Maurice Cheeks/file photo
Well, that didn't take too long.
Halfway into the season -- and a very disappointing one at that -- the Pistons announced Sunday that it had fired head coach Maurice "Mo" Cheeks.
In a statement posted on the Pistons official website, owner Tom Gores said:
"Our record does not reflect our talent and we simply need a change."
"We have not made the kind of progress that we should have over the first half of the season. This is a young team and we knew there would be growing pains, but we can be patient only as long as there is progress. The responsibility does not fall squarely on any one individual, but right now this change is a necessary step toward turning this thing around."
"I still have a lot of hope for this season and I expect our players to step up. I respect and appreciate Maurice Cheeks and thank him for his efforts; we just require a different approach.”
The Pistons had just won two in a row. But the team's overall record is 21-29. Because collectively the Eastern Conference teams have such lousy records this year, the Pistons still have a chance to grab a playoff spot.
Before the season started, the Pistons were expected to make the playoffs. But the play at times has been very lax, and Cheeks appeared to be a little too low key during games and not so inspirational.
As the season dragged on, it appeared likely that Cheeks probably wouldn't return for a second season. But the move to yank him in mid-season came as a surprise.
His appointment as coach stirred little excitement among fans. Still, many fans had a wait-and-see attitude.
WDIV reported that the firing was the doing of Gores, not President of Basketball Operations, Joe Dumars.
That being said, the question is whether Dumars will make it to another season.
In a statement, Dumars said:
“This was a difficult decision for the organization to make but we needed to make a change,” said President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars. “We have great respect for Maurice and appreciate his hard work.”
WDIV reported that assistant coach John Loyer will take over as the interim head coach.
The firing appeared to surprise players.
"Wait what," Brandon Jennings tweeted.
"It is true," Charlie Villanueva tweeted.
