Detroit Pistons reportedly fire Maurice Cheeks

The Detroit Pistons fired head coach Maurice Cheeks just 50 games into his first season in the Motor City Sunday.

Cheeks led the Pistons to a 21-29 start this season, and despite winning his second straight game Saturday night, he failed to make it to the All-Star break.

Detroit's young nucleus of Greg Monroe, Andre Drummond and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, along with off-season acquisitions of Josh Smith and Brandon Jennings, raised expectations for the Pistons in 2013-14.

Pistons owner Tom Gores said that he expected this young group to have growing pains, but the organization can only be patient as long as there is progress being made.

The Pistons remain a half-game behind Charlotte for the final playoff spot in the pitiful Eastern Conference.

Assistant coach John Loyer will take over as interim coach. However, former Memphis Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins has emerged as the top candidate for the formal head coaching job.

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