There is a common thread over the last 4 years on why we keep falling short. And it is not a specific player. The reason why we keep falling short is because we keep making the same mistake. What mistake is that you say? First of all I must ask you a question, and the correct answer will lead us to the answer on why we keep failing. My question to you is how close have we come to winning more than one championship the last six years? I submit to you that it is more than two. We were so close, if we only had one more quality player, I mean quality player, we could have easily seen a threepeat. Easily. Each year we have made the same mistake. We have a boatload of babies on our bench. IF WE DO NOT PACKAGE A GROUP OF THESE NEWBIES TOGETHER AND TRADE THEM FOR A QUALITY, QUALITY PLAYER OR TWO WE WILL FALL SHORT AGAIN.

It's really not that hard to figure out. Our sixth, seventh, and eighth players need to be high quality backups. Ones who know how to win. Please Dumars. We have some highly qualified newbies. We cannot hold on to all of these guys like we have done over the last few years if we want to win championships. Trade some of them for a Big Guy who can dominate in the paint. I'd rather our sixth seventh and eighth guys be great and the rest of our bench be babes who are learning, then to have all of them very good newbies. If we want to keep making the same mistake every year, then we should not be surprised if we keep having the same results.

I kinda think we missed a huge opportunity just this summer. I had a very strong feeling Josh Smith was to be had until Memphis had to eff matters up. I don't like the idea of stockpiling. Boston was just very fortunate, and they needed to tank to do it.

Having doubts about Amir, I wasn't (and some others here as well) opposed to moving him for the right price (Josh).

I don't know how many true bigs are to be had (at least until 09 or 10), but Josh Smith would have pushed us completely over, even it its at the expense of a young unproven or two (and perhaps a never-will-be); Atlanta was in such a vulnerable position as well.

I don't think Josh Smith was there to be had. ATL management as screwed as up as they are knew exactly what they were doing with him.

In my eyes, most quality players that could come off the bench, for some reason don't play the way they use to when they play here. Look @ Mo Evans, Flip Murray, and Memhet Okur. Okur could easily be an All-Star well as he plays for the Jazz. And Flip and Mo are playing tremendous in ATL. It's crazy. I feel that happens with every Detroit team.

Marcus Camby would be looking really nice in a Pistons uniform right about now.

Don't think it has anything to do with that certain quality player that we need. I think it has to do with how badly do we want it. There seems to be a lack of effort, especially on defence.
Watching the Sacramento game, only Afflalo and Bynum were playing up in your face D. There was hardly any help defence at all, Sheed taking to many outside shots.
I think they need to toughen up their defence.

I think we put to much faith in our youth on the bench Amir, Max etc who had the potential but didn't get the minutes to really develop in their first 3 years. Now we see what they have to offer and so far it has come up short of our expectations.

Management seem reluctant to break up the 04 core until last week, when they should have made a major move in the summer. Some of those hungry vets with 3-4 years of raw experience would have been a welcome change to this team.

But alas, lets let it play out...we may still get one more ring out of this group with AI at the helm, but we are still one defensive stopper away from that IMO.

Max has been pretty flat thus far. Surprisingly so.

...Yes he would.

Josh Smith isn't that good, he is worth any of our young players. Hell, he wasn't worth Tayshaun Prince. Josh Smith and his broke shot would not have been a guaranteed championship for Detroit. He wouldn't even be a reasonable promise for a ship and the downside would have been great if Josh Smith's game didn't fit with the Detroit offensive and defensive system.