NBA Betting: No light at the end of the tunnel for sorry Detroit

Basketball / Nick Shiambouros / 25 February 2009 / 1 Comments

This month one of the longest streaks in sporting history come to an end when the Detroit Pistons failed to sell out for the first time in an amazing 259 consecutive games. Nick Shiambouros explains why.

The economic downturn has hit the Motor City extremely hard and, although Detroit fans are among the most loyal in the country, they will not part with their dollars to watch a team that aren't trying.

The Pistons have lost nine out of the last eleven games and are currently in seventh place in the Eastern Conference. The team put up one of the worst performances I have seen in a long time on Sunday, losing 99-78 to Cleveland. It was sad to see them go to the locker room at half-time losing 67-34, with their heads down. Things did not get any better against the Miami Heat on Tuesday when they lost 103-91 in another dismal performance. Detroit could only manage to score 17 points in a shocking third quarter.

I find it incredible that Rip Hamilton is still not in the starting line-up as he is the only player in the rotation who makes things happen when he is on the floor. Coach Michael Curry is under enormous pressure to turn things around but without starting Hamilton he will struggle. Allen Iverson is not scoring with the same frequency as he did in Denver and his defensive play has never been the strongest. When Iverson was with the Nuggets he blended very well with Carmello Anthony but in Detroit he has yet to find a real scoring partner.

The Detroit Pistons have a lot of talented players in the rotation but they do not work well as a team. I am afraid the blame must rest with general manager Joe Dumars who made the Iverson trade for Chauncey Billups. Dumars was part of the great defensive team that won two titles in 1989 and 1990 so he really should know the value of a defensive player.

Earlier in the season, I believed the Pistons would make the play-offs but I am rapidly changing my mind. A very demanding schedule over the next six games, sees them visit Boston and Orlando and, playing this kind of ball, they could easily lose the next six games.

It is really hard to see any light at the end of the tunnel for this current rotation. The players are disheartened, at the end of the season both Allan Iverson and Rasheed Wallace
become free agents and the knowledge that at least one if not both will be traded, has affected team morale.

Two Pistons season tickets can cost more than the average house in Detroit in the current economic climate. If they continue to play at this level it could be another 259 games before they sell out again.

Recommendations:

Lay the Detroit Pistons with the handicap over the next six games.

Comments (1)

1. Clint | 25 March 2009

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