The news out of Detroit is that the Pistons have decided to part ways with their head coach of this past season, Michael Curry. The move was an obvious if unexpected one, as Curry made some huge mistakes in his first year in charge -- including alienating the team's number one star, Rip Hamilton, with the way he handled the Allen Iverson situation.It wasn't Curry's fault that the Iverson experiment didn't work, but when he finally had the guts to make the decision to bench Hamilton, he did so publicly, by making the announcement to the entire team before practice. This didn't sit well with the star who, after the trade that sent Chauncey Billups out of town, was now the team's leading scorer, and the face of the franchise. Reports were that he and his head coach were no longer on speaking terms.
With the free agency period set to begin less than 11 hours from the time the team fired its coach, you have to believe that Curry's relationship with the team's veteran star was something that Joe Dumars didn't want to be an issue for other big name players to contend with when they considered signing with the Pistons. Now, it isn't.
No replacement for Curry has been named, and while rumors of Bill Laimbeer are sure to be tossed around, Yahoo!'s Adrian Wojnarowski is reporting that Doug Collins may be a leading candidate. Whoever it is that gets the gig, the pressure will be on to return the Pistons to Eastern Conference contenders, after Curry helped guide them to a 39-43 record, and an embarrassing first-round playoff sweep at the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
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In this photo taken Tuesday, June 3, 2008, Detroit Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars talks to the media in Auburn Hills, Mich. The Detroit Pistons fired coach Michael Curry on Tuesday June 30, 2009, as the team started rebuilding from an unpopular trade, a sub-.500 record and an embarrassing first-round exit from the playoffs that ended its six-year streak of making it to the conference finals. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
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Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant works with campers at his first annual basketball camp in Oklahoma City, Tuesday, June 30, 2009. Durant says the two-hour workouts he's been doing on his old college campus this summer are strenuous enough that he sweats through his entire uniform by the time he's done. He's been taking a summer school class at the University of Texas this summer and working out with the Longhorns players when he can. (AP Photo)
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In this May 11, 2009 photo, Dallas Mavericks guard Jason Kidd (2) brings the ball down court against the Denver Nuggets in the first half of Game 4 of the NBA basketball Western Conference semifinal in Dallas. Free agency opens in the NBA on Wednesday, July 1, 2009, and Kidd is among the point guards garnering interest. (AP Photo/Donna McWilliam)
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In this Feb. 19, 2009 photo, Detroit Pistons guard Allen Iverson shoots a free throw against the San Antonio Spurs in the third quarter of an NBA basketball game in Auburn Hills, Mich. Free agency opens in the NBA on Wednesday, July 1, 2009, and Iverson could provide instant offense for some NBA teams. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
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In this photo taken on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2008, San Antonio Spurs guard Michael Finley looks on against the Denver Nuggets in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Denver. Finley has told the Spurs he plans to return for another season, the team announced Tuesday June 30, 2009. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
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LOS ANGELES - JUNE 29: The Los Angeles Clippers number one draft pick, Blake Griffin from the University of Oklahoma, puts on his jersey for a photo shoot on June 29, 2009 at the Clippers Training Center in Playa Vista, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Blake Griffin
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LOS ANGELES - JUNE 29: The Los Angeles Clippers number one draft pick, Blake Griffin (L) from the University of Oklahoma, poses for a photo with current Clippers player Eric Gordan during a press conference on June 29, 2009 at the Clippers Training Center in Playa Vista, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Blake Griffin;Eric Gordan
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LOS ANGELES - JUNE 29: The Los Angeles Clippers number one draft pick Blake Griffin (L) from the University of Oklahoma speaks to reporters as current Clippers player Eric Gordan looks on during a press conference on June 29, 2009 at the Clippers Training Center in Playa Vista, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Blake Griffin;Eric Gordan
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LOS ANGELES - JUNE 29: The Los Angeles Clippers number one draft pick, Blake Griffin (L) from the University of Oklahoma and Clippers' General Manager and Head Coach Mike Dunleavy, pose with Griffins' Clippers jersey during a press conference on June 29, 2009 at the Clippers Training Center in Playa Vista, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Blake Griffin;Mike Dunleavy
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LOS ANGELES - JUNE 29: The Los Angeles Clippers number one draft pick, Blake Griffin from the University of Oklahoma, addresses the media during a press conference as General Manager and Head Coach Mike Dunleavy (L) and President Andy Roeser (R) share the stage on June 29, 2009 at the Clippers Training Center in Playa Vista, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Blake Griffin;Mike Dunleavy;Andy Roeser
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
6-30-2009 @ 2:14PM
superiorconc said...
its about time they fired curry , now maybe i can get into the game witch curry made so hard to watch , he needs to go coach at the local ymca. bring on laimbeer the guys a winner
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6-30-2009 @ 5:57PM
carsondoug846 said...
Yes! Laimbeer knows! He's been there.
6-30-2009 @ 3:08PM
Puck said...
Well the Pistons have Rip and a boat load of cap space so I guess it's not totally ground zero. Can they get Billups back as a player/coach? What a fiasco that trade was. Dumars got his wish: no more coming up short in the 4th quarter of game 7 of the Conference finals(oh, how horrible)...this year they didn't even show up for Cleveland, what a disgrace, a Piston team not even showing. That hasn't happened for almost a decade. With Davidson passing on is there a chance the Pistons can move back to Detroit? And who can fire Joe D. if his luck at rolling the dice doesn't change? Speaking of "Dice", yeah he's ok, but isn't he like Sheed now, and any other Piston, besides Rip, an add on to a Contender, not a foundation?
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6-30-2009 @ 3:11PM
Michael gifford said...
Rip Hamilton? the face of the franchise??? give me a frickin break...the egos of these alleged "team players" astounds me some times... it's all about them, how many minutes they're playing, who's starting and how much money per year they're making...it's not about the "team" as they ALL like to say... very few players in the NBA are sooooooooooo about team they don't get into a hissy fit if it looks to the coach that it's better to have someone else start FOR THE SAKE OF WINNING THE GAME... as if that's such an inconceivable notion... obviously if the team had a major winning record, no body benches a starter for an extended period of time unless they're being a major dick...after all, coaches want to win too... but if it's average or even a poor winning record, then it makes sense to make a change... what idiot wants to watch the ship sink and then think that keeping the same guys running the boat will help it?
so curry takes the heat for the Pistons collapse...oh well...I don't know how good a coach he is... didn't really get a chance to watch what he did but the factors affecting the pistons we more than just Curry, not the least of which was the trade for mr. "I'm supposed to be the franchise player and we're here talking about practice?" Iverson. And then Sheed's decline in skills, the absence of a true floor general (for those who think Billups was overrated notice what happen to the Nuggets when he got there...biiiiiig turnaround) and then there's things like Rip Hamilton's pissy pants over not starting...
Why not have the NBA players stop mouthing the words it's about winning and team and simply own up to the truth..... "it's about me, my image, my money, my reputation and my ego." and then we can have them have some frickin integrity for once in their life...
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6-30-2009 @ 10:12PM
houchens said...
Why should the NBA be any different than in the real world? ..... "it's about me, my image, my money, my reputation and my ego." is true in the corporate world, in finance, and especially in politics. Do you really think that Nancy Pelosi or Harry Reid give a da,,mn about the country?
7-01-2009 @ 9:35AM
Rich Cantwell said...
I understand and agree with your stance on today's so-called stars in the NBA, and yes, the Pistons have many issues. But Curry is a terrible coach and never should have been hired. Management must be held accountable for this and the other blunders you mentioned. Integrity in the NBA???? Don't make me laugh.
6-30-2009 @ 3:42PM
BIGKENBRWN4 said...
dumars should be fired for bring in iverson if piston gonna reload they must unload
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6-30-2009 @ 3:58PM
rdnick said...
Curry should have never been hired. He looks like Big 'Tigga. He and Dumars have screwed up this franchise...kind of like the city.
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6-30-2009 @ 4:05PM
NIECY said...
LETS SUPPORT THE REAL WINNERS THE DETROIT SHOCK WOMEN BASKETBALL TEAM GO LADIES
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6-30-2009 @ 5:10PM
Josh said...
Except they aren't winning either. 2-5 right now. Yes they are champions and have won 3 since 2003 (I think) but even they aren't winning now.
6-30-2009 @ 4:03PM
MARK GATES said...
All i got to say is whoever got rid of Billubs should be fired
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6-30-2009 @ 4:12PM
mrscallop said...
Michael Gifford,
You're an idiot. That whole rant was completely idiotic.
In fact, all of these comments are unbelievable. I can tell none of you even watch basketball.
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6-30-2009 @ 4:53PM
sportsguy56201 said...
I even felt Mr. BigShot needed to go, so I won't pick on Dumars for unloading him. But AI? That really hurt. I thought at the outset it was a bad trade. Letting Flip Saunders go was a bad move also. Tradig Billups for quality and keeping Flip was the thing to do. Joe dumars messed up, but he doesn't need to go...yet. Let's see if he can pull a miracle out of his available cap money. Get Bosh! Get a true Center. Get someone other than a has been on his way out of the league.
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6-30-2009 @ 4:53PM
Dale said...
Joe,
Bring back the "Bad Boys" as coaches. They know what it takes to win in Detroit.
Head Coach-Bill Laimbeer
Assistant Coach-Doug Collins
Bench Coaches-Vinnie Johnson, James Edwards, and Kelly Tripucka. The only piece missing would be Rick Mahorn. Laimbeer and Edwards can teach defense, while Johnson and Tripucka can teach the offensive side. Doug Collins can teach the physical and mental parts of basketball.
2009 & 2010 can bring back a Championship AGAIN
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6-30-2009 @ 5:13PM
Mike said...
Who cares who is the coach in Detroit, your gonna hold LeBron's jock as long as he is there anyway. If Hamilton is your "Star" your finished as a team.
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6-30-2009 @ 6:16PM
ocoeesmith1 said...
SOOOOOO Good to see the Pistons squirming. They are so mouthy and bragadosio, thinking they are tough. They used to be...(Knocked us Magic fans out the picture for several years) but NOT this year. We went to the finals and they watched. Our only regret is that we didn't have a chance to sweep them on the way there. But there is always next year. Pick a good run-down Detroit bar to watch Orlando win the championship next year (see...Howard, Lewis, Nelson and now...Vince Carter!!!}
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6-30-2009 @ 6:32PM
Michael gifford said...
you just gotta love PissedOn Fans, they win 1 in a row and then they're all that...as if....in fact, since the Lakers 3Peat, none of the "dynasty" teams have managed more than 1 in a row...best has been spurs winning every other year but the Pistons won't be seeing a ring again for another decade...whether it's Cavs, Magic, Lakers, or even Beantown, they ALL have a future but Pistons, well, count your blessings, at least the women know how to play ball...ooops...except for this year...
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6-30-2009 @ 6:35PM
jflu1961 said...
I stopped watching Pro Basketball 3yrs. ago Im sick of these thug Gangsta wanna be's Bringin the Hood into the NBA They use to be Professional Athletes when Professional meant something. Now they are just Over paid Thugs.
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6-30-2009 @ 6:43PM
djtonyr said...
Iverson = Losses. Bad move by Dumars trading Billups for him. He's a chemistry killer. Need to unload him and Rasheed to some sucker for draft picks and rebuild.
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6-30-2009 @ 6:51PM
iceboxprod said...
The entire Iverson/Billups debacle explains it all. Curry, while a nice guy, was not ever head coaching material, at the least, not yet. Dumars made a big mistake letting Chauncey's whining work and sending him west where he had a major impact. Iverson, no impact. Still a practice slacker and ball hog. Send him to a conference foe Joe, please?
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