Detroit Pistons Must Fire Joe Dumars Now To Save Season

Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores (left) and president of basketball operations Joe Dumars (right) watch the game against the Charlotte Bobcats at The Palace. It is time for the Pistons Owner to fire Joe Dumars. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

It has been a disappointing season for the Detroit Pistons. After starting the season 10-10, the Pistons have gone 7-13 including a six game losing streak that nearly dropped them right out of the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference.

It’s not just that the Pistons are losing but its the way they are losing. The offense chronically stalls in the second-half and Maurice Cheeks does not seem to have the ability to reignite the scoring. Because of the Pistons lethargic play and with everything at stake it may be time to make a change in the front office.

Most Improved?

Joe Dumars was very active during the offseason with mixed results. Just as the Pistons first round draft choice has been widely criticized, their free agent signings were lauded leading some NBA players and pundits to proclaim the Pistons this season’s “most improved” roster. In fact, early season predictions had the Pistons finishing in the 5th spot in the East.

Well, that is why they play the games.

The Detroit Pistons roster has failed to gel and despite having a glut of guards, have been unable to overcome injuries to Rodney Stuckey and Chauncey Billups. Even when the guards are healthy the rotation head coach Maurice Cheeks uses has been questionable. First round pick Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is often paired with Branden Jennings. Both are shoot first guards and when they are together in the line-up thy fail to feed the ball to the bigs down low.

Rodney Stuckey has been an offensive spark for the Pistons off the bench but his shot first menatlity also fails to create points anywhere else on the floor.

The guards that have the ability (or willingness) to create points in the post-up game are sitting on the bench. Will Bynum and Chauncey Billups had success creating points in the paint early in the season and it led to a 10-10 start. Billups has struggled with injury this season but Cheeks has almost refuses to start Bynum despite the early season success.

Its Time To Fire Joe Dumars

The Pistons lack of scoring cannot be completely blamed on Maurice Cheeks. Fact is, The Detroit Pistons roster is a patchwork of inconsistent scorers and very few leaders. The make-up of the roster and the person charged with getting it to lay together were decisions made by Joe Dumars.

With two expiring contracts to trade and his history of questionable personnel decisions; Joe Dumars cannot be trusted to make the right decisions at the trade deadline. And after hiring 8 head coaches during his tenure, Dumars cannot be trusted to hire a head coach. If you can no longer trust the GM to accomplish a major parts of his job, he must go.

Firing the General Manager during the season might be a drastic move. But the Pistons current situation calls for a dramitc change in culture. Firing Dumars will send a message throughout the entire organization right down to the players that the status quo is no longer tolerated.

If Not Joe Than Who?

As far as who should replace Joe Dumars? There is a former coach out there would be really interested in working in the front office.

Phil Jackson is already familiar with the organization having been brought in as a consultant during the offseason. Tom Gores should fire Joe Dumars and pay the greatest coach in NBA history whatever he needs to turn this team around.

Whatever move owner Tom Gores decides to make he must make it soon. Gores must do something, otherwise his team runs the risk of missing the playoffs and missing the opportunity to properly remake the roster at the trade deadline.

Tell us what you think. Is it time to make a change in the front office?

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