What in the blue hell is going on in Detroit? Per this story on The Detroit NewsTracy McGrady (figures) Tayshaun Prince, Richard Hamilton, Chris Wilcox and Ben Wallace all missed this morning’s practice in what is being reported as a “player protest”. Here’s some of the story:
Various Pistons players have had their share of issues with coach John Kuester this season, and many have been vocal — privately and publicly — in their criticism of the second-year coach.
According to team spokesman Cletus Lewis, McGrady was out with a headache, Prince had the stomach flu, while Wilcox and Hamilton apparently missed the bus without a reason. A team source confirmed Prince’s and McGrady’s illnesses, adding Wilcox overslept.
Kuester was unsure about how he might proceed for the team’s 7 p.m. game Friday night against the 76ers.
“We have some things … some excuses, not excuses, absences because of headaches and stuff like that,” Kuester said. “We’ll go with this group right now.”
Correct me if I’m wrong but those all sound like excuses you use when you’re planning to ditch school or skipping out on a day of work. This is an interesting development following the trade deadline where the Pistons didn’t appear very active despite trying to trade Hamilton to the Cavs, but that move fell through as Rip refused negotiated terms of a buyout from Cleveland. Maybe he stayed to stick it to Kuester and the Pistons? Possibly. It’s also a bit puzzling why the Pistons didn’t trade Tayshaun Prince who is clearly going to bail in free agency this summer.
Whatever the case may be, I don’t see a player protest as the best option. If the protest was truly the reason for the absences, the players are really only hurting themselves by getting fined for skipping practice and their teammates if they get suspended. As a professional athlete you have a responsibility to perform as such, despite if you agree with the coaching staff or not. If there’s an issue with the coach then take up with the general manager in a petition or team meeting, not by ditching practice. I think that either of those methods would be more effective than ditching practice in protest.
”Practice? Not a game… We’re talking about practice.” (I had to throw that classic from AI in there)
-ALR
Here’s your explanation: its personal. JK hasn’t just lost these guys. He’s pissed them off, personally and professionally. And they just made sure he’s going to get fired before the end of the season.
Because they can.
This is a player’s league. It isn’t the NFL.
Crow all you like about whether it is right or wrong… you and I aren’t in the locker room, we don’t know what has and hasn’t happened. I can think of a lot of reasons why a coach would deserve this, and a lot of reasons why he might not.
But based on the number of players he’s failed to effectively coach and maintain a positive relationship with, I’d say this is probably on him.
PS. I agree re: take it up with ownership first before doing something like this, and based on reports we’ve had all season, various guys have gone and done that, multiple times. I’d say they took it public on purpose because the FO did not act (and maybe can not act, due to the pending sale).
On that note I wouldn’t be surprised to see JD bail after the season too. He can’t be happy with all of this.
@whatupdog – Thanks for I agree the team’s issues are on Kuester but as a professional there are better ways of dealing with a conflict besides skipping practice. Yes the NBA is a player’s league, and being so the players take it to upper management.
Missing practice only gives Kuester an opportunity to fine them take other diciplinary actions, and that defeats the purpose of protesting. Kuester is most likely on the way out soon anyway, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Dumars isn’t too far behind.
-ALR
As a pistons fan and father of children, i have lost all desires to root for this team anymore if the players that skipped practice are still playing any further games this season. I would like to see them all be fined/suspended until thier contracts run out. Since we will have to pay them because of the union, they should be made to stay away from basketball until they are without a contract. They all are a bunch of garbage…
I agree. What a pathetic display by a sorry bunch of “professional” athletes.