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20 Turnovers
Wise, this turnover thing is a problem for sure but I think that it maybe can be solved when the Pistons get a big who can receive the ball down low and can score. What I was pleased with tonight is that the Pistons were playing guys who individually looked better than the Utah players. Add one decent big, and the Pistons may vault past Utah in the next year or so. Utah looked unathletic and somewhat slow.
Biillips 1-5; Afflalo 1-4; Sheed 4-16
Hey Wise and Philip, Wise I agree you can't post on one night and draw a conclusion. I did it to highlight that that is what has been happening. Usually, an ex-piston has a good showing and it means that the Pistons let an all star go. So I did the opposite. Agree, you have to look at a broader time frame. At this point, a 500 Piston club would be a luxery. It is still not proven that a team can totally rebuild on the fly. I think Dumars quote is that he has optained some pieces that can be around for five years to build on. But take Gordon, I think he is quality but he will mainly shine if he gets a solid team around him. He cannot carry a team.Philip, I thought Boston looked old the other night. They reminded me of the Pistons about 2 years ago. They have a lot of talent, but I wouldn't put any money on them to go all the way. Agree, 33 seems to be the last great year for an NBA player. But after 32, a player starts to become suspect in terms of carrying a heavy load. I am sure there are exceptions but I agree with that 33 figure you posted.
Biillips 1-5; Afflalo 1-4; Sheed 4-16
Hey Oracle, right, one game is not much to go on but I have watched Sheed and Billips a few times and they are simply missing a ton of shots, especially threes. Sheed was 0 for 8 from the three. Neither is close to the offensive threat they were in 2005. Sheed did play some good defense as I noted also. Afflalo has been stamped the stopper on this board but I didn't see much of that tonight. Agree, have to look at a bunch of games but that works both ways. An ex-Piston has a good game and it means that it was a horrible mistake to have let them go. Afflalo is at least young, not so with Sheed and Billips.
The big question to me is do the Pistons have to get a lot worse to get some top picks or can Joe avoid that and not whether any of these ex-Pistons should still be with the team. The Piston run was a great run but it was over. You know, Boston looks old--remind me of the Pistons two years ago. I wonder if their window is really open or not.
Biillips 1-5; Afflalo 1-4; Sheed 4-16
Sheed and Billips have lost a bit and then some on offense watching them. Sheed was 0 for 8 from the three. Sheed did get some key boards. I don't think that Billips or Afflalo's defense was a factor in the loss to the Clippers to make up for their lack of offense. It was past time to make a move to break up that once great team. The question is can the Pistons rebuild on the fly or do they have to get really bad to get a young big or two who can become an impact player.
Offense is broken
The offense is broken. 50 points after 3 quarters. You can't win. Coach is having trouble playing the guards for scoring as that leaves defensive liabilities as both Bynum and Gordon are small.
Plus, there isn't a true point guard and there really isn't a big to pass the ball to other than CV who is on and off. Since the Dallas game, teams are coming out on the guards. The offense gets so bad due to poor shots and turnovers that it creates break out opportunities for the opposition. Example, on one play, Jerebko is open but afraid to shoot the three, he drives, a bad shot is taken and Portland gets a break for a bucket.
Kwame
I am not a big Maxiel fan (he is disappointing to me) but he was bothering Dirk (per my earlier post) last night and I grimaced when he left the court. Sure enough, Dirk went off on CV. I wasn't following Kwame's play so I have no comment on that. I usually look at certain match ups. Maxiel has looked a bit better on his shot and he has looked a bit livelier maybe due to Ben's influence but this a already past an expected break out year. The Pistons really don't get much from any big other than CV's scoring. When I look at other teams bigs, I can't believe the Piston's have competed so well so far. Joe has a year or two to get a young, impacting big. The Pistons have trade material to make it happen. The Pistons need to show that they are on the road back and someone will come. There is a tradition there.
Gordon's last shot
You go to Gordon even if he is 1 for whatever. Really, that reach in is a foul in the NBA which guards its three point shooters like Fort Knox.
But the real issue is that when Gordon is tired or just plain off, the Pistons need to get some screen action for him. And, coach will have to counter as Dallas sent two guys out to cover Gordon out past the three point line. He can't just pass the ball to Wallace or Jerebko or Maxiel as that what the opposition wants. A non-shooter type then has the ball later in the shot clock.
Dallas game
The coach will have to find ways to get Gordon off when he is shooting poorly. Dallas scouted the Pistons and they came way out on Gordon forcing him to give it up--to a non-shooting big early on. The Pistons will have to counter this move that will surely come from other teams. The other two guards were great.
A few plays hurt us badly. Daye threw the ball away with 9 seconds left in the 3rd on an inbound. Later, CV passed up a shot and instead threw an interception. Comments: shoot the ball CV (who seemed to rush a couple of other shots late) and being a rookie is no excuse for the inbound play by Daye.
Maxiel actually got into Dirk's head. Coach, reward him and keep him on Dirk. We went back to CV and then Dirk got off.
The Piston defense has some decent rotations. The team left Dirk alone on one key play and overall, the team may be susceptible to tall teams which is not a surprise. Dampier was out tonight--I wanted to see how we defended him while keeping their shooters at bay.
Still, the Bynum/Stuckey/Gordon threat seems to wear the opposition down.
A brutal trip ahead.
Ben Gordon era II
This is the Ben Gordon era. He is the closest thing to a franchise player without being a franchise player. And yes, again, Chicago made a mistake, maybe a big mistake.
It is amazing to see this Piston team hold their own with possibly one of the weakest front courts in the league but that is how good the guard play has been. Ben Wallace is maybe the most underrated player this decade but he is 35 and can't bring it every night. CV is an offensive weapon. We get little else to speak of from our bigs. Maxiel did hit one jumper.
CV is looking more and more like a find and with Gordon the Pistons have two pieces to build/start a new run. Joe, the next step is to get this team some bigs in the next year or two. Put one decent rebounding, young big on this team and it would make some real noise. No Amir wouldn't have been enough. Joe has to get this player in the future. Watch Sheed and Billips and they have lost some of their offensive explosiveness. It was time to break that once great team up.
Stuckey again played under control and only got blocked twice. His jumper is coming along and he has had some success finishing at the rim. A good win.
Pistons Win
Mad, I had seen CV get off offensively before he became a Piston but I am pleased to see the full range of his offense. With the right coaching he can be an impact player on offense. I don't think anyone ever taught him defense but that can be learned. Joe's summer may well have been worth it. But the Pistons are entering a brutal stretch of games now.
Pistons Win
Wise, excellent comments on Stuckey and CV. Stuckey did look better tonight.
2004 championship
I don't know, sitting here in Laker land that ship looked to me to be the work primarily of big Ben and Sheed, that is, the bigs. Ships are usually won by a dominant front line. Those 18 blocks in the guaransheed game at Indiana didn't come from the guards. Sure Rip and Billips were very good and Tay had his moments, but Sheed and Ben were a ferocious front line and the key to the ship. The bigs and Larry. Conversely, the aging of our bigs was the biggest factor that brought the run down and a prolonged series of low draft choices.
Stuckey can't be given a free ride any longer
Yes, he has shown a little more court vision here and there. At times, he has shown a shot. But not nearly enough. This has to be a break out year. He has incredible potential and his drives can be effective. But too, too many times this year he ends up getting blocked or giving the ball up and those forays usually end up with a fast break for the other team. I expect Stuckey to break out this year but will not offer excuses if he does not.
Daye has promise
Mad is right. Daye altered several shots and one of the coaches said as much at half time. His length bothered shots. He missed his shots but that should come. He is the best young big man prospect the Pistons have had recently. He is a 15 pick showing signs of a top ten pick. Let's see some more play, a lot more.
Wasn't Billips really traded for Gordon?
That is the way I am reading it. If that is the case, it was a good trade because Billips is 33-34 and Gordon is 26. It is not really a question of Billips as a player. Billips has been a great player though I have noticed him slowing down just a bit.
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