Pistons Owner Tom Gores last night said that he is “committed to long-term ownership of the team, did not exclude interest in moving downtown someday, expects the Pistons to make the postseason whether it's realistic or not, and sees growth in the team,” according to David Mayo of the FLINT JOURNAL. He said that even after “extensive renovations of the players' facilities and fan portions of The Palace of Auburn Hills, it is not out of the question that the Pistons could move downtown as part of an arena proposal someday.” Gores said, "I don't think you want to leave it and just say, 'Nice to see you,' to the Palace. I don't want to do that. In the meantime, if the future is downtown, and that's what we have to do to grow, I'm not against that." But until that “hypothetical bears fruit,” Gores said that he is “committed to the Palace, which he owns.” Meanwhile, he said that he “generally is pleased with how the Pistons are progressing" under President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars and coach Lawrence Frank. Gores said that he has “playoff expectations.” But he added, "There's no ultimatum that says, 'If you don't make the playoffs, you're gone.' We don't work that way." He said that he “didn't know how often he would be present for games, even though he now occupies four mid-court, court-side seats opposite the team benches” (FLINT JOURNAL, 11/1). Gores called himself a "now person." He said that he “understands that ‘now’ isn't exactly the best time for his franchise.” In Detroit, Drew Sharp writes “failure isn't in the man's vocabulary” (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 11/1).
DETROIT ROCK CITY: In Detroit, Terry Foster writes the Pistons “still know how to throw a good party.” Their home opener against the Rockets last night was “a spectacle that looked Olympian.” Foster: “If you are into dance and music, The Palace is the place to be. Owner Tom Gores has brought Hollywood to Detroit. Now if only he could bring the Lakers.” The Pistons are “at least entertaining,” but they are “not ready for prime time just yet” (DETROIT NEWS, 11/1).
TRICK, NO TREAT: USATODAY.com's Tim McGarry noted the Pistons "had big plans for their 'Halloween Spectacular' halftime show" last night, but with 58 seconds left in the second quarter, play "was halted due to excessive fog behind the basket." One of the fog machines for the show "started ahead of schedule, sending Palace employees into a frenzy" (USATODAY.com, 10/31).
