Post#24 » by cochiseuofm » Wed Aug 20, 2014 5:33 pm
B sounds both right and wrong at the same time. The Pistons won a title during his tenure with a starting five that he either acquired via trade or drafted. They went to six straight Eastern Conference Finals and were a couple of bad breaks from another title or two.
There are so many other fanbases out there who claim they would accept a team that is terrible for 80% of the time but contends for titles the other years. Well....we had that. Dumars used a risky strategy of getting players that either weren't clear commodities or hadn't worked elsewhere else because he thought he could get more out of them. It worked with Billups, Big Ben, and Sheed - it didn't at all with Iverson, Gordon, Charlie V, Josh Smith, etc.
So what we are left with is a team that was great to watch during the first half of his tenure and miserable the second half. But how many other teams record / success in his 15 year or so reign would you have taken over his Pistons? The Spurs, Lakers, and Heat for sure - they won multiple titles.The Mavericks as well since they won a title and have been a very competitive team consistently. Who else? The Celtics? They have had bad years as well, especially towards the beginning of Ainge taking over. The Cavs or the Thunder? Two teams that bottomed out and drafted superstars but have yet to capitalize on them with a title...
Actually I'll revise my grade to an A. Because even with all the bad moves, I can't pick more than 4 teams overall success I'd rather have had experienced over the Pistons during Dumars time.