Pistons Woes Stem from Bad Leadership, On and Off the Court

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Wednesday the Detroit Pistons won their first game in a month with a 99-90 victory over the depleted Washington Wizards. Though they played harder and with a sense of purpose on this night, the norm that we’ve been seeing from this team lately has very few positives and a lot of bad habits. Still feeling the remnants of a 13-game losing streak, the Detroit Pistons are starting to look more like a team gearing up for an early lottery pick, than the team many Michiganders saw as a potential playoff team.

Kobe scores 40 for 100th time in career

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Kobe Bryant hit 17-of-29 shots and a 3-pointer for 40 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals in Tuesday's win over the Pistons. This was Kobe's 100th 40-point game, putting him behind Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan on the all-time list. He has a groin injury, but you couldn't tell watching him tonight.

Welcome back: Ben Wallace a Piston again

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Who will be the coach of detriot

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Pistons hire John Kuester as new head coach

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The Pistons have officially hired John Kuester as their new head coach, agreeing late on Tuesday to a two-year contract with a team option for a third season. Kuester will be paid $1.5 million per season, a fraction of former front-runner Avery Johnson's asking price. The Pistons are expected to officially sign Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva on Wednesday, part of a team-wide overhaul that began with Chauncey Billups' departure last season.

Which NBA team has made the best moves in the off season

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Report: Pistons ink Villanueva for five years

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Gordon signs with Detroit

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The Pistons have reached agreement with free agent guard Ben Gordon on a five-year contract worth around $55 million, according to Yahoo! Sports.

Pistons want Villanueva or Gordon

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Celtics Eyeing Rasheed Wallace

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Piston's coach fired

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The Pistons have fired head coach Michael Curry after just one season. The Pistons were highly disappointing last season and a recent report that Rip Hamilton doesn't even speak to Curry may have been the straw that broke the camel's back. The Pistons were just 39-43 last season before being swept by the Cavaliers in the playoffs. No word yet of who will replace him, although one-time Pistons coach Doug Collins is thought to be the favorite to land the job, according to Yahoo! Sports

Boozer to most likely stay in Utah

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Carlos Boozer will decide on Tuesday whether to opt out of the final year of his contract with the Jazz, which would pay him $12.7 million. Boozer said in December that he would opt out "no matter what", but only the Grizzlies, Pistons and Thunder are in a position to offer him a big contract. According to ESPN, neither the Grizzlies nor the Thunder intend to pursue Boozer, and the Pistons won't offer him the $13-$15 million deal he wants. There is reportedly a "significant chance" that he will not opt out, but he has until 5 p.m. Tuesday to make his decision.

Rondo a headcase?

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NBA Draft and Trade News

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Okla to steal Det wanted pick?

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According to ESPN, one persistent rumor has the Thunder acquiring the Suns' No. 14 draft pick in exchange for an unprotected first-round pick in 2010. The Thunder reportedly want to use the pick to draft Ohio State center B.J. Mullens. The Pistons had stated their intention to draft Mullens at #15, so this would be a shrewd bit of undercutting if OKC pulls it off.

Gordon AND Boozer to Detroit

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The Pistons intend to waive Fabricio Oberto, whom they acquired for Amir Johnson on Tuesday, thus clearing another $1.8 million off their payroll. The Pistons now have approximately $19 million in cap space with which to pursue free agents (Ben Gordon and Carlos Boozer being the most likely targets).

Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo offered to Detroit

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Yahoo! Sports reports the Celtics offered Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo to the Pistons for a package that included Rip Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince and Rodney Stuckey. Allen and Rondo have been in the middle of many trade rumors this summer and where there's smoke, you have to think there's fire. However, it is hard to imagine the C's giving up on Rondo after he helped them win a championship a year ago. Allen, on the other hand, seems to be at the top of the Celtics' list of players they hope to move.

Report: Allen, Rondo offered to Pistons

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Yahoo! Sports reports the Celtics offered Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo to the Pistons for a package that included Rip Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince and Rodney Stuckey. Allen and Rondo have been in the middle of many trade rumors this summer and where there's smoke, you have to think there's fire. However, it is hard to imagine the C's giving up on Rondo after he helped them win a championship a year ago. Allen, on the other hand, seems to be at the top of the Celtics' list of players they hope to move.

Ben Gordon to the Pistons?

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Sam Smith of Bulls.com is reporting that the agent for Ben Gordon says the Pistons have guaranteed the unrestricted free agent an offer of $11 million this summer. Smith doesn't offer much more detail than that, but with Rodney Stuckey and Rip Hamilton around, it doesn't make perfect sense. Smith suggests the Pistons could trade Hamilton if the story is true.

If Kobe wins his 4th ring,where do you rank him among the greats???

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