Pistons-Heat: Rookie Coach Michael Curry Costs Detroit a Win

I’m beginning to think that Michael Curry was a better coach when he was a player.

Curry lost a nationally-televised game for the Pistons on Sunday against the Miami Heat at The Palace. At the very least, he robbed the Pistons of a chance to win it, which is practically the same thing.

Curry first lost his cool and then his head, which caused the Pistons to lose.

The Heat were down most of the game, but that’s not a concern anymore when you play the Pistons in Auburn Hills. It once was a frightening place to play for visiting teams.

Now, it’s more scary for the Pistons, truth be told.

So, the Heat spotted the Pistons a dozen or so points and stayed within four-to-eight points for most of the second half.

Then, as if sensing that they could snatch the game at will, they decided to nudge even closer in the fourth quarter. Finally, tired of playing catch-up, the Heat tied the game and eventually took the lead in the final minutes.

Curry lost the game, for good, at the very end, (more about that in a moment) but he didn’t do his team any favors down the stretch prior to the final buzzer.

During the game's final minutes, he used peculiar defensive assignments against Dwyane Wade, and he didn’t crack the whip when the Pistons went into statue mode offensively.

Despite these mistakes, the Pistons still held a 96-95 lead with 13 seconds to play, thanks to a Walter Herrmann three-pointer.

After that, the Pistons couldn’t corral a bobbled inbounds pass, and after some pinball action, the basketball landed in the hands of Udonis Haslem, who coaxed a soft eight-footer into the hoop for a 97-96 Heat lead.

Curry, when he was a player, was not much of a scorer.

He was known for being a lockdown defender and an analytical mind on the court. Those two traits, plus his work ethic, made him a basketball darling to the professional basketball observer.

During his two stints as a Piston, we often heard how Curry was good “coaching material” because he was a “coach on the floor.”

Well, Curry acted like a player at the end of Sunday’s game—a frustrated, out-of-control player. He was not the cool, calm, collected coach we expected.

Curry had issues throughout the fourth quarter with the way Wade was viewed through the officials’ eyes.

Get in line, coach!

So, Curry is upset that Wade is getting to the foul line on some suspects calls (his version) and he wonders why the same courtesy isn’t being extended on the other end.

Again, this issue is not unlike what goes on every night in every game that players like Wade, LeBron James, and Kobe Bryant participate in.

The Pistons’ talented young point guard Rodney Stuckey drove the lane in the final few seconds, and Wade was right there with him, contesting everything. Stuckey tried a shot, and Wade not only slapped it away, he managed to grab possession of the ball while staying a fraction of an inch inbounds.

He passed to a teammate, who was fouled. There was about a second left on the clock.

Curry couldn’t contain himself. For his outburst, he was given two technical fouls, and he was ejected from the game. He left the court, and the Pistons’ chances went with him.

Because of Curry’s temper tantrum, the Heat were able to toss in four free throws—two for the technicals and two for the foul.

The two extra technical foul free throws were killer. Had the Pistons been down, 99-96, they would at least have a fighting chance for a game-tying triple.

Instead, the Heat went on for the 101-96 win.

No one said it would be easy for Curry—a rookie head coach with just one year of assistant coaching experience under his belt.

No one could have foreseen the trade of Chauncey Billups for Allen Iverson, nor could anyone foresee the myriad of injuries to Pistons players who normally don’t miss much playing time.

Curry does not deserve all the blame for the Piston's 34-35 record.

But he has not done much to stem the tide either. Yesterday’s brain freeze, preceded by some "meh" coaching in the fourth quarter, was another example.

The ABC announcers were incredulous after Curry got himself thrown out.

“All you have to do is wait 0.6 seconds to complain!” screamed Jeff Van Gundy, himself a former coach.

But Curry could not wait. His rookie status reared its head at a most inopportune time.

Funny, but Michael Curry the player probably wouldn't have done that.

What is it about putting on the Armani suits that’s making him dumb?