***Official Detroit Pistons Thread***

[poster]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons 2007-08 Thread***

I am always scared. I know they can beat either team if they play their best, but just don't know if they will bring it nightly. Everything is setting up nicely though so that gives me more confidence.

[trobinson97]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons 2007-08 Thread***

I am always scared. I know they can beat either team if they play their best, but just don't know if they will bring it nightly. Everything is setting up nicely though so that gives me more confidence.

Lol, when it comes to the Pistons, I am too. You never know which team is going to show up.

Playing without All-Star point guard Chauncey Billups for the second straight game because of a strained hamstring, rookie Rodney Stuckey filled the void with 15 points, six assists and no turnovers.
"I'm never scared," Stuckey said.

[Kruza]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons 2007-08 Thread***

There is a great article on the Pistons that appeared yesterday in the Detroit News on how the team discuss strategy among the coaches and players.

Pistons draw blueprint by committee

Kruza

[poster]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons 2007-08 Thread***

Great article, thanks Kruza. Been busy and haven't had the time to read the DN until this morning. It's good to see everyone on the same page. Kudos to Flip and the guys.

[pistoldill]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons 2007-08 Thread***

Pistons in five.

[trobinson97]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons 2007-08 Thread***

Boston.com

Forgive yourself if you don't know who Rodney Stuckey is. The assassin's role he's been playing in the Pistons' series against the Celtics is a new revelation, at least in New England.




Stuckey was the 15th pick in last summer's draft after averaging 24.6 points at Eastern Washington, but because of three broken bones in his left hand during the preseason, he was basically invisible.
In December, when the Pistons and Celtics were giving the league its first preview at the Eastern Conference finals, Stuckey was in the middle of a stretch of 25 missed games. He didn't make his debut until Dec. 21, two days after the Pistons' first game against the Celtics. In his two regular-season contests against the Celtics, he played a combined 24 minutes.
But things have changed for Stuckey.


Paul Pierce singled him out and called him "the X-factor" in the Pistons' 103-97 victory Thursday in Game 2.
"I don't think the bench played that well outside of Stuckey," Pierce said. "I thought he really gave us problems."
Stuckey scored 13 points in 17 minutes in Game 2 after putting up 9 points in Game 1.



"I think he was big off the bench," teammate Richard Hamilton said. "Huge making plays when we needed plays to be made."


With all the praise, Stuckey acted like he was hardly surprised.


"I'm never scared," he said. "I'm not nervous."


It's all a part of the maturation process that most in the Pistons' locker room say has been pretty fluid. The injury is in the past, and it hardly stunted his progress. Stuckey's regular-season numbers were good enough for him to make second-team all-rookie.
The playoffs are just another phase.


"You see his maturation from the beginning of the playoffs to where he's at," said Pistons coach Flip Saunders. "He basically carried us at times . . . making shots and making plays."


The Pistons' bench has outscored the Celtics' bench, 31-23, in two games, and Detroit is plus-7 when Stuckey is on the court, which helps with Chauncey Billups still nursing his left hamstring.


"He has grown up a lot in the playoffs," said Billups. "As a rookie, he is so mature and so poised out there. He allowed me to sit on the bench [in Game 2] a lot longer than usual. Not only that, but he was a problem. I'm sure he will be in their scouting report over there because he can make plays."


Stuckey's confidence is as high as it can be, and he says it's because of veterans like Billups.


"I've got . . . all these guys behind me," he said. "They keep me poised and confident every day. Just being around them and them always being confident gives me the extra energy and confidence that I need as a player and an individual."

Pierce is kidding himself if he thinks Stuckey was the only one who played well off the bench in that game. His was the biggest of course, but Lindsay and Ratliff made key contributions when we needed to. Ratliff with a timely block and Hunter with some big shots at the end of the shot clock plus his defense. Big numbers don't equate to playing well.

[poster]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons 2007-08 Thread***

Was out of town last night but was watched and was disappointed. It seemed that nothing went their way as no one could shoot, rebounds did not bounce to them, just lacked energy. Boston wanted it more, and has shot the ball well in all 3 games. That worries me big time. Stuck was the bright spot again. Hopefully they pick it up Monday night. Can't get any worse.

[trobinson97]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons 2007-08 Thread***

Well....that's that. I know my dad is gonna call me tomorrow and we are gonna agonize over what the Pistons did wrong for about an hour like we've done for the past several seasons. It's going to be an interesting off season. I am really anticipating the moves that will be made this summer. Hopefully it's something that will give us another shot to get in the Finals again.

[Psyblast]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons 2007-08 Thread***

http://genuinelysarcastic.blogspot.com/2008/05/in-memorium-detroit-pistons.html

Done. Finished. Cooked.

It's time to turn the page.

[trobinson97]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons 2007-08 Thread***

*sigh*

Can't disagree with anything in that article.

[pistoldill]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons 2007-08 Thread***

Get rid of Rasheed Wallace.

Trade Tayshaun Prince. His errant and horrible offensive decisions coupled with his schizophrenic defense have played major roles in playoff collapses. Right now, Tayshaun is a player who teams might look at as having upside and playing a key role. The Pistons can trade him with either Rasheed or Chauncey (or maybe both) and potentially fleece a squad for some upgradeable talent.

You can use this money freed up to go after Elton Brand, who would bring consistency along rebounding that Rasheed was incapable of.

I just don't want to see this team on the ****ing floor. I am not coming back to this team until they get rid of Rasheed Wallace's mental midget no showing up when it matters *** is shipped the hell out.

[poster]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons 2007-08 Thread***

I guess you were right Psy. Oh well *sigh*.

Congrats to Boston and their fans, they were the better team. The last two years I thought the Pistons lost to inferior teams, this year I was worried as I knew we were playing a better team. They still had a chance, but they are not good enough any more.

Maybe Flip will be canned. I have always been a fan and have thought he takes too much blame. The first year he made a mistake playing the starters too much, but to be honest they had no bench. Last year the LeBron thing was bad. They should have done things differently, but I have read on more than one occasion that they players did not listen to him in Game 5 and ran what they thought they should run on D. True? Who knows, if it is then the players are not too smart as he LBJ tore them up.

This year everything was set up properly. They said they were on the same page, they had a bench, everyone had reduced minutes. It just didn't work out. Tay has no excuses this year. yes he guards the best player, but he was fresh and ready. He played awesome the first two rounds despite guarding two tough guys in AI and Hedo. Now this was a step up, but he just tanked on O. Missed tons of open shots he normally makes. Jarvis got worse as the season went on. When he stepped on the floor in the playoffs he like a scared *****. It was easy to see. I don't blame Flip for not going to him. I love Joe D, but that's on him for not having a good enough backup SF on this team to play in the playoffs. I liked the lineup with 3 guards, but as good as RIP played against Pierce, he was over matched.

Not sure where they go from here. They cannot continue to have the same core group of guys. It just isnt good enough, no matter who the coach is. I am not sure who they can trade to get better, but I wouldn't be upset with whomever they traded. Time to start over, as this isn't working. Alot of good times, alot of frustarting times. If they keep the same core and add to it with small tweaks, then I will have no more confidence no matter how good they do in the regular season to do anything meaningful like win a title. Hopefully we see some change.

Detroit Pistons 2002-2008 RIP

[trobinson97]

From the Readers: Pistons to-do List

Part 1
Source

We solicited advice for what the Pistons should do this off-season, and here are some suggestions you came up with:



• I love Rasheed (Wallace), but he wants to have fun, not be serious, be lazy, and then complain when things do not go his way. I love (Antonio) McDyess, but his age and energy are becoming problems. They would both be good bench guys. We need some hungry, young, big vets. Points in the paint are lacking. Jim Clements, Grayling
• What the Pistons should do is do a sign-and-trade with the Clippers to get Elton Brand. Trade 'Sheed's expiring contract for Brand and get the dominant low-post scorer that is sorely needed. Keep McDyess. Try to convince him to stay at least for one more year if he has it in him. ... Keep the rest of the core unless a deal that will make us significantly better arises. Next, get rid of Flip Saunders. Replace him with Avery Johnson or, here is a shocker, Jeff Van Gundy. Michael Feldman, Ann Arbor
• I'd come back with the core of the team intact. Joe Dumars did that last year, and he was rewarded with a 59-win season. ... As far as Flip is concerned, I'd keep him. He's got another year on the contract. He didn't blow Game 6 against the Celtics or let LeBron (James) score 29 out of the last 30 points in Game 5 of the 2007 showdown with Cleveland. However, it looks like I might be in a minority with that opinion. Philip Shaw, Dresden, Ontario
• As far as Flip Saunders goes, I wonder how effective he really is when it seems like no one is listening to him in the locker room, let alone on the court! I don't know if he is the right personality to handle the swagger of this group of Pistons and make them stay focused on each and every game they play throughout the season, let alone during the playoffs. Jude Grigal, Garden City
• It is selfish for Rasheed to coast out there and turn it on and off when he wants to. He's got to be comfortable at being an offensive workhorse for Detroit. I'm not accusing him, but sometimes he appears like he's half-stepping it out there, and just playing for his paycheck. Aaron Cox, Los Angeles
• I don't think they should blow the team up. ... But what I do believe needs to happen is Joe (Dumars) needs to get a big-name free agent or make a trade before the season starts. Clearly, getting 'Sheed to play in the post is like pulling teeth, but he does too many other things well to just get rid of for nothing. ... (Rodney) Stuckey needs 30 minutes, but as good as he is now, and will be, he's not ready for 30 minutes at the PG position. Billie Burrus, Detroit
• Simply put, the Pistons are the Atlanta Braves of the '90s. We pushed Larry Brown out the door and cost us 2-3 more championships. Bring in Isiah Thomas -- and only as coach. Fredi Bello, Dearborn
• The Pistons should trade Rasheed Wallace. They probably will not get fair market value but should accept the best offer. Amir Johnson's and Jason Maxiell's minutes should increase dramatically next year, which means Rasheed's minutes would drop anyway. Split the guards' minutes evenly between (Chauncey) Billups, (Richard) Hamilton and Stuckey the way the Bad Boys did with Thomas, Dumars and Vinnie Johnson. Ken Wieczorek, South Plainfield, N.J.

Part 2
Source

• That's easy! Joe (Dumars) has to fire Flip (Saunders). Flip is a nice guy, and he definitely knows his stuff, but there's something missing. His personality doesn't fit with the team, he can't motivate his players, he just doesn't seem like he's a part of the team. They should hire Avery Johnson; he'd be the perfect coach. ... You also have to keep Rasheed (Wallace). They move him, and they're worse off any way you look at it. He's too good a player and teammate to move. Carlo Lini, Waterford
• The Pistons should hire Bill Laimbeer as coach, trade Rasheed Wallace, part ways with Jarvis Hayes, Walter Herrmann and Juan Dixon, and keep Antonio McDyess and the rest of the team. ... The Pistons need one of the Bad Boys as coach. They need someone mean, not nice. Nice guys finish last. Fred Capel, Joplin, Mo.
• I would try adding (the Clippers') Elton Brand by any means necessary. He has an early-termination option in his contract, which most teams are expecting him to take advantage of. Now you're looking at a championship team for years to come. ... However, to pull off such a move without paying the luxury tax, we would have to move a big contract ('Sheed) or multiple contracts.
Woodrow Carter, St. Clair Shores

Fredi Bello is crazy. Bringing in Isaiah should not be in anyone's head.

[Kruza]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons 2007-08 Thread***

Has anyone read that Inside article that Chad Ford has recently posted at ESPN? I would be upset if that rumored multi-team trade goes down.

Ford's article

Kruza

[trobinson97]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons 2007-08 Thread***

Has anyone read that Inside article that Chad Ford has recently posted at ESPN? I would be upset if that rumored multi-team trade goes down.

Ford's article

Kruza

What trade?