Tom Gores unplugged; Pistons owner wants to see improvement

By FOX 2 Sports Staff

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (WJBK) - Pistons owner Tom Gores met with the media before his team's opening night loss to the Houston Rockets on Wednesday.

He addressed a number of topics, including:

His expectations for his team:
"Joe's building a team. Lawrence is coaching a team. And I have to be the impatient owner that wants to deliver a championship here. You know, I came here to win. I'm a 'now' person. Last year, we said we were going to get into the playoffs at the end of the season and I meant that. We need to get into the playoffs. And whether that's being unrealistic or not, I don't think so. We have to have high standards."

Whether or not meeting expectations would be tied to changes:
There's no ultimatum that says, 'if you don't make the playoffs, you're gone.' We don't work that way. The ultimatum is we have to get better. We have to work hard. We have to show progress. We have to show that as a team. I have to be a better owner. Lawrence has got to be a better coach. Joe's got to be a better GM. Life is about improving everyday. Any past success we've ever had, including me, doesn't work. Right? Success is going forward. We have to appreciate history. Success is going forward.

On the possibility of moving the team to Detroit:
I was at the owner's meeting last week and all the owners were talking about how state of the art (the Palace) is. So I don't think you want to leave it and say, 'Geez, nice to see ya.' In the meantime, if the future is downtown and that's what we have to do to grow, I'm not against that.

On his involvement this season:
I can tell you my impact will be felt every single day because I lose sleep over this. I lose sleep over the idea of delivering to this community.