It has been a pretty rough ride for us Pistons fans this season. Of course, the team has been stuck firmly in heartbreak territory since the heady days of the 2004 championship run, so we're fairly used to disappointment. The departure of Chauncey, however, marked the start of a whole new low for our favorite team. For the first time in five seasons the Pistons are playing at a .500 level. The acquisition of Allen Iverson and the removal of Rip from the starting lineup completely demolished what was left of our famous starting five and pushed the team into a craptastic tailspin of failure. People started to talk casually of missing the playoffs this year. The biggest disappointment was that our guys seemed to be playing like they didn't really care what was happening out on the court. For someone like me who has always felt some sort of vague cosmic connection between the Pistons' fortunes and my own, all signs pointed toward continued frustration followed by the inevitable big-time letdown of more wasted months.*
I'm happy to report, however, that the Pistons of old have returned in the past few weeks, going 5-2 against some tough teams. Perhaps most importantly to me, the games have simply been fun to watch. Old school grind-it-out basketball, the way it was meant to be played. The fact that the Pistons have been winning is an added bonus, but I'm just happy they are trying their hardest. Need I add that I've actively worked on letting my emotional attachment to the team fade a bit? Call it growing up or whatever, but I've realized the futility of finding happiness in things that are fundamentally influenced by forces outside of my control. So be it. For now, I'll watched the season with renewed interest, even as I remind myself that it's just a game.
* It's all dialectical, man. Forgive my failure to synthesize the irrational/rational, scientific/superstitious, religious/atheist, nihilistic/hopeful parts of my being into one coherent narrative.
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4 comments:
Interesting that you post this on the day that Bill Davidson dies.
The Pistons, for the most part, have fallen off the radar locally with their shit effort total lack of caring. "Coach Curry" has no business being a head coach - He has no idea how to inspire 'Sheed (who does really, LB?). And then he basically bitch slapped Rip by sending him to the bench for 'The Answer - well the answer is as defensively loose as a two dollar whore and the whole team stands around waiting for him to dribble drive to the net and brick it off the backboard.. It Sucks.
Chauncy's departure finally showed how important he was to this team. If Big Ben was the heart and soul of this team, then Chauncy was the Brains and the calming influence - now both are gone and this team is spiritually bankrupt.
At some point "Do no wrong" Dumars needs to be asked some questions... our team's biggest fault at this point is a total lack of consistent direction... The longest tenured Coach at this team since the 90s? Flip Freaking Saunders who was here a whopping 3 seasons. We won't even discuss the draft here...
The door cannot hit Rasheed's ass soon enough - He is an amazing talent who does not like to play basketball. His heart is just not in it...
They may make the playoffs but they will fall to the sword from 3 teams who have quietly surpassed them in the east (Bos, Cle, Orl) who clearly want it more.
Thank God Spring Training has started - Go Tigers :)
Otto: Yeah... I didn't hear about that until Saturday morning. Bummer. He donated a lot of money to schools and hospitals and knew how to run a team. Needless to say, the Pistons will miss him.
Drunk Mike: Couldn't agree more with what you've said. I cannot for the life of me figure out why Curry was made head coach. Seriously...Does he have pics of Joe D fucking hookers and doing blow or what? His play calling and substitution patterns are a joke. It's pretty obvious that the guys don't respect him.
Why the hate on Sheed though? Sure, he's blown it on more than a few occasions, but Rasheed means a lot to this team. Time after time we've seen how his absence from games has made us worse. And we don't really know where we stand until AI comes back anyway. I don't have a whole lot of hope, but I think the Pistons have a chance to win this year. Would be pretty lucky, but not impossible. Of course, that's assuming the league is fair, which it's not.
Fuck it, tell me a good soccer team to follow...
Let me tell you my beef with 'Sheed. He gave up that 3 pointer to Oary? When we were up in game 6? of the Finals?
But seriously... Rasheed has so much talent around the rim and he REFUSES to play the post - He doesn't want to break a nail and he floats around the arch jacking up 3s like he's Bill Lambier - and he is not that.
And his attitude sucks - the Pistons have becoming a whiny and bitchy team - its embarrassing.
A good soccer team to support - Well D.C. United is the closest team to you. They actually have had some success over the years and have a natural rivalry with New York and soon you can add Philly to to that Rivalry - Soccer will be pretty special on the east coast.
Columbus Crew actually won the league last year - they are a pretty good side....
I have been looking into Seattle a little bit - they are an expansion team with some serious chops... and some interesting quarks... Drew Carey is a Minority investory and he put in a rule that the fans can vote out and vote in the General Manager for the team... pretty cool
If Steve-o has acquired by any means, Fox Soccer Channel, or Setanta you can watch the big boys over in the EPL - I follow Everton - which is one of the older teams formed in the 1880s? If I were you , I would shy away from the big 4 (Man U, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool) but thats just my style not to bandwagon. Anyway - I wish you luck with that and we can talk soccer anytime!
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