***Official Detroit Pistons Thread***

[rockchisler]

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

I would like to welcome Brandon Jennings to the Detroit Pistons.

[Gibbz]

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

I would like to welcome Brandon Jennings to the Detroit Pistons.

I really like that roster.

[Majingir]

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

Since he played there for a few years and was drafted by them....What do Pistons fans think of Austin Daye?


Just wondering because Raptors just signed him to a deal,and he's gonna be joining a Raptors bench with other 3pt shooters, so wanna see if Daye does have some potential or not.

[l3ulvl]

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

Since he played there for a few years and was drafted by them....What do Pistons fans think of Austin Daye?


Just wondering because Raptors just signed him to a deal,and he's gonna be joining a Raptors bench with other 3pt shooters, so wanna see if Daye does have some potential or not.

I don't have much positive to say about Daye. He seems to think he's a 2 guard, but he can't dribble. He's very slow and robotic with his movements, I think the intrigue with him lies within his measurables as he's 6'11" with I believe a 7'6" wingspan. He's supposed to be a sniper but I haven't really seen evidence of it, and other than outside shooting he has nothing to bring to a team outside of a few random blocks. I'd like to see him do well, but I'm honestly thankful he's no longer a Piston, it just wasn't happening here. I would cringe so much every time he put the ball on the floor, his ballhandling skills are that bad. He had his moments, I think he dropped 30 on Miami one season, but he's not consistent at all.

[Majingir]

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

I don't have much positive to say about Daye. He seems to think he's a 2 guard, but he can't dribble. He's very slow and robotic with his movements, I think the intrigue with him lies within his measurables as he's 6'11" with I believe a 7'6" wingspan. He's supposed to be a sniper but I haven't really seen evidence of it, and other than outside shooting he has nothing to bring to a team outside of a few random blocks. I'd like to see him do well, but I'm honestly thankful he's no longer a Piston, it just wasn't happening here. I would cringe so much every time he put the ball on the floor, his ballhandling skills are that bad. He had his moments, I think he dropped 30 on Miami one season, but he's not consistent at all.

For a 3rd string SF, you think he'd work out? Cause that's basically his role on Raptors is gonna be a 3rd string SF who'll likely only be playing during situations that'd are designed for 3pt shots, or if someone gets fouled out/injured.

[l3ulvl]

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

For a 3rd string SF, you think he'd work out? Cause that's basically his role on Raptors is gonna be a 3rd string SF who'll likely only be playing during situations that'd are designed for 3pt shots, or if someone gets fouled out/injured.

It's possible, and I think he's only getting $1M per? At that price it's worth finding out. For what it's worth he does seem to have a "clutch gene" but the sample size is so limited it's really difficult to judge.

I've always thought his best situation would be as a stretch 4 but he'd have to put on a lot of weight. That wingspan should be put to better use somehow imo

[pietasterp]

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

I just realized I never had a chance to digest everything that happened over the summer. For review (feel free to add/edit if I screwed anything up or left anything out):

2013 Off-season:

Drafted: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Tony Mitchell and Peyton Siva

Signed free agents: Josh Smith, Chauncey Billups (!) and Luigi Datome

Traded for: Brandon Jennings

No long on the team: Jose Calderon, Brandon Knight, Jason Maxiell, Kim English, Khris Middleton, Viacheslav Kravtsov, Corey Maggette

Hired new head coach: Maurice Cheeks


Projected starting lineup(?): Rodney Stuckey, Brandon Jennings, Josh Smith, Greg Monroe, Andre Drummond

[pietasterp]

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

Personally, I think Joe D got the message that he was going to be gone without a serious improvement (playoffs or bust), and decided to pull the plug on the slow, methodical rebuild. I don't like either of our "big" signings, as I think Jennings and Smith are basically volume scorers that don't do anything to make a team - as a whole - better. I also think Dumars short-circuited a reasonable and promising re-build by bailing on Knight, although admittedly people that watch him every day in practice and off-season were (allegedly) not positive on his ability to develop into the PG we needed him to be.

Nevertheless, a lineup that has Stuckey, Jennings, and Smith in it will need 3 basketballs in play at any one time for them to all be able to contribute. I'm not positive at all on our current roster, and I think the the biggest addition we could have made in the off-season would be to cut bait on Stuckey, not Knight. And although he seems like a nice enough guy, I don't like Cheeks as a coach. Honestly, we need Larry Brown or Rick Carlisle back; those are the only 2 guys I can think of that can hammer this team back into some semblance of shape. Lacking that, I think this ends up being semi-organized street ball, except with even worse defense than you see at the local park.

This team is basically constructed to be the worst possible thing you can be in the NBA, which is mediocre. I predict a 7-8 seed and first round exit, with no clear path to improvement. I was at least hopeful with the Knight-Monroe-Drummond trio going forward and developing; now, I just don't know.

Also, I liked Kravtsov and wish he would've gotten more of a chance here. And re-signing Chauncey now???? Someone tell Joe D you don't get a re-do of 2008....

[l3ulvl]

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

I don't think Stuckey will start, KCP probably has a better chance since he can actually make shots from outside. Unless Cheeks wants to try the Chauncey & Jennings back court, with Billups probably only getting 15-20 mpg. Then Bynum could still get some minutes. It's tough to spread the guard minutes around when you have Jennings, Stuckey, Billups, KCP, and Bynum. Sucks for Siva, but that's how it goes.

Don't underestimate the overall game Smith brings to the table, I don't disagree that he's an inefficient scorer (although I've seen some stats that show within 5 ft he's elite), but with his defense and passing skills, he's way more than just a "chucker". I love the prospect of having three above average passing big men at the same time

[redsrule]

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

That offense is going to be a cluster**** though. Smith is a chucker, but he is a very good defender/passer, as a 4. If he is going to be playing the 3 it will **** up the spacing on the floor and/or allow him to chuck up 3 point shots.

[pietasterp]

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

I don't think Stuckey will start, KCP probably has a better chance since he can actually make shots from outside. Unless Cheeks wants to try the Chauncey & Jennings back court, with Billups probably only getting 15-20 mpg. Then Bynum could still get some minutes. It's tough to spread the guard minutes around when you have Jennings, Stuckey, Billups, KCP, and Bynum. Sucks for Siva, but that's how it goes.

If Stuckey doesn't start, he'll be even more of a negative disruption and locker-room cancer than he already is. As I state every year around this time, I will again reiterate: given half a chance, I'd ship him out of town for a ham sandwich.

Don't underestimate the overall game Smith brings to the table, I don't disagree that he's an inefficient scorer (although I've seen some stats that show within 5 ft he's elite), but with his defense and passing skills, he's way more than just a "chucker". I love the prospect of having three above average passing big men at the same time

I'm willing to wait and see, but lacking a borderline offensive genuis....I have to go with reds and say this offense is going to be a cluster****.

That offense is going to be a cluster**** though. Smith is a chucker, but he is a very good defender/passer, as a 4. If he is going to be playing the 3 it will **** up the spacing on the floor and/or allow him to chuck up 3 point shots.

I have no idea what lineup offers the most cohesive offense/defense unit, but any way you slice it, we're either putting too many inefficient scorers on the floor at the same time, or not enough. Either way you have a problem. It will be interesting. I think a mad-scientist type offensive guru could make this lineup work, but that guy isn't currently employed by the Pistons as far as I know. And we still haven't really addressed the whole point guard issue for this team going forward...

BTW, reds - sorry about the post-season flameout again. We Tigers fans will probably be joining you in another 24 hrs. Say it with me: "there's always next year....".

[l3ulvl]

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

If Stuckey doesn't start, he'll be even more of a negative disruption and locker-room cancer than he already is. As I state every year around this time, I will again reiterate: given half a chance, I'd ship him out of town for a ham sandwich.

I'm not sure how much of a disruption he'd be on the bench, hell last year he voluntarily took himself out of the starting lineup so who knows. Saw on a different forum today Cheeks was praising Stuck's defense and called him the team's best defender (um, has he watched Drum play?), so that's not a good sign. I'm with you though, I'd take almost anything for him.

BTW, reds - sorry about the post-season flameout again. We Tigers fans will probably be joining you in another 24 hrs. Say it with me: "there's always next year....".

[redsrule]

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

BTW, reds - sorry about the post-season flameout again. We Tigers fans will probably be joining you in another 24 hrs. Say it with me: "there's always next year....".

It sucks, but hey at least Dusty is gone I have UK basketball coming up shortly as well, I think they have a great shot of winning it all in April.

I'm not sure how much of a disruption he'd be on the bench, hell last year he voluntarily took himself out of the starting lineup so who knows. Saw on a different forum today Cheeks was praising Stuck's defense and called him the team's best defender (um, has he watched Drum play?), so that's not a good sign. I'm with you though, I'd take almost anything for him.

He's just a terrible fit for this team honestly. We need a great shooter at the 2, and that isn't Stuckey lol. I'd say a ham sandwich is probably too generous of a return for him.

[redsrule]

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

Looks like Stuckey won't be playing for a while
Keith Langlois @Keith_Langlois
Stuckey out with a fractured thumb. Happened yesterday. Caught in a door jamb. Surgery Friday. That'll keep him out a while.

[pietasterp]

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

Looks like Stuckey won't be playing for a while
Keith Langlois @Keith_Langlois
Stuckey out with a fractured thumb. Happened yesterday. Caught in a door jamb. Surgery Friday. That'll keep him out a while.

I wonder if it was an accident, or an "accident"....hard to see how you get your thumb broken in a car door (or wherever it happened). Anyone know if Stuckey's in bad with the local D-town bookies?....

Injuries piling up...Looks like Jennings is already hurt. Team didn't look very good against the D-Rose Bulls, but it's still pre-season. I remain skeptical of Coach Cheeks....