Hoop *Pipe* Dreams
I typically reserve my basketball rants until all-star weekend, but the hot story of the NBA’s first trimester is simply too baffling not to address…
The Detroit Pistons, with 54 victories in each of the past two seasons, are already being heralded as one of the greatest teams in hardwood history, and have become a popular choice to win 70 games. 70! “Sportscenter” is running a nightly comparison to the 96’ Bulls, complete with stats and records after each game.
Oh by the way, the Pistons have played a whopping total of 31 games this year.
Perhaps magazines and newspapers should start running hypothetical tournaments where Detroit plays other great historical teams and fans vote on the winner. This way, Detroit can join USC as the “greatest team of all-time…who wasn’t even the greatest team of the year.”
A 70-win season has been accomplished once in the 60 year history of the NBA, by the aforementioned 1996 Chicago Bulls, who were led by Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Phil Jackson. The Bulls had the greatest rebounder of all-time in Dennis Rodman, the 6th man of the year (Toni Kukoc), the 3-point champion (Steve Kerr), and perhaps most amazingly, an unprecedented three players on the All-Defensive 1st team.
Conversely, the Pistons entire roster has amassed four career all-star appearances. They barely escaped the Eastern Conference finals a year ago against a hobbling Miami Heat team. Their division is greatly improved – Milwaukee, Cleveland and Indiana look like playoff locks. And if Larry Brown is widely considered one of the greatest coaches in NBA history, how could recently fired Flip Saunders take the same roster and win 16 more games?
Hopefully, after losing to the .500 Utah Jazz last night for the second time – Detroit’s fifth defeat of the year – everyone will let go of this ridiculous notion of a Piston 70-win season.
If that didn’t do it, a sound defeat next Thursday to the NBA’s best team, San Antonio, should permanently dispel the idea.
Future, non-Detroit NBA topics: Just how good is Steve Nash? NBA All-Star picks, mid-season awards
The Detroit Pistons, with 54 victories in each of the past two seasons, are already being heralded as one of the greatest teams in hardwood history, and have become a popular choice to win 70 games. 70! “Sportscenter” is running a nightly comparison to the 96’ Bulls, complete with stats and records after each game.
Oh by the way, the Pistons have played a whopping total of 31 games this year.
Perhaps magazines and newspapers should start running hypothetical tournaments where Detroit plays other great historical teams and fans vote on the winner. This way, Detroit can join USC as the “greatest team of all-time…who wasn’t even the greatest team of the year.”
A 70-win season has been accomplished once in the 60 year history of the NBA, by the aforementioned 1996 Chicago Bulls, who were led by Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Phil Jackson. The Bulls had the greatest rebounder of all-time in Dennis Rodman, the 6th man of the year (Toni Kukoc), the 3-point champion (Steve Kerr), and perhaps most amazingly, an unprecedented three players on the All-Defensive 1st team.
Conversely, the Pistons entire roster has amassed four career all-star appearances. They barely escaped the Eastern Conference finals a year ago against a hobbling Miami Heat team. Their division is greatly improved – Milwaukee, Cleveland and Indiana look like playoff locks. And if Larry Brown is widely considered one of the greatest coaches in NBA history, how could recently fired Flip Saunders take the same roster and win 16 more games?
Hopefully, after losing to the .500 Utah Jazz last night for the second time – Detroit’s fifth defeat of the year – everyone will let go of this ridiculous notion of a Piston 70-win season.
If that didn’t do it, a sound defeat next Thursday to the NBA’s best team, San Antonio, should permanently dispel the idea.
Future, non-Detroit NBA topics: Just how good is Steve Nash? NBA All-Star picks, mid-season awards
posted by Ben Taylor | 7:41 PM
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