OT: Phil Jackson and the Pistons

Submitted by MGoVoldemort on

http://www.freep.com/article/20140210/SPORTS03/302100166/detroit-piston…

 

Like most everyone with a clue (except for me, ask my wife), I don't see Phil Jackson returning to coach; he has nothing left to prove, and the Pistons are not the type of team Phil usually coaches. In that they are not ready for prime time if you will, and don't have anything resembling the pieces for a triangle offense. That being said, however, I think the probability of Gores giving Jackson full front ofice control are somewhat good. How would Jackson do as a front office guy? I really have no clue, but I'd pay an awful lot of money to find out. Also, like others, I don't know a great deal about Gores, save that he and Phill have a great relationship, and he doesn't like losing. The man put a playoff mandate on a team that would have been far better served rebuilding, so his desire to win, and win now is great. Couple this with the fact that it was Gores's decision to fire Cheeks, and replacing him with a person who has little chance of winning the job next season, and you get a situation where he has clearly lost faith in Dumars. Not letting Dumars hire a legit guy like Hollins or Karl shows the writing is on the wall, and that Dumars's days are numbered. 

At this point, why not Phil?

Gucci Mane

February 10th, 2014 at 10:20 PM ^

I don't see any reason not to give Phil Jackson the GM position. He certainly knows how to win. I just hope Gores doesn't tell whoever the GM is that they need to win imediatley and gives them the proper chance to rebuild.

samsoccer7

February 10th, 2014 at 10:24 PM ^

Damn the title made me think Phil Jackson was hired by Gores. I can only hope. I disliked him bc he was with the Bulls and Lakers, my perceived Pistons rivals (I'm 34) but I would be more than Ok with this move.

Zoltanrules

February 10th, 2014 at 10:31 PM ^

Drew Sharp couldn't think of something stupid to write? No way is Phil Jackson coaching the Pistons... and if Phil was consulted in our last coaching search that got us a clueless Mo Cheeks then he has lost his touch.

It's clear Gores doesn't know basketball andhas trusted Dumars whose skills as GM have been eroding. Hopefully Dumars wont make any silly deals involving our good young players to save his job, so that we can make the 8 slot in the playoffs.

MGoChippewa

February 10th, 2014 at 10:57 PM ^

Best case scenario imo, Hollins is hired ASAP, they make a run and grab the 6 seed. Beat Toronto in the first round, steal a game or two from Miami in the second round before losing. Then, Dumars is let go and replaced by former Pistons exec Scott Perry.

MGoChippewa

February 11th, 2014 at 9:05 AM ^

They have a better point differential than CHA and BKN and the Bulls have been playing well above their means thanks to DJ Augustin suddenly being competent again.  They're one more injury away from falling fast.  If the Pistons do get the 6th seed, they can absolutely beat Toronto.

MGoChippewa

February 11th, 2014 at 9:39 AM ^

Pistons are one of the league's top five teams in fast break efficiency, but they're only around 12th in pace.  If he can shore up the defense to get them to around the middle of the pack in efficiency, I wouldn't mind him staying.

MGoChippewa

February 11th, 2014 at 9:07 AM ^

already with Dumars.  Gores gave him a shot when he bought the team, but I'm pretty sure he's got his mind made up.  If Dumars' contract weren't up at the end of the year, no they probably don't fire him if they make the 2nd round.  However, Dumars hasn't done enough since Gores bought the team to justify a brand new deal.

denardogasm

February 11th, 2014 at 12:23 AM ^

Gores is a horrible owner.  He's never even in Detroit, and he had to clear all the decisions Dumars has made.  He doesn't know anything about building a team, and demanding a playoff birth of a team that is just going to get killed once they get there is just stupid.  Get the draft pick, then hire someone who actually knows what to do with a draft pick.

LSAClassOf2000

February 11th, 2014 at 6:24 AM ^

Regarding the decision chain, there was a story getting passed around here yesterday that the decision to fire Cheeks had been made by Gores after the Orlando game last Wednesday, and that the delay was Dumars trying to talk him out of it. Interestingly, Dumars was not present supposedly at the press conference which introduced Loyer as the interim coach - indeed, there was no statement of any kind from Joe or Tom. If that's how it happened, it makes me wonder if Joe Dumars is close to lame duck status as it is. 

ScruffyTheJanitor

February 11th, 2014 at 12:55 AM ^

He'd be good. It would be interesting to see if he'd strip the roster or hope that his name was a big enough lure to get a star. If choice 2, I think that he'd see rather quickly that would be a mistake.