Saunders open to deep playoff rotation

by Matt Watson on Apr 4, 2008 5:46 AM EDT

For most of the year, we've been led to believe the rotation will inevitably get shorter in the playoffs. After all, that's what conventional basketball wisdom says teams are supposed to do. A little bit ago, I argued that perhaps the Pistons ought to ignore that school of thought since their ability to bring a steady stream of rested players off the bench might be what's kept the opposition on their heels for most of the year.

Now, with the playoffs on the horizon, it seems Flip Saunders is starting to come around. Here's some comments from a recent radio interview (via Full-Court Press):

"If we continue to play the way we're playing, maybe we do extend our bench the way it is right now and the way we've gone most of the season," coach Flip Saunders said on The Stoney and Wojo Show on WDFN-AM Detroit.

While Saunders declined to name which players would be included in that rotation, he did say that Theo Ratliff would be amongst them as a situational defensive substitute.

The depth of the Pistons bench led Saunders to conclude that this year's Pistons team is the best he's coached.

"There's probably five or six games we could have won this year if we hadn't played as many young players, but I think it's paying dividends for us right now," he said. "I think because of the way the bench is and the depth that we have that this is probably our best team."

Saunders specifically praised the play of reserves Amir Johnson and Walter Herrmann, who he called the second- and third-best players in Tuesday's comeback win over Minnesota.

For fans of Herrmann, it seems we should see a lot more of him down the stretch. From Chris McCosky's blog:

Back to the business at hand, if you guys were chomping at the bit to see more of Cheikh Samb, back off. It's not happening. Here's Flip Saunders after practice today:

"We'll play him some, but it's not like we say we're going to play Cheikh a lot of minutes because I still want to play Amir a lot. I still want to play Maxey and play Walter, too."

Samb's an interesting prospect, for sure, but I have no problem whatsoever with this decision. There's no chance that he'll even be active for the playoffs, let alone getting any PT, whereas Herrmann has enough experience under his belt to think that he could step up in a pinch should the right matchup arise. Not saying it's going to happen, but I don't think it'd surprise anyone if it did.

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Comments

Looks like there’s a typo: it should be “For fans of Herrmann, it seems we should see a lot more of him down the strrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrretch”!

by Rob G on Apr 4, 2008 7:58 AM EDT reply actions

Looks like we’ll see more fadeaway one-handed bank shots these last couple of weeks. Its hard for me to fathom how a humannnn beinnnng could do that.

Flip is talking about a deep rotation now but lets see how it does when a game/series gets tight. I expect alot of Maxiel and Stuckey but maybe just spot minutes for everybody else.

by JesseC on Apr 4, 2008 8:52 AM EDT reply actions

If flip wants any shot at the championship he better use at least a 9 to 11 man rotation in the playoffs. Not letting Afflalo, Herrmann, Amir, Hayes, and Theo get minutes in the playoffs will be a waste of the regular season. Use Lindsey a couple of games. Switch it up on a regular basis so that other teams never know how you are going to hit them. Start making other teams match up to US not trying to match up to them. Act instead of react flip!! Who says that you HAVE to shorten your rotation? This year is our best shot since we got to the championship in 05. I just hope that flip does’nt screw it up with his “scared” coaching. If he lets Doc Rivers outcoach him he needs to get thrown out of the nba.

by DJ on Apr 4, 2008 10:33 AM EDT reply actions

I think it’ll vary by series. Theo will play a lot against Dwight Howard. I think Amir will probably see some time in the first round because Washington, Philly and Toronto lack a physical inside presence.

Obviously, Stuckey, Maxiell and Jarvis will be mainstays.

The tough question is shooting guard. Do you go with Stuckey, Lindsey, Afflalo, or Dixon? You can make a case for all of them.

by Quick Darshan on Apr 4, 2008 12:14 PM EDT reply actions

Sauce doesn’t like it when Flip talks about playing Amir Johnson… Sauce wants Elden Campbell to be the 2nd big man off the bench, followed by Terry Mills.

by Boney on Apr 4, 2008 12:48 PM EDT reply actions

No Boney, you moron, I want Gene Shue to find a fountain of youth and get a ten-day contract.

by Sauce1977 on Apr 4, 2008 1:22 PM EDT reply actions

Per general rule of thumb, I echo QD’s sentiments? We still getting together for some playoff games QD? I appreciate that Sauce can take the Amir-hater pokes in stride. Call me naive, but I have faith in Flip and the Stones this year. We’ll have to wait to see what goes down in the 2nd round, but if we get to watch an ultra-competitive, draining series between Boston and LeBron after easily dispatching Superman and co. (Superman and co. is not to be confused with Superman that …), we could be looking at this core’s 3rd Finals appearance and possibly their 2nd NBA Championship if Utah doesn’t come out of the West.

by LawyerBoy on Apr 4, 2008 2:02 PM EDT reply actions

Grrr, that first question mark should be a period.

by LawyerBoy on Apr 4, 2008 2:03 PM EDT reply actions

Sauce, my teasing is all in good fun. Unless you really do want to see Rick Mahorn getting some burn before Amir

by Boney on Apr 4, 2008 2:36 PM EDT reply actions

You know how nobody can find Alex Acker? Well I found him… Rick Mahorn ate him about 2 seasons back.

by JesseC on Apr 4, 2008 2:59 PM EDT reply actions

Hell no, Boney, Mahorn’s gotta hit the treadmill to show me he wants it. FEEL THE BURRRRRN. :D

by Sauce1977 on Apr 4, 2008 3:47 PM EDT reply actions

What’s with McCosky’s always-confrontational tone? “Back off Sauce!”

In Blakely’s column today, Flip says he plans to “play Amir a lot” down this stretch." I really like Josh Boone, but the Nets should get victimized inside tonight. You never know what Marcus Williams will show up on any given night, either. I don’t anticipate a dogfight like the T-Wolves game at all.

by Keegan on Apr 4, 2008 5:16 PM EDT reply actions

lb/qd: if you guys are gathering for an l.a. dbb pistons playoff showdown, let me express my interest in attending. i have too many suddenly celtic fans around me, and it could make for a painful playoffs. need pistons brethren as support system.

by JackDutch on Apr 4, 2008 6:53 PM EDT reply actions

So, Flip wants a 10-man rotation. He could do it this time. He’s got wild card options at the 1 and the 5, and there’s a bona-fide backup at the 3 now, two of them (Hayes/Herrmann).

by Sauce1977 on Apr 4, 2008 7:31 PM EDT reply actions

Herrmann is a baller for real. He was showing it last season, he shows it in flashes this season, and I bet he could do it whenever he gets an opportunity. I know Jarvis was brought in here to be first off the bench at the three, and it’s much too late in the season to change that outright. However, it raises the question of which of the two may get resigned for next year, if one of them is resigned. The Jarvis at the 2 experiment didn’t fly, and he’s repeatedly attacked by the opposition’s offense.
And when Herrmann comes in and longballs, which is a big part of Jarvis’s game…it raises the question.

by Keegan on Apr 4, 2008 7:46 PM EDT reply actions

And I’m not a “Jarvis sucks” slappy either.
I also demand hot, masked, Cheikh Samb action tonight.

by Keegan on Apr 4, 2008 7:49 PM EDT reply actions

I think that Flip thinks he’ll continue to play his bench, but his plentiful facial tics indicate that he’s much too mervous to do so. If we’re down by 7 in the 2nd quarter, there’s no way he plays Maxey and Amir to rest the starters. I’m afraid, really afraid, that we’re going to see that shortened bench again, which will make the series tougher as they go along.

by PDXPistonsFan on Apr 4, 2008 9:09 PM EDT reply actions

He’s actually not “mervous.” He’s nervous.

by PDXPistonsFan on Apr 4, 2008 9:10 PM EDT reply actions

Looks like Joe D. talked to Flip about Amir.

Amir fouled out tonight which of course is not good, but is what good is that Flip let him play until he fouled out rather than pulling him after 3 fouls like he was doing before and not putting him back in after that except maybe in garbage.

That is how young guys learn, when the coach leaves them in to play and learn and the player doesn’t have look over his shoulder to see if he coming out ever time he makes a mistake.

by Mike on Apr 5, 2008 12:43 AM EDT reply actions

QD: “The tough question is shooting guard. Do you go with Stuckey, Lindsey, Afflalo, or Dixon? You can make a case for all of them.”

Stuckey is locked in as our BUPG.
Lindsey ONLY as a short term (defensive stopper) break for Chauncey/Stuckey, never at the 2 though. Afflalo at 2 with Lindsey when a strong defensive stand is needed, Stuckey in at 2 only if we need to go “small” (Rip would move to SF.) However, I do agree with Sheed that the Pistons do not need to go to small against anyone.
Dixon only if Lindsey, Afflalo or Stuckey get hurt.

Just my opinion, I could be wrong…

by DJ on Apr 5, 2008 2:12 PM EDT reply actions