This Is My Nightmare: The Pistons Season

[emplep7]

The 2016 CSL Season has just ended and center shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was staring at his locker knowing that they were that close to defeating the New Orleans Pelicans for their first title. It stung to get that close, but the future was bright in Detroit. The had a young superstar center in Andre Drummond, a big time star in Al Horford, a star PG in Jeff Teague and a top notch off-ball player in Deron Williams.

Little did he know, that this team would look drastically different a year from now, only to get the exact same result.

Let's look at how the (new) Pistons got to where they are and got them that same (very old) result.

Off-Season Trades:
Detroit Sends:
Al Horford
Arron Afflalo
Travis Bader
2019 1st (DET) - Top 5 Protected

Receives:
Dion Waiters
Tristan Thompson
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
Alex Poythress
2019 1st (CHA) - Top 10 Protected

Overview: This was a major off-season move that brought Detroit its new core. Teague and Waiters would form a great 1-2 punch and TT's offensive rebounding would give the second chance points paired with Drummond that this team needed. Add on a solid 1st and a defensive stud in RHJ and this was what this team needed. Many thought moving Horford for TT was too much of a downgrade for the team to make, but more on that later.

Detroit Sends:
Deron Williams

Receives:
Terran Petteway

Overview: Big move for Philly. This was primarily a CAP space move, knocking 20 million off the teams payrolls. However, this sneaky move added a 3-point sniper in Petteway who is on a cheap, 3 year controlled contract. He proved to be a key factor off the bench and helped them get over being zoned. Deron led Philly to its first playoff berth. Win-win IMO.

In-Season Trades:
Detroit Sends:
Andre Drummond
Brandon Jennings
Alex Poythress

Receives:
Kemba Walker
Jimmy Butler
Ramon Sessions

Overview: Probably the hardest trade in this GMs career. Drummond was his favorite big man. He did everything you wanted from your center (other than consistently score) and he did it all well. The sky was the limit for him until his injury derailed him only a little, but he is still a top young big man in this league. Those are hard to come by. However, when a player like Kemba Walker (who is one of 2 players the GM has coveted since the start of the league) becomes available, its hard to pass up. Like most of his previous moves, its the side pieces that usually help the most in the long term. Jimmy Butler looks to be a very cheap defensive beast for this team who helped through the stretch run and will be a key part of this teams future moving forward. Drummond looks to be a cornerstone for the Raps as well.

The Pistons GM finally got his white whale.

Detroit Sends:
Dion Waiters
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
2017 2nd (OKC)

Receives:
Serge Ibaka
Corey Brewer

Overview: With Dre out, there was a big hole down low for the Pistons. Ibaka was sitting there on a young Nets team looking for an identity change. Waiters performed well enough for the Pistons, but wasn't what they were looking for and although RHJ is a defensive stud, Butler made him expendable. They made the move and never looked back. The window for a ring was now on them to close in the next few years, but this was definitely the year.

Playoffs
The Pistons rose from 3rd in the East to take the top seed following these trades and had what looked like everything in place for another Finals run. The Bulls, Celtics, and Magic all were right behind them so they knew it was going to be a battle, but they only had one goal in sight.

First Round
What a coincidence, they matched up against Deron Williams and the 76ers in their opening round. With young stud Jabari Parker leading the Sixers, this figured to be a tough first round matchup. The Pistons experience showed against the Sixers youth as it led them to a 4 game sweep of the young up and coming team. This figured to be a series that could happen a lot in the next several seasons and soon the 76ers could be sweeping the floor with the Pistons elderly team. Let's hope now.

Second Round
A rematch of last years matchup against the Lebron and Co. Miami Heat. Lebron figured to be a pest again, but KCP did a great job on his last year and this year the GM was hoping for more of the same. The Heat stole one on the road against a Pistons team that only lost 6 at home the entire year, but the Pistons responded with 4 straight wins to take the series 4-1. The team was finally hitting their stride.

Conference Finals
A matchup most wanted to see. 1 vs 2 in the East. Detroit vs Chicago. It was a battle all year and the Bulls featured a star big man who just was here for the Pistons the year before in Al Horford. Young big man Tristan Thompson was planning to get his licks in and he held his own against one of the best. Kemba Walker had a repeat performance against Derrick Rose and held Rose to another poor series performance which ended up costing the Bulls the series. The Pistons won the series 4-1 behind Kemba and Serge leading the way. A FInals appearance was yet again in sight.

The Finals
The Pistons made their way through the East with only 2 losses and were now facing the only team better than them in the Regular Season, the Houston Rockets. The Rockets featured the most dangerous player in the CSL in James Harden and were playing him at PF the entire playoffs to this point. The Pistons had a good plan to mitigate that and TT was more than capable of holding down his own. The matchup was a back and forth where no team won 2 games in a row through the first 6.

We were going to a game 7...again.

The importance of the regular season always comes to bite everyone in the end this time of the year. Do you risk injury or say screw it and go for the top seed? Its all a factor throughout the year to think about.

Game 7 came and went and the game was a hard fought battle in Houston. In the end, the Pistons lost by 9. Star Kemba Walker fouled out in 26 minutes with only 18 points. The other star James Harden led the Rockets to a championship in their one and only appearance. The Pistons were now 0 for 3 in their Finals appearance and the future looks grim in Detroit.

"Its like Deja Vu all over again" said KCP staring at his locker. "I can't believe this shit just happened again."

It feels like that for the third year and the feeling doesn't get any better in the off-season. After a season that brought a lot of change, the GM has said that they will stick with the core and make their way to the Finals yet again by getting past the East and allowing the West to battle it out. Will he hold true to that or make the changes to get his team over the hump? Is it possible luck isn't on their side and this team is cursed no matter how many appearances they have? Who knows, but this team is ready for another ride to try at it again.

[Mattybriand]

I think you should scrap and rebuild! Lol nah I'm just kidding I just hate that my division is such a shark tank

Between you and marcos, it's hard to compete

[Chilikonkarne]

By far the best team of the CSL since the creation.
In the dynasty report, you are a proud first with 405pts, followed by Houston (361pts) and then no team over 300pts.
But you still don't have the championship which means everything.

I feel for you but your Pistons looks good for another run next year!
You will need to handle few expiring contracts though...

[WillyJakkz]

Your team is definitely the standard bearer of the Eastern Conference and I honestly didn't think you'd be able to sustain it after the Horford trade.

Upper echelon GM by far... unreal job 'nuff respect emp!

[GreenBear]

I think you guys take the title this year if you had HCA. I don't think big changes are needed, and honestly, with the way you guys rolled through the East in the playoffs, I expect to see you guys back in the finals again next year.

[NuggOlesk]

Your team is definitely the standard bearer of the Eastern Conference and I honestly didn't think you'd be able to sustain it after the Horford trade.

Upper echelon GM by far... unreal job 'nuff respect emp!

I thought the same, but about Drummond trade. Proved me wrong.
King of the East, one of the best GM's!
Go emplep7 go!

[Sun Scorched]

The only true dynasty I can think of. While I know that hasn't involved a championship, you've been within a game twice. That's incredibly impressive, especially when you consider the uncontrollable variables that can impact a season.

Well done Sir! And good luck!

[Rizzo]

As a GM I don't think you've made a single mistake over the last four seasons. It is inevitable your team will get over the hump and take home a CSL title to Detroit.

[blackice]

As a GM I don't think you've made a single mistake over the last four seasons. It is inevitable your team will get over the hump and take home a CSL title to Detroit.

My thoughts as well. The most consistent team in the league's history. Wouldn't be shocked to see DET/HOU in the finals next year as well.

[NuggOlesk]

Title is what we all want, but the best thing is always being in the FInals.

[emplep7]

Definitely appreciate the kind words. I would trade in that consistency for one of those titles, but hopefully I get another chance with this group.

[bt]

[bt]

In all seriousness, given it happened again, there's a very real chance I'd make major moves again. Need to make some kind of move to get over the hump.

[Marcos_Beck]

Success, as usual. That's the team to beat at the East.

But with 36M tied to 3 players plus 3 players demanding double figures this season it will be interesting to see if you'll elect to keep talent over depth or vice versa.