Pistons Sell-Out Streak Is History

Posted by Jeff Sack under NBA News, NBA Off The Court Issues

Allen Iverson 2.5a

The Detroit Pistons brain-trust may have gotten a wake up call Wednesday night, the team’s streak of consecutive sellouts at the Palace of Auburn Hills is now history. The “Associated Press” reported that the Pistons did not sell out their contest Wednesday night against the Miami Heat, which Detroit did win 93-90. It broke a streak of 259 straight sold out games, starting January 19, 2004. The streak included regular season and playoff games.

Although I am sure the Pistons will spin this as a result of the economic downturn the nation is struggling with, and that might be a factor. But in this longtime NBA observers opinion, the streak stopped because the product is not as good as it was before they traded Chauncey Billups to Denver for Allen Iverson. “MOTOWN” know good basketball, and the Pistons have not been up to the caliber of the team they were last year when they were trailing only Boston for best record in the Association. After the win against the Heat Detroit is still only 26-21, expectations in that town for that team are much higher. Now it is up to Pistons Director Of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars, to come up with a way to get the fans back.

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3 Responses to “Pistons Sell-Out Streak Is History”

Reading is Great! Today’s NBA Trade Rumors, Updates, and Fantasy Hoops Headlines | Empty the Bench on February 5th, 2009 10:59 am

[...] who might be donezo this year. – Bright Side of the Sun – Good times in Phoenix these days, eh? – Slam Dunk Central – The Pistons’ streak of 259 straight sellouts has come to an end. – The Good Point – Jake [...]
Luke on February 5th, 2009 2:32 pm

Pistons fan here. To be honest with you, the sellout streak was going to be over soon, Iverson trade or not. Actually, the Iverson trade is the main reason why the sellout streak lasted until midseason this year because everyone was expecting the sellout streak to end at the start of the season. The Iverson trade helped to create excitement and to sellout a dozen games more than expected. Plus, the economy is awful in Michigan so that’s a big reason why the sellout streak is history. And I’m sure the sellout streak wasn’t going to last even if the Pistons kept winning.
Luke on February 6th, 2009 12:18 am

Got your e-mail, Jeff. I’ll reply here. I think the biggest problem is the coach, Curry. He’s clueless. I understand he’s a rookie, but it’s 4 months he’s trying to figure out what the rotation should be. As if it wasn’t enough, now he’s wondering if he should start McDyess. I mean, it’s February and this coach still has to figure out what our lineup should be. No wonder players lost confidence. Also, it seems like he can’t understand slamball doesn’t work. Everytime they play smallball they start blowing games, huge leads etc. Just look at Sunday’s game against the Cavs. The Pistons went big and had an 8-point lead..but then Curry decided to sit Amir (who was playing well) and they went back to small ball..and guess what? The Cavs had a 15-2 run…plus his rotations are horrible and he rarely plays Maxiell, who brings in lot of energy.
And it took Curry more than 5 games to get the courage to bench one between Rip and Iverson. He hasn’t any control on this team.

Iverson should come off-the-bench, I agree, but the truth is that he’s not a good fit for the brand of basketball the Pistons play so that’s I think he’ll be gone at the end of the season (or even before the trade deadline who knows).