 |
 |
|
| | Monday, August 7 With or without Hill, Pistons can overcome | |||||||||
| ESPN.com The talk is all about Grant Hill in Detroit these days, but not all of it is about how much the fans miss him. Some fans aren't too upset that Hill fled Detroit to Orlando. Based on the 1,000 or so e-mails we received on the Pistons, fans are split on whether the Pistons will take a step backward or a step forward in the upcoming season.
I honestly don't understand what is going on with this team right now. They have lost the best all-around player in the league to free agency, and who have they tried to bring in? A whole bunch of power forwards. Ben Wallace will help, but this team needs another big man and a scorer badly. I think my beloved Pistons are headed for the lottery. Clayton Thrush Mt. Pleasant, Mich. I have been a lifetime Pistons fan and at age 55 I have these comments for you. I don't agree with you that losing Grant Hill is a big deal. Hill did to the Pistons what Barry Sanders did to the Lions. Both superstars were not team players and the last time I checked both basketball and football are team sports. Hill has never been a good shooter. The only thing that Grant brought to the table was beating his defender off the dribble and driving to the basket. Last year alone the Pistons lost between five and 10 games because of Hill's non-willingness to pass the ball off late in ballgames. The Pistons' opponents would double and triple Hill and he would either turn the ball over, take a low percentage shot, or get fouled. By that time in the game he'd be exhausted and usually missed the free throws. When the Pistons need Grant the most Grant never really came through. I will take five team players that know how to shoot over Grant Hill any day of the week. Ken Stacer Melbourne, Fla. Unless a significant trade where the Pistons are able to get a lot for very little is manufactured by Joe Dumars (which is highly unlikely), this team is destined for the bottom of the standings. You would have to be foolish to predict more than 25-30 wins. Can you say ... Detroit you are now on the clock? The lottery awaits. Steve Linville Warren, Mich. To whom this may concern, either the Pistons or Joe Dumars: My thoughts are, give your newly drafted point guard Mateen Cleaves a chance to play, (that is, if you really want to produce a winning team). He definitely is a fighter and a winner! He's a hard worker, one with aggressiveness and heart. I'm certain that it takes more than heart to win games, but he can play. And get someone compatible and with him. I'm hopeful for your team! And losing Hill does NOT have to be a BIG DEAL! Eva Sterling Dallas, Texas I agree that Christian Laettner has to go. When I watched him play, he showed no emotion on the floor and he doesn't have the raw skills to make up for that lack of emotion. It was frustrating to watch him play last year, especially in the playoffs. I also think in a little while, Mateen Cleaves will become a huge factor for the Pistons because he can really dish the ball out. With Cleaves and Stackhouse, that could be a very exciting combination to watch in the future. Nick Rochester, Mich. The Pistons have to do the obvious, get a legit small forward to replace Hill. If they can't get one from the free agent market, then they should try to dump Laettner for a guy like Walt Williams. Brian Cardinal could probably give the Pistons a little more size down low. He couldn't be worse than Laettner. They should also keep Jerome Williams and Jerry Stackhouse. Stack was an All-Star, Jerome is an up-and-coming player and he has the potential to be a great rebounder like another former Piston, Dennis Rodman. Next season will be a stinker unless Stack takes a leadership role. Eric Peterson Wisconsin Many of us here in Detroit believe that the key to the Pistons' success belongs to their "7th" man, Joe Dumars. Even though he's been director of player personnel for only a few months, he has shown great prowess over Grant Hill's departure and looking ahead at the team's needs. Dumars has hinted that no player is secure on the roster, not even Stackhouse. For he knows that the Pistons were built around Hill for the past six years. And now that he's gone, that plan has obviously got to change. And in a big way. That is where our hope lies. Maybe not for next season, but I'll bet quicker than you think. And for those who have a hard time dealing with change, I say, look at Orlando ... now, anything is possible in this league. John Strohmeyer Bloomfield Hills, Mich. I think the Pistons will be the worst team in the league if they don't pick up someone. Ben Wallace and Chucky Atkins? Who are they? I hope they are ready for the most pathetic season of their lives. I love the Pistons and it hurts to see them fall apart. Grant Hill is gone (boo hoo). Get over it. He didn't even care about Detroit. Get someone that I know, please! Someone that can make a difference. Someone who cares about the team, the city, and the great Detroit fans. To Joe Dumars (who I respect more than any sports athlete), I hate to say this but nice guys finish last and unless you get aggressive and get someone with a name, you will finish last. Sorry that the truth hurts. Dan Cortimilia Deckerville, Mich.
Stackhouse is the problem. Crushing defense is what we're used to. All intensity starts in the defensive end of the court. Bad Boy style. The Bulls had it, so did the Lakers this year. You can't build a team around a guy with no heart. Build it around Cleaves. I don't believe any of that talk that he can't shoot, or he's too slow, or too short, or whatever you guys at ESPN say about a man who willed MSU to a NCAA championship. Build around heart. That's the future of this team. Jayesh Patel Washington, D.C. I have been a Pistons fan my whole life and do agree with everything you stated in your team spotlight. Although you touched on it briefly, I am still curious as to how the Pistons will address the long awaited size problem? Wallace is only 6-9 and not much of a scoring threat. Is this what they really need? I think until they can obtain a big man in the middle us fans will continue to watch a mediocre team that is unable to get out of their playoff slump. Scott Foland Monroe, Mich. The only way that the Pistons are going to be a competitive franchise in the upcoming season is to trade for Allen Iverson. Despite criticism about his shot selection, he is the best one-man addition any team could make. If the deal for Iverson included Matt Geiger as well, the Pistons would have a solid team. Also, by having a shooting guard of Iverson's level, it will allow rookie Mateen Cleaves to do what he did best in college, distribute the basketball. Matt Henninger Midland, Mich. Why is everyone so down on the Pistons? Barry Sanders left the Lions and look at what they did. A team isn't ONE player. I have belief that Stackhouse can carry Hill's load. Atkins can be the best point guard the Pistons have had since Isiah Thomas. Hunter can play the two-guard position like everyone knows he needs to play. Jerome Williams and Mikki Moore show tremendous talent. Hopefully, Terry Mills, Laettner and Loy Vaught can all get going and start playing like they used to. With Hill gone, everyone will improve their game and Pistons will be just as good as they were last year. Curtis Thompson Clio, Mich. I think the Pistons should throw Cleaves into the fire at point, with Stack at the other guard spot. Perhaps Mateen can show Jerry a little about leadership and spirit. And hang on to Hunter and Atkins as subs. The Pistons' first problem since (and maybe including) the Bad Boy days has been a center. They've got the money, so I think they should go buy a big guy. John Midland, Mich. You know, I have to admit that this article was pretty fair. I am a huge Pistons fan and I know that next season will be tough. I think that Laettner has to go. Let's face it, he's been bad wherever he has played. So, since we all know that his attitude won't change, let's dump him, Montross and Crotty for some guys that really want to earn that NBA contract. I am not pleased with Dumars' effort in free agency. I would have gone after Joe Smith or the Hornets' Brad Miller for a big man before Wallace. The good thing is that these free agents that we have want to be here. I just hope that we have a camp full of hungry players. Ro Withers Saginaw, Mich. | ALSO SEE ESPN.com's Offseason Spotlight Index Offseason spotlight: Detroit Pistons | |||||||||
