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Ode to the Pistons

On the potential eve of the Piston's final game of the season (realistically, I think it will be), a friend of mine, Damian pointed me to an ESPN article by Scoop Jackson (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=jackson/060530&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab5pos2 ), talking about the Piston's sudden drop from championship-favorite to virtually playoff pretender. I've been stunned myself how the Pistons have fallen so far down so quickly. As an avid Piston fan, it's been a tough couple of weeks. However Damian (now residing in Colorado) said I should run down to the Palace tonight and give them a pep talk. Since I can't do that, here's what I'd say to them if I could. I'd walk in the locker room, look at Chauncey and start:

"Dude, you *need* to get to the bucket more. I know you're running through your sets, but there's just too much damn standing around in the halfcourt offense. Push things! But be smart, don't make careless turnovers. You're a friggin' Finals MVP. I'm tired of seeing all these perimeter jump shots. Let's get some movement and points in the paint like I saw in game 2."

Looking over to Rip:

"Rip man, you have *got* to stop reaching in when guarding Wade. He's murdering you. Anytime he wants to drive to the basket, he walks right by you because you're looking for the steal. Leave that to Lindsey. Keep him in front of you and stop forcing the bigs to help out where Wade can throw it up and give Shaq and easy dunk, or throw it out to Walker for a three."

"And be patient with your shot. It'll come. Keep runnin'. Remember those games when you were dishing out 5-6 assists? You need to keep looking for guys when the defense collapses on you. The Heat know you're going to shoot it when you come off those screens. Make them pay with a dump down to Sheed/Ben/Dyess for an easy deuce. Make the Heat work on defense to create more open shots."

Continuing to Sheed:

"Hey Sheed, maybe this time you can play for a full 48 minutes. I love the energy you bring when you get mad, but we need that for the entire game tonight. And friggin' channel your anger so you stopped getting called for tick-tack fouls solely because the refs don't like you. Run your mouth at the Heat players, not the refs. And what's up with helping the Heat players up, and not calling out "ball don't lie" anymore? You're not getting soft now are you? Let's see some friggin' intensity. Bring that edge that put us over the top in 03 when we won the championship.

Ben:

"Put the foul shooting out of your mind – forget about it. If you get the ball down in the paint, dunk it! Get those guys in foul trouble and make them pay for not guarding you. We need your intensity all night tonight. It's going to be the little hustle plays that win this game. You know that. I see you tentative when you get the ball because you don't want to be fouled. Scrap that. Play the way you've always played and just shoot the ball. Everything else will fall into place."

Tayshaun:

"Stay aggressive. Both on the defense and offensive end. You've had some stellar games in the post season with your hustle, offensive rebounding and overall defense. You and Rip have your hands full with Wade. Make the other guys beat you. Don't let them get into the paint."

The bench guys:

"When you guys are in – bring it. It very well could be your last game of the season if you don't. Who knows when you'll be in this position again."

"It's all the little things guys. Your backs are to the wall, you're definitely the underdog now. Go get dirty and play Piston's basketball. "

That's it. That's what I'd say (roughly, I just typed this out in about 5 minutes). Sadly though, I think it's over. The team has fallen completely from the team concept they embodied so well.

Here's hoping I'm wrong ..

Wednesday, May 31st, 2006 | POSTED AT: 5:40 PM
FILED UNDER: General

3 Comments on “Ode to the Pistons”

Dr. Funk Or Nico wrote on 3 June, 2006, 1:23 PM
Thanks for the synopsis of the Pistons, Ccccoaach!
Mr. Negativity strikes again, all post-season long you have jinxed the ‘stones’ and I can only blame you (not Flip) for their failure to not make it to the Finals. I hope your cell phone battery goes dead, so that you can’t text me : (

Good luck racing this season……and spend a little time on court…….you need to work on your assist-to-turnover ratio.

Later Usher, peace and humptyiness 4-ever. NBN-4-life.

PS – I hope that I excite everyone when I am around………have another, brother.
Eddie wrote on 5 June, 2006, 11:37 AM
Haha .. I’m sorry Niko, it’s over.

What will Joe do in the offseason now .. I think Delfino gets traded for sure. I hope Ben doesn’t demand a max contract, or we might lose him too.

I think the starting lineup needs a shakeup, but I really wouldn’t want to lose any of the 5 that are there now.
(\/)ike wrote on 7 June, 2006, 10:55 AM
ya know what? I can not stand ESPN… such haters… never have anything good to say, often too wrong about everybody and everything… never admits it either… sick of that crew drinking all that damn Miami, L.A. kewl-aide. my goodness, mannnn… can’t wait til the season is truely over. ESPN should give up pro sports and stick to poker, action sports, spelling bees and cheerleading… out!
-(\/)