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It's not the end of the world
It's not the end of the world. Just the end of the world as we�ve known it pertaining to the Detroit Pistons.
Ben Wallace was an icon in this town. And his six years as a Piston were too short.
If there was no Ben Wallace, there would have been no NBA championship in 2004. If there had been no Ben Wallace, it's doubtful the Pistons would have been able to turn around their fortunes so quickly at a time when there was remarkably little interest in the team.
It's true. Pistons general manager Joe Dumars was put in a no-win situation. Re-signing Wallace, even for the reported $48 million he was offered, would have mortgaged the future with no guarantee of current success. But at least there was a chance. That seems to be gone with Wallace.
It does seem as if Joe Dumars has lost his touch. In the ultimate what-have-you-done-lately business, he hasn't done much lately. His last impact acquisition was Antonio McDyess following the 2004 season. Since then, the Pistons grip on the Eastern Conference has been slipping and Dumars hasn't done anything to change it.
It'll be interesting to see what type of impact Big Ben has on the Bulls. It could either way. They have a solid squad, but if they don't win early, he could become the subject of scorn because his numbers don't measure his value. Ben Wallace, making $15 million and average five points per game on a losing team, will get booed.
Random thoughts
- It's not that I think Flip Saunders is a bad coach, it just that I don�t think he is capable of leading the Pistons to an NBA championship.
- I'm in Oakland covering the Tigers and it dawned on me Tuesday how some major league ball parks are much better than others. The one in Oakland is one of the worst. It has about as much charm as an avocado green table top from the 1970s.
- Nicklas Lidstrom is one of the greatest defensemen of all time. With Steve Yzerman's departure, he should be named as the Red Wings' captain. They should give Henrik Zetterberg an 'A' for now. There is plenty of time left for Zetterberg to be the Wings� captain. Besides, has he earned it? It's true that Yzerman didn't back in the day, but that was during an entirely different era of Red Wings' hockey.
posted by Pat Caputo at
5:16 PM
9 Comments:
I do wonder if the game is kind of passing Big Ben by. There has been so much said recently about the emphasis on scoring. Yet, common sense still says that defense will always be the differencemaker, regardless of the sport. Ben Wallace is a unique player and i believe people should appreciate him. But his shortcomings on the offensive end did hurt the pistons last season. It would be naive to think they didn't.
caputo
daver,
I like draper, too, and thought at some point he might wear the "C" when Yzerman retired. But he had a surprisingly poor season. I thought he'd do a lot better in the "new" NHL because of his skating ability, but he didn't. So I don't think he's a viable option for the "C" anymore. It'll be either Lidstrom or Zetterberg.
daver,
I've gone back and forth on the "new" NHL. At first, I loved it. Then I got skeptical. Then I loved it again. I did think the playoffs, particularly the finals, were terrific. I was saddened that not many people watched them as closely as I did in this area. I think the Red Wings' early departure was very damaging to hockey in this town. Coupled with the labor stoppage, it really hurt. That's why I wish they would do more this off season. I think I will write about that in my next blog entry.
Why couldnt dumars pull off a sign and trade with chicago. I understand Ben nixed this idea.
Was he being spite full or did chicago nix the deal?
A sign and tradeis usually a win win situation
Tom
Tom,
Ben had nothing to do with the no sign and trade. Chicago didn't have to do a sign and trade with the Pistons because they had enough money under the cap, even before trading Chandler, to sign Ben outright. Also, to the Bulls, the Pistons are the team they have to go though to go deep in the playoffs and win the division. They are looking at the Ben signing not only as helping their team, but damaging the Pistons. They weren't about to help the Pistons out by trading them players the Pistons could use.
caputo
I am glad to see Ben go! It is my opinion that he is the one that tore the locker room apart this offseason and it started against Orlando when he refused to go in the game. Everyone has come to know Ben as the LEADER of this great team and the face of the Pistons...Well that all changed this year when Chauncey took this team to the highest winning mark in Pistons history. Ben acted like a teenager hitting puberty with his actions towards the team. To cry about not being a part of the offense! Come on Ben...99% of the Palace can shoot better free throws then you!
Ok...give me the excuse that hitting free throws in games are a lot harder than practice (because we all know Ben can knock down shot after shot in practice) well then Ben be bad...Us Detroit fans were fine with you being a bad (40-55%) free throw shooter...its the 2-10 that upsets us...So I bid you ado....OUR PISTONS will grow without you!
jason.
Good to hear from you on the blog. You make some good points. But I think what you really meant to say is the Pistons should trade their remaining four starters to LA for your main dog Kobe. lol
caputo
I am tellin you what...we might be able to send Rip+Tay and some draft pick for Kobe! That would work...CAN YOU IMAGINE CHAUNCEY+KOBE+SHEED! Game over! lol...its a pipe dream, I know. But honestly...The Pistons are better off NOT giving a player that has never averaged 10 pts/year and seen his numbers drop every one of the past 3 years that kind of contract. Honestly, can you tell us that Ben RIGHT NOW deserves to be the HIGHEST paid PISTON EVER!?!?
Jason,
I agree signing ben, even for what they offered him - let alone what he signed for with the bulls - was a lose-lose situation. But it was less so if he was re-signed because they would have at least had a shot at another title this coming season. as is, in my opinion, they have no shot. nor for deep into the future unless dumars makes some miracle trade. And is anybody hold their breath waiting for that to happen? He's essentially done nothing since getting Antonio McDyess following the title season.
caputo
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