Now that Larry Brown is gone form Detroit what does this do to the Pistons chances to mke the finals once again. I think this makes them the third or fourth team in the East. They still have great players, but I think LB was their real MVP. I htink this makes the Heat the big contenders now in the East. What do you guys think?
Basically It won't make much difference. Flip Saunders is a good coach and will keep the pistons playing at a high level. These players won't forget how to play great D or run plays, more shots and win games. The Pistons are still the team to beat in the east. There are guys to be added in free-agency since as Allan Houston and maybe Michael Finley. If the right moves are made the pistons have a great shot at winning the title again next year...brown didn't put us over the top, Sheed did. So to answer the question, no the Pistons will not suddenly drop off. It is stupid to think otherwise. The Pistons are full of vets who basically run the team themselves. Chauncey Billups is the guy that runs the Pistons. I fail to see how this makes the Heat big contenders, the Heat will have Shaq a year older, Eddie Jones a year older, they will still be weak at point guard and they could lose a few good players through free-agency. The one thing they have going for them is that Wade is very good and will keep improving. Will that be enough? I have my doubts. The Pacers will be a bigger threat to the Pistons eastern conference crown. As long as Artest doesn't act stupid again they will be right up there competing for a title. Losing Reggie hurts them but they still have other guys who can come in and help them. If Pistons don't make the finals again next year, the Pacers will be the ones who would end up beating Detroit..not Miami. That said I still like the Pistons chances of repeating in the east, more so if they add Allan Houston or even Michael Finley/Jalen Rose. The fact you think the Pistons with a line-up of Billups/Hamilton,Prince.Sheed,Ben isn't as good as 3 other teams is laughable. Seriously. People need to learn to never doubt the Pistons. They did fine with Carlisle and will do fine without Larry Brown.
Well, the Heat would've beat Detroit if they were healthy, they got to a game 7 and if you take Brown out I think Miami wins. This is probably Shaq's last year of dominance but Wade is still getting better and I believe if you take Brown out of the equation Miami wins the East last year. Sheed was good, but c'mon Brown made the big difference for them he is a tremendous coach who put Sheed over the top which resulted in good things for Detroit.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting playmaker31:</div><div class="quote_post">Well, the Heat would've beat Detroit if they were healthy, they got to a game 7 and if you take Brown out I think Miami wins. This is probably Shaq's last year of dominance but Wade is still getting better and I believe if you take Brown out of the equation Miami wins the East last year. Sheed was good, but c'mon Brown made the big difference for them he is a tremendous coach who put Sheed over the top which resulted in good things for Detroit.</div> You know this how exactly? injures are part of the game and Is It the Pistons fault that the Heat have injury prone guys on their roster? no is the answer. Pistons have guys who can last for a full season. The Heat clearly don't. You never heard people saying the Pistons would of beaten the Nets a few years back had Chauncey Billups been heathly. Larry Brown is a great coach but him being replaced by someone else wasn't going to mean the Heat would beat the Pistons. The players decide the games and plenty of Larry Brown's calls he made were questionable during the playoffs. He made mistakes as much as he did during the wins. Your logic on why Miami would win is terrible, truely terrible. He put Rasheed Wallace over the top? what exactly does that mean exactly? Sheed knew he was playing on a contender which is why he played good team basketball. Not saying Larry Brown had no effect on him but Brown was not the factor in where Rasheed Wallace has played so well since he became a Piston. Flip Saunders the one time he had a really talented team went to the western conference finals and was only a few games away from the NBA finals Flip is a good coach and a good enough replacement for Brown.
I think it will make a significant impact. And with the sudden emergence of teams like the Nets, Cavs with Hughes and Marshall, I think these teams could potentially pose some kind of threat. That doesn't necessarily mean they are better than the Pistons but the East has gotten a little stronger, and let's not forget about teams that will only get better like the Pacers, Sixers both teams which made the Pistons open their eyes. So for the most part, I think the coaching change will hurt, but not complete knock them out of the picture. If anything I say another Finals appearance is a possibility but winning the whole thing, I?d say that's out of the picture. My predictions for the Pistons next season is a conference finals exit.
It is never wise to make predictions when a team havn't even made any player signings. The east will be alot better next year which is good for the league but It will be the normal crowd competing for a title.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">It is never wise to make predictions when a team havn't even made any player signings. The east will be alot better next year which is good for the league but It will be the normal crowd competing for a title.</div> True. But let's be serious, the starting five will remain that's for sure. The only signing(s) Dumars will probably make is someone to help contribute off the bench and the way I see it, they can't get any better than Dice. So at the end of the day I don't see the Pistons being that much different personnel wise other than the coaching. When it really matters the coaching will decide their fate.
Considering guys like Jalen Rose, Michael Finley and Allan Houston are all likely to become available I don't agree with that. All 3 could be big impact players off the bench to go along with Mcdyess. No matter who the coach is, you add at least one of those guys along with the Pistons team now and they will be improved no matter what.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AllNet:</div><div class="quote_post">Considering guys like Jalen Rose, Michael Finley and Allan Houston are all likely to become available I don't agree with that. All 3 could be big impact players off the bench to go along with Mcdyess. No matter who the coach is, you add at least one of those guys along with the Pistons team now and they will be improved no matter what.</div> In some ways I think Jalen wants to go to L.A he's friends with Kobe and I've seen him on Best Damn Sports Show a few times and that seems to be the place he wants to go 2. Finley is drawing some attention from Chicago, but I haven't heard that Detroit is interested, I really don't know much about Allan Houston's situation right now. Who knows, Detroit may come out with one of those big names.
Jalen is from Detroit and played college ball in Michigan so If he gets released the Pistons will go after him hard and he has stated he would be interested in returning to Detroit. He would get to be on a contender. I don't know why he would want to go to the Lakers. Don't see the point. and from all the reports, Allan Houston is a lock to go to the Pistons when he gets waived. So they should get at least 1 of the three.
