Well, let's see. Lebron James of the Miami Heat racked up a triple-double (17 points, 12 assists, 10 rebounds) in only three quarters of action against the Detroit Pistons. King James sat out the entire fourth quarter, because the game had gotten so out of hand by then, the Heat didn't need him, else who knows how gaudy his game stats might have been?
The Heat was also without fellow super-star Dwyane Wade, starter Mario Chalmers, eagle-eye shooter Ray Allen, and recently acquired big man Greg Oden for the entire game.
And basically their second-string still beat the Pistons by a whopping 32 points, 110-78 -- on Detroit's home court. That's pretty bad.
At halftime of the game, the Pistons honored their 1989 championship team. Back then, the likes of Bill Laimbeer, Rick Mahorn, Isiah Thomas, Dennis Rodman and Co were known as the "Bad Boys". It must have pained them to be in attendance and witness just how REALLY bad the Pistons have become.
It was interesting Joe Dumars, a Hall of Famer, and the Pistons' long-time president of basketball operations, didn't address the crowd during the ceremony. After all, he was a member of that 1989 team. Who better to take the microphone and deliver a keynote speech, working those in attendance (the few, the proud, the idiots with nothing better to do) into a frenzy? Or at least maybe waking them up.
Then again, it's probably not a bad idea for Joe D to lay low these days. Given what a sad-sack bunch the Pistons have become in recent years under his watch, keeping a low profile would seem to be very advisable. Besides, he probably has other more important things on his mind than giving a speech about something that happened 25 years ago. Like retirement plans, or getting his resume in optimal order for his next job, if he can find one.
That's because his goose in pretty well cooked with the Pistons. Before the season started, relatively new owner Tom Gores said he expected them to get to the playoffs this year. Not only is that not going to happen -- the Pistons are dangerously close to becoming a joke.
So in the words of the late, great Ernie Harwell -- when this season finally mercifully ends -- I suspect Joe D will be LOOOOONG gone. Dumars is definitely an upright dude and a pillar of society, but when it comes to the "what have you done for me lately" test in pro sports -- what can he possibly say to Gores that's believable to keep his job? And let's face it. Billionaires don't get to be billionaires if they're not paying attention to the bottom line and bigger picture. What does Gores likely see with the Pistons? Wins are down. Losses are up. Despite various shameless promotions, the Pistons continue to struggle to get people to attend their games, because they're nowhere close to being contenders. And then there's that pesky payroll, whereby he's shelling out millions and more millions to players, on contracts Dumars negotiated, who don't look to become any more competitive in the NBA any year soon. Throw in the merry-go-round of head coaches that have come, gone, and not made a difference. And all this ultimately falls directly in the lap of Joe Dumars.
But I suppose it could be worse.
Consider a couple other teams. The Philadelphia 76ers have lost 26 games in a row -- tying the all-time league record of futility. But despite that horrendous streak, the 76ers are still ahead of the Milwaukee Bucks in the standings. So how bad are THOSE guys? And what comes after bad, and REALLY bad? "Turrible", as Charles Barkley would say?
And don't look now, but the 76ers finally broke through with a win. And guess who they defeated? Yep, the Pistons. Not only beat them, but gave them a beatDOWN to the tune of 123-98. A 25 point whupping. That knocks the Pistons down another notch in the adjective department. Let's try pitiful.
Oh my. The Sixers? By 25 points? Say it ain't so, Joe.
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