What would you do to fix the Pistons?

[theBigLip]

So we are currently a playoff team, but barely thanks to the weak Eastern Conference. We've got some talented players, but maybe not the smartest. Are we on the right path, or would you make a change? And what change would that be?

You can pick more than one option for the poll, so it will be interesting to see what everyone really thinks needs to be done.

[MotownMadness]

I know it won't happen but Dumars needs fired first before any moves are made.

[vic]

This team doesn’t lack talent or effort, this team lacks strategic decision making.

I said this last summer, the 3 positions you need smart decision makers are coach, point guard, and small forward.

- I love Cheeks in between games and courage to make changes, but he had a losing record coming in, and he gets out game planned by smart coaches regularly.

- Jennings is known for being talented but questionable in decision making.

- Smith is known for being talented but questionable in decision making.

This unfortunately goes back to Joe Dumars, who made these decisions to undervalue intelligence (even though he did want Calderon back but Calderon wouldn’t come). I’m usually a Joe d supporter, but I do say this is his doing.

A talented team that can be outsmarted easily is what he has.

Getting rid of Monroe would be another colossally dumb move. He’s the most efficient scorer and defensive rebounder on the team. Not a good team defender but a great tool to have.

How to stop the bleeding:
1. Play Singler/Jerebko/Datome at 3
2. Play Monroe/Smith at 4/5 only. One of them comes off the bench.
3. Emphasize ball movement on offense
4. Get a new defensive strategy that the team can understand

[Piston Pete]

Correct answer might be "all of the above," save the last choice....we cannot stand pat.

[Clarity]

Cant go back in time to June so realistically not a ton can be done, this is the route Dumars chose, got to live with it.

The issues with Josh offensively aside from that 5-6 game stretch last week has went as expected, I figured we would struggle on the perimeter with Jennings who takes a lot of chances, a rookie & Josh who would struggle to check 3's but I didnt think we would struggle as much as we have. I knew Monroe would have some good nights & some bad nights at PF defensively but Drummond could help make up for some of that however our wings have been so bad that our bigs are often forced to over compensate. Jennings started as predicted but has actually been a big surprise for me offensively in the last month. He has played more under control than I have ever seen him.

The only thing paramount is for Dumars to remember Monroe/Drummond are the cornerstones at 23 & 20 years old. That has been lost so far in 2013/14 for the most part. In the few games where those two have prospered we have been outstanding.

[ComboGuardCity]

Green, Lee, brooks for josh, Siva, Bynum

[chrbal]

Hire jennings a personal shooting coach. Find a trade sending out either Monroe or Josh Smith (would prefer Monroe stays, but I also think he'll be easier to trade). Pretty much staple-gun Charlie Villanueva to the bench until hes traded or the trade deadline has passed and waive him. Hes not horrible for the team but he just serves no purpose.

[joseph mamah]

id fire the lame-duck GM whos opinion Ive shown to have very little faith in, but have been too afraid of public back-lash if I were to fire him without having a very good excuse, and have him take his useless coach with him. then id send the Bobs back to whatever hole they crawled out of, and bring somebody in whos opinion I trust, that might actually know something about building a successful team to make the basketball decisions from now on.

[Brapman]

Stand pat unless something GREAT and OBVIOUS comes along.

The team has a big three where statistically 2 of them on the floor at the same time results in a plus, but all three on the floor or one of the them on the floor with 2 on the bench is a big negative.

As we learn to play together and grow internally, we can get a lot better and can learn where we need to tweek or make a major trade. There really is no hurry. Take the time to make the right decisions going into the trade deadline and then next summer. By this time next season, KCP might be knocking down shots, Gigi might be one of the top scorers off the bench in the league, and Jorts might be established, and Singler might be the obvious choice for first guy off our bench long-term. Let this play out, unless the great and obvious move presents itself.

[ajaX82]

You start at the top and fire Dumars. Bring in someone who knows what they are doing.

[DetroitPistons]

1.) Fire Dumars

2.) Fire Cheeks. He has done a lot of good things and has been better than I thought but he has shown to be incapable of putting together an effective defensive system. Giving up close to 110 points seemingly every night is simply not acceptable, especially with players that have great defensive potential, such as KCP, Smith, and Dre, in the starting lineup.

3.) Three team deal between DET, BOS, and HOU

DET out: Josh Smith, Brandon Jennings
DET in: Jeff Green, Brandon Bass

BOS out: Jeff Green, Brandon Bass
BOS in: Omer Asik, Jeremy Lin, Terrence Jones

HOU out: Omer Asik, Jeremy Lin, Terrence Jones
HOU in: Josh Smith, Brandon Jennings

4.) Throw a max contract at Eric Bledsoe.

5.) Resign Monroe, Stuckey, and Singler.

6.) Hire Lionel Hollins (someone who knows defense and big men)

Next years roster:

Bledsoe/Billups
Caldwell-Pope/Stuckey
Green/Singler
Monroe/Mitchell
Drummond/Harrelson

7.) Wake up from pipe dream.

[ripper3264]

Something needs to change with our defense, it has been terrible. Im not sure if that change is with Cheeks, or moving Josh or Greg. In my opinion I'd sit Monroe to start the game and play Smith at the 4 because he cannot guard wing players.

[dVs33]

I voted trade Smith.
There's essentially zero chance of that happening this season, but i think that would dramatically change things if we got a more traditional SF in return.
A guy like Deng would be perfect for this team, but it looks like Chicago want to keep him.

[theBigLip]

Interesting poll results. Seems like just about everything is an improvement over what we are doing now

I'd probably keep Dumars for this season, but he'd be on a short leash.

I don't think Cheeks is a great coach, especially tactically. Maybe better assistants? Or just replace Cheeks. But we have enough talent, now it is a matter of getting them to play together as a team, and play well on a consistent basis. This is the coach's job and he isn't doing it. I know it is his first year (as well as Jennings & Smith), but he needs to show progress.

As for the trades, as much as I like Smith, he seems like the best one to trade. I do think he would be tradeable. We may not get back as much as we'd like, but that's okay. We get out of his contract as well, so I don't think it would hurt us too much. It seems like Houston would be a good destination, and Asik move to a third team, and somehow we end up with a solid 3&D guy (or an expiring contract and we get what we need in the offseason).

[ImHeisenberg]

The team is fundamentally flawed from the top down. This team either needs a change in ownership (again), or a new management team in the least.

[Snakebites]

Got a time machine?

Short of that I have no idea. This team has problems at all levels.

[theBigLip]

Got a time machine?

Forgot about this option, sounds promising

[Notanoob]

You know how to fix this team? Kidnap JSmoove's family, and blackmail him. If he isn't giving 100%, cut off a finger and send it to him. If he takes a jumper (with time left in the shot clock), knock someone off.

Find some way to make Jennings put on some weight, play defense, finish with his right hand, and improve the mechanics of his jump shot. All of this would really have to take place during the offseason though. Might require similar motivational techniques to JSmoove.

Keep Stuckey healthy so that we have a guard who can play on the bench. Might require magic, or steroids.

[Snakebites]

Err, that's fairly over the line. If you were aiming for shock humor you missed....

[Notanoob]

Err, that's fairly over the line. If you were aiming for shock humor you missed....

Indeed, that was my aim. Oh well, I figured it was in line with the dramatics that are going on around here.