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Pistons: Three Things to be Thankful for this Thanksgiving

By Bob Heyrman

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 25: Head coach Dwane Casey of the Detroit Pistons talks to Derrick Rose #25 in the first half while playing the Orlando Magic at Little Caesars Arena on November 25, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 25: Head coach Dwane Casey of the Detroit Pistons talks to Derrick Rose #25 in the first half while playing the Orlando Magic at Little Caesars Arena on November 25, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Dwane Casey – A top-notch head coach

The Toronto Raptors fired Dwane Casey, nearly immediately being awarded the NBA coach of the year.  It was an odd firing at the time.  The Raptors were growing impatient with their lack of playoff success despite regularly finishing first in the Atlantic Divison.

With the Raptors, Casey only made it to the conference finals once.  Toronto canned Casey after he led Toronto to a 59 win season.  As he headed down highway 401 in Ontario, Canada, a quick four-hour drive to his new gig in Detroit, the Raptors made a franchise-changing trade landing Kawhi Leonard for long-time two-guard DeMar DeRozan.

No disrespect to Nick Nurse, who’s a tremendous head coach in his own right, Casey didn’t have Leonard at his expense.  I believe the Raptors would have had similar success under Casey with Leonard rostered.  The man is elite.

We are lucky to have Dwane Casey in Detroit. I believe he’s the best head coach of the four major professional sports teams in Detroit.  He’s yet to have success with the Pistons. I don’t call getting swept in four games in the first round of the playoffs success.

I’m excited to see what Casey can do with the crop of young up and coming players currently on the Pistons roster.  Christian Wood, Jordan Bone, Bruce Brown, SVI, and rookie Sekou Doumbouya.

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