 Roster Trumps New Coach
By Steve St-Pierre
The Pistons made national headlines after announcing the hiring of Phil Jackson as an advisor to aid in the organization’s search for a new head coach. However, until the team improves its roster, fans would be wise to suppress any added enthusiasm toward this news.
Detroit fired former head coach Lawrence Frank shortly after the conclusion of this past season. It’s been a complete coaching whirlwind for the organization since Joe Dumars took over as President of Basketball Operations.
Truthfully, it doesn’t matter who coaches this team right now. Jackson himself couldn’t lead this group to a postseason berth as presently constructed. The Pistons’ rotation has far too many holes, and it’s going to be cause for concern for any potential coaching candidate.
The roster is currently built around big men Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond, but the rest of the players represent one giant question mark. Guard Brandon Knight has a chance to establish himself as a special player, but the team isn’t sure if he’s a point guard or shooting guard. Additionally, the Pistons are searching for more size and athleticism on the perimeter to complement Knight in the backcourt.
Fortunately, Detroit has a golden opportunity to solidify a lineup that could potentially lead to a perennial playoff contender. The team will have another top-ten pick in the forthcoming 2013 NBA Draft, and Dumars will have plenty of cap space at his disposal this summer.
Speculation has already ensued that Jackson could wind up a permanent replacement for Dumars in the front office. It has recently been reported that Jackson is searching for a position to run an NBA team and build a roster. Perhaps the Pistons are trying to squeeze Dumars out, or it’s possible that Dumars himself is trying to ease his way out and looking at a career change.
As vital as it may be to find that coach who can stick around long-term, it means nothing if the roster isn't significantly improved this offseason. Every great coach needs talent to win, and there just isn't enough of that here yet in Detroit.
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| pistonfan20 posted on 5/2/2013 7:11:58 PM
PASPN.net member class: Hall of Famer - Isiah Thomas
Contributing Member
PHIL JACKSON WILL HELP PICK PISTONS NEW HEAD COACH
This news is kinda insane. I wonder if he is only here to advise, or is there something deeper here with Phil Jackson being an "advisor" to Gores and Dumars.
maznblue posted on 5/2/2013 8:42:54 PM
PASPN.net member class: Hall of Famer - Isiah Thomas
re: PHIL JACKSON WILL HELP PICK PISTONS NEW HEAD COACH
i don't understand phil's philosophy really.
he gets lucky coaching best players in history of the league. then everyone thinks hes a genius.
I thin pops, LB, riley, and the Utah guy are all better...imo
Simon posted on 5/2/2013 8:47:50 PM
PASPN.net member class: Hall of Famer - Isiah Thomas
Contributing Member
re: re: PHIL JACKSON WILL HELP PICK PISTONS NEW HEAD COACH
I think phil jackson is absolutely the best 'advisor' we could've possibly dreamed of. Well done to Gores.
Also, maybe Joe has just come to terms with the fact that he isn't great at everything a GM has to do. After the lockout he hired one of the guys that worked on the new CBA for the nba to do our financial things regarding contracts and cap structure and now this.
It is a very big step in the right direction.
Not to mention i read the team is trying to get Hakeem to do some summer work with Andre Drummond.
BigDaddyJungle posted on 5/3/2013 12:24:51 AM
PASPN.net member class: Hall of Famer - Isiah Thomas
re: re: re: PHIL JACKSON WILL HELP PICK PISTONS NEW HEAD COACH
Joe does not have a great track record on coaches.
Joe blew it the last time he had money to spend.
...
Gores doesn't want to screw this up for the next 5 years, so he's paying a top guy for his two cents. Good Job, I have no issue with it.
RyanKelley posted on 5/3/2013 2:21:49 PM
PASPN.net member class: Hall of Famer - Isiah Thomas
re: re: re: PHIL JACKSON WILL HELP PICK PISTONS NEW HEAD COACH
on May 2 2013 8:47PM, Simon wrote:
Not to mention i read the team is trying to get Hakeem to do some summer work with Andre Drummond.
Simon, where did you read that? I understand Hakeem is getting $50,000 per day to work with players. That's a lot of money...5 days, $250,000. At this stage, it would be wasted on Andre who has absolutely no polish.
Hakeem had one really good move and the rest he seemed to improvise while he was on the floor. He had a great feel for the game and a short-range jumpshot. Seems like it's more about practice and experience than it is about spending 5 days with Olajuwon.
I bet you can hire a full-time big man assistant like Ewing or Moses Malone for $250,000 per year and it would be money better spent. Andre needs to practice for years to reach his ceiling. Paying for 5 days with Olajuwon isn't as good as having a daily mentor working with him.
Simon posted on 5/3/2013 3:00:23 PM
PASPN.net member class: Hall of Famer - Isiah Thomas
Contributing Member
re: re: re: re: PHIL JACKSON WILL HELP PICK PISTONS NEW HEAD COACH
on May 3 2013 2:21PM, RyanKelley wrote:
on May 2 2013 8:47PM, Simon wrote:
?Not to mention i read the team is trying to get Hakeem to do some summer work with Andre Drummond.
Simon, where did you read that?? I understand Hakeem is getting $50,000 per day to work with players.? That's a lot of money...5 days, $250,000.? At this stage, it would be wasted on Andre who has absolutely no polish.
Hakeem had one really good move and the rest he seemed to improvise while he was on the floor.? He had a great feel for the game and a short-range jumpshot.? Seems like it's more about practice and experience than it is about spending 5 days with Olajuwon.?
I bet you can hire a full-time big man assistant like Ewing or Moses Malone for $250,000 per year and it would be money better spent.? Andre needs to practice for years to reach his ceiling.? Paying for 5 days with Olajuwon isn't as good as having a daily mentor working with him.
I forget where I first read it but its on pistons.com now in the new article about dres off season.
KJRNDBALL2 posted on 5/3/2013 9:33:28 AM
PASPN.net member class: NBA All Star - Bill Laimbeer
re: PHIL JACKSON WILL HELP PICK PISTONS NEW HEAD COACH
I can only hope it leads to something else !! somebody like phil helping make decisions for this organization would be xtremely beneficial .. players would be drawn here as well.. cant beat a winner and it should start with a high profile exec to be like Jackson.. my 2 cents
gmathew85 posted on 5/3/2013 2:38:27 PM
PASPN.net member class: Hall of Famer - Dave Bing
re: re: PHIL JACKSON WILL HELP PICK PISTONS NEW HEAD COACH
I am the first to admit, as a coach, Phil is definitely overrated, but as a manager of egos, he is excellent. He can get guys to sacrifice to buy into a system for the benefit of the club. We still have a few egos to deal with, but I do feel a guy like Jackson can really accelerate the maturity/growth process of the guys on our team.
Hell, I would love for him to be an actual employee, maybe make him a gm to JoeD being president.
For a coach, I wonder if Lionel Hollins or George Karl will be available this offseason. If that is the case, then we won't have to search long for a good coach.
BTW, I still think $250K for 5 days with Hakeem is price worth paying, because we can start working on some great fundamentals now with Andre that he can work on to be 2nd nature. It is amazing how few big men have the athletic ability of Andre, especially at his age. It is also crazy how few of those big men have teh skills to execute "basketball moves" with or without the ball. Hakeem was a master at this. I think younger people have no clue how skilled guys like him and Kevin McHale were back in the day. I also think it will be a good sign of faith for Andre and his agent/family that we are really investing in him and we want him to return the favor, by continuing to work hard and to resign with us when the day comes.
matt72582 posted on 5/4/2013 6:44:36 PM
PASPN.net member class: Hall of Famer - Isiah Thomas
Contributing Member
re: re: re: PHIL JACKSON WILL
When my friend told me about this as he came over, I thought it was something he made on his drive over. He said, "Pistons got Phil Jackson" and my first thought was, "He isn't gonna coach"
I would hire Phil even as a parking lot adviser. I used to be one of those who thought he was overrated. He had great players, but so did many other coaches who didn't win shit. Then winning without Shaq, going to the Finals 3 years in a row. I remember Phil stepping down, Rudy taking over (he won back to back), but couldn't take them to the playoffs, and quit. Phil comes back, and he made a believer out of me. I have a few of his books, one of the most interesting people.
I'm very happy as a Pistons fan. Close friends of mine are cousins with Tom Gores, and I heard Tom and Phil know each other personally, living in LA. I just wondering how much of a role Tom and Joe will have with this coaching hire.
pistonfan20 posted on 5/5/2013 7:19:27 AM
PASPN.net member class: Hall of Famer - Isiah Thomas
Contributing Member
re: re: re: re: PHIL JACKSON WILL
I really don't see how you could think Phil Jackson is overrated. The guy has 13 total rings. (2 as a player) You don't win that many rings by mistake, I am so happy to have this guy within our organization, and like Matt said, I would even let him be a parking lot guy lol.
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