***Official Detroit Pistons Thread***

[youvalss]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons Thread***

Antonio will be back in about 24 hours I know all you Pistons fans must be happy right??

Oh yeah! Love his game. But I just don't think the Pistons are going anywhere. Yeah, yeah, you would tell me to wait 'til the end of the season, but I still think the Iverson trade hurt the Pistons more than it helped.

[Muzyk23]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons Thread***

They should get over it (losing Billups) and start rebounding and playing defense. Then, you can complain about AI as much as you want.

[youvalss]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons Thread***

They should get over it (losing Billups) and start rebounding and playing defense. Then, you can complain about AI as much as you want.

You got a point, but don't forget that Iverson changed the game style. Billups was a slower PG who doesn't attack the basket much (well, not occasionly) and more concerned about running the offense. AI is faster and is more of an offensive player who thinks "shoot" before "pass". You can't change the game style and expect the team to play the same way. Someone should decide if this team is still a defensive team like it used to be or an offensive team. So far it seems to me that the defense is not what it used to be.

[Kruza]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons Thread***

Double post. Mods, please delete this one.

Kruza

[Kruza]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons Thread***

You got a point, but don't forget that Iverson changed the game style. Billups was a slower PG who doesn't attack the basket much (well, not occasionly) and more concerned about running the offense. AI is faster and is more of an offensive player who thinks "shoot" before "pass". You can't change the game style and expect the team to play the same way. Someone should decide if this team is still a defensive team like it used to be or an offensive team. So far it seems to me that the defense is not what it used to be.

I think AI has been adjusting nicely into the Pistons system. In fact, I actually believe he's passing a little too much as defenders are beginning take away passing lanes to his teammates whenever he drives to the basket. The Knicks tried to do this yesterday afternoon and the 76ers did this very well during the second half Friday night.

Anyway, the more important issue is about the team having good balance, not being strong on one side. The NBA has tweaked the rules to a point where a team cannot be strong only on offense or only on defense without being good on the other side of the court as well. A strong defensive team that's not proficient offensively will still suffer and vice versa. Even though Celtics are mainly known for their great defense, they have an extremely potent transition offense that doesn't get the publicity it deserves. Meanwhile, the Lakers are known for their great offense, but they have a really good and underrated half-court defense when they're set as well.

The main issue on this Pistons team is rebounding. Whenever Sheed is the only big man on the court -- which is often in those 3-guard lineups -- this aspect of the team suffers greatly. When Sheed frequently hangs around the arc it takes him out of position to be able to crash the boards, and the team needs his big body mixing it up in the paint a lot more than they need his 3-pt shooting. He should be around the elbow and high post areas if he wants to shoot from the outside so at least he has a chance to grab offensive rebounds or tap it out to a teammate after a missed shot. Maybe Antonio McDyess will be more apt to help shore this up for the sake of this team since Sheed is not getting it.

Kruza

[Muzyk23]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons Thread***

You got a point, but don't forget that Iverson changed the game style. Billups was a slower PG who doesn't attack the basket much (well, not occasionly) and more concerned about running the offense. AI is faster and is more of an offensive player who thinks "shoot" before "pass". You can't change the game style and expect the team to play the same way. Someone should decide if this team is still a defensive team like it used to be or an offensive team. So far it seems to me that the defense is not what it used to be.

Being sincerely objective here, I think AI is not the problem. Obviously he is in a shooting slump right now( so as Hamilton and Wallace), but it is because of the change. AI is passing a lot..I've never seen him passing that much.

Iverson sometimes needs to shoot a lot for a game or two to get out of the slump, to get his rythm back, but he is so hesitant to do this on this team right now. I've watched him his whole career. I think he tries to please others too often, too much.

I don't know but from the games I have watched so far they do not make him the go to guy at the end of games as they promised. There are too few plays called for him.

Hamilton and Wallace. If I haven't seen them play before I would say they are overrated. I seriously thought Wallace is better than that. Am I wrong? I have seen about 10 Pistons games this season and this guy doesn't rebound or hustle. He got outplayed severely the other night by Aldridge, couldn't do anything about Lee yesterday. Correct me if I'm wrong but I expected more from him than shooting trees or grabbing six boards.

Hamilton, I think he's sulking. Booo they traded my friend after I signed the extension. Be a man and adapt, adjust.

[youvalss]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons Thread***

Saying AI isn't the problem = saying the Nuggets wins got nothing to do with Billups.

[Muzyk23]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons Thread***

Saying AI isn't the problem = saying the Nuggets wins got nothing to do with Billups.

that's your point of view

mine is some of the guys on the team are the problem, because AI is trying to fit as calmly as ever

or coach Curry doesn't know how to put the pieces together and make them work

[youvalss]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons Thread***

Those guys played together for years and surely know what to do. It's Iverson that changing the pieces but I take your point of view - IT IS Curry who's responsible for that. Actually more Dumars than Curry. I wish Larry Brown was in charge again

[Kruza]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons Thread***

Geeez, it has only been about twenty games played and people are already criticizing Michael Curry. Give him time to get used to knowing his players and making different type of adjustments as the season goes along. Remember, this team is playing different lineups to get ready for playoff time, not to get the best possible regular season record.

And about Larry Brown... for all the good things he brought us here, he had his share of adversity too. People tend to forget that he had this team almost on the verge of mutiny early during his first season here as coach. Allow Curry some more time to get the ship righted during his moments of adversity, then we'll see.

Kruza

[Bornindamecca]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons Thread***

Speaking of Curry...
According to the New York Daily News Coach Curry is sliding Iverson over to his natural position, and the lineup will be:

PG Stuckey(Fiddy)
SG AI
SF Rip
PF Tay
C Sheed

[Kruza]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons Thread***

It figures that this would end up being the starting lineup sooner or later since these are the five guys that has finished the majority of Pistons games to date. I guess Michael Curry feels it's time to start with these guys now that Antonio McDyess is back on the team to fill the role as 6th man.

However, I have to say that this lineup won't do much of anything if Sheed doesn't hit the boards with aggression and play stoud interior defense. This team has been getting killed lately in the rebounding battles against other teams.

Kruza

[Tha_Kid]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons Thread***

Hamilton, I think he's sulking. Booo they traded my friend after I signed the extension. Be a man and adapt, adjust.

Pretty much. Eventually someone is going to have to sit him down or call him out. It's disgusting out there. Curry looks lost when it comes to rotation & adjustments, I mean the stones have steadily gotten abused inside and outrebounded and he benches KBrown (who for some reason only gets like 6 minutes at the start of each half anyway) and decides to start his small ball lineup.

[AI3]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons Thread***

Another dissapointing loss for the pistons ._.

[Muzyk23]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons Thread***

They have a 28 points per game career scorer on their team and yet Curry refuses to run more plays for him.

By making Iverson a passive player you are depriving him of his agressiveness-which is his biggest strength. Only Larry Brown could understand it?

So, what was the trade for?

I don't want to see AI passing to Affalo or Hermann all the time..Jeez

As long as they keep this gameplan the aren't going anywhere. Where are the trillion offensive plays Curry had for Iverson that AI talked about in interviews?!

An don't tell me he can't fit in because it's bull..

My impression is ,by observing other Pistons' players, that they are mad Billups is gone and do not want AI here. Maybe I'm overreacting. Winning definitely would be the best cure.

Wizards had 10 offensive rebounds. Lol