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Dave
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Post subject: Give the Pistons their proper respect and stop hating
 Posted: Oct 01, 2008 - 01:10 AM CST
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Joined: Apr 18, 2005
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Has a championship team ever been disrespected more in its hometown than the Pistons?
Since 2002, this is how the team has fared in the postseason: one championship, two finals appearances, six conference finals appearances, one second round playoff appearance.
Conversely, the Red Wings, who are pretty universally lauded in the state and looked at as hard-working cool guys who are all winners, have done this since 2002: two Stanley Cups, two conference finals appearances, one second round playoff appearance, three first round exits.
So which is more impressive? Sure the Wings have two titles in that span, but they also have quite a few early round playoff exits in years they were one of the top teams during the regular season.
With the Pistons, fans get a long playoff run every season, yet the team is looked at as a bunch of underachievers. Ridiculous.
Case in point, Greg Johnson of the Grand Rapids Press wrote a column today stating the Pistons have no shot at the title before the season has even started:
"Richard Hamilton looked different with a beard, but he plans to shave it off before the Detroit Pistons play games.
Chauncey Billups was calm as usual about media day to start training camp. Rasheed Wallace was being his unique self and singing a song that was stuck in his head, and Tayshaun Prince and Antonio McDyess were back Monday, too.
Michael Curry, the new head coach, was here, but he has been here before as a player and assistant coach.
Things, well, looked the same, which at this point begs for skepticism."
Right. If things looked about the same, wouldn't that make the Pistons a title contender? Granted, they have not won the title since 2004, but have they not been one of the last four teams standing each year since? In my mind, that would make them a title contender this season as well.
Will they win it? Time will tell. Winning an NBA title takes talent, work and also a certain amount of luck to avoid injuries, distractions and Bennett Salvatore's officiating crew for more than 100 games. But I think media day is a little premature to make title predictions.
Rob Parker of the Detroit News adds this:
"You shouldn't believe in the Pistons.
Not for a second, an iota or one scintilla.
At least, not now.
The Pistons have to prove that this season won't end the way the past three have -- in disappointment. "
Johnson and Parker are far from alone in those sentiments, however. Just read the comment section. Check out this gem from one of the commenters on Johnson's story:
"I for one am tired of the same boring team. I would rather he blew the team up and started over. Losing for a few years would stink but when we became good it would be fun again. Instead of the same old same old. We will have a good team again then when the playoffs start Billups will stink and Wallace will disappear."
Yes. Losing for a few years would stink. Especially when you have a team that proves every year it is one of the top four in the NBA. And everyone knows that is even less fun that losing.
Entire article:
http://blog.mlive.com/flintjournal/its_ ... atefu.html |
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