Tom Gores State of the Pistons

[ComboGuardCity]

Surprisingly candid. To me, it seems like Stan is gone. Thoughts?

Watch on YouTube

[Snakebites]

Absolutely.

He's gone. He tried to be outwardly complementary but there were little slips from time to time. He pretty much turned down every opportunity the reporters gave him to excuse Stan for the season's outcome. I think the bit where he says "the reality is we're not in the playoffs and we're going to have to talk about that" part was particularly damning.

I'd say there's an outside chance he simply loses his FO role, but most likely I'd say he's gone.

[DTP]

I just came to say it sounds like SVG is gone too. Think we can maybe get Doc to come here? haha

[buzzkilloton]

Its time to can the Stan.

[A_dub06]

@4:48 that’s definitely Dan Feldman asking him about how he projects Blake over the next 2 years and his place on the team based on the sample size.

I don’t think SVG is definitely gone after watching that, Gores was incredibly non committal to anything and it also worries me that he’s just concerned about getting to the playoffs and not actually winning. If you’re going to spend all this money, wouldn’t you want a shot at actually competing or at least having a large window of making the playoffs to increase ticket sales and attract more buyers if he’s just looking to make money?

This team is floored from top to bottom and it all starts with Gores. We need a new owner, and everything else to follow.


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[vic]

"I'm disappointed that I have disappointed the fans"

That's the best thing I have heard out of his mouth in 5 years. It shows at least that he's listening, and he's taking some responsibility.

He's still ignorant as ever, and clueless about the game. But to start listening and taking responsibility is a good sign from an owner, it's all you can really ask for.

[Kilo]

Stan is a great salesman and will snow Gores IF Stan wants to stay. I'll bet Gores offers Stan an extension to just coach but strip him of his DBO powers. Does Stan accept that?

IIRC Bowers contract is up this off-season - is he brought back? If Stan is losing his DBO and Tellum is the new front office shot caller - I think it would be easier transition to these new roles if Bowers is gone because he would go from answering to Stan to essentially being above Stan and only answering to Tellem.

[Billl]

Not sure how you can bring back a coach after the team repeatedly quit on him. If this was year 1 of a rebuild, that would be one thing. He'd be shipping them all out anyway. It's not though. These are all guys stan brought in.

[DCintheD]

this interview proves how clueless Gores is and how much blind faith he put in Stan.

"I think we need to make some changes but I'm just not sure what they are. I need to hear from Stan"

what???

[Laimbeer]

this interview proves how clueless Gores is and how much blind faith he put in Stan.

"I think we need to make some changes but I'm just not sure what they are. I need to hear from Stan"

what???

I took it as Gores needing to make some changes but wants to talk to Stan first, not that Stan is going to tell Gores what the changes need to be.

SVG is done. Gores spoke of him in the past tense and said he needed to "check in" with him. Gores seems genuinely concerned about not winning. I'm encouraged.

[Billl]

I'm sure he wants to win if for nothing other than financial reasons. Being concerned with not winning doesn't mean he has any idea what it takes to actually win though. The brain trust is basically SVG and SVG hires. If SVG is out, there is going to be a major exdous of those guys as well. Tellem is obviously experienced on the business side, but someone is going to have to fill a ton basketball positions from scouts to GM.

[ComboGuardCity]

I'm sure he wants to win if for nothing other than financial reasons. Being concerned with not winning doesn't mean he has any idea what it takes to actually win though. The brain trust is basically SVG and SVG hires. If SVG is out, there is going to be a major exdous of those guys as well. Tellem is obviously experienced on the business side, but someone is going to have to fill a ton basketball positions from scouts to GM.

Who exactly would we lose that’s irreplaceable though? We’ve been a below average team in nearly every aspect since Stan took over.

[Billl]

I'm sure he wants to win if for nothing other than financial reasons. Being concerned with not winning doesn't mean he has any idea what it takes to actually win though. The brain trust is basically SVG and SVG hires. If SVG is out, there is going to be a major exdous of those guys as well. Tellem is obviously experienced on the business side, but someone is going to have to fill a ton basketball positions from scouts to GM.

Who exactly would we lose that’s irreplaceable though? We’ve been a below average team in nearly every aspect since Stan took over.

Everyone is replaceable. That's not the issue. Whose going to be making the replacements though? We basically cleaned house when SVG came in. He brought everyone on board. Every front office position. Trainers/Strength. All the coaches. All the video staff. 13 out of 15 scouts. The only ones who are going to be left after a SVG departure are Gores and Tellem. Unless we bring in a GM with tons of NBA connections, this is probably going to be a pretty rocky process - especially if the board gets its collective wish and Billups comes in as GM. He's not going to have a stable of a dozen experienced NBA scouts that he's worked with before.

[ComboGuardCity]

I'm sure he wants to win if for nothing other than financial reasons. Being concerned with not winning doesn't mean he has any idea what it takes to actually win though. The brain trust is basically SVG and SVG hires. If SVG is out, there is going to be a major exdous of those guys as well. Tellem is obviously experienced on the business side, but someone is going to have to fill a ton basketball positions from scouts to GM.

Who exactly would we lose that’s irreplaceable though? We’ve been a below average team in nearly every aspect since Stan took over.

Everyone is replaceable. That's not the issue. Whose going to be making the replacements though? We basically cleaned house when SVG came in. He brought everyone on board. Every front office position. Trainers/Strength. All the coaches. All the video staff. 13 out of 15 scouts. The only ones who are going to be left after a SVG departure are Gores and Tellem. Unless we bring in a GM with tons of NBA connections, this is probably going to be a pretty rocky process - especially if the board gets its collective wish and Billups comes in as GM. He's not going to have a stable of a dozen experienced NBA scouts that he's worked with before.

Consultants. He did the same thing when he first came on board. I’d love to snag Ime Udoka from the Spurs as a coach. Bring Billups and co in at the front office...as long as he surrounds himself with experienced guys. Don’t want Hinke with the tank dying.

[MrBigShot]

If he was dead set on firing SVG I don't think he would be in discussing the state of the team/changes with him. I think SVG will lose GM/president privileges and Tom will let him finish his contract as coach next year given that our starting PG missed about half the season.

I'd be ok with that. SVG's biggest blunders have been front office related. Stanley over Booker, not drafting Mitchell, signing Leur & Galloway to bad contracts.

[DCintheD]

this interview proves how clueless Gores is and how much blind faith he put in Stan.

"I think we need to make some changes but I'm just not sure what they are. I need to hear from Stan"

what???

I took it as Gores needing to make some changes but wants to talk to Stan first, not that Stan is going to tell Gores what the changes need to be.

SVG is done. Gores spoke of him in the past tense and said he needed to "check in" with him. Gores seems genuinely concerned about not winning. I'm encouraged.

so you think he's gonna fly him to LA to fire him? sounds like an efficient way to fire someone...

[bballnmike]

Maybe this could be its own poll, but hypothetical:

(even if you think it's more likely he's either fired completely or stays on as both, if you had to pick...)

If SVG is brought back next year in a more limited role, which you prefer:
A. Keeps front office responsibilities, but a new coach is brought in (likely by SVG)
B. Stays as head coach, but new front office

Bonus question: thoughts on Jeff Bower remaining, regardless of what happens to SVG? Seems like he was in charge of a lot of our trades, which most people would agree we usually won.

[vic]

I actually love Bower I think Billups/Bower would be a great Tandem. SvBower was probably just an echo chamber.
I would love it if Chauncey came in and kept SVGs organizational/intelligence structure in tact, but just made better decisions with it.

[DCintheD]

I would love it if Chauncey came in and kept SVGs organizational/intelligence structure in tact, but just made better decisions with it.

Dude... this is such an oxymoron... what have we become??

[Wallace_Wallace]

If he was dead set on firing SVG I don't think he would be in discussing the state of the team/changes with him. I think SVG will lose GM/president privileges and Tom will let him finish his contract as coach next year given that our starting PG missed about half the season.

I'd be ok with that. SVG's biggest blunders have been front office related. Stanley over Booker, not drafting Mitchell, signing Leur & Galloway to bad contracts.

I never got the drafting thing, Booker was a 6th man from Kentucky. He wasn't some can't miss prospect that's haunt franchise if they don't pick them. At the time, we have KCP, someone we thought was an athletic two that could defend and play off the ball. Hindsight is always 20/20.

But the FA signings......