The Detroit Pistons used to be attendance kings at the Palace, it is now time for the fans to take back their empty seats and support this exciting team.
Contrary to what many have seen on television over the past few years, The Palace of Auburn Hills used to be an incredible place to watch an NBA game. There was a level of excitement entering the Palace that was not felt going to the Tigers, Lions or Red Wings games. But if you started following the Pistons post-2009, those statements may surprise you.
From 2003-2010 the Pistons were first, aside from 2007 (Chicago Bulls – Pistons finished second), in attendance across the entire league. The Palace consistently sold out all 22,076 seats. The fans would get there early and be seated before public address announcer John Mason started with his epic starting lineups. This last year the Pistons saw a little uptick, but were still 24th in attendance drawing at less than 75 percent capacity (many of the seats in upper balcony were basically giveaways).
In the 2000s, the spectacle would start with the lights going off, Mason booming his voice to get everyone hype, and then the starting five would be announced. Each starter had a unique introduction or nickname, Rip (Richard Hamilton), The Palace Prince (Tayshaun Prince), 6’3” Chaun-CEY B-b-b-billups, ‘Sheed (Rasheed Wallace), and the pyrotechnics introduced “Big Ben” Wallace. We fawned over these guys; we wore their nicknames on our shirts, wore Afro wigs, and put on sweatbands to match the squad on the floor.
And then those Detroit Pistons’ identifying pieces left, and the fans left the Palace. The arena cleared out and most Pistons’ fans would explain their absence with an honest, “Why would I waste my time and spend my money to go to a game when they stink?” It was hard to get excited about a team led by Charlie Villenueava, Jose Calederon, Ben Gordon and Josh Smith.
But now it is time for Pistons fans to wipe the slate clean and return to the Palace this fall. Time for fans to come out and appreciate the team being built at 6 Championship Drive. No longer do Pistons’ fans have to watch clips of the past to have pride in their Pistons.
Stan Van Gundy has been nothing short of a miracle worker since he grabbed the reigns of a faded franchise. In two years, he has completely remodeled the roster to have one of the most young and exciting collections of talent in the league.
Not only does he have the roster modeled in his identity but also there are tangible goals this nucleus could obtain this year, and beyond. There needs to be another step or two, and the baby step of getting to playoffs will suffice for this year, but next year it would be highly disappointing to not stay at the party longer than one round. At the moment, there would be a lot of disappointment not getting to the second round. Those are realistic goals, and the compass of this team points due north.
Of course, there is the Lebron James issue. As long as he is ‘that dude’ the Cleveland Cavaliers will be the prohibitive favorites. But that does not mean fans should stay away until the King is dethroned or Father Time starts to play games with his health. Fans should be pouring into the Palace by the droves next October to identify with this new collection of future Pistons’ greats.
The fans and team need to form the kind of relationship they had in the 2000’s. When the fans grew and identified with the young core, started to call them by their nicknames, created caricatures in their likeness, it allowed fun to take precedent at The Palace. Fun brings fans, fans bring children, children bring youth and vibrancy, and the connection the fans share, as a Pistons’ fans, will return The Palace.
This team showed a lot of heart last year, even though they got swept in four games by the eventually champs. But now is the best time of the journey, we as fans get to watch the grind from SVG’s blueprint to the fruition of achieved talents.
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In one year, Reggie Jackson went from highly questionable to conceivable stud at point guard. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope went from decent defender to plus defender with in-game confidence in his stroke growing. Tobias Harris went from a misplaced Orlando Magic to a stud in SVG’s system. Marcus Morris went from bench/role player to starter who battled the best and never backed down. Andre Drummond went from a statue on offense to an active participant. Stanley Johnson went from a hyper rookie to a competitive dog by the end of the season.
Now the Pistons infuse their team with the speed and flare of Ish Smith, the consistent sharpshooting of Jon Leuer, the gift of a young project in Henry Ellenson, and the Pistons have a smorgasbord of talented, young players.
We have seen what SVG can do with the likes of Anthony Tolliver and Steve Blake leading the second unit, what will he be able to do with better talent coming off the bench?
The questions are endless with this young team, but the current questions are draped with enthusiasm and excitement. It would be tremendous for fans to take that 35 minute drive from the city back to Auburn Hills and take onus of the team again.
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The Pistons used to be the kings of attendance at the Palace, it is now time for the fans to take back their empty seats and support this team as they journey before our eyes.