From McCoskey's blog that is not a blog. Your thoughts?

DETNEWS | Weblog | Pistons

The loss of BBeen was a punch to the chest. It's going to be awhile be fore we find out who we are.

No Ben = No fun?

That sounds like BS to me. I thought Ben was the grumpy malcontent Piston. I saw him hustle shake and bake some dude last week, and he was all high fives and hip-hip-hoorays!

One thing I gotta say. We can't get somber or down here.

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Nov 13 LW Milan Lucic had an active night. He scored his first goal in eight games since his Oct. 25 hat trick and also pounded Michael Komisarek in a third-period fight. Lucic cut his hand in a fight with Michael Komisarek. "I'll be fine," he said. "(X-rays are) negative, but there's so many broken bones in there from before you can't really tell."

BBeen with a S & B that is reason for celebration.

I said in the Portland thread that this team doesn't know how to kick someone when they're down, that they just don't get embarassed regardless of how foolish they look on the floor. One or the other of the players has shown some spunk at times during the season so far, but nothing consistent and no more than one at a time.

I've even called them tin-men wandering through Oz looking for a wizard to give them a heart. The Low (and others) will suggest that is the job of the coach and you need look no farther. That's right as far as it goes, but I'm not sure I believe that even with ----- (insert firebrand future HOF coach of your choice) much will change because I'm not sure all the players want to meet a coach halfway. (And perhaps I'm being unfair to the players, but so be it.)

I think McCloskey could be right and I'm not sure how you go about fixing it. I think Flip's Xs and Os are good enough, and I think Nazr with Dice and others behind him is good enough. I'm just not sure the hearts (including Flip's) are good enough. And as for the fans at the Palace - maybe they're like animals who can sense a disaster before it hits.

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"But first, are you experienced? Or have you you ever been experienced? Well, I have."
Jimi

I've never been to a game, so I can't really comment on that aspect of it.

I can only speak for myself, obviously, but for me I kind of felt it starting in the Cavs series last year. It was that little feeling I had deep down that this could be the beginning of the end.

Its just seemed to snowball since then. The Miami series made it worse. Then Ben leaving. Then the crack down on T's. The team's slow start this season and Flip's refusal to play the bench.

The future isn't looking like all roses either. Our Orlando pick is looking worse and worse each game. CB is a free agent this season. We have very few tradeable assets. No cap room. etc. etc.

I don't want to sound all doom and gloom. Heck, we could still win the championship this season. Our core group is still young. We have some potential on the bench.

I'm just saying that for me personally, I lost that sense of invincibility/innocence last season. I feel like 1 false move could send us crashing back to the Teal Years, but at the same time, I also feel like we're only 1 solid move away from regaining that swagger.

Excellent summary. It's a weird place to be isn't it?

What has become crystal clear is that we're lacking an energy player... someone with raw athletisism that can make things happen just by his quickness and hustle.
They look like they're just plodding along... I could count on one hand how many times Chauncey has made a transition bucket.... even when they create T.O's they slowly set it up in their half court sets.
We need a player that can pick pockets and motor down for the highest % shot in the game (dunks)... if the player has a quick first step he'll get to the line (the 2nd highest % shot).

They're playing boring/predictable ball right now.... this is why Carlisle never won anything big.

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With politicians the future lies ahead

Allen Iverson...anyone?

AI plays hard, but he doesn't seem to have much "joy" either. He's all chip-on-shoulder energy.

How about using Dupree's energy in the same way that the Magic use Bo Outlaw?