Detroit Pistons

The Detroit Pistons play in the Central Division of the National Basketball Association's Eastern Conference and are 3 time NBA Champions.

The Detroit Pistons began their franchise in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons and are a long and storied franchise. In 1957 they moved from Indiana to Detroit, Michigan.

During the Isiah Thomas era and under coach Chuck Daly the Pistons won back to back National Basketball Association championships. They followed that up with another championship under head coach Larry Brown and general manager Joe Dumars who was also a player on their back to back championship teams.

The team is currently undergoing personnel changes as they strive to re-tool and build another championship caliber roster. They have said that they are in the market for a big man and a true point guard to run the team.

The team has had a number of talented players on their roster, including the aforementioned Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars. Stars such as Dave Debuschere, Bob Lanier, Dave Bing and Adrian Dantley have each worn the colors of the boys from Detroit. They of course have had their share of characters in the form of Dennis Rodman, Bison Daley and William Bedford. As much as anything, the team has been defined by it’s play on the defensive end of the court and it’s “Bad Boy” image. They are known as a blue collar team, making up for the absence of an elite star player with hustle and grit, and by playing a tenacious brand of defense.

With the passing away of their long time owner, John Davidson, the team finds themselves being offered for sale, as the wife of deceased owner Davidson feels she neither has the passion nor the time to devote to the team. During one stretch in the history of the franchise, the Pistons had a consecutive sellout streak of 259 games. The fans in the area are passionate about the team and flock out to see them even with the economy in the state dismal.

The team plays it's home games at the "Palace of Auburn Hills" located at 5 Championship Drive. With each NBA and WNBA championship, the street address number is increased by one.

Are the Pistons Retooling are Rebuilding?

The biggest story to come out of the Palace of Auburn Hills' during 2009 was the revamping of the Detroit Pistons roster. General Manager Joe Dumars had lots of cap space and chose to use it rather than wait for 2010 to enter the bidding wars for players like LeBron James. Chris Bosh and Duane Wade. Dropped from the 2008-09 team, traded or allowed to pursue free agency were 10 of the 16 players who began the campaign with the Pistons. Also relieved of his duties was rookie head coach Michael Curry.http://www.nba.com/pistons/history/alltime_season_rosters.html

Those remaining with the team were Rip Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, Rodney Stuckey, Will Bynum, Kwame Brown and Jason Maxiell. Traded during the season was Chauncey Billups for Allen Iverson, who was subsequently allowed to file for free agency. The retooling began in earnest during the off season when Amir Johnson,Rasheed Wallace, Antonia McDyess , Aaron Afflalo and Walter Herrman found themselves no longer in the Pistons plans. The rest of the players departing the team had not received much playing time and were not in the future plans of GM Joe Dumars.

Players such as Walter Sharpe, Alex Acker and Cheikh Samb found themselves either looking or fighting for roster spots on one of the other teams in the NBA. Dumars wasted little time in rebuilding his roster and coaching staff.

Cleveland Cavaliers assistant coach John Kuester was hired as head coach to replace the departed Michael Curry. On the first day of free agent signings the Piston GM contacted both Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva, signing them to multiple year free agent contracts. Then via the draft he nabbed first rounder Austin Daye, and second rounders Jonas Jerebko and DaJuan Summers. Finally he added lesser free agents Chucky Atkins, Ben Wallace and Chris Wilcox to the mix; completing his roster.

The result was a disaster as the Pistons failed to make the playoffs. From the outset they were beset by injuries , under performing players, poor shooting and a team defense embarrassing to an organization that prides itself on playing that end of the court. They finished with 27 wins and 55 losses. Free agents Gordon and Villanueva were for the most part ineffective due in part to injuries and bad team chemistry.

Many of the players that had been trimmed from their roster wound up playing key roles for other teams. Afflalo started at off-guard for the Denver Broncos. Johnson was a key reserve for the Toronto Raptors and when handed the starting role for the last 1/2 dozen games of the year after an injury to star player Chris Bosh averaged 19 points and 9 rebounds per game. Wallace signed with the Boston Celtics to come off their bench and McDyess wound up starting at center for the San Antonio Spurs.

Going into 2010 it seems apparent that the team has too many players with similar skill sets. They lack a true point guard and a physical center and somehow must upgrade those positions.