Evil ******* (aka Chris_L) said:
Joe Dumars knows what he's doing. He knew he wouldn't be going anywhere in the playoffs against the Celtics or Cavs. Iverson's mega deal comes off the books sooner than Billups contract which will allow the Pistons to make a run at a major free agent and restock the team.
If Joe Dumars knew what he was doing he would have never hired Michael Curry. He would have never traded Billups who is evidently, what held that team together. You know what else, he probably should have kept Mehmet Okur as well instead of someone like Rasheed Wallace whose lazy defense cost them a second title in '05. His lazy defense cost them again in '08. You know what else, they could have kept Memo instead of Ben Wallace too cause he went for money anyway. Every day it becomes more apparent that Dumars fudged it up.
I won't credit him for that championship in '04, or getting back to the finals in '05. That was 100 percent Larry Brown. Now I hate Larry Brown, but no other coach would have taken the Lakers down like that and gone toe to toe with the Spurs. It's been a steady decline ever since.
Rasheed's technical meldowns versus Miami in '06.
Getting burned by Boobie in '07.
Exposed by the Celtics in '08.
Terrible '09 campaign.
This can't be put on Curry because he is over his head. Should never have been asked to be the head coach.
All these knocks are without the Darko situation. The only reason I don't dwell on that is because in a roundabout way that turned into the Stuckey pick - but oh JOE D screwed that one up. Trading away Billups then benching Iverson, then benching Hamilton, now he has 3 guards that don't work together instead of two starters and an up and comer.
Joe has made some strong moves over the years, getting Prince with the No. 22 pick in was it '02, trading an aging Jerry Stackhouse for Hamilton in '02 I think and the sign and trade for Atkins/Wallace. But Atkins got benched once Billups came to town and didn't last long, Wallace left for money.
Rasheed was a steal, but he cost Memo because of cap reasons.
I can count his good moves on one hand... I can't count his bad ones on one hand.
1. Running Carlysle out of town. Not a big deal because we got Larry, but then he bolted. And you had to know it was going to happen.
2. Trying to regulate playing time, stripping Flip of his authority and firing him.
3. Hiring Curry.
4. Trading away Billups.
5. Allowing 'Sheeds attitude and lazy defense to be okay. Keeping him around for 3 years too long.
6. Drafting Mateen Cleaves
7. Drafting Rodney White - do I have that name right, or was it someone else?
8. Darko....
9. Signing Kwame Brown to a 4 million dollar deal. What a ****ing bust.
10. Letting Memo go.
11. Letting the alternators go: Williamson/Jon Barry
12. Trying to clear cap room with the idea that he can cut Wallace and Iverson when he thinks players like Bosh or Carmello (players who could be in Detroit already if it weren't for Darko) will sign in a year or two.
What free agent has Dumars ever lured? I remember them making a huge push about 8 years ago for T-MAC, and Duncan. Same deal as before with the cap space and they couldn't make it happen. And he won't make it happen again, because he never gets free agents, save Antonio McDyess, that poor poor man, who I am sure wishes he would have signed with the Celtics right about now. **** Joe Dumars.