Detroit Pistons: Who is to blame for embarrassing loss?

Detroit Pistons: Who is to blame for this brutal season?

Dwane Casey

To say many Pistons’ fans have turned on Dwane Casey is an understatement, as to some, he is the sole reason they are underperforming. They blame his rotations, his schemes, his lack of adjustments and his inability to get the most out of his players.

Some of this is fair, though he’s not the one putting out the lackluster effort, nor missing a ton of open shots, nor dribbling the ball endlessly in a half court offense that often resembles the one that James Naismith used when the hoop was still a peach basket.

I am not one to coach blame, as I think it’s the easiest thing to do, as fans have far more invested in the players, who can’t easily be fired. But something coach Casey said after the game stuck out:

At some point, there has to be some accountability for the “tone” his team routinely fails to set. Whether it’s some changes in the rotation, some different lineup combinations, a change in the pre-game routine or just some good old fashioned yelling, something has to change here and it’s on the coach to do it.

It’s hard to see Dwane Casey coaching the Pistons next season, and I do think it’s time to move on, but I put no more of the blame on him than any of these other factors, probably less, as he has not been given the tools to win.

Troy Weaver

Somehow GM Troy Weaver tends to escape any criticism for how this season as gone, as Pistons’ fans keep eating up the restoration mantra and ignoring the results. Yes, this is a rebuild, and yes, those take time, but at some point there have to be signs of improvement, right? Is hoping for the #1 pick the only strategy here?

I want more than anyone for the Detroit Pistons to be good, but I also understand that this was a tear down and it will take time to get there, and I am fine with it. But in the meantime, these young players are learning horrible habits and getting way too used to losing. On top of that, this is not a team, it’s a collection of transactions.

Little thought was put into how some of the offseason additions would affect the defense, which is the worst in franchise history for the second year in a row. Instead of getting some gritty role players who might inspire and teach these young guys how to be pros, Troy Weaver went out and got Marvin Bagley III and Kevin Knox. The guy who was meant to help fill that role (Nerlens Noel), doesn’t play.

And there is no end in sight, as what free agent is going to want to join this? What do the Pistons have to trade to land a star? The team is relying a lot on player development and the draft, which is fine, but at some point you have to try to put together an actual team whose pieces fit and who have a chance to grow, gel and build some chemistry.

We’ve been patient and most fans (including me) will continue to be. I do think Weaver has the chops to turn this around and that he eventually will. But if we are going to constantly blame coach Casey, then we also need to blame the guy who gave him an extension and put together this roster, which has about six wasted spots on it.

This offseason is going to be huge for Weaver, as patience will eventually run out and there have to be signs of improvement. I won’t go into next season thinking the Detroit Pistons are a playoff team, but I’d like to think they won’t be the worst team in the NBA again.