Is Danny Ainge building the 1988-89 Detroit Pistons?

[Michael Anthony]

Is Danny Ainge building the 1988-89 Detroit Pistons?

The Celtics were the fading kings of the east, but Chicago - with their explosive, young wings - was challenging for the crown. In response, Detroit built the most unlikable team in NBA history.

That team was built around an arrogant super-star point guard, an up-and-coming shooting guard, and an aging center with range and guile to spare.

The starters were rounded out with an enforcer at power forward, and a versatile wing that sublimated his scoring at small forward.

The bench was stacked. A Microwave backed up the two star guards, a Freak backed up both forwards, while a 6’11” Spider and a 7’0” Budha backed up the bigs.

Nobody will argue that this was the most skilled team in the NBA. Nobody will argue that they were pretty. They built a team of bullies that protected the rim, protected their star point guard and protected their turf.

And Ainge hated those guys…

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Flash-forward to 2012. The Celtics have faded, and the athletic wings in Miami have snatched the crown.

Ainge has an arrogant super-star point guard, an up-and-coming shooting guard, and an aging center with range and guile…

What does he do?

He drafted a bruising power forward, kept his versatile wing, and bought a Microwave.

Things have changed a bit since 1988-89. The game got faster and fouls are called tighter.

We swapped Rodman for Green, an athletic swing forward that can cover both spots. We swapped Sally for Bass, a little height for a little athleticism. The final piece is a big, versatile backup center. Not sure how Ainge pulls that off, but if he does, we might be looking at a really nasty, really fun season.

[GreenFaith1819]

Interesting that you compare our team to the 88-89 Pistons.

Good comparison.

In addition to the similarities you stated, don't forget Avery Bradley. I'd like to consider him as a soon-to-be Joe Dumars...about the same height...similar defensive tenacity (AB still has a few yrs to mature in this regard)...I think AB is already more athletic than Joe Dumars, which helps to negate any height advantage from bigger guards.

I certainly hope that Jeff Green can become our Rodman, but it won't happen overnight. He is better offensively, but Rodman was once in a lifetime.

My best hope for Jeff Green is that he continues to get better defensively, and refines his offensive game. My best hope for JG is that he can spell PP a bit this season.

I like your JET-Vinnie Johnson comparison...our "Spider" could be Fab?

Our "Rick Mahorn" could be Sullinger...even though I see Sully as being more talented offensively. His big body will wear down some opponents, though.

As far as our big burly backup center? I can only hope that OKC amnesties Perkins, even though that is a pipe-dream.

It's been a strange off-season so far, so anything could happen.

But TP for your Pistons comparison - again, I don't think it's too far off - at all.

[Michael Anthony]

Thanks for reading, and thanks for the TP.

I was hoping to highlight the AB - Dumars comparison, understanding that Bradley is not at that level. To be fair, Joe Dumars was not yet JOE DUMARS in 88-89 either. The season before, he averaged 11.7 per game.

Thought up a few ideas for the backup center role:

Marcin Gortat
Chris Andersen
Zaza Pachulia
Timofy Mozgov

[GreenFaith1819]

Thanks for reading, and thanks for the TP.

I was hoping to highlight the AB - Dumars comparison, understanding that Bradley is not at that level. To be fair, Joe Dumars was not yet JOE DUMARS in 88-89 either. The season before, he averaged 11.7 per game.

Thought up a few ideas for the backup center role:

Marcin Gortat
Chris Andersen
Zaza Pachulia
Timofy Mozgov

Gortat would be a dream.

I'd like to think that Anderson or Timofy could be had, though...but aren't both under contract with DEN? Zaza is still with ATL.

[celticsleyte]

I like the comparison, started seeing it in the backcourt last year when Bradley started coming on strong.

If we are very lucky JJJ starts to play like a young Rodman.

KG going to start taking some three pointers?

[GreenFaith1819]

If Rondo can even get CLOSE to Isiah Thomas, this is a lock.

He is not too far off, though.

Zeke was a better shooter.

If Rondo is ever going to be mentioned in the same breath as Zeke, I HOPE it's THIS year.

Rondo had better pick it up offensively. We need him to, now. Let that J fly, Rajon.

[FrDrake]

This is a great comparison.  TP.  I just think the Mahorn Rodman Dumars trio was far superior to the Sullinger Green AB trio, but it's not a totally crazy link.

I think in reality the Cs are modeling themselves after the '11-12 Spurs since they have been able to assemble nice young talent through superior scouting while picking in the latter half of the first and second rounds.  They've kept Duncan and Manu while reducing their minutes significantly in the regular season to keep them fresh in the playoffs.  This extends their careers while the young guns learn to win in a professional culture.

The biggest challenge in the NBA now is to rebuild or retool without tanking.  We've all seen first hand the incredibly damaging effects of tanking and then not winning the lottery (i.e. the Duncan / Durant drafts.)  KG saved the Cs the second time around but no stars or veterans want to play for a loser.  See the Charlottes, Wizards, T-Wolves, Kings of the league.

Your chances are better to try to win now and steal a Kawhi Leonard or a Rondo in the mid to late parts of draft than to lose 60-70 games and end up with a second-tier lottery picks such as John Wall, Demarcus Cousins, or Kemba Walker.  I'm not saying those players are terrible or can't improve, but they aren't franchise players and all went high in the draft, while their teams continue to lose.

[Who]

Boston is a finesse team nowadays.

Not a physical rough 'em up type like the Pistons were.

[Fafnir]

Boston is a finesse team nowadays.

Not a physical rough 'em up type like the Pistons were.

Or that the 07-08 Celtics were. No Powe/Davis/Posey type off the bench throwing their weight around. KG moved to the 5 instead of playing with bruisers like Perk/Brown.

[clover]

Apt comparison and great thread!

[CapnDunks]

KG going to start taking some three pointers?

I don't think Garnett can shoot 3's. Sometimes I see him in Boston or Burlington... or LA or Minnesota and I act like he can't shoot 3's. I think he can't shoot 3's.

[clover]

I like the comparison, started seeing it in the backcourt last year when Bradley started coming on strong.

If we are very lucky JJJ starts to play like a young Rodman.

KG going to start taking some three pointers?

That would be very lucky.

[Michael Anthony]

Boston is a finesse team nowadays.

Not a physical rough 'em up type like the Pistons were.

Or that the 07-08 Celtics were. No Powe/Davis/Posey type off the bench throwing their weight around. KG moved to the 5 instead of playing with bruisers like Perk/Brown.

I agree that last season we were more finese, which was part of the problem. Slow finese gets beat.

Guys like Sullinger - we saw the style/physicality he played with down the stretch in the last summer league game - and Pachula - remember the KG headbut - can change that pretty fast.

Garnett-Sullinger-Bass-Pachula is a much larger, much more physical group than Garnett-Stiemsma-Bass.

[Moranis]

I think this team is much more likely to go the route of the 2008/2009 Pistons than the 1988/1989 Pistons. 

[CelticG1]

I don't know too much about those pistons teams but as far ad us being a "finesse" team that is only on offense.

Defensively we are anything but finesse.

In general offense is always has a lot more finesse than defense.