The Witch Hunt Begins

The Pistons lost to Boston in 6 games. This marks the third straight year the pistons have lost in the Eastern Conference Finals in 6 games. People don't try to make it to the conference finals every year, they try to lift that Larry O'Brien trophy at the end of the year. Its the 1st time they lost the series in which they did not have home court advantage. So naturally, let the shake up begin.

Today the Pistons announced Flip Saunders will not be returning as head coach and Michael Curry has been tabbed as his successor by some media members. I think this might be a record of sorts if he takes the job though. Curry was a starter on the 2002-03 team (the first of the 6 straight trips to the East. Con. Finals) to the head coach of the 08-09 Pistons team. He could be coaching three teammates he had (Rip hamilton, Chauncey Billups, Tayshaun Prince).

If Curry gets the job, expect current assistant Terry Porter to find work elsewhere (maybe Phoenix?), because the Pistons will have passed over a guy with head coaching experience that lead his team to the playoffs in a year they weren't supposed to for a guy who has been an assistant for 2 years.

It can't only be the coaches' fault though, and Joe Dumars said today that "Everyone is in play" when it comes to trade talks. The Pistons need to add a threat on the post because Rasheed Wallace has made it his prerogative to wander around the three-point line for 95 percent of every game. Maybe, the 'stones can start to rely on Amir Johnson and Jason Maxiell a little bit more. They both have great athletic ability and good potential to learn to be a reliable post presence on both sides of the floor.

The Pistons will also probably look to get rid of one of the trio of Billups, Prince, and Hamilton. I don't think the pistons can get rid of Prince, he's too young and has been billed as the future for about four years now. The only way I like getting rid of Billups is somehow trading him to Miami for the no.2 pick so they can take beasley or rose. Other than that the guy that needs to go is Hamilton. That way stuckey can get more playing time and the pistons will be able to play two "combo" guards in Chauncey and Rodney Stuckey and still have a defensive stopper in Tayshaun.

This summer should be a summer of moving and shaking for the Pistons because they have shown that they just don't have whatever it is to get over that hump and into the finals for a chance for that nice and shiny trophy.