By George Eichorn
Enough is enough already with Detroit major sports teams skipping their respective post seasons.
The Tigers, Lions, Red Wings and Pistons have all failed to make the playoffs for years on end. The nonsense has to stop sooner than later one would think!
The Pistons get their crack at a new season on Wednesday, October 19 when they host the Orlando Magic at Little Caesars Arena in downtown Detroit. Head Coach Dwane Casey starts his fifth season for GM Troy Weaver (third season) and Owner Tom Gores, sole owner since 2015. Casey has had one playoff appearance in Detroit and that came is his first year when he succeeded Stan Van Gundy. The Pistons were swept by the Milwaukee Bucks.
Losers of 157 games over the last three seasons, including last year’s 23-59, GM Weaver re-tooled a bit. He added veteran forward Bojan Bogdanovic, a career 15 points per game scorer, in a summer trade with the Utah Jazz. The Pistons also added center Nerlens Noel and guard Alec Burks. Kemba Walker also came over in a draft day deal with the New York Knicks but was frustrated with the team’s logjam at guard and granted waivers days ago.
One of the shining moments of the 2021 NBA draft was the Pistons drafting guard Cade Cunningham. Although he endured miserable shooting in the four-game pre-season, Cunningham bulked up a bit and should be a star at LCA for years to come.
Other Detroit guards are Burks, Killian Hayes, Rodney McGruder, Cory Joseph and Jaden Ivey who was a very explosive player at Purdue and the No. 5 overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft.
Wing players – in addition to Bogdanovic – include Saddiq Bay, Hamidou Diallo, Kevin Knox and Isaish Livers (UM product). The biggest players on Detroit are 6-11 Marvin Bagley III, 6-11 rookie Jalen Duren (from Memphis), 6-11 Noel, 6-9 Isaiah Stewart whom most consider the heart and soul of the Pistons’ defense. Bagley is out several weeks with a training camp injury.
The experts agree that the Pistons cornerstones include Cunningham, Duren and Ivey.
Weaver and Casey, along with their staffs, have done excellent work in acquiring exciting talent. Now, let’s see how they all work together as the NBA 2022-2023 season is underway! Having their G League franchise – Motor City Cruise – just two miles away from team headquarters allows Pistons’ management to keep watchful eyes on progress being made or challenges young talent faces.
Pistons broadcaster George Blaha is back following a late season medical emergency which forced him away from the Bally Sports Detroit microphones last March. He’s joined mikeside by Greg Kelser. Mickey York, Grant Long, Tim McCormick, Johnny Kane and Natalie Kerwin work the pre-game, halftime and post-game. On the WXYT-FM 97.1 radio side you’ll have the popular combination of Mark Champion and Rick Mahorn.
One significant national game of prominence is January 19 when the Pistons will travel to Paris to host the Chicago Bulls at Accor Arena. The Pistons will host multiple bobblehead giveaway nights – Saddiq Bey on December 26, Cade Cunningham on January 15, Isaiah Stewart on February 10 and Jaden Ivey on March 11.Reach George Eichorn at geichorn@yahoo.com. Detroit’s Sports Broadcasters: On the Air by George B. Eichorn with an Introduction by Ernie Harwell | Arcadia Publishing Books
Detroit’s Sports Broadcasters: On the Air by George B. Eichorn with an Introduction by Ernie Harwell | Arcadia Publishing Books
| Detroit’s Sports Broadcasters: On the Air by George B. Eichorn with an Introduction by Ernie Harwell | Arcadia Publishing BooksDetroit’s Sports Broadcasters: On the Air |
