The Great Kuester Mutiny of '11 vs. Now

[ElectricMayhem]

For those of you who don't remember the Great Kuester Mutiny of '11, go and ask your grandparents about it. They will spin you the tale of how the team had lost all respect for their troubled captain John Kuester of Richmond. Five players: Tracy McGrady, Rip Hamilton, Ben Wallace, Tayshaun Prince, and even Chris freaking Wilcox decided not to show up for morning shootaround. Then, they found Kuester's ejection from that night's game a source of epic amusement and a chance for merrymaking:

Watch on YouTube

SVG actually had something to say after the mutiny took place:

"All of us have problems with our bosses at times, but you don't choose to just not show up for work," Van Gundy told Dan Le Batard on WAXY-AM (790) in Miami in March 2011. "That's about as childish and unprofessional as you can get. And, clearly, that illuminates some of the Pistons' problems right there.

"When you've got that many guys with that little toughness and professionalism on your team, it wouldn't matter who is coaching them - you're not going to be very successful. They've obviously got the wrong guys in that locker room."

http://www.detroitbadboys.com/2014/5/15/5719694/stan-van-gundy-on-pistons-mutiny-in-2011

How does this compare to our most recent 7-game stretch? There has been no outright mutiny, but it is clear that the players aren't even trying anymore and the goal of actually trying to win games has not crossed their minds. They are not playing for their coach, they are not playing for pride. They are just out there wiling away the minutes until the final buzzer sounds. Has this team yet reached the embarrassing depths of that fateful '11 crew?

[Han Solo]

**** this team.

[ChuckVanBrown]

I remember that mutiny. Worst moment in this franchise's history. The past 6 games or so give it a run for its money.

Still 9 games left in the season. We'll see how low this team will fall in the coming days.

[edmunder_prc]

I remember that mutiny. Worst moment in this franchise's history. The past 6 games or so give it a run for its money.

Still 9 games left in the season. We'll see how low this team will fall in the coming days.

This team needs to die and start over. Maybe beating a couple of teams trying to out tank each other is worse than fool's gold.

[Redeemed]

Some of our current players would fit right into that cancerous bunch from the Kuester era.

No way sugar coat how bad things are during this current stretch. Take control of your team SVG. Bench guys. Suspend guys.

Stanley Johnson got suspended. Why isn't that same hardline approach applied to the others.

Even KCP seems to have checked out. Smh.

[pistontr]

not about topic, but I always love this man's way of speaking. southern?

Watch on YouTube

[Pharaoh]

You don't play for your coach, you don't play for fame or money & you don't play for your ego

You play cause you love it and because the competition at the highest level is something to enjoy!

The problem is mental!

Certain players in that mutiny had seen enough from Joe that they knew they had more power than Johnny Q. That's on Joe!

This time players have to go directly to ownership (Drummond has) but that's more difficult, though not impossible

SVG will make changes - he's not gonna be content with a Lotto team. Unfortunately we have to wait a while to see what comes down.

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[Spider156]

not about topic, but I always love this man's way of speaking. southern?

I like how Tobias Harris talks, he's got a nice way of speaking

[JohnReese]

I hope you are not comparing Stan with Kuester...

[russkopp]

All that matters is missing the playoffs. If getting in and being destroyed by (insert team name) ignites even a small spark of "we're not that far off the path" in Gores or SVG's brain, that's a terrible situation.

This squad needs to be dumped. Tobias, KCP, Baynes, Mook, Ish and Stanley are the only guys that seem to enjoy the game and care. Reggie needs to be put to pasture. Dre...if a good offer comes, move him. If you think a different PG/system/leader could help him, don't mind if he's here. But CHANGES (yes, in capital letters) must occur.

[potatoaim]

Just get rid of the two cancers and things will change for the better over night. RJ likely wont bring anything of value, we might even have to take a bad contract in return, but who cares? Just get rid of him. As for AD, I only wanted to get rid of him if it was for good value in return, but now, IDC. Dump him for whatever you can get, even if its marginal. They have infected this team for long enough.

[flow]

You don't play for your coach, you don't play for fame or money & you don't play for your ego

You play cause you love it and because the competition at the highest level is something to enjoy!

The problem is mental!

Certain players in that mutiny had seen enough from Joe that they knew they had more power than Johnny Q. That's on Joe!

This time players have to go directly to ownership (Drummond has) but that's more difficult, though not impossible

SVG will make changes - he's not gonna be content with a Lotto team. Unfortunately we have to wait a while to see what comes down.

Sent from my SM-J110F using RealGM mobile app

You play to win, and they're not winning. It's not mental. They're not a good team. It's not a good mix (players & coach alike).

This isn't a psych clinic solve. People are who they are. They're wired how they're wired. And it's up to teams to vet these things thoroughly before committing to someone. Everyone wants to just give Dre a labotomy and inject him with competitive will and ferocity. Doesn't work that way. If you're unhappy with a players' mental makeup, fortitude, attitude... the solution is either to replace the player or, ideally, to avoid investing in him in the first place.

[potatoaim]

You don't play for your coach, you don't play for fame or money & you don't play for your ego

You play cause you love it and because the competition at the highest level is something to enjoy!

The problem is mental!

Certain players in that mutiny had seen enough from Joe that they knew they had more power than Johnny Q. That's on Joe!

This time players have to go directly to ownership (Drummond has) but that's more difficult, though not impossible

SVG will make changes - he's not gonna be content with a Lotto team. Unfortunately we have to wait a while to see what comes down.

Sent from my SM-J110F using RealGM mobile app

You play to win, and they're not winning. It's not mental. They're not a good team. It's not a good mix (players & coach alike).

This isn't a psych clinic solve. People are who they are. They're wired how they're wired. And it's up to teams to vet these things thoroughly before committing to someone. Everyone wants to just give Dre a labotomy and inject him with competitive will and ferocity. Doesn't work that way. If you're unhappy with a players' mental makeup, fortitude, attitude... the solution is either to replace the player or, ideally, to avoid investing in him in the first place.

Well said.

[ComboGuardCity]

You play because you are also good at your job and it pays handsomely. Love doesn't need to be in the equation.

[theBigLip]

I'm sure SVG has a short list of who he needs to get rid of. WE assume it is RJ and Dre but I'm not so sure. And I'm worried this may scare off KCP from re-signing.