Timing Of Maurice Cheeks Firing Is Suspicious
By Rich Seroka
Jan 24, 2014; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons head coach Maurice Cheeks during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans at The Palace of Auburn Hills. New Orleans won 103-101. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Seroka Beyond The Arch:
Timing Of Mo Cheeks Firing Is Suspicious
It is not a huge surprise the Maurice Cheeks was fired a week ago but the timing creates a few questions. Usually a Coach will get fired in the middle of a season only if the team has completely collapsed or it is clear the Coach has lost the locker room. The Detroit Pistons had just won 2 games in a row and were only a 1/2 game out of the final playoff spot at the time of Mo Cheeks firing.
The only way this makes sense is because it was near the All-Star break giving the interim Coach John Loyer time to install at least part of his offensive and defensive play books.
While I understand Tom Gores impatience that the Pistons have fallen out of the eighth playoff spot, firing Cheeks now makes a playoff appearance all the harder to accomplish. Even though interim Coach John Loyer has been here for a couple of years, the Pistons are still learning how to play together and when you change offensive and defensive plays in the middle of the season you make harder on the players.
To play any sport at a high level you have to do it naturally. If your constantly thinking about where your suppose to be you will be out of position and fail more often than you succeed. They were already doing this under Cheeks now they have to forget Cheeks playbooks and go with Loyers, making it that much harder to win.
With all the bad news and controversy surrounding the Pistons there is some good news. Andre Drummond is becoming a Super Star. Regardless if the Pistons make the playoffs this year they should build the team around Drummond.
The Pistons do have the talent to make the playoffs this year however they also have some huge holes to fill this off-season. They have not solved their shooting woes, and with the exception of a trade this year they will have to do so through free agency. Only time will tell if the firing at this time was a good move or bad move but this could once again be a long year for Detroit Pistons fans.