The truth is that Chauncey has run his course in Detroit. He hasn't made the team better when he's ran the show since 2004. He doesn't handle success well and it shows based upon how the team performed in 2005 and 2006. Detroit should work out some type of sign-and-trade deal with Mr. Big Shot but he should not be in a Pistons' uniform next season.

Just based upon Chauncey not making the team just as good or better shows me that it was the bench that made Billups look good. A deep frontline of Williamson, Campbell, and Okur along with Hunter and James made Chauncey and Rasheed look better than they were. When those guys left, then Sheed was exposed for his passive mindset while Chauncey was exposed for not being able to elevate the level or fulfill the potiential of his team while he's the leader.

Think of the fact that Detroit coul've won 3 straight titles and this year vie for their 4th title in 4 years! Why isn't this the reality? Chauncey Billups. You can blame the coaching staff all you want but if you are the leader while your team has veterans and you don't get it done, it's on you. I will agree that Saunders was a bad hire, but whatever happened to players taking the responsibility for their own championship success? Remember, they lost with Larry Brown versus San Antonio in 2005...this tells me that the guys just didn't fulfill their potiential. I blame Billups because he's the leader. If he's going to get all this credit when they win, he has to be responsible for the mindset and dedication of his team and how they go about playing every night. Isiah, Magic, Bird, Jordan, Olajuwon, Duncan, and Shaq have all been leaders and set the tone for how their teams play. Chauncey was MVP of the Finals and ate up all that success but hasn't done jack since.

What should Detroit do? First of all they aren't going to win the title. They'll get kicked out of the second round by Chicago, Cleveland, or Miami. They should fire Flip Saunders and hire Bill Laimbeer. They should work out a sign-and-trade deal for a scorer or a big man. Do a sign-and-trade Billups to Atlanta for Joe Johnson and Hire Laimbeer and Mahorn to make this frontline tougher. We could also deal Rip, McDyess, Mohammad and Murray for Zach Randolph and Jamal McGlore. We could re-sign Alex Acker for a good price while bringing in C- Cheick Samb from overseas.


Starters: PG-Johnson, 2G-Delfino, C-McGlore, PF-Randolph, SF-Prince
Bench: PG-Blalock, 2G-Acker, C-Sheed, PF-Maxiell, SF-Amir Johnson, C-Samb, C-Davis.....We also have those two first round picks and could pick up some good free agents.

We'll be fine, just need to make those key changes to make our team successful and big up front along with great coaching by Laimbeer and Mahorn.

Is this another fantasy thread?

Magloire, Johnson, Randolph, Acker, Samb, resign Davis, get Laimbeer + Mahorn.

That's 8 guys who are not currently on the Pistons.

And you're proposing to get rid of Chuancey, Rip, Sheed, Dyess, Murray, and Nazr? 4 all-stars, an emerging backup, and our albatross.

Why would you get rid of Rip?

The good news is that there would be a lot of takers... except for Murray and Nazr as we recently discovered.


Who would you recommend drafting with our #1 draft pick in '08?

I think this is a tad bit extreme. We have just as good of a chance of winning as anyone this year. I appreciate the analysis though.

Well this post does seem awfully familiar....seems like I have read numerous other posts like this...just can't put my finger on where I've read them.

You make some changes that some will take issue with. Amir Johnson at starting pg is going to be a hard sell for one but I guess that's what you call thinking outside the box?

Bringing in Cheikh Samb...that one is safely outside the old box too...I'd say.

Others might quibble with some of the minor points you mentioned but I'm sure if you keep hammering your points home you will win many folks over.

He was talking about Joe Johnson, not Amir Johnson.

All roads lead to PF.com.

Yes, it pays to build on the interstate. The lucrative "coot" market is all ours.

LOL. Remember when he carried on a full conversation with himself as HomeSick and then forgot which person he actually was? That was a classic.

Puff puff pass...

I am all for slight tweaks to the team. I may even go as far as getting rid of two starters but this is totally extreme to get rid of so many players at one time. Getting rid of all these guy's and bring in all these new pieces doesn't guarantee the team will be more competitive. You have to have team chemistry.

No doubt that the Pistons would have beaten the Nuggets tonight by at least 15 if it weren't for C-Bill. The guy just has to go no doubt about it.