I knew it was coming. When Charlotte moved up to pick seventh I knew Bismack was gone. On draft night I felt like the Pistons had missed an opportunity but after sleeping on it I found peace with the Pistons picks.
Brandon Knight: The more I watch this guy in interviews and gameplay footage the more I like him. I am a little tired about hearing about his GPA and his credits. Look, I'm glad he's smart and a hard worker. Both those facts bode well for the Pistons and Knight's future in the NBA, but give it a rest. Here's hoping he can be the point guard of the future. My gut, which is as a reliable indicator of NBA talent as there is, tells me he is going to be great.
Kyle Singler: If this guy can give the Pistons meaningful minutes from the get go then he will already be a success. He's got good size (6'8" 230) and he's got some maturity and experience due to spending four years in college. I'm hoping he can back up the small forward from day one.
Vernon Macklin: Watched this guy's interview and like him already. I actually remember watching him when he had 25 points in the NCAA turnament and asking my cousin who is a Florida alum, "Who is this guy?" and he went on to tell me how Macklin had underachieved his pedigree. He may be one of those rare players that, due to various circumstances during his college career, doesn't begin to hit his stride until late. His rebounding is the only real red flag that I see about the guy. But if he works as hard as he claims he is going to then he will be an asset to the Pistons this coming season(?) and be seen as a real value pick at #52.
All Pistons, No Filler
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
Season Recap
*Prediction: The Pistons would make the playoffs, barring injury.
Jonas pretty much let me off the hook on that prediction in the first preseason game when he tore his Achilles tendon.
*Statement: Rodney Stuckey is the Pistons best player.
It's either him or Greg Monroe and right now, at the end of the 2010-2011 season, I'd have to go with Monroe though Stuckey played at an elite level the last few games of the season. If Stuckey comes back and plays consistently the way he did at the end of 2011 he will be tough to keep out of the All-Star Game.
*The Draft: The Pistons need to take the best available player regardless of position.
That being said I hope that the Pistons get another big man to pair with G-Money Monroe in the frontcourt. I really hope that they do not select a shooting guard or even a *gasp* combo guard.
Here's my list of hopeful picks barring the "automatic" top two, Irving and Williams.
1.Kanter
2.Biyombo
3.Valanciunas
4.Knight
Jonas pretty much let me off the hook on that prediction in the first preseason game when he tore his Achilles tendon.
*Statement: Rodney Stuckey is the Pistons best player.
It's either him or Greg Monroe and right now, at the end of the 2010-2011 season, I'd have to go with Monroe though Stuckey played at an elite level the last few games of the season. If Stuckey comes back and plays consistently the way he did at the end of 2011 he will be tough to keep out of the All-Star Game.
*The Draft: The Pistons need to take the best available player regardless of position.
That being said I hope that the Pistons get another big man to pair with G-Money Monroe in the frontcourt. I really hope that they do not select a shooting guard or even a *gasp* combo guard.
Here's my list of hopeful picks barring the "automatic" top two, Irving and Williams.
1.Kanter
2.Biyombo
3.Valanciunas
4.Knight
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Mowtown Mutiny
Actually, I'm not going to cover the "Mutiny" (which has been covered ad nauseum on blogs nationwide) let's check the players.
Greg Monroe: I am completely wow'd by this guy. When he dropped to 7 in the draft I was ecstatic, then Joe drafte him and I was relieved and ecstatic. I wrote several pieces on him in during last year's Summer League. Check them out under the "July" tab, they're insightful.
I had heard about Greg's basketball IQ, his coachability and his slick passing. But his rebounding? Nobody was saying, "You know, that Monroe kid is going to be a double-double machine by mid-season." And here we are. And the kid is quick, not particularly fast, but quick. Quick feet, quick hands, quick thinker. Love this guy's game and his attitude. You go big man, you go. Can I see him averaging 20 and 10? Eventually, yes, yes I can. Remember when someone questioned his motor? Yeah, it's a big block.
Now time for the Defense of Rodney Stuckey portion of my blog. Rodney is the Pistons best guard. He's a far better defender than Bynum or Gordon, he gets to the line and makes his free-throws (87%), and he apologizes to his coach when he misses the practice bus (+5 accountability). If the Pistons would have traded Hamilton and kept Billups we wouldn't even be having this conversation. Stuckey is a "guard" as Keith and Joe like to say, but he is better when he is at the 2. As I always say, "Rodney is a consistent jump shot away from the All-Star Game." And you can learn to shoot better, you can't learn the strength and speed Stuck has. Alright, I'm done.
The game last night against Utah was the best game I have watched all year. The rest of the season should feature this lineup:
Stuck
BG
Moose
Daye
Max or Cox
I actually like Will to start but we need him running the point when Stuck is out. Sprinkle in some Charlie V. and one of the Dynamic Dunking Duo (Max or Cox) and Summers off the bench and let's see what happens. What are we really losing at this point playing Daye instead of Prince and Stuck and/or BG instead of T-Mac? What, are we going to lose a bunch of winnable games? Too late. At his point every loss is a lottery win. Not saying I want to lose games. I'm just saying.
Speaking of Coach Kuester, sometimes the guy mystifies me with his momentum killing time outs and his rythm killing substitutions. But I respect the guy for being professional (even when Richard is cussing him out at practice) and trying to coach even though some of the guys don't want to be coached.
Ladies and gentleman, Joe Dumars is not to blame for the Richard Hamilton/Tayshaun Prince/Tracy McGrady/anyone else on the team not named Greg trade situation. It's Karen D. guys, it's Karen D. When the team is sold Joe is going to do an interview with Keith and he's going to say something that we all already know:
1. He worked the phones until the 11th hour
2. His hands were tied due to the team being sold
3. "See, I told you Greg Monroe was someone who could come in and help us right away, unbelievers."
There is still some value to be gained this year, playoffs or no. But only if the "young core" get games worth of experience. If by some miracle we make the playoffs, great. If not, hopefully we can pick up another piece through the draft, say farewell to Hamilton, Prince, McGrady, Wilcox and Summers over the off season (lockout?)and start fresh next fall with:
Stuck
BG
Moose
Daye
Jonas
Bynum
CV
High Draft Pick
Terrico White
FA
FA
FA
Greg Monroe: I am completely wow'd by this guy. When he dropped to 7 in the draft I was ecstatic, then Joe drafte him and I was relieved and ecstatic. I wrote several pieces on him in during last year's Summer League. Check them out under the "July" tab, they're insightful.
I had heard about Greg's basketball IQ, his coachability and his slick passing. But his rebounding? Nobody was saying, "You know, that Monroe kid is going to be a double-double machine by mid-season." And here we are. And the kid is quick, not particularly fast, but quick. Quick feet, quick hands, quick thinker. Love this guy's game and his attitude. You go big man, you go. Can I see him averaging 20 and 10? Eventually, yes, yes I can. Remember when someone questioned his motor? Yeah, it's a big block.
Now time for the Defense of Rodney Stuckey portion of my blog. Rodney is the Pistons best guard. He's a far better defender than Bynum or Gordon, he gets to the line and makes his free-throws (87%), and he apologizes to his coach when he misses the practice bus (+5 accountability). If the Pistons would have traded Hamilton and kept Billups we wouldn't even be having this conversation. Stuckey is a "guard" as Keith and Joe like to say, but he is better when he is at the 2. As I always say, "Rodney is a consistent jump shot away from the All-Star Game." And you can learn to shoot better, you can't learn the strength and speed Stuck has. Alright, I'm done.
The game last night against Utah was the best game I have watched all year. The rest of the season should feature this lineup:
Stuck
BG
Moose
Daye
Max or Cox
I actually like Will to start but we need him running the point when Stuck is out. Sprinkle in some Charlie V. and one of the Dynamic Dunking Duo (Max or Cox) and Summers off the bench and let's see what happens. What are we really losing at this point playing Daye instead of Prince and Stuck and/or BG instead of T-Mac? What, are we going to lose a bunch of winnable games? Too late. At his point every loss is a lottery win. Not saying I want to lose games. I'm just saying.
Speaking of Coach Kuester, sometimes the guy mystifies me with his momentum killing time outs and his rythm killing substitutions. But I respect the guy for being professional (even when Richard is cussing him out at practice) and trying to coach even though some of the guys don't want to be coached.
Ladies and gentleman, Joe Dumars is not to blame for the Richard Hamilton/Tayshaun Prince/Tracy McGrady/anyone else on the team not named Greg trade situation. It's Karen D. guys, it's Karen D. When the team is sold Joe is going to do an interview with Keith and he's going to say something that we all already know:
1. He worked the phones until the 11th hour
2. His hands were tied due to the team being sold
3. "See, I told you Greg Monroe was someone who could come in and help us right away, unbelievers."
There is still some value to be gained this year, playoffs or no. But only if the "young core" get games worth of experience. If by some miracle we make the playoffs, great. If not, hopefully we can pick up another piece through the draft, say farewell to Hamilton, Prince, McGrady, Wilcox and Summers over the off season (lockout?)and start fresh next fall with:
Stuck
BG
Moose
Daye
Jonas
Bynum
CV
High Draft Pick
Terrico White
FA
FA
FA
Friday, December 31, 2010
Update
Time to catch up on the Pistons season:
*T-Mac is the hot topic of late. After looking stiff and gimpy early in the season he appears to be returning to his old self. Fresh off a 21 point, 8 assist, 3 steal win against the defending Eastern Conference Champion Boston Celtics the "Trade Stuckey" and "How can we retain T-Mac?" rumors are already ramping up. How about let's see if Tracy can play 30 minutes a night or more consistently before we start trading anyone? One step at a time Pistons fans.
Overall I am overjoyed at the progress T-Mac has shown and frankly he has blown me away with his play. He is starting to demand double teams, something I never though he would do in Detroit and he is getting past people. His first step combined with his length allows him to get his defender on his hip and finish at the rim. It's not like he's making wide open set shots. He's making contested fade-aways over double teams. Here's to Tracy's continued improvement in 2011.
*Stuckey, the much maligned starting (for now) Pistons point guard has, again, showed steady improvement from last year. I still think he is a consistent jump-shot away from an All-Star selection. T-Mac's emergence has people wondering where he fits? I think he stays in the starting line-up. Here's why: Stuckey is a better all-around player than Ben Gordon or Rip Hamilton. There, I said it.
I would like to see this lineup: T-Mac, Stuck, Charlie, Tay, Ben. Tracy at the point and Stuck at the two. There can be a lot of agrguments for and against, but in the end it comes down to who you believe is the better player, Gordon, Stuckey or Hamilton. I have to go with Stuckey who leads the team in scoring and assists and is (along with T-Mac!?)the Pistons best perimeter defender.
*Austin Daye and Greg Monroe need minutes. Somehow, they need to play meaningful minutes every game.
*Coach Q needs to get a rotation down. It's time. Has he made questionable coaching decisions? Yeah. Has he shown some grit and determination? Yeah. He's maturing along with the team. Coaches grown and improve just like players so I'm still with him at this point.
Keys for the next stretch of the season:
1)Finding a consistent rotation and getting people miutes who need minutes(Daye and Monroe).
2)Consistent energy and effort(defensively)from the players and coaches(playcalling).
3)Confidence and cohesion which will come with keys one and two.
4)Continue to move the ball on offense. Less iso/clearout, more side to side, drive and dish, pick and roll.
*T-Mac is the hot topic of late. After looking stiff and gimpy early in the season he appears to be returning to his old self. Fresh off a 21 point, 8 assist, 3 steal win against the defending Eastern Conference Champion Boston Celtics the "Trade Stuckey" and "How can we retain T-Mac?" rumors are already ramping up. How about let's see if Tracy can play 30 minutes a night or more consistently before we start trading anyone? One step at a time Pistons fans.
Overall I am overjoyed at the progress T-Mac has shown and frankly he has blown me away with his play. He is starting to demand double teams, something I never though he would do in Detroit and he is getting past people. His first step combined with his length allows him to get his defender on his hip and finish at the rim. It's not like he's making wide open set shots. He's making contested fade-aways over double teams. Here's to Tracy's continued improvement in 2011.
*Stuckey, the much maligned starting (for now) Pistons point guard has, again, showed steady improvement from last year. I still think he is a consistent jump-shot away from an All-Star selection. T-Mac's emergence has people wondering where he fits? I think he stays in the starting line-up. Here's why: Stuckey is a better all-around player than Ben Gordon or Rip Hamilton. There, I said it.
I would like to see this lineup: T-Mac, Stuck, Charlie, Tay, Ben. Tracy at the point and Stuck at the two. There can be a lot of agrguments for and against, but in the end it comes down to who you believe is the better player, Gordon, Stuckey or Hamilton. I have to go with Stuckey who leads the team in scoring and assists and is (along with T-Mac!?)the Pistons best perimeter defender.
*Austin Daye and Greg Monroe need minutes. Somehow, they need to play meaningful minutes every game.
*Coach Q needs to get a rotation down. It's time. Has he made questionable coaching decisions? Yeah. Has he shown some grit and determination? Yeah. He's maturing along with the team. Coaches grown and improve just like players so I'm still with him at this point.
Keys for the next stretch of the season:
1)Finding a consistent rotation and getting people miutes who need minutes(Daye and Monroe).
2)Consistent energy and effort(defensively)from the players and coaches(playcalling).
3)Confidence and cohesion which will come with keys one and two.
4)Continue to move the ball on offense. Less iso/clearout, more side to side, drive and dish, pick and roll.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Comments on a Young Season
Been out for a while, but I have managed to watch the first three Pistons' games of the year.
Observations:
The Pistons must play at a fast tempo. When they slow the game down, they're offensive production slows down. It's been said before, and I have to agree, this Pistons team is much better suited to an up-tempo game than the grind-it-out style of the 2k4 championship team.
1)Stuckey and Bynum like to get to the basket which is a lot easier when the defense isn't set.
2)The Pistons (still) don't have a consistent post threat to force defenses to sag into the paint. As a result the defense pushes out on our perimeter players (see: Chicago, 10/30)and the offense stalls, our slashers are doubled and forced to give up the ball and our shooters end up launching a lot of contested 20 footers and the Pistons lose.
The Pistons have more problems than tempo, of course, (like defending the pick and roll, or just defending. I'm looking at you, Maxiell.) but picking up the pace would help with easier buckets and put pressure on opposing defenses to get back and try to stop our athletic young players from getting into the paint and scoring and/or getting fouled or kicking out to trailing shooters.
Player-by-Player Review:
PG's:
Stuckey is the teams best overall player and needs to become the go-to-guy in the clutch if he wants to take the next step to stardom.
Bynum has only played one game.
SG's: Gordon, you just keep shooting it bro (67% from 3) that's why you're here.
Hamilton looks out of place with the new squad. He is shooting poorly (38%) and is turning the ball over too much. Can he come off the bench? Will he be traded?
SF's: Prince (14, 4 and 2)is steady as usual. His expiring contract is biggest trade chip the Pistons have, but can they afford to trade him. No, no they can't.
T-Mac is a conondrum wrapped in a riddle, wrapped in a knee brace. He's like the old guy at the park that throws some slick passes, plays some scrappy "D" and shoots off one leg cause he's a lil' bit nervous about landing on ole gimpy. I don't like giving him minutes that DaJuan Summers can be using, but I guess the guy does deserve a chance to prove himself. The question is, how long do you wait before cutting the guy's minutes?
DaJuan Summers: See, "T-Mac Stole my Minutes" by D. Summers.
PF's: 5, 4 and .03 are underwhelming numbers for your starting power forward and if Daye doesn't improve soon then CV31 will step into the starting line-up. CV is already averaging more minutes per game. (21-Daye, 26-CV).
Villanueva has actually looked...tough at times during the last three games. He has been looking to pass the ball more and is really trying on the defensive end. I would not be suprised if he ends up starting in the near future.
Monroe needs more minutes. He is, right now, our best low post offensive weapon. He's going to get burned at times on D, at times he's going to get pushed around, but the Pistons are anemic offensively in the post, it can't get any worse, can it?
C's: Wallace is still a beast. He's a monster on the boards and sometimes it seems like his defense and hustle are the only thing keeping the Pistons in the game.
Maxiell has hit his performance ceiling and the twenty minutes a game he's currently playing need to be shared with Monroe. The sooner the better.
Observations:
The Pistons must play at a fast tempo. When they slow the game down, they're offensive production slows down. It's been said before, and I have to agree, this Pistons team is much better suited to an up-tempo game than the grind-it-out style of the 2k4 championship team.
1)Stuckey and Bynum like to get to the basket which is a lot easier when the defense isn't set.
2)The Pistons (still) don't have a consistent post threat to force defenses to sag into the paint. As a result the defense pushes out on our perimeter players (see: Chicago, 10/30)and the offense stalls, our slashers are doubled and forced to give up the ball and our shooters end up launching a lot of contested 20 footers and the Pistons lose.
The Pistons have more problems than tempo, of course, (like defending the pick and roll, or just defending. I'm looking at you, Maxiell.) but picking up the pace would help with easier buckets and put pressure on opposing defenses to get back and try to stop our athletic young players from getting into the paint and scoring and/or getting fouled or kicking out to trailing shooters.
Player-by-Player Review:
PG's:
Stuckey is the teams best overall player and needs to become the go-to-guy in the clutch if he wants to take the next step to stardom.
Bynum has only played one game.
SG's: Gordon, you just keep shooting it bro (67% from 3) that's why you're here.
Hamilton looks out of place with the new squad. He is shooting poorly (38%) and is turning the ball over too much. Can he come off the bench? Will he be traded?
SF's: Prince (14, 4 and 2)is steady as usual. His expiring contract is biggest trade chip the Pistons have, but can they afford to trade him. No, no they can't.
T-Mac is a conondrum wrapped in a riddle, wrapped in a knee brace. He's like the old guy at the park that throws some slick passes, plays some scrappy "D" and shoots off one leg cause he's a lil' bit nervous about landing on ole gimpy. I don't like giving him minutes that DaJuan Summers can be using, but I guess the guy does deserve a chance to prove himself. The question is, how long do you wait before cutting the guy's minutes?
DaJuan Summers: See, "T-Mac Stole my Minutes" by D. Summers.
PF's: 5, 4 and .03 are underwhelming numbers for your starting power forward and if Daye doesn't improve soon then CV31 will step into the starting line-up. CV is already averaging more minutes per game. (21-Daye, 26-CV).
Villanueva has actually looked...tough at times during the last three games. He has been looking to pass the ball more and is really trying on the defensive end. I would not be suprised if he ends up starting in the near future.
Monroe needs more minutes. He is, right now, our best low post offensive weapon. He's going to get burned at times on D, at times he's going to get pushed around, but the Pistons are anemic offensively in the post, it can't get any worse, can it?
C's: Wallace is still a beast. He's a monster on the boards and sometimes it seems like his defense and hustle are the only thing keeping the Pistons in the game.
Maxiell has hit his performance ceiling and the twenty minutes a game he's currently playing need to be shared with Monroe. The sooner the better.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
T-Mac in Mowtown
Welcome, the newest member of the Detroit Pistons, Tracy McGrady. I love this signing. Veteran's minimum, check, willing to come off the bench, check, upside, ridiculous...well, at least bountiful, yeah, a bountiful upside.
Guy's never played in all 82 regular season games (heck, the guy hasn't played 82 games in the last three seasons combined) and injuries have really hit him hard as of late, but the Pistons have Arnie Kander, who much like Miracle Max from the Princess Bride has a reputation of bringing aging and ailing players' careers back from the dead.
I would love to see Tracy turn his career back around in Detroit and at just over 1 mil for this season, it's hard to see a downside to this signing.
Now, more than ever, I can see Rip being moved by the trade deadline.
Guy's never played in all 82 regular season games (heck, the guy hasn't played 82 games in the last three seasons combined) and injuries have really hit him hard as of late, but the Pistons have Arnie Kander, who much like Miracle Max from the Princess Bride has a reputation of bringing aging and ailing players' careers back from the dead.
I would love to see Tracy turn his career back around in Detroit and at just over 1 mil for this season, it's hard to see a downside to this signing.
Now, more than ever, I can see Rip being moved by the trade deadline.
Monday, August 9, 2010
The Latest
* T-Mac
David Aldridge reported that the Pistons are not in a hurry to sign Tracy McGrady and who can blame them? T-Mac has had a rough run of injuries of late and, with his All-Star history, may want a starting position (which he will not get with Detroit, or anyone else come to think of it, well maybe Cleveland). IF he is willing to come off the bench and IF he can still play and IF the Pistons can get him for the vets minimum it seems, at least on paper, like a low risk-high reward signing.
Although, when the Pistons start talking about signing an often injured former All-Star at the end of his career I can't get the images of Chris Webber (limping down the court) and Allen Iverson (refusing to take the court) out of my head.
*The Ilitch's Offer
I'd pretty much do anything to see the Pistons remain in Detroit and would love to see the team go to a family that is as passionate about Detroit sports as the the Ilitch family. After all the rumors of the "Las Vegas Pistons" floating around it's good to see a home town entity take a real interest in acquiring the team.
* The Low Down
ESPN had the Pistons ranked 12th in the East in their preseason rankings, in August. Hey, gotta print something, right? Even if it is pure conjecture. If I were playing for Detroit I would have every quote written about how the team was in disarray and didn't have any worthwhile players on it wall papering my corner of the locker room for motivational purposes. If Coach Q can't use subject matter like this to get the team fired up then I don't know what will get them going. Barring another horrendous run of injuries the Pistons will make the playoffs.
David Aldridge reported that the Pistons are not in a hurry to sign Tracy McGrady and who can blame them? T-Mac has had a rough run of injuries of late and, with his All-Star history, may want a starting position (which he will not get with Detroit, or anyone else come to think of it, well maybe Cleveland). IF he is willing to come off the bench and IF he can still play and IF the Pistons can get him for the vets minimum it seems, at least on paper, like a low risk-high reward signing.
Although, when the Pistons start talking about signing an often injured former All-Star at the end of his career I can't get the images of Chris Webber (limping down the court) and Allen Iverson (refusing to take the court) out of my head.
*The Ilitch's Offer
I'd pretty much do anything to see the Pistons remain in Detroit and would love to see the team go to a family that is as passionate about Detroit sports as the the Ilitch family. After all the rumors of the "Las Vegas Pistons" floating around it's good to see a home town entity take a real interest in acquiring the team.
* The Low Down
ESPN had the Pistons ranked 12th in the East in their preseason rankings, in August. Hey, gotta print something, right? Even if it is pure conjecture. If I were playing for Detroit I would have every quote written about how the team was in disarray and didn't have any worthwhile players on it wall papering my corner of the locker room for motivational purposes. If Coach Q can't use subject matter like this to get the team fired up then I don't know what will get them going. Barring another horrendous run of injuries the Pistons will make the playoffs.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)