Pistons need a little boost!

[POWERFORWARD]

Detroit is playing very lax defensively, and pitiful offensively.

I know a little boost would get them in order I guess letting go D.C.
was a wakeup call to the players.

1. Big Ben is playing his regular although that other stuff slowed the team down.
2. Tashaun is playing so-so but he aint stepping up offensively.
3. Rip shoots more than kobe but a worst fg percentage.
4. Rasheed looks like he doesnt even want the ball and he's shooting bad.
5. THE MVP is doing his usual but turning it over more.

The bench aint as strong as last year although Antonio is playing well.

Maybe a trade is needed or let the two europeans play?

[BGarrett7]

Re: Pistons need a little boost!

Maybe a trade is needed or let the two europeans play?

Delfino isn't European.

[BGarrett7]

Re: Pistons need a little boost!

Maybe a trade is needed or let the two europeans play?

Delfino isn't European.

[POWERFORWARD]

Re: Pistons need a little boost!

ok I just couldnt remember his name, but he has a good offensive game.

[POWERFORWARD]

Re: Pistons need a little boost!

ok I just couldnt remember his name, but he has a good offensive game.

[HMcCoy]

Re: Pistons need a little boost!

3. Rip shoots more than kobe but a worst fg percentage.

Kobe has taken quite a few more shots than Rip, bro...and Rip shoots 44% to Kobes 40%.

[HMcCoy]

Re: Pistons need a little boost!

3. Rip shoots more than kobe but a worst fg percentage.

Kobe has taken quite a few more shots than Rip, bro...and Rip shoots 44% to Kobes 40%.

[timid]

Re: Pistons need a little boost!

Barkley called them overrated..........

[timid]

Re: Pistons need a little boost!

Barkley called them overrated..........

[Kruza]

Re: Pistons need a little boost!

Nah, they're going to need more than that.

The Pistons are struggling because let's face it -- they have major issues offensively. The rest of the league has caught up to their offensive sets and know how to defend most if not all of them well. For example, one of the more successful plays was having Rip run around a Ben Wallace screen off a curl, giving Rip the option for the stop-and-pull-up J in the lane or the drive all the way to the basket. But now, teams will trap Hamilton as soon as he gets the ball and give Big Ben that open 16- to 18-foot jumper from the wing all day long. That play won't work anymore until Big Ben sticks that J with consistency and keep his man honest. There are several more types of plays similar to this that won't work either due to this.

The Pistons play way too much 4 on 5 offensively (sometimes 3 on 5 when Tayshaun Prince is not looking for his shot), and that put major pressure on the others (mainly Chauncey Billups, Rip, and Rasheed Wallace/Antonio McDyess) who have to shoulder the scoring load despite often getting trapped or doubled at their sweet spots. And they’re not not getting much contribution from the bench overall. I still believe the bench is better this season than last season’s even though it hasn’t been shown yet, but we’ll see.

Moreover, the team have a few guards with no consistent midrange game except one (Richard Hamilton), but he's not a good finisher in traffic. In fact, none of 'em are good finishing in traffic. None of 'em are real talented one-on-one players who you can just give the ball to and clear out a side of the court to let him take his man and get points out of that. None of them can consistently makes good decisions with the basketball while running on fast breaks, which hurts their transition game due to the limited opportunities they get from foiled possessions. Carlos Delfino could possibly be the one who can do it, but it appears coach Larry Brown doesn't even give him the opportunity to try.

The scoring issue is being magnified even more this season in comparison to last season because the Pistons can no longer rely on getting a lot of points off turnovers from steals and putbacks from pounding the offensive boards. Last season, the Pistons got enough scoring to go all the way in part due to getting points off turnovers and from putbacks plus drawing extra shooting fouls while attempting putbacks. The Pistons are still rebounding well, however the full court and half-court presses are not working as well anymore because teams has also figured it out. So not many more points are coming from there as last season, emphasizing the importance of this team needing to score running their half-court offense and in transition.

I'm a big time Pistons fan and still love 'em, but I have to admit this team is certainly not looking good right now, and the problems I'm seeing with the team are something I'm afraid that is not a quick fix. This may be a season-long problem that may not even get resolved at all.

Kruza

[Kruza]

Re: Pistons need a little boost!

Nah, they're going to need more than that.

The Pistons are struggling because let's face it -- they have major issues offensively. The rest of the league has caught up to their offensive sets and know how to defend most if not all of them well. For example, one of the more successful plays was having Rip run around a Ben Wallace screen off a curl, giving Rip the option for the stop-and-pull-up J in the lane or the drive all the way to the basket. But now, teams will trap Hamilton as soon as he gets the ball and give Big Ben that open 16- to 18-foot jumper from the wing all day long. That play won't work anymore until Big Ben sticks that J with consistency and keep his man honest. There are several more types of plays similar to this that won't work either due to this.

The Pistons play way too much 4 on 5 offensively (sometimes 3 on 5 when Tayshaun Prince is not looking for his shot), and that put major pressure on the others (mainly Chauncey Billups, Rip, and Rasheed Wallace/Antonio McDyess) who have to shoulder the scoring load despite often getting trapped or doubled at their sweet spots. And they’re not not getting much contribution from the bench overall. I still believe the bench is better this season than last season’s even though it hasn’t been shown yet, but we’ll see.

Moreover, the team have a few guards with no consistent midrange game except one (Richard Hamilton), but he's not a good finisher in traffic. In fact, none of 'em are good finishing in traffic. None of 'em are real talented one-on-one players who you can just give the ball to and clear out a side of the court to let him take his man and get points out of that. None of them can consistently makes good decisions with the basketball while running on fast breaks, which hurts their transition game due to the limited opportunities they get from foiled possessions. Carlos Delfino could possibly be the one who can do it, but it appears coach Larry Brown doesn't even give him the opportunity to try.

The scoring issue is being magnified even more this season in comparison to last season because the Pistons can no longer rely on getting a lot of points off turnovers from steals and putbacks from pounding the offensive boards. Last season, the Pistons got enough scoring to go all the way in part due to getting points off turnovers and from putbacks plus drawing extra shooting fouls while attempting putbacks. The Pistons are still rebounding well, however the full court and half-court presses are not working as well anymore because teams has also figured it out. So not many more points are coming from there as last season, emphasizing the importance of this team needing to score running their half-court offense and in transition.

I'm a big time Pistons fan and still love 'em, but I have to admit this team is certainly not looking good right now, and the problems I'm seeing with the team are something I'm afraid that is not a quick fix. This may be a season-long problem that may not even get resolved at all.

Kruza

[HMcCoy]

Re: Pistons need a little boost!

It seems this bench misses Williamson's energy.

[HMcCoy]

Re: Pistons need a little boost!

It seems this bench misses Williamson's energy.

[Kruza]

Re: Pistons need a little boost!

I don't think the Pistons are missing Corliss Williamson as bad as they are missing Mike James. James' ball pressure on opposing guards, speed to get out on fast breaks and timely 3-pt shooting is what's really missed. It was him along with Lindsey Hunter that was causing a lot of havoc on the presses and made it really effective. Williamson had his moments, but he really hadn't contributed much for the Pistons ever since zone defenses were allowed again after the '01-'02 season.

Kruza

[Kruza]

Re: Pistons need a little boost!

I don't think the Pistons are missing Corliss Williamson as bad as they are missing Mike James. James' ball pressure on opposing guards, speed to get out on fast breaks and timely 3-pt shooting is what's really missed. It was him along with Lindsey Hunter that was causing a lot of havoc on the presses and made it really effective. Williamson had his moments, but he really hadn't contributed much for the Pistons ever since zone defenses were allowed again after the '01-'02 season.

Kruza