Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons Thread***
My probably-way-too-early observations:
1) Stuckey needs to go...he is one of my least favorite "types" of NBA player in the world: a volume scorer. Sure he can go get you 22 points, but he'll do it on 8-for-20 shooting, most of them bad contested jumpers and hopeless headlong drives into a crowded paint, where he is apparently under the impression that he is Dwayne Wade or Kobe and can get any call anytime he wants. Wrong. In addition, he plays no defense; or at least none worth noting. Plus, his part in that shameful walk-out 2 seasons ago is not forgotten, and his general attitude in my opinion stinks. Some team will want his services under the misguided impression that he's a good scorer on a bad team. I'd ship him out of town for a ham sandwich.
2) Tayshaun needs to go if we can get a worthwhile part or pick back. He's been a loyal Piston and I have no ill-will toward him whatsoever (although he does seem to sulk and was also involved in the aforementioned "boycott" a few seasons back IIRC), but I just find myself wondering what the heck he's doing on this team? By which I mean, we're at least a few seasons away from being a contender, and he's not really a foundational player around which you build. He's a great addition to any team 1-2 guys away from being serious title threats, but on the current re-building / work-in-progress roster, he's just kind of....there. He goes out and tries to get us 15-10 or whatever, but every time he's on the court I just get the feeling he's going through the motions. I mean, he was never the most overly emotional guy out there anyway (which is why he was such a good counter-point on the "Goin' to work" squads), but right now he just looks passion-less out there. Maybe just my interpretation, though.
3) Lawrence Frank....I'm just not sold on this guy. I never really liked him in New Jersey, and at some point the Pistons have to stop the musical chairs that is their head coaching position, but I just don't see what's so good about him that he keeps getting head coaching jobs. He's not a brilliant tactician, he's average (at best) at player development, I hear he's fine with player relations, but on the whole....he gets a big "meh" from me. I think you gotta stick with him and give him a chance since you hired the guy, but I'm not really expecting great things. I hear Larry Brown is coaching again....
4) The young nucleus is promising; I think our starting lineup at this point should be (assuming we cut bait on Stuckey and Tayshaun as above): Knight - English - Jerebko - Maxiell - Monroe. Get Drummond some real PT to let him learn, see if Singler and Middleton can contribute, sprinkle in Kravstov and evaluate Daye to see if he's an NBA player or not.
5) Someone please take Villanueva off our hands....please. Anyone. We'll take a bag of basketballs. Seriously.
If this team can't learn to play with a lead, it's going to be a long season....
My probably-way-too-early observations:
1) Stuckey needs to go...he is one of my least favorite "types" of NBA player in the world: a volume scorer. Sure he can go get you 22 points, but he'll do it on 8-for-20 shooting, most of them bad contested jumpers and hopeless headlong drives into a crowded paint, where he is apparently under the impression that he is Dwayne Wade or Kobe and can get any call anytime he wants. Wrong. In addition, he plays no defense; or at least none worth noting. Plus, his part in that shameful walk-out 2 seasons ago is not forgotten, and his general attitude in my opinion stinks. Some team will want his services under the misguided impression that he's a good scorer on a bad team. I'd ship him out of town for a ham sandwich.
2) Tayshaun needs to go if we can get a worthwhile part or pick back. He's been a loyal Piston and I have no ill-will toward him whatsoever (although he does seem to sulk and was also involved in the aforementioned "boycott" a few seasons back IIRC), but I just find myself wondering what the heck he's doing on this team? By which I mean, we're at least a few seasons away from being a contender, and he's not really a foundational player around which you build. He's a great addition to any team 1-2 guys away from being serious title threats, but on the current re-building / work-in-progress roster, he's just kind of....there. He goes out and tries to get us 15-10 or whatever, but every time he's on the court I just get the feeling he's going through the motions. I mean, he was never the most overly emotional guy out there anyway (which is why he was such a good counter-point on the "Goin' to work" squads), but right now he just looks passion-less out there. Maybe just my interpretation, though.
3) Lawrence Frank....I'm just not sold on this guy. I never really liked him in New Jersey, and at some point the Pistons have to stop the musical chairs that is their head coaching position, but I just don't see what's so good about him that he keeps getting head coaching jobs. He's not a brilliant tactician, he's average (at best) at player development, I hear he's fine with player relations, but on the whole....he gets a big "meh" from me. I think you gotta stick with him and give him a chance since you hired the guy, but I'm not really expecting great things. I hear Larry Brown is coaching again....
4) The young nucleus is promising; I think our starting lineup at this point should be (assuming we cut bait on Stuckey and Tayshaun as above): Knight - English - Jerebko - Maxiell - Monroe. Get Drummond some real PT to let him learn, see if Singler and Middleton can contribute, sprinkle in Kravstov and evaluate Daye to see if he's an NBA player or not.
5) Someone please take Villanueva off our hands....please. Anyone. We'll take a bag of basketballs. Seriously.
If this team can't learn to play with a lead, it's going to be a long season....
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