and if they were, they'd probably be unavailable.

There has been one in trade talks this off season, however.

Tyson Chandler is the first name that comes to mind when addressing the need for a center.

He's a great rebounder, shot blocker and defender in the paint. The Pistons may be able to capitalize on New Orleans' willingness to, more or less, give him away.

The Pistons could also try and trade for Chris Kaman, though now that Zach Randolph has been traded to the Grizzlies, it seems unlikely that the Clippers are willing to part ways with him as well.

Other than that, their options are slim.

The Pistons need to pray that Stuckey improves as a point guard and matures as a player. He's shown flashes of being a good guard, but is still very raw in terms of talent. If he doesn't develop, not only will the Pistons lack a center, they will lack a true point guard; the most important position on the court.

As for analyzing the Pistons' signings and off season as a whole, it is probably too soon. I don't see how Gordon and Villanueva are going to drastically improve this team, and while there weren't many options available in free agency, I think the money could have been spent more efficiently.

Depending on what Dumars is able to trade Hamilton for will set the tempo for the Pistons heading into the 2009 season.

I don't see the Pistons winning more than 45 games this year, and while that may be an improvement, there's not going to be much that the Pistons can do, in terms of flexibility, next summer.

2009 could be a long year for Pistons fans, but then again, maybe Dumars knows what he's doing.

He's made the right moves once in helping the Pistons to a NBA Championship and maybe he can do so again.

We'll find out soon.

The State of the Detroit Tigers

Justin Sucher — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 23:35:31 -0400

As we approach the All-Star break, the 2009 MLB season has yet to disappoint. Some players, such as Aaron Hill, have defied all odds by getting off to excellent starts, while others, such as Garrett Atkins, have been abysmal.

Teams like the Yankees, Dodgers, and Red Sox are elite once again, while teams like the Nationals and Orioles remain cellar-dwellers. But this year, the surprising story is the Detroit Tigers.

Heading into the season, many experts projected the Tigers to finish all over the standings. Their 2008 season was one of the most disappointing performances in baseball history and coming into this year, the team didn't look much, if any, better than last year's team.

With the additions of Edwin Jackson, Adam Everett, and Gerald Laird, it seemed as though Tigers President Dave Dombrowski was trying to fill large voids with decent talent. His decision to trade for Jackson looks to be promising thus far, but Laird is the worst hitter in the starting lineup and Everett's not much better.

Consistency is the Tigers' biggest enemy. There are times where they look like a playoff team and there are times where they look like a high school team. Even though the Tigers are in first place in the weakest division in recent memory, the Minnesota Twins are only a couple games behind the Tigers and are closing in quickly due to the Tigers' recent dry spell.

There are moves to be made for these Detroit Tigers, because this is not a playoff team and if Dombrowski wishes to redeem himself after the 2008 season, he's got some work to do.

Now, before I even speculate on what he could search for from now until the trade deadline, Tigers' fans have to realize something. There is nobody on this team that is either expendable or yields any value. Obviously, Curtis Granderson and Miguel Cabrera are going nowhere. None of the Tigers' fielders are going to be traded and the pitching staff is as good as it would ever be.

The Tigers' Minor League system is rather slim, with only a couple guys that would draw any interest. Wilkin Ramirez is the lone player who could possibly fetch an already-established player to help the Tigers, but other than that, it's slim picking.

There are rumors about the Tigers targeting Corey Hart, but his numbers aren't much better than the Tigers' current outfield.

Magglio Ordonez needs to be released as soon as possible because as it stands, he's the worst defensive right fielder in baseball, and he's hit nothing but singles. Ordonez hasn't hit a home run in 38 games.

As for the Tigers' starting pitching situation, there's not going to be much that they can do to heal that wound. Dontrelle Willis and Jeremy Bonderman are both at the end of their careers, and nobody's going to want either one of them.

The Tigers' bullpen, while not necessarily the greatest, has been as productive as ever.

Pedro Martinez is the lone free agent option at this point, and while I don't think he's a bad pitcher, I'm not sure if it's going to make the difference. The Tigers haven't even been rumored to be interested in Martinez.

There were other rumors circulating about targeting Roy Halladay, but if it's going to take Rick Porcello to get Halladay, it's probably not worth it. Potentially, a package of Wilkin Ramirez, Ryan Perry and, if need be, the Tigers' recent first-round pick Jacob Turner would do the trick.

A rotation of Halladay, Verlander, Jackson, and Porcello would be the best in baseball and could offset any horrendous numbers that the Tigers' offense puts up.

As I said before, there aren't many moves that the Detroit Tigers can make to bolster their lineup in the hunt to win the American League Central Division. Any move that can be made would require the Tigers to overpay, which is not something they can afford at this point.

Regardless of what Dombrowski does at this point, the future is bleak. In the next few years, the Tigers could be back to the Tigers of the 90s, which nobody wants to remember.

So, I ask the readers, what would you do with the 2009 Detroit Tigers?

Detroit Pistons Offseason To-Do List: Version Eight

Justin Sucher — Sun, 31 May 2009 13:01:49 -0400

I've said from the beginning that I didn't think Carlos Boozer was the right guy for the Detroit Pistons to go after in free agency. He's got a pretty big ego, and his loyalty is nonexistent, so signing this guy to be your star isn't necessarily the smartest move.

With that said, Boozer is an extremely talented player, and if he can stay healthy, he can win you games. The New York Post is reporting that some of the Jazz forward's closest confidants believe he'll be in either Detroit or New Jersey next year. So with a deal seeming very probable, I'm going to revolve this article around him.

Boozer would be a nice addition to the frontcourt in the absence of Rasheed Wallace, and such an acquisition would also take the scoring load off of Richard Hamilton. Also, if the Pistons are going to bring in Boozer, there's no need to look for a post player in the draft, and that'll open up new doors.

For example: some mock drafts are predicting Earl Clark to fall to the Pistons, which would make for an excellent choice for the team.

Bringing in Clark would mean that Tayshaun Prince is out, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Prince still has a lot of value in this league, and if the Pistons were going to look to trade for another starter instead of some sort of package, there are a couple possibilities that the Pistons could explore, but one that sticks out above the rest.

I've always been a Chris Kaman fan. He's one of the top centers in the NBA, and as long as he's healthy, he's a great asset for any team.

If the Pistons were to trade Prince for Kaman and Ricky Davis (assuming that he opts to return to the League), they would now have one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference again.

A lineup of Rodney Stuckey, Richard Hamilton, Earl Clark, Carlos Boozer, and Chris Kaman would be a team that would compete for years to come.

Yet, there is some news that would please those who may not favor the decision to sign Boozer. The Raptors are acknowlodging the fact that they could lose Boozer in to free agency after the 2009-2010 season.

There is a possibility that if the Pistons were able to sign Boozer this summer, that they would move him in a deal to Toronto for Chris Bosh. Most, if not all, would favor Bosh over Boozer in the Pistons' system, which would be the highlight of the rebuilding program that Joe D is going to proceed with.

Los Angeles Clippers Offseason To-Do List: Version Two

Justin Sucher — Tue, 26 May 2009 22:53:53 -0400

The Clippers have made a lot of noise since winning the draft lottery. With the first pick, the Clippers immediately announced that they would draft Blake Griffin.

Whether that was a publicity stunt to draw fans and sell tickets early is yet to be determined, but what is most pressing are the other moves that the Clippers need to make to become a relevant team again.

Baron Davis and Zach Randolph have been the earliest and most frequently named players to be on the trading block. Obviously, the Clippers are in the midst of a youth movement, which could bring the team back to life for years to come.

Whether they'll be able to trade Zach Randolph is a brain-buster. He's an absolute headcase and any team that wants to bring him in is completely trashing any consideration of team chemistry.

Randolph is strictly a guy who will score around 20 points a game and bring down a handful of rebounds, but at the expense of his less-than-stellar defense.

With that said, it seems as though the Clippers will probably have to hang on to him, or buy out his contract. I'm going to leave him out of the picture so that we can focus on another move that would benefit both teams that are involved.

There were rumors circulating early this week about the Warriors' interest in bringing back Baron Davis. They're short of a true point guard and this would allow Monta Ellis to either be traded or move down to the two.

The Warriors have the seventh overall pick in the upcoming draft, which could draw a lot of interest from the Clippers. Some sort of deal involving the pick and Baron Davis would be a match made in heaven.

Many mock drafts project Brandon Jennings to be the seventh pick in the upcoming draft. Jennings would fill the Clippers' void at the point guard position and would end any speculation of them selecting Rubio with the first pick.

A lineup of Jennings, Eric Gordon, Al Thornton, Blake Griffin and Chris Kaman would be a complete 180 degree turn and would rival the Portland Trailblazers and Oklahoma City Thunder for the up and coming teams of the future.

By doing such a move, the Clippers would also shed a hefty salary from the books and would make eating Randolph's contract much more tolerable. Whether the Clippers would take on any salary in the Davis trade is unknown, but it would be worth it for the time being.

The Clippers don't have to make too many moves and the moves that they do have to make are pretty clear to most NBA fans.

Fill in the blanks and bring in Blake Griffin and Brandon Jennings. Dare I predict a Clippers vs. Trailblazers matchup in the 2012 Western Conference Finals?

What To Expect From This Year's Detroit Lions

Justin Sucher — Tue, 26 May 2009 03:47:06 -0400

I'm not going to start off by trashing the Lions for what they did in the draft. In fact, I'm going to commend the Lions for what they've done since completing the historical, yet forgettable 0-16 season.

In all honesty, this has been the best offseason in recent memory for the Detroit Lions.

Regardless of what people may say, the Lions are in the midst of a multi-year rebuilding program. In no way was this draft or this free agent class going to restore the roar in Detroit.

Those who pick at the Lions' draft choices need to understand that the Lions managed to select players that most thought would be taken in the next draft. They'll address other needs as they see fit in next year's draft and free agency.

Lions fans are going to have to be patient with this team, because if they are, the dividends may be paid.

As controversial as it seems, the Lions could have drafted one of the best quarterbacks that the league will see in the next two decades or they may have chosen the next Ryan Leaf. Yet, the Lions are off to the right start in terms of Matthew Stafford's development.

In the perfect scenario, Stafford won't touch the field this year. He'll spend the year learning Scott Linehan's offense, which was ranked first or second in most offensive categories when paired with Daunte Culpepper from 2003-2004.

Some compare Stafford to previous Lions' quarterback Joey Harrington. However, they don't recall that Harrington was rushed onto the field due to Mike McMahon's injury. Yet, that wasn't the only issue with Harrington during his time with the Lions.

Harrington was plagued with an abnormal heart rhythm in 2002, which ultimately required surgery. He was never the same quarterback following the procedure, until he played the Lions when he was a member of the Miami Dolphins.

Nevertheless, Harrington's career went right down the toilet after his reign in Miami.

With the Lions' second pick in the first round, they selected Brandon Pettigrew, which turned many heads. Some praised the pick, while most have yet to stop criticizing it.

However, Lions fans have to realize that Pettigrew is an offensive lineman. He was the best blocking tight end in this year's draft and will give Daunte Culpepper another weapon in his receiving corps.

Teams who face Detroit focus most of their secondary's attention on Calvin Johnson, the best wide receiver in the National Football League. Yes, that's right. I firmly believe that on any other team, Johnson would have outperformed Larry Fitzgerald and Andre Johnson.

Now, with Pettigrew, teams will now have to focus on stopping the short passing game as well as the running game with an improved offensive line.

While some claim that the Lions did not address the defense, which needed all or most of the attention in the offseason, they did just the opposite.

The Lions now boast one of the top linebacker corps in the league. The defense has vastly improved with the additions of Julian Peterson and Larry Foote.

Even though the Lions have made significant advances in rebuilding such a troubled organization, fans will need to be patient with this year's team. You're not going to see a .500 team, so don't set the standards too high.

With that said, I wouldn't expect another 0-16 season or even a 1-15 season. You're going to get around three to five wins, which is huge improvement from last year. If you see any football team increase their previous win total by three or more games, they're doing something right.

Lions fans, I beg of you—please, just be patient.

Detroit Pistons' Offseason To-Do List: Version Seven

Justin Sucher — Mon, 25 May 2009 14:59:36 -0400

In each of the articles that I have written about the Detroit Pistons, I try to differentiate the various courses that Joe Dumars can take in rebuilding this franchise.

I have devised different plans that include bringing in true point guards, scoring machines, three-point specialists, and other superstar talents, as well as rebuilding through the draft and developing younger talent.

This article will be no different.

I believe there are other solutions in free agency that make Tayshaun Prince expendable. Personally, I don't know how much better Tayshaun can get. He's made it clear that he does not want to be the go-to guy and is more of a complement in a balanced lineup.

The one player that I would target first is Trevor Ariza. The Lakers' payroll situation makes it nearly impossible for them to retain Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom, and Ariza.

The Pistons can match or beat any offer that the Lakers will make, but Ariza won't demand the amount of money that other big name free agents may.

By bringing in Ariza, it would mean that Prince's days in Detroit are numbered. With Prince, I would target players like Amare Stoudamire, Chris Bosh, and David West.

Yet, the Hornets have made it known that West is most likely not leaving and the Pistons could probably do better than West with what they have to offer. The Raptors aren't sure that Bosh is going to stick around after next year and if they could agree to some sort of sign-and-trade, they would probably entertain offers.

The Pistons could offer a package of Prince, Amir Johnson, the 15th pick, and if need be, one of their three second-round picks in the upcoming draft for Bosh.

The Raptors would definitely look into a deal like this as would the Suns if a similar deal were offered for Stoudamire. Although, Stoudamire is definitely more inclined to stay in Phoenix than Bosh is to remain in Toronto.

With those two moves, the Pistons would have Rodney Stuckey, Rip Hamilton, Ariza, and Bosh. They would then only lack a true center in the starting lineup.

While there are only a few limited options in free agency, there are a couple guys who could do the job at a reasonable price.

Zaza Pachulia and Mehmet Okur are two guys who could fill the void quite nicely. Okur would spread the floor and leave Bosh to control the paint while Pachulia could do just about anything. Obviously, Pachulia would be less expensive than Okur, but if you want to be good, you've got to spend.

I still like the idea of bringing in Tyson Chandler at the right price. The Pistons could take advantage of the Hornets' financial situation, though if Peja Stojakovic were to retire, they'd be more inclined to keep Chandler.

Nevertheless, there are many options that the Pistons can explore and this was just another one of those options.

A Move That Could Keep LeBron in Cleveland for Years to Come

Justin Sucher — Sun, 24 May 2009 12:43:18 -0400

Whenever there are modifications within an organization, there is a trickle-down effect. At first, everything may run status quo, but as time progresses, there are changes that become apparent.

For the Cleveland Cavaliers, the pending transaction that would give a share of ownership to a group of Chinese businessmen could be the reason that the Cavaliers may win multiple championships in years to come.

JianHua Huang, a Chinese businessman who has played a key role in linking American and Chinese companies in the past, is leading a group of investors that would purchase a minority, yet substantial share in the Cavaliers' operating company.

While this may seem like an ordinary business transaction, there are a few factors to consider.

Not only would a group of investors from China, the highest-populated country in the world, have ownership in a franchise that boasts LeBron James, arguably the best player in basketball, but this group would link the hundreds of millions of basketball fans that have grown up watching the NBA right to LeBron James.

While James already has his fair share of fans around the world, he would now be the focal point of an organization that can provide more than say, New York?

James' endorsement offers would skyrocket and his annual salary from the Cavaliers would no longer be a significant factor in his ultimate decision.

LeBron would now experience something that Yao Ming has experienced since joining the league. Ming has arguably been the league's most popular international sensation and with new ownership, James could take that to the next level.

The Knicks, with James, aren't going to be as good as the Cavaliers with James, so there's no reason for him to cite talent if he were to leave.

If this group of investors officially purchases a stake in Cavaliers' ownership, you could see a large gap in the free agent class of 2010.

Detroit Pistons' Offseason To-Do List: Version Six

Justin Sucher — Fri, 22 May 2009 10:19:09 -0400

When trying to devise a plan that the Pistons could realistically take, there are a few needs that are more critical than others.

A true point guard is among the higher priorities as is a shot-blocking post player. While I could come up with some outlandish moves that would include scrapping the entire team, the actuality of all or any of them happening are slim.

So, here's something that could happen with only a few alterations.

As various media outlets have reported, Ricky Rubio has made it known that he does not want to be selected by the Thunder or Grizzlies, who own the second and third picks in the upcoming draft.

With both teams aware of Rubio's feelings, they could potentially talk to teams about trading down or trading out of this year's draft.

First, the Pistons should trade Richard Hamilton and both the 36th and 39th picks in the 2009 Draft for both of the Thunder's 2009 first-round picks (third and 25th)

Detroit would be able to select either Rubio or Thabeet with the second pick and fulfill one of their most apparent voids.

Now, for the sake of this article, I'm going to say that the Pistons take Thabeet. He's by far the best center in this draft and if you're looking to build a foundation, this is a guy that can anchor the paint.

Now that you've filled the shot-blocking and rebounding voids, it's time to find a point guard. For this trade to be worthwhile, a sign-and-trade would be imminent because this player is a restricted free agent this year.

My second suggestion: Trade Kwame Brown and the 15th pick in the 2009 draft for Raymond Felton

The Bobcats have made it clear that D.J. Augustin is their point guard of the future. The Pistons can take advantage of such a decision by offering the Bobcats a chance to redeem their 2005 draft mistake when they chose Felton, and the Pistons would be able to fill the void that they were hoping to fill with the 15th pick with the Thunder's late round pick.

Now, with these two moves, they will not only have filled two of their biggest needs, but cleared even more salary cap space to work with in free agency. With Felton, Stuckey, Prince, and Thabeet, there's only one or two players that need to be brought in to return this team to the Detroit Pistons we've come to known.

Obviously, a starting power forward is the first player to be looked for in free agency. If Paul Milsap does decide to hear what other teams have to offer, the Pistons should jump all over him. He would play an absolutely phenomenal role in Detroit's lineup.

David Lee isn't my first choice, but for what the Pistons need out of their power forward, he would be a guy who could come in and play the exact role that the team is looking for.

I'd also like to see what a guy like Charlie Villanueva could do in that lineup. He would provide some scoring that you wouldn't expect along with bringing down some rebounds.

Like I've said before, the Pistons have options galore. I try to come up with reasonable options that wouldn't completely destroy the team or what they've put together thus far. With all of my moves, I traded only one player, Richard Hamilton, and reordered the Pistons' priorities in the upcoming draft.

Yet, what still remains in the plan that I have devised is that the Pistons would have plenty of room to bring in a guy like Chris Bosh, LeBron James or Dwyane Wade in 2010, and while the reality of these guys signing with the Pistons is extremely slim, it is something to ponder.

The Los Angeles Clippers' Offseason To-Do List

Justin Sucher — Tue, 19 May 2009 23:39:36 -0400

After winning the NBA Draft Lottery, the Los Angeles Clippers have a few decisions to make.

Will they do the obvious and pick Blake Griffin...or will they surprise the league by selecting Ricky Rubio?

Other scenarios include trading down to the third pick or possibly trading the pick for other established players.

Personally, I believe that the Clippers have countless options as to what they could do this summer. There are a few players that the Clippers need to move or at least entertain offers for.

Obviously, the Clippers are going to want Griffin to come in and start to make an immediate impact. By doing so, they will need to move Zach Randolph. If the Clippers are able to, I would consider pursuing a guy like Kirk Hinrich.

The Clippers could use a true point guard who won't take shots away from Gordon, Thornton, or Griffin—and Hinrich is just that. The Bulls would have to part ways with a guy like Tim Thomas or Jerome James to make a deal work.

Bringing in Hinrich would eliminate any need for Baron Davis. I would revisit the earlier trade possibility of swapping him with Corey Maggette. Maggette has shown that he's a great sixth man and he would take some pressure off of the starters in terms of scoring.

While there are other scenarios that the Clippers could explore, drafting Griffin is definitely a good choice. He's shown his ability to score, single-handedly win games, and almost all experts believe that he will be a stud in the NBA.

Trading Randolph and Davis, if it doesn't necessarily win you games, at least rids you of two very large egos. Not only are they ridding themselves of two hot heads, but they bring in players who will play very important roles for the Clippers.

There's no doubt that a lineup of Hinrich, Gordon, Thornton, Griffin, and Kaman would be a step in the right direction.

Can you say playoffs?

What's Next For the Houston Rockets?

Justin Sucher — Mon, 18 May 2009 02:02:14 -0400

After a promising offseason acquisition, the Houston Rockets looked as though they could be a prime contender heading into 2009. With a roster that is highlighted by Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady, regardless of who the rest of the players are, you've got a solid base to build around.

Now, throw in defensive swingmen Ron Artest and Shane Battier, power forwards Luis Scola and Carl Landry, and a young, determined point guard in Aaron Brooks, and you've got yourself quite a roster.

However, not all was perfect in Houston.

In mid-November, Tracy McGrady injured his left knee—the knee that has plagued him for much of his career. It was determined that he would have to miss the entire season to fully rehabilitate the knee.

Yet, the Rockets kept firing on all cylinders and finished the regular season with a 53-29 record.

After a six-game defeat of the Portland Trailblazers in the first round of the playoffs, numerous NBA analysts believed that the Rockets would give the Lakers all that they could handle and possibly even defeat them.

Nevertheless, the Rockets would be bitten by the injury bug once again when Yao Ming went down with yet another broken foot in Game Four of the conference semifinals.

It seemed as though the Rockets' time in this year's postseason was all but over.

However, the Rockets persevered through games five and six and forced a Game Seven in which they were defeated by the Lakers. And that's where the story ends.

Now, there is no doubt that this Rockets' team needs a boost. They need to make a move or moves that will put them over the top.

There's no question that the talent is there, but the Rockets need to put together a polished product that can carry its regular season success into the playoffs and come out with something to show for their efforts.

But, what can be done to bolster this Houston lineup?

1. Trade Tracy McGrady

The team has shown that they can win without him. There are multiple teams out there with large expiring contracts that would be willing to deal for a good player.

Specifically, the New York Knicks are suitors for the guard. They can dangle both Larry Hughes' and Cuttino Mobley's expiring contracts and snag McGrady to go with Nate Robinson, Wilson Chandler, David Lee, and whoever else the Knicks are able to procure; potentially LeBron James?

2. Re-sign Ron Artest

There's no doubt that Artest is talented. Aside from his carnival haircuts and his often evident attitude, he's actually a very good player. He was one of, if not the reason the Rockets' success continued after McGrady went down, and if the Rockets want to remain competitive they need to lock him up.

3. Consider signing Allen Iverson

Now, being a Pistons fan, it's extremely hard to support Iverson. He came into Detroit and did absolutely none of what he said he would do and even ended up being banned from local establishments.

However, for the money that he's going to be offered, Houston could use his scoring if they were to trade McGrady. I'm not suggesting that he receive a starting role, but something similar to a sixth man role would be adequate and could potentially be the signing that takes them further than the conference semifinals.

While there are other moves that can be made, these seem like the most realistic. Odds are they're not going to build around T-Mac or let Artest walk without a good fight.

Yao's the only untouchable player in the organization and his contract is locked up in the jungles of Vietnam. The team will continue to put the pieces around Yao in order to remain the perennial playoff team that they are.

But until then, we wait.

Detroit Pistons Offseason To-Do List: Version Five

Justin Sucher — Sat, 16 May 2009 23:46:04 -0400

In previous versions of my Pistons' offseason plan predictions, I have discussed numerous paths that the team could take to rebuild the organization to what it was during those six consecutive conference finals appearances.

However, in this version, I explore another path that the team could explore during free agency. The player that I would target in free agency is one that has helped his team to a game seven against the Celtics. His name is Hedo Turkoglu.

Now, this plan will only work if Turkoglu opts out of the final year of his contract, which he is expected to do. And yet, he's not going to get you 20 points and 10 rebounds a night, but he will provide you with a three point threat to complement the other players in the starting lineup who aren't going to consistently nail those shots.

But, for the money that you're going to pay for Turkoglu, I would guess between $10 and $12 million, he will give you more defense than Ben Gordon, along with very similar offensive numbers.

If Dumars did bring in Turkoglu, it would mean that either Richard Hamilton's or Tayshaun Prince's days in Detroit are numbered. It would be interesting to see what Dumars would do though.

While Turkoglu is a forward, he and Hamilton are both known for their offensive games. Trading Prince would put a huge damper on the teams' defense.

Yet, like I said before, both Turkoglu and Prince are forwards. You wouldn't have that scorer that can come off screens and hit the mid-range jump shot. Yet, you could avoid this problem by just making Turkoglu your power forward. With this move, you would have one of the poorer rebounding teams in the league.

However, if a team like Orlando can do it, with Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu, and rely on the bulk of rebounds to be snagged up by their center, it seems as the Pistons could do something similar to that model.

Now, there's not a Dwight Howard that they can go out and get, but there are some serviceable centers that could be had.

Tyson Chandler would be my first choice, based on his defensive and rebounding abilities.

Stuckey, Hamilton, Prince, Turkoglu and Chandler would be a balanced lineup and about 75 percent of the cap room that the team has accumulated would be used up.

With a bench of Maxiell, Afflalo, Bynum, and potentially Ty Lawson or DeJuan Blair or Tyreke Evans, the Pistons would definitely be competing with the best in the Eastern Conference.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Fixing the Los Angeles Clippers

Justin Sucher — Wed, 13 May 2009 23:57:13 -0400

Alright, where to begin...

As a Clippers fan for the better part of a decade, this season was probably the most painful to watch. Not necessarily because of their less than stellar record, but because of the talent that this team has and the expectations that people had for them heading into the season.

With the numerous injuries that plagued the Clippers, whether it was Chris Kaman's lingering foot issue or Baron Davis' and Marcus Camby's minor ailments, the team was never completely healthy.

Not only were the Clippers having injury issues, but the acquisition of possibly the league's most notorious poison, Zach Randolph, put the icing on the cake. Personally, I don't care how much talent you have, because if you're a headcase, which Randolph fits the bill, you're not going to be the one to rehabilitate the Clippers.

But, that's enough dwelling on the past for one article. The reality is that the Clippers have some personnel issues that need to be addressed before anything is done with the roster.

First, Mike Dunleavy needs to be removed from his coaching post. He's way past his prime and there are numerous candidates who would be better fits for leading this team. Avery Johnson, Eddie Jordan, Scott Skiles, and possibly Stan Van Gundy are four candidates that could help resurrect this team.

Another change that would help the Clippers' causes would be Donald Sterling's selling of the team. There is no doubt that he is the worst owner in the NBA, if not all of professional sports. If you're looking for a complete 180-degree reversal, that would need to be the first step in rebuilding this franchise.

But the odds of that happening are slim. The team does have a top pick in the upcoming NBA draft and there are a few players that could help bring the Clippers out of the basement.

The Clippers have the third-highest odds of winning the lottery and earning the first selection. For the sake of this article, I will assume that the Clippers have the third pick

In terms of value, they couldn't go wrong with Hasheem Thabeet. Regardless of the Clippers having both Marcus Camby and Chris Kaman, Thabeet could spend the first year learning from one of the best centers in league history, in Camby, and improving both his offensive and defensive games.

However, by selecting Thabeet, it would mean that the team would need to move Chris Kaman in order to satisfy other needs.

Though, when you look at this Clippers roster, there isn't one evident need. They have two solid swingmen, Eric Gordon and Al Thornton, as well as established post players such as Marcus Camby, Chris Kaman and Zach Randolph, and Baron Davis as the point guard.

Obviously, Davis isn't the point guard of the future, so drafting one this year wouldn't be a bad idea.

One prospect that would fit in nicely with the Clippers is Brandon Jennings. However, I don't think Jennings is worthy of the third pick in this draft, which could possibly result in a draft day trade.

Tyreke Evans could be another prospect that the Clippers' radar. Whether he's set on being a combo guard or focusing more on one position would determine many teams' interest in Evans.

Obviously, if the Clippers were to get a higher pick, Ricky Rubio would be the obvious choice. He probably has the highest skill-set of any guard in this year's draft and would fit the description of the future point guard for the Clippers.

If the Clippers are looking to make trades, there are a few players that could net some value. Baron Davis was shopped heavily at the trade deadline this year, and the Clippers could possibly get some value for him. He does have a very long contract, which could shy some teams away.

Marcus Camby's contract is up at the end of next year and if the Clippers were to do so, they could probably get something in return for him. Other than that, there aren't too many moves that this team needs to make. The majority of the players are in the long-term plan and probably won't be moved any time soon.

The moral of the story is simple. Having a good front office is just as important as the talent that your team possesses. This year's Clippers team also shows how important chemistry is and how talent isn't.

Detroit Pistons Offseason To-Do List: Version Four

Justin Sucher — Wed, 13 May 2009 03:12:49 -0400

Every time I think about writing about the Pistons or search through the rumors that the various basketball blogs are reporting, I'm not sure what to think about certain rumors.

It's not the credibility of the sources that I am questioning, but what I am questioning is how these sources know what route President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars will take when he embarks on his journey that is rebuilding the Detroit Pistons.

Some people think that he'll look to add veterans to act as a stopgap and maybe add a superstar in free agency. Others believe that the draft will be the primary means of rebuilding.

There have been a few rumors that would involve the Pistons acquiring a top pick in this year's draft. One included the Pistons shipping Richard Hamilton for Earl Watson, Chucky Atkins and the Thunder's lottery pick.

Obviously, the trigger wouldn't be pulled by either team until after the lottery is held, to ensure that the pick doesn't fall too low or possibly earn the top pick, but the thought is a bit intriguing.

The general consensus is that this year's draft class is a bit weak. Aside from Blake Griffin, there aren't too many players that are going to come in and make an impact right away like the Kevin Durants and the Derrick Roses.

However, those who believe that this trade is a possibility believe that the Pistons would use the pick to acquire Hasheem Thabeet.

Yet again, these rumors are pure speculation. I have no insight that leads me to believe that Dumars plans on moving up to select Thabeet or even trading Hamilton. Though, the prospect of a 7'2" center is intriguing.

What would be even more intriguing is if the Pistons did select Thabeet and then selected Mullens with the 15th pick in the draft. Regardless of how far-fetched it may seem, I'd be curious to see a lineup that is comprised of a scoring backcourt and a defensive, shot-blocking frontcourt that includes two seven-footers.

Nevertheless, even if the Pistons were to pull off a move like this, they would still have nearly $18 million in cap space to make other moves to improve the team.

If the Pistons were to put out a lineup of Stuckey, Gordon, Prince, and Thabeet and maybe pull in a guy like Paul Milsap to fill the void at power forward, I would again be excited to watch the Pistons play next year.

But for now, there's work to do.

Detroit Pistons Offseason To-Do List: Version Three

Justin Sucher — Fri, 08 May 2009 18:31:04 -0400

As the second round of the 2009 NBA Playoffs progress, numerous teams who have fallen out of championship contention are beginning to lay the groundwork for their summer plans.

There are free agents who have said that they will opt out of their current contracts to earn a larger payday, while some will remain loyal and finish out their already large contracts.

As for the Detroit Pistons, there have been few, if any, clues given as to their summer targets. President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars has made it clear that he will use any resource available to improve the team, which includes current players on the roster.

In my previous write-up, I believed that the Pistons could lure the Hornets into trading both David West and Tyson Chandler. However, even though the Hornets are in the worst financial shape of any team in the league, team executives have made it known that West will more than likely not be traded.

Yet Tyson Chandler is still one player that could be traded to gain some breathing room.

Another big-name superstar that will be looking for a large contract is Ben Gordon. He was vital to the Bulls' success this year and nearly helped them upset the second-seeded Boston Celtics.

Gordon said that he would return to the Bulls if the world was perfect. Here's some breaking news for you, Ben: The world's not perfect.

The Pistons could use another scorer in their lineup. If they do plan on making Stuckey their point guard of the future, Gordon would be a very nice complement to have.

Nevertheless, if the Pistons did make the move to sign Gordon, it would put Richard Hamilton's future in Detroit in extreme jeopardy. Hamilton and Gordon are similar players, and for what Gordon's going to demand this summer, the Pistons don't need a $12 million sixth man.

So, what would the Pistons do with Richard Hamilton?

There are a few players that come to mind when looking at potential trades including Hamilton. In terms of salary, Andrew Bogut, Chris Kaman, Andris Biedrins, and Boris Diaw are all players that could fill a void for the Pistons.

Whether their respective teams are even looking to trade them or if they even have interest in Hamilton is another story. Yet, each of these players could come into Detroit and be a nice complement to their starting lineup.

However, there is one player that is not mentioned that I think would fly above the rest. If the Pistons had a lineup of Stuckey, Gordon, and Prince, this player would be a perfect fit at power forward. His name is Antawn Jamison, a member of the Washington Wizards.

After losing Gilbert Arenas for the year's entirety, the Wizards finished tied for the second-worst record in the NBA. The Wizards have a very good shot at landing the number one pick in the draft, which will be Blake Griffin.

If the Wizards were to trade Jamison, who is fresh off ankle surgery, for Hamilton, they would have a lineup of Arenas, Hamilton, Caron Butler and potentially Blake Griffin; one that would compete for home advantage in next year's playoffs.

Those who believe that Jamison possesses a health risk should be informed that he played in 81 of the 82 games last year and underwent surgery after the season ended. Hamilton, who had his own repertoire of injuries, played in only 67 games.

The Pistons would put the icing on the cake if they were able to snap up Tyson Chandler from the Hornets for Kwame Brown and a second round pick in the upcoming draft.

A lineup of Rodney Stuckey, Ben Gordon, Tayshaun Prince, Antawn Jamison, and Tyson Chandler would be one to be reckoned with.

Anything is possible in the NBA, but yet again, maybe it's just too good to be true.

Detroit Pistons' Revised Offseason To-Do List

Justin Sucher — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 18:38:01 -0400

As the summer progresses, I'm going to write about what I think would benefit the Pistons most as they look to rebuild from such a forgettable ending to a prodigious era of Detroit basketball.

Joe Dumars has made it known that each and every player is going to be evaluated and potentially used to improve the team:

"When you're at this point in your transition, you have to use whatever resource you have to get better. When I say resource, I'm talking players, too."

While there have been numerous rumors about players that the Pistons could try to obtain, they are not set on just one player. Carlos Boozer leads the free agent class of 2009, and the Pistons have been rumored to be a potential suitor for the forward.

I, however, no longer have any interest in bringing the forward to Detroit.

It's not that Boozer isn't a good player, because I'm sure he could come in here and make an immediate impact, but it's going to take more than one player to rebuild this team. Every dollar of the approximate $20 million that the Pistons will have to reconstruct the team must be spent wisely, which brings me to my first trade possibility.

The New Orleans Hornets are in dire financial trouble, and have made it clear that they are looking to shed salary. Before the trade deadline, they traded Tyson Chandler for two expiring contracts, but it was later rescinded due to health issues with Chandler. The Pistons are prime candidates to rescue the Hornets this offseason with the following potential trade offer.

The Pistons can do this by offering to trade Tayshaun Prince, Kwame Brown, their 2009 first-round pick and the Timberwolves' 2009 second-round pick for David West and Tyson Chandler.

At first sight, this seems a bit lopsided, but New Orleans would definitely entertain an offer similar to this. Many executives around the league value Prince highly and would be interested in his services, but David West is an all-star and will require a bit more than just Prince.

The Hornets would probably accept something along the lines of Chandler for Brown due to the immediate $7 million relief in salary from the trade, as well as Brown's $5 million expiring contract at the end of the year.

This year's draft is very top-heavy and is one of the weaker classes in recent memory. Yet, the Pistons would still have both their own and Toronto's second round pick in the draft as well. The trade would add roughly $6 million to the Pistons' salary for next year.

With this trade, the Pistons would have a lineup of Rodney Stuckey, Rip Hamilton, David West and Tyson Chandler with a hole at small forward. There are a few players in this year's free agent class that could help the Pistons immensely if they were to bring in West and Chandler.

Shawn Marion is high-profile player that will be looking for a big contract this summer. He's been an important part of the many successful seasons that the Suns have had in recent history and is one of the best defenders in the game today. Though I have no clue what he will demand this summer, chances are the swingman would be looking for $10-12 million per season; a salary that the Pistons could afford to pay.

Lamar Odom is also another player that, similar to Marion, is looking for a rather large payday. He would play the same role that Marion would, and could act as another scoring option to take the load off of Hamilton and West. He will also be looking for a contract similar to Marion.

The Pistons could also look to bring in another scoring guard and shift Hamilton to the three spot. Ben Gordon would be a prime candidate to fill the role and the Pistons have the money to lure him here.

With the economy in it's current standing, Carlos Boozer will probably earn around $15 million per season from his new team. Gordon will be a bit cheaper than Boozer and the Pistons have the money to offer.

Regardless of what the Pistons will do, there are plenty of options for Joe Dumars to explore. Whether he plans to make this a one-year plan or extend it with hopes of signing a big name in 2010, nobody knows. However, the city of Detroit will not stand for another year of mediocrity.

Joe Dumars, it's time; time to go to work.

The Detroit Pistons' Offseason To-Do List

Justin Sucher — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 02:15:56 -0400

With six straight conference finals appearances, the Detroit Pistons and the city of Detroit, alike, have grown accustomed to postseason success.

However, it became apparent that Piston fans weren't satisfied with only one championship and two finals appearances, and that the team would welcome change if it were to bring improvements and the possibility of another championship to the Motor City.

After a promising 2-0 start, President of Basketball Operations, Joe Dumars made a move that shocked the professional basketball world when he traded Chauncey Billups, Mr. Big Shot himself, and the one player that could be attributed with Detroit's past success, for Allen Iverson, Mr. Big Head himself, and the one player who can be deemed the most egotistical player in the NBA.

Now at first, NBA experts believed that bringing Iverson to Detroit would put the team over the top, citing Iverson's will to win as the main component, and the fact that he is probably the more talented player.

To make a long story short, the move completely backfired on the Pistons—leading to a sub .500 record and obvious chemistry issues within the team.

Nevertheless, the Pistons have somehow remained in the playoff picture and will likely secure the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference.

However, regardless of what does happen in this year's playoffs, it is a season that will be forgotten and it has become evident that immense change is necessary.

This summer will be an important one for Dumars and the Pistons organization, with nearly $38 million in salary cap space and multiple voids within the starting lineup.

While some believe that it will require multiple complex modifications, I believe that this Pistons team can be repaired, improved, and transformed into a contender with three rather simple moves.

With my first move, I would immediately sign Carlos Boozer.

It has become public knowledge that he is unhappy with his role in Utah and the possibility of coming off the bench has brought him greater displeasure still.

There is no doubt that Joe Dumars has the ability to lure players and Detroit seems like a place Boozer would fit in nicely.

If my math is correct, by linking my other two moves, the Pistons would have between $17 million and $18 million to offer the forward–which should be more than enough to lock him up for the long haul.

My second move would be to trade the team's first round pick in this year's draft to Chicago for Kirk Hinrich.

Depending on how much the Bulls are looking to get for the guard, the team may have to add a little in order to get the Bulls to pull the trigger.

He is clearly a better point guard option than Rodney Stuckey–averaging 16 points and six assists per game in the last three years.

Hinrich is due $9.5 million next season in a front-end loaded contract, and with Derrick Rose being the point guard of the future, the Bulls don't need a $9 million paperweight.

By completing both moves, the Pistons would add roughly $27 million to the payroll, but would feature a starting lineup of Kirk Hinrich, Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, and Carlos Boozer, with a question mark at the center position—which is where my third move comes into the picture.

For the finale, Joe Dumars would send Rodney Stuckey to the Los Angeles Clippers for Chris Kaman and the Clippers' 2009 second round pick.

Now, before I go into detail, when Dumars drafted Stuckey, his contract was thrown straight into the Bermuda Triangle.

Dumars will never, ever, ever trade Stuckey. It just won't happen. But, if the Pistons did do this, they would add roughly $9 million in salary, which would bring the total off-season spending spree to $36 million. Kaman, a top ten true center, has proven that he has a polished low-post game and that he can average a double-double, which is all that's really needed out of a Piston center. A frontcourt of Prince, Boozer and Kaman is among the best in the NBA.

Yet, with these three moves, the Pistons will once again have a formidable starting lineup consisting of Kirk Hinrich, Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, Carlos Boozer, and Chris Kaman.

Along with the starting five, the team would boast a bench of Will Bynum, Arron Afflalo, Jason Maxiell, and Kwame Brown as well as other pieces.

Detroit would immediately become a force to be reckoned with and would challenge Cleveland, Boston, and Orlando for years to come.

In retrospect, the reality of all or any of these changes being made are slim. However, each of these three moves would work within the limits of the salary cap and would clearly make the Pistons the contender that Detroit has grown used to.

But who knows what Joe Dumars has in stock. Maybe he'll trade Hamilton, Stuckey, and Tayshaun, or maybe he'll just stay put. Until then, we wait.

The Michigan State Spartans: They'll Be Back

Justin Sucher — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 03:44:07 -0400

And it's over. Just like that.

It is often said that all great things must come to an end, but unlike all fairy tales, that ending is never guaranteed to be a happy one.

And on Monday night, it was the end of an illustrious tournament run by the Michigan State Spartans. One that had the potential to be remembered as one of the greatest stories in college basketball history—one full of game-winning shots, magnificent dunks, and Cinderella stories.

But in the end, North Carolina proved to be the bigger, better team. 21 forced turnovers and each made shot after each made shot established the Tar Heels' dominance early in the National Championship game.

Nevertheless, this Michigan State basketball team will go down with the likes of the 1979 and 2000 championship teams. Overpowering upset-minded USC, holding off a late-blooming Kansas team, followed by two victories over number one seeds—who would have thought that Michigan State would be in the National Championship game. But, you know what? They were.

Yet, each game, a different player provided the spark that launched the Spartans into the next game. From Travis Walton's 18 point breakout against USC to Goran Suton's back-to-back superior performances against Kansas and Louisville to Raymar Morgan's resurgence against Connecticut in the Final Four, it was destiny in the making.

However, in retrospect, this North Carolina team was a once-in-a-decade roster—a team that reached the Final Four in 2008 and returned all five starters—all of whom will be playing in the NBA. There is no question that the Tar Heels were the more talented team.

But in March, heart supersedes talent. The NCAA Tournament is where George Mason, an eleven seed, makes it to the final four, beating Michigan State, North Carolina, Wichita State, and Connecticut on their way—solidifying the fact that anything is possible.

But what made this Michigan State team so special was their heart and soul. With the Final Four being held in Detroit, nearly 30 years after the everlasting team of Magic Johnson and Greg Kelser led Michigan State to it's first-ever National Championship, it seemed as though they were bound to end up in this game tonight.

Unfortunately, the end to this story was not that of an underdog, but that of a great trip for a great team. There's no doubt that this 2009 North Carolina Tar Heels team will go down in history as one of the best rosters in college basketball history.

Yet, it wasn't what happened on the court that made this last three weeks so special. It's the fact that this group of college kids from East Lansing, Michigan unified the State of Michigan and gave everybody something to cheer for, because regardless of a win or a loss, tomorrow we will still be in an economic recession.

In a time of need, we can not be greedy. Throughout the tournament, Tom Izzo carved his name in stone as one of the elite college basketball coaches today. Kalin Lucas proved that he is an elite guard in college basketball and Goran Suton proved that he can grind with the best of them in the paint.

With a record of 31-7, Michigan State failed to disappoint. From pep rallies at a Metropolitan Detroit Shopping Mall to the thousands of kids gathered in the Cedar Village apartment complex in East Lansing celebrating on a Saturday night, it is evident that Michigan State support runs deep. And next year, many things won't change. The Spartans will be back, as powerful as ever, and will compete for yet another Big Ten title.

However, there will be some changes. Teams will fear coming into the Breslin Center, with each of the nearly 4,000 students jumping and screaming at the top of their lungs in the Izzone. Teams will fear playing against Kalin Lucas and Raymar Morgan. Teams will fear Sparty.

Because next year, is their year.

When Is Enough, Enough?

Justin Sucher — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 11:24:32 -0500

As it stands right now, the Detroit Pistons are a mere five games over .500. Regardless of their winning record, this could possibly be the worst season in the last decade. I'm not talking about wins and losses. I'm talking about the chemistry and swagger that has defined Detroit basketball since they made their first run to the NBA finals.

When this team defeated the Lakers in the 2004 Finals, it wasn't with the amazing play by one of the best players in the league. It was by doing the dirty work and out working each team that they faced in their quest for success. The Pistons winning that championship sent a bold statement to the rest of the league: defense and hard work does win championships.

But if you look at this team on paper the current Pistons roster looks just as good, if not better, than the 2004 championship team. Rodney Stuckey, Antonio McDyess, Amir Johnson, and Jason Maxiell compared to Ben Wallace, Mehmet Okur, Mike James, and Corliss Williamson.

But if you notice, there is a void in the current lineup that can be found in that victorious team from a few years back. A center!

You can go back pretty damn far to find a championship team without a true center in their recipe for success. But why are the Pistons taking so long to address this issue? Are they going to address it when Allen Iverson comes off the books? Are they going to make a trade? Probably not. Everyday new rumors are thrown out as to what each team plans to do with their offseason cap space.

I have a solution.

Who would have thought to bench Richard Hamilton to try fixing this team. He's been the main reason we've done what we have and we just go ahead and bench him? Why not bench AI? He's worn out his welcome pretty fast already. If this team is so set on benching Hamilton, why not go one step further and trade the guy?

Now, there is one team in this league that has a plethora of centers, the Los Angeles Clippers. Granted they aren't the healthiest team in the league right now, but I'm sure that they'd welcome a change. Let's go ahead and try something that I have wanted for about the last four years. Bring Chris Kaman home. Trade Rip to Los Angeles in a deal for Chris Kaman and let's get that Center that we've been pretending Rasheed is.

It's not the wildest idea to ever go through the Rumor Mill, and I have no actual source that says the Pistons would ever think about doing this, but it couldn't hurt. I wouldn't pull the trigger now though. Chris has had some injury problems that he should attend to, but he has publicly stated that he's in no rush to return to the dreadful Clippers.

I'm sure a possible trade would cheer him up especially back to his hometown. Call me crazy. Call me stupid. But, it definitely couldn't hurt to change something here. Right now, it would be a miracle to see them make it out of the first round. But hey, who am I to rain on their parade?

Jim Schwartz: The Newest Former Head Coach of the Detroit Lions

Justin Sucher — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 22:37:42 -0500

Earlier this afternoon, former Tennessee Titans Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz was named the successor to Rod Marinelli as the Detroit Lions' Head Coach. Schwartz was the mastermind behind the top ranked Titans' defense, which was responsible for leading the team to their league-best 13-3 record.

While Schwartz may have been one of the more qualified candidates for the job, I can't seem to find much of an upside in the hiring. How much can one guy do with a team that has lost their last 17 games? Marinelli should not have received all of the hate from the city of Detroit as he did; head coaches aren't out there playing every down. However, he was one of the more lenient

In order to mend this team and turn it into a bearable product, players and coaches are going to have to work together. It's not a one-way street. It never has been. Whether Schwartz will be able to control his players will ultimately determine the fate of his future in Detroit and possibly professional football.

Meanwhile, Rod Marinelli was hired by the Chicago Bears as the defensive line coach and assistant head coach. I would not be shocked one bit if the Bears' D-Line becomes something special.

Many head coaches that are fired by the Lions go on to become successful elsewhere. Marty Mornhinweg has been very prosperous–leading the Philadelphia Eagles' offense to the NFC Championship this year.

Along with coaches, players who leave Detroit often play better elsewhere; not just football, but other professional sports as well. Luis Gonzalez, Jeff Garcia, Slava Kozlov, and most recently Jair Jurrjens have all played very well in other cities.

But back to Schwartz. He's had a very successful career in Tennessee, but the situation he comes into is just a failure waiting to happen. He will have to bring in a good set of coordinators and other coaches along with some nice pieces from Free Agency and the Rookie Draft in order to be competitive.

Nobody expects this team to be competitive, but that's what he'll have to do in order to overcome the odds.

Ultimately, Schwartz has high expectations set by the city. I don't think this team will win more than four games next year–and that's pretty generous for a team that hasn't won a game in over a year.

The Lions have some important decisions to make. With Sam Bradford foregoing the NFL to return to Oklahoma, it seems as Andre Smith is the most likely pick. Trading down is also an option, but I am more interested to see what they do with the Cowboys' pick that was acquired in return for Roy Williams.

Regardless of what the Lions do in the draft, it should be an interesting offseason. There should be some intriguing moves made by the organization in order to restore any sense of hope or fan base. Only time will tell.

Grizzlies to Blazers: Bite Me

Justin Sucher — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 12:48:50 -0500

With the NBA regular season nearly half over, there have been a plethora of trade rumors involving almost every team in the league. Raymond Felton, Eddy Curry, David Lee, Shawn Marion, and Mike Conley, Jr. are all big names being tossed around in the rumor wire. The media has had a field day with the Stephon Marbury dilemma—whose future with the Knicks is still at question.

However, the NBA is addressing a new controversy—something we have not seen from a professional basketball team.

Last week, the Portland Trailblazers sent an e-mail to the other 29 teams in the league threatening legal action if a team was to sign Darius Miles—who has two years and $18 Million left on his contract with the Blazers. If a team were to sign Miles, Portland would be required to pay the luxury tax.

Following the menacing letter, the Memphis Grizzlies were the first team to test the waters—signing Miles to a 10-day contract. The commissioner’s office has made it known that they will approve the signing. Miles must play in two games before the Trailblazers are presented with the $7.9 million tax. With the additional fee, the Blazers’ will take a hit to their salary cap space—putting a hurt on their off-season plans.

While the media has focused the majority of the attention on the Trailblazers and the NBA, Darius Miles is not making a big fuss about the e-mail.

"I was surprised by it," Miles said of Portland's email. "I didn't really get into it, just let it be. I let my agent, the Players Association, and the NBA take care this. I just stay away from it because I just want to be on a team and be somewhere I can call home."

You’ve got to feel bad for the guy. At this point in his career, after suffering from a significant knee injury, he’s not playing for the money. The Trailblazers are trying their hardest to keep him out of the league. Both parties could have easily resolved this issue with a contract buyout—allowing Miles to play for another team and the Blazers saving some of the money that they will lose from the Grizzlies’ acquisition.

“I want to leave this situation in the past," Miles said. "It was a bad situation for both parties. I learned from my experience there. I'll never get to a point like that with any other organization for the rest of my career. I'll never clash with any GMs or do anything like that.”

While Miles did sign with the Boston Celtics this offseason, their depth made it impossible for them to keep him with the team for the season. Memphis does not have the depth issues that Boston has, which could lead to a longer contract for Miles, depending on his play with the team.

If Miles does not get time in Memphis, it seems improbable that he will earn time with any other team. You could possibly see him exploring professional basketball overseas.

Either way, the guy deserves to play.

What Are the Pistons Waiting For?

Justin Sucher — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 00:23:50 -0500

As we approach the halfway mark in the 2008-09 NBA season, there have been some bright spots thus far and there have been some major disappointments as well.

The Boston Celtics began with a 27-2 start—a start that some thought could challenge the 1990 Chicago Bulls for the best regular season record of all time. Lately, the vision of that record has been crushed with six losses in their last eight games. The Oklahoma City Thunder, in their first season of existence, are off to a horrific start, recording only five wins in their first 36 games.

The Los Angeles Clippers have been depleted, with injuries to Chris Kaman, Zach Randolph, and Baron Davis this season. A roster that some believed could make some noise in the Western Conference is now fighting to put together a twelve man roster with all of their injuries.

Yet, there is another team that has failed to impress upon the rest of the league. This team has not been struck with the injuries that the Clippers have suffered from. This team doesn’t even have the dismal record that the Thunder have put together.

However, this team has already been ruled out of the race in the Eastern Conference—a team that has been a finalist for each of the last six years.

This team, as you should have already figured out, is the Detroit Pistons.

Fresh off a loss against the Portland Trailblazers, the Pistons were riding their first long winning streak of the year at seven. A streak that included games missed by both Richard Hamilton and Rasheed Wallace due to injuries.

Fans and the media alike questioned whether the Pistons had found their chemistry—with the breakout play of second-year guard Rodney Stuckey.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news to Pistons’ fans, but they’re not going to make it out of the second round with their play right now. It would be a push to put them in the upper half of the Eastern Conference playoff teams.

Until this team is able to snag up a shot-blocking, rebounding center, this team is not going to win ball games.

Over their seven game streak, the Pistons beat one team with over a .500 record—the Orlando Magic. Two of their wins were over the Kings and Clippers—two of the bottom-dwellers in the Western Conference.

Yet, in their games against Chicago, Oklahoma City, and Los Angeles, just to name a few, they were able to secure double-digit leads. In each of those games, they allowed the opposing team to get right back into it—with Allen Iverson playing the role of the savior in a couple of them.

These are games that good teams are supposed to win. When fans get excited over a streak like the Pistons just had, something’s not right. We’ve grown accustom to winning basketball in Detroit.

Much of what I am saying is probably old news to many readers. However, what are Joe Dumars’ plans for this season?

We all know that the main reason of the Iverson trade was to clear salary for the upcoming free agency boom. However, with a team that has come extremely close to the NBA Finals for the last six years; you don’t just destroy that success to prepare for something that may not even be a factor when the time comes.

There is no chance that LeBron comes to Detroit. Zero. Zilch. Wade could be on his way to the Windy City, and Bosh could be headed to New York. We can sit here and dream of what it would be like to snag up one of those superstars, but the reality is that we are two years away from any possibility. Are we just going to forget about the next two seasons?

Dumars must have something up his sleeve, because it seems the obvious and right move would be to perfect this team now. Make the small changes. Get a center!

If the Pistons wish to reclaim their spot in the top tier of the Eastern Conference, change needs to be made.

Obviously, Joe Dumars has his own reasoning for everything he does—whether it’s right or wrong is in the eye of the beholder.

But what can we do? We’re just the fans. I can tell you that the city of Detroit will not sit and watch another mediocre professional sports team. The Pistons and Red Wings are the only pride and joys of the city.

Maybe Dumars will prove us all wrong. Maybe he will make another blockbuster move before the deadline. Maybe he’ll read this very article and go out there and get a center. But until that happens, I’ll keep writing.

In Dumars we trust?