Operation Sports Forums - View Single Post - AI would rather retire than come off the bench?

Kruza · 04-02-2009, 04:32 PM

AI has been out almost six full weeks so it should take some time to get the stamina up. He really shouldn't be complaining about playing 18-20 minutes when there are people on the team who are barely playing any minutes at all. And to top it off he doesn't look completely healthy when he's actually out on the floor playing.

Moreover, 23/KDRE has touched on it -- the league has changed. In a primarily open-court, up-tempo game there isn't much of a problem with AI. However, in a half-court setting AI can't get all the way to the rim and get his shot off as often as he had before because big men are just too long, too quick, and too athletic these days. And refs aren't bailing him out as much as far as drawing ticky-tack foul calls. So what happens is that he ends up with more empty possessions or fast break opportunities for the opponent going the other way instead of trips to the foul line.

And the bigger issues is what happens defensively to the team. AI tends to lose sight of his man on the perimeter a lot. He also has trouble fighting through screens while trailing his man due to his size and lack of strength. Opposing guards post him up at will and bigs have to help him out far too often which breaks down the interior defense and forces other teammates to scramble around to recover. Will Bynum is shorter than AI but doesn't get beat nearly as often on the perimeter or gets backed down in the post as easily.

Look, I love the guy's heart, energy and tenacity, but frankly AI causes more problems than he solves on both ends of the floor whenever he's out on the court for the Pistons. I wish him well on whatever teams he ends up on next season. He's still fun to watch whenever he gets to run up and down the floor with the basketball and not have to worry about being a floor general and running a half-court offense.

Kruza

04-02-2009, 04:32 PM	#26
Kruza Mainstream Outlaw OVR: 39 Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Detroit, MI Posts: 6,285 Blog Entries: 1	Re: AI would rather retire than come off the bench? AI has been out almost six full weeks so it should take some time to get the stamina up. He really shouldn't be complaining about playing 18-20 minutes when there are people on the team who are barely playing any minutes at all. And to top it off he doesn't look completely healthy when he's actually out on the floor playing. Moreover, 23/KDRE has touched on it -- the league has changed. In a primarily open-court, up-tempo game there isn't much of a problem with AI. However, in a half-court setting AI can't get all the way to the rim and get his shot off as often as he had before because big men are just too long, too quick, and too athletic these days. And refs aren't bailing him out as much as far as drawing ticky-tack foul calls. So what happens is that he ends up with more empty possessions or fast break opportunities for the opponent going the other way instead of trips to the foul line. And the bigger issues is what happens defensively to the team. AI tends to lose sight of his man on the perimeter a lot. He also has trouble fighting through screens while trailing his man due to his size and lack of strength. Opposing guards post him up at will and bigs have to help him out far too often which breaks down the interior defense and forces other teammates to scramble around to recover. Will Bynum is shorter than AI but doesn't get beat nearly as often on the perimeter or gets backed down in the post as easily. Look, I love the guy's heart, energy and tenacity, but frankly AI causes more problems than he solves on both ends of the floor whenever he's out on the court for the Pistons. I wish him well on whatever teams he ends up on next season. He's still fun to watch whenever he gets to run up and down the floor with the basketball and not have to worry about being a floor general and running a half-court offense. Kruza Last edited by Kruza; 04-02-2009 at 06:07 PM.