TOP 10 EVENTS OF THE NBA 2023（2）：
9. The Pistons break the losing streak record (still ongoing)
The Pistons hired the highest paid coach in league history, Monty Williams, and with the return of first pick Cade Cunningham from injury and his impressive performance at the national team training camp over the summer, it was generally believed before the start of the season that the Pistons would improve from last season, and even have a shot at the playoffs.
They opened the season with 2 wins and 1 loss, suggesting this was true. However, their record then took a sharp downturn. They lost every match in November and could not stop the decline in December. Veteran shooter Bojan Bogdanović not being able to start the season made a difference, as did backup guard Monte Morris not being able to play, but Pistons head coach Monty Williams was a bigger problem.
His inexplicable obsession with defense led him to replace Jaden Ivey with Killian Hayes and put their best defender Ausar Thompson on the bench in favor of theoretically more accurate Isaiah Livers. It's unlikely any other coach would leave the young players they've picked in the fifth position over the last two years bouncing between starters and the bench for a rebuilding team.
The worst offense was bringing his beloved basketball from Phoenix to Detroit to make the worst spaced-out offensive team in the league, tying up Cade who require space to show his talent. Unfortunately, since Monty is the boss's pick, he's unlikely to be fired, regardless of the number of consecutive losses. The only one who could be let go is general manager Troy Weaver.
Weaver's draft picking is okay, but his trade and contract signing are terrible. He has never had luck with high pick lottery players, couldn’t find any good talent from the development league, and despite the wrecked Pistons lineup, used two-way contracts for PR and signed the son of an associate (Boeheim) at the start of the season. Last season, he traded Saddiq Bey for James Wiseman primarily because Weaver is very obsessed with physical gifts, and also brought in Marvin Bagley III for the similar reason, which is a terrible overall move.
We understand that it was more difficult to rebuild as there were no stars to sell, but it's really ugly that Weaver let the team play this badly even after three years of tanking and having four consecutive chances at the first pick. If the coach can't be fired, at least the general manager should be, right? Troy Weaver, you better step down.
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