I'm shocked at how bad the Pistons record is this year. I'm not really sure what to make of it. The injuries have clearly been a problem, but should they really struggle this much? I don't think so. I think a few changes could turn this around.
Adapt a win-now attitude in games
Stop playing to lose. This attitude needs to change immediately. The higher draft pick may help, but it will be irrelevant if we adopt a losing culture. Some people don't believe in this "tanking" leads to a years-long detriment. Look at the Lions. They've been trying to break a losing culture for over 50 years. The Pistons need to avoid this trap. I know no one ever says they are losing on purpose, but the extended absences of key players might indicate otherwise.
Remove the rest of the Canada Brigade
Too often the Pistons have been fooled by the allure of "3-point shooting" in free agency. Rarely, if ever, has that prospect paid dividends in Detroit. Trey Lyles has been traded recently. I wish the other two, Cory Joseph and Kelly Olynk would be traded, too. They don't fit this team. They both play Western Conference run and gun styles. Detroit's young core is more akin to a different Western Conference team, the grit and grind Grizzlies of the 2010s. This team's young core has, perhaps, a higher upside though.
I believe in Troy Weaver-style players more than Dwane Casey-style players. In Detroit, you win with defense and smart, team play. The Bad Boys and Goin' to Work teams were built in similar molds. This is the way to go. The Grant Hill teams failed because they were too focused on offense and flash. Build your franchise on substance, not style.
The young guys HAVE to play
No more Cory Josephs or Kelly Olynks. Sorry. We've won 12 games with their "veteran leadership." This time would have been better spent with Saben Lee and Luka Garza. I'm not delusional. This is simple math. The "veteran presence" isn't making a difference in the outcome of games. If Dwane Casey is such a developmental guy, why don't young players get more opportunities? Realistically, our two best players are Cade Cunningham and Saddiq Bey. They should be the emphasis of the offense over Jerami Grant as well. Get this group out there with the reps. Cunningham has more "veteran" presence than anyone else on this team.
It may be time for Dwane Casey to move on
I think Dwane Casey is a good coach, but he is not a good coach for this team. He came to Detroit with the idea of elevating a team into playoff contention, not a rebuild. (Thinking that team was ever going past where it was is maybe delusional itself). I think at times you can see this frustration. He was fired from a title contender (who won a title the next year). This situation is understandably aggravating; however, I do think it would be best for Casey and best for the Pistons to shake things up. The losing isn't necessarily his fault, but does Dwane Casey have another rebuild in his heart? Does he have the patience necessary to watch Hayes and Lee turn the ball over and have Joseph ride the pine to pay dividends years from now? If not, both sides should come to the agreement that this isn't working.
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