January 16 [A]

The following was posted on a blog I frequent (DetroitBadBoys) and was too good to pass up. I'll be creating an actual post for today later (hense the [A] after the title). Until then, enjoy the Pistons' season as told by Dickinson, Hemingway, and Faulkner (Credit goes to "Rob G"):
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For something completely different, here’s the season done a la Emily Dickinson:

Small ball - small ball!
Were I with Curry -
Small ball would be
our Destiny!

Futile - the Bigs
Who seek the paint
Done with Defense!
Done with Rebounds!
Ah, Curry!

Might you - tonight - wear
A check’d Suit!


Finally, before retiring…Hemingway:

“They’ve probably bombed hell from three point range but never touched Granger and company,” Michael Curry said to himself. “The damned three guard lineup scares you to death, but it don’t kill you.”

“Smallball goes on,” said Arnie Kander, listening to the jeers of the crowd. He had winced at every missed rebound and now licked his dry lips.

“Why not?” Michael Curry said. “It is now a part of our league.” He ladled stew onto a plate.

“What did smallball do?” asked Maria, her eyes frightened.

“Nothing. Eat,” Michael said.


I lied. One more. “A Rose for Curry” a la Faulkner:

“I want a poisoned lineup,” he said.

“Yes, Mr. Curry. What kind? For the Pistons and such? I’d recom-”

“I want the worst you have. I don’t care what kind.”

The assistant coach named several. “These will lose even to the Bobcats. But what you want is-”

“Smallball,” Mr. Curry said. “Is that a bad one?”

“Is… smallball? Yes, sir. But what you want-”

“I want smallball.”

The assistant looked at him. Curry looked back at him, erect, his face like a polished globe. “Why, of course, if that’s what you want. But the fans require that you hold a press conference.”

Mr. Curry just stared at him, his head straight on to look him in the eye for eye, until he looked away and went and got the clipboard and drew up the smallball lineup for the game. When Curry looked at the top of the clipboard, under a skull and crossbones: “For losing.”

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To clear things up for those of you who may not follow the Pistons as closely as I do, Detroit has been struggling this season when utilizing a "smallball" lineup. This consists of playing Rodney Stuckey at PG, Iverson at SG, Hamilton at SF (out of position), Prince at PF (out of position), and Rasheed at C (eh...). When Hamilton was injured, everyone shifted to their normal spots - Prince at SF, Rasheed at PF/C, Johnson/Kwame at PF/C - and we went on a 7-game win streak. Since Rip's return - and subsequent reinstatement of "smallball" - we've been on a 3-game losing streak; Including the past 2 loses to sub-.500 teams (Charlotte and Indiana) which we lost in the waning minutes of the 4th quarter - after leading the entire game. This is basically what Detroit Pistons' fans have been witnessing all year. Hense, this post.

I couldn't have put my frustrations any more eloquently than "Rob G" did above. Bravo, sir.

Out,
B