The Pistons yesterday fired first-year coach Maurice Cheeks, and the decision was made by Owner Tom Gores during his "visit to Detroit last week," according to sources cited by Vincent Goodwill of the DETROIT NEWS. Sources said that Pistons President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars "wanted to give Cheeks more time," as he had "never fired a coach midseason" (DETROIT NEWS, 2/10). In Detroit, Terry Foster writes, "It is good to see Pistons owner Tom Gores is alive and kicking. He disappears for too long and you wonder if he truly cares about the Pistons." But Gores "showed he cares about his team" by firing Cheeks. Now that Gores is "engaged he must not stop with Cheeks’ firing." He "needs to part ways" with Dumars at the end of the season. Foster: "We still don't know much about Gores as an owner," but he "has to provide direction to this franchise." He "has to establish a vision," or the Pistons will "continue to play in front of a lot of empty seats" (DETROIT NEWS, 2/10). Also in Detroit, Shawn Windsor writes whatever Gores "thought about the direction the team should go last summer, it’s clear he and Dumars didn’t share it." Windsor: "Dumars' contract expires at the end of the season and -- short of a playoff run -- I don't see Gores extending it" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 2/10). The DETROIT NEWS' Bob Wojnowski writes this "isn’t all Dumars’ fault, but there’s no one else left to find culpable." Dumars "rightly earned latitude as a respected Piston great who built one of the NBA's unique championship teams a decade ago." Wojnowski: "There's no need for acrimony, and I’d guess Dumars and Gores will reach an amicable resolution at some point" (DETROIT NEWS, 2/10).
