This Pistons’ season has been beyond annoying. I understand the ceiling for preseason expectations were making a Play-In Game, but MY LORD it shouldn’t be this bad. People will blame injuries. People will blame the Monty Williams and how he’s handled minutes. But I think it’s time to point at the real issue.
The real issue is we don’t have have dudes. The NBA has never been more talented and we’re far, far behind from being a true contender.
Can we start being critical of Troy Weaver’s roster building? I understand he took over a terrible situation. I understand it takes time to make this team great. But its YEAR FOUR. The Pistons lack of success will get blamed because of injuries, but the players that are out would 1. not start for any true contender or 2. may not even get minutes for a championship caliber team. Bogey has been the only injured player that should have an impact on our success.
Cade is the star of the organization. Troy has known that the second he took him No. 1 overall in 2021. Instead of building a roster around him, he has made moves that have done the direct opposite and exactly who SHOULDN’T be around Cade. Troy traded a proven scorer and shot creator in Saddiq Bey for James Wiseman, who was a shiny project that has shown exactly why he’s a bust. (And if you want to get real sicko mode, we traded Bruce Brown and Luke Kennard for the pick that got Saddiq…just to get traded for Wiseman). Marvin Bagley was sold as someone that gives this team another dynamic with his size and athleticism. He’s a high-end backup center making $12+ million a year who doesn’t stretch the floor and has a very limited ceiling. Killian Hayes has been given every opportunity to prove himself. He’ll shine really bright for a game, then disappear for 15. If he was going to turn it around, he would have done it already. The only players he’s traded for that have been successful are Bogey & Burks. Those are not players that get you out of the cellar that the Pistons have been in.
I don’t want to crap all over him. Drafting wise, he has more hits and misses. Duren is a future All-Star. Ausar is a stud and embodies the hustle/work ethic that made the best Pistons teams great. Beef Stew has a limited ceiling, but his shooting, defense and toughness make him a player that can help a championship roster. Sasser has shined bright so far. Ivey can be a headache to watch at some points, but his athleticism at the guard position is incredible (and needs minutes).
But the rest of this roster? Beyond meh. There’s no dynamic playmakers at all outside of Cade. Our wing depth is thin and not that talented. Besides Cade, there’s nobody else (yet) that’s even close to being considering among the best in the NBA. And it’s year four.
He’s stressed patience to “restore” this franchise. We’ve watched and seen this team take L after L after L and have stuck through it because he earned our trust with his earlier moves. But that time feels like it’s is running up. I’m tired of getting all our talent from the draft and minor trades for role players. There HAS to be a move that shows we’re actually serious about winning instead of hoping everyone else “takes a leap”.
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Start?? I’ve been doing it for years now.
If I could go back in time and make it happen, I’d take 8th seed Purgatory over this.
This sucks.
I said pretty much this in another post. The time for patience is past. Four losing (badly) years with Weaver. Ten plus years of terrible basketball from a once proud franchise. I had high hopes a new coach would at least help. He hasn’t.
Time for a new direction. Weaver has had his chance and shown nothing as far as team wins, which is all that really counts. Following player stats and talking about future All Stars does nothing for me. It shouldn’t for you either.
He needs to start building a team and putting pieces together rather than just collecting pieces and thinking they’ll figure it out at they go. Because they’re clearing not figuring it out. I liked his moves first few years but it’s the same moves every single season with the same results. I can’t do another tank season to finish with a top 2-3 worst record and getting pick 5.
Yes
You can’t just wave your hand at injuries.
This team looked locked in and on the rise before Duren was injured. With him hobbled or out, Cade lost his lob/roll threat and we lost our best interior defender.
Burks is a guaranteed bucket and he’s been out.
Bojan, of course.
And Ivey, who while being doghoused was still getting 20 mins/night.
Once they get most/all of these guys back, they won’t be nearly as bad as they’ve looked.
These posts, man.