Detroit Pistons 1990 Preseason Presser

[tbone963]

Hello and welcome to the presser for the new season and the new Pistons.

You'll probably hear that word a lot today: "new." New personnel, new gameplans, new philosophy, new optimism.

Well it happened, the Detroit Pistons have officially reset. For the last 10 seasons, we've built up the team and competed. The results were overall good and I am proud of what the team accomplished. Made playoffs in the last 6 seasons, over 48 wins for 5 of those, and a conference finals. Both seasons since that conference finals, we've exited the first round with last year being a sweep. We tried running it back and it didn't work so we needed to adjust. We looked at getting some help for that push but when it came down to it, we would've needed to send off our core players and the financial situation didn't' help either. That's when we knew we had to make the tough decision for the franchise to rebuild so we could continue this winning culture while pushing further. We also didn't think it was fair to keep our guys, many in their primes, on a team spinning its wheels. We wish them all the best of luck in their new homes.

Speaking of those guys, I wanna take time to thank them for all they've done for the Pistons franchise and the city of Detroit. Of course, I have to start with Terry Cummings. Coming to us as a rookie, he hit the ground running. Immediately got to work and took on the leadership role and the responsibility that comes with being a franchise player. None of those winning seasons would've happened without him. He was always patient, waiting for the team to be built around him and when it came time for the limelight, he didn't shy away. He will always be a Piston and is welcomed back anytime.

I have to talk about Kevin Willis next. Came in 2 years after Terry and they instantly formed a connection, becoming a menacing front court for opposing defenses and offenses. He stayed humble, even coming off the bench when we were trying different gameplans. Always put the team first and did his job to ensure success. Never let any rumors affect his play or demeanor. All-star in my book.

I'll wrap up the sentimentality with a mention to Paul Pressey who had 2 stints with us and always did the dirty work without the recognition. A true glue guy who was always up for the challenge. I can't mention everyone but you know who you are and we appreciate everything you gave to this franchise.

Now for the transition. We have 2 guys that I think are the perfect bridge between the old Pistons and the new Pistons. We have Alvin Robertson as the young vet still ready to lockdown opposing offenses and show these new guys what Detroit culture is about. We also re-signed Rob Williams to keep consistency in the back court while we adjust to this new roster.
These 2 guys are true Pistons and while we're transitioning to a younger core, they will continue to instill our winning culture. We're happy to have them start and lead the new guys.

That brings me to my next point: Yes, we're resetting. That does not mean we are slowing down or taking time off. The expectations have been lowered for a new and young cast but we still plan to win games. We're not relying on ping pong balls to determine our future. Winning starts now. Draft position is not a concern until the season is over. With the group we have, we won't be surprised to be out of the lottery.

Let's meet some of the new guys. Through trading most of our roster we got a plethora of amazing, talented guys. Dennis Scott, Rumeal Robinson, Muggsy Bogues, Armen Gilliam, Michael Cage, Trent Tucker, Reggie Theus, and Glen Rice.

This group of veterans and young guys are the perfect mix for us. We're getting younger, while still having the experience to push expectations. Glen Rice is the new cornerstone of this franchise. With his scoring prowess and 3pts shooting, he'll be a menace to the league for years to come. We knew when he came to us that we would need to get him some help in the front court. We were aggressive and got our guy Roy Tarpley as a restricted free agent. This dynamic duo will be our keys to getting back to the playoffs and achieve the ultimate goal: bring a championship to the city of Detroit.

We know we still have work to do and pieces to add but the new era of Pistons basketball has arrived.

I'll now take any questions.

[NickMalone77]

Nick Melon; Charlotte Observer: After such a long time of building a dominant contender and a beast in the East, is there anyone you truly consider untouchable from your current roster? Who do you view as a cornerstone to what you’re trying to build?

[tbone963]

Nick Melon; Charlotte Observer: After such a long time of building a dominant contender and a beast in the East, is there anyone you truly consider untouchable from your current roster? Who do you view as a cornerstone to what you’re trying to build?

Right now our untouchables and cornerstones are one and the same. We see many of our players that can be a long term fit for the Pistons but the 2 that will be the foundation of this team are Glen Rice and Roy Tarpley. We're building the team around them and their strengths. I'm also excited to see how Dennis Scott grows. We believe he has the potential to be a lethal scorer off the bench and an eventual starter.

[JNR]

GWR: Reggie Theus seems to have aged quicker than most people expected. What role do you see him filling on your team?