Curry won’t hesitate to use the bench

by Matt Watson on Sep 24, 2008 2:50 AM EDT

There's been talk about the Pistons going 10 or 11 deep on a regular basis this year. How is Michael Curry going to juggle that rotation? By being sure to utilize a guy's talents when the situation calls for it. From A. Sherrod Blakely of MLive.com:

"I've told our players this summer when I've talked to them, we have a very talented team; not just our starting five," Curry said. "Sometimes you're going to come out of the game not because you're tired or because you made mistakes, but because it's time for other guys to get a chance to get out on the court and play and perform as well."

[...] Curry spent 11 seasons in the NBA as a player, with the bulk of his career as a backup, who saw action primarily because of his defensive play.

That experience allows Curry to understand better than many coaches the frustration that reserves sometimes feel when not given an opportunity to play when the team appears to be in need of what they do best.

"If someone who is supposed to be a defensive guy and that position is being scorched, if he's a defensive guy, he expects to be in the game," Curry said. "And if we sold him on playing that role, than we have to put him in the game at that time."

It's interesting that he mentioned "if we sold him on playing that role" -- unless I'm reading too much into it, I'd imagine he's referring to Walter Herrmann and Kwame Brown, a couple of free agents the Pistons signed who may or may not have turned down more money elsewhere.

Herrmann, frequently ignored by the old regime last year, is a great big ball of long limbs and long hair on defense, and what he lacks in technique he makes up for in frantic energy. The much-maligned Brown, meanwhile, is a talented interior defender capable of banging with some of the league's bigger post players.

So what does this actually mean? One of the biggest complaints fans had about Flip Saunders was his slow in-game adjustments, but if Curry is serious about throwing a different look at a guy who's getting hot, it's possible that won't be as much of a problem. Some NBA starters might not appreciate a rookie coach keeping them on a short list, but if Joe Dumars accomplished anything this summer it was sending the message that nobody is entitled to anything and everybody will be held accountable.

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I continue to like everything I’m hearing from Curry.

by Jim on Sep 24, 2008 8:46 AM EDT reply actions

"If we sold him on playing that role," brings Afflalo to mind.

by Garrett on Sep 24, 2008 8:48 AM EDT reply actions

I am optimistic that Curry intends to back up his words. Surely Joe D will lend his voice if required. I would hope that everyone is on board and ready to sacrifice for the team.

by Laughton on Sep 24, 2008 9:30 AM EDT reply actions

Millen’s FIRED!

Now the Lions don’t suck as much, here’s to a brighter future for my beloved Detroit Lions.

Also, maybe we can get Joe D. to do a little GM for the Lions, since the Lions don’t have one at the present time. :D

by Diablo on Sep 24, 2008 11:20 AM EDT reply actions

Now what are Lions fans going to chant at games?

by Quick Darshan on Sep 24, 2008 1:29 PM EDT reply actions

Wow. Millen was fired? I’m really gonna watch them now…

by Fadel on Sep 24, 2008 1:34 PM EDT reply actions

“Now what are Lions fans going to chant at games?”

how about “Thank You Junior”

by BigSwami on Sep 24, 2008 1:43 PM EDT reply actions

Back on topic, I’m really anxious to see how Stuckey plays this year given much more playing time. I can see him averaging 13-15 ppg off the bench.

by Fadel on Sep 24, 2008 1:50 PM EDT reply actions

"Thank You Junior"

I love it.

But Jr. was also the one who got Millen hired in the first place…

by Diablo on Sep 24, 2008 2:18 PM EDT reply actions

I’m with Garrett. The first player that came to my mind after reading the “If we sold him on playing that role” Curry comment was not Brown or Herrmann, but Afflalo. For me, that starts with my opinion of him being the 2nd best on ball defender we have at the 1&2, behind Stuckey (I really do believe it, yo). The popular chatter this off season has deservingly been about the bigs. I think, or maybe hope is more accurate, that the biggest suprise this year is going to be the minutes AA earns. I love his focus & aggressiveness on D and, when aggressive on offense, he can be a respectible option (meaning he can’t be ignored by opposing teams) especially if he’s extended his jumper by 3 ft.
I see Stuckey creating offense leading to less of rip running around screen resulting in more of AA playing gritty D and hitting jumpers.
I dont think Herrmann gets any real PT. His feet are to slow to be a defensive specialist.

Oh, yeah. Thank you Junior for finally, finally, finally correcting your very rich families mistake. I guess you can ride a mistake for an extra 4 years when your that rich.

by DaveJ on Sep 24, 2008 4:12 PM EDT reply actions

Hopefully he can handle that big of a rotation – it brings to mind other former players who tried to do that and failed (Isiah at Indiana, Doc Rivers before the big 3 in Boston).

On the Millen firing, I’ve got to say, that was a complete travesty! Name me one bad move he ever made!
(kidding…kidding…)

by Shinons on Sep 24, 2008 4:46 PM EDT reply actions

Oh dear Golly, now the healing can begin….

Any chance he took Kitna with him?

by PistonsGirl4Life on Sep 24, 2008 5:16 PM EDT reply actions

DaveJ: I wonder if Curry looks at Afflalo and thinks, “Mini-me?”

by Garrett on Sep 24, 2008 5:58 PM EDT reply actions

Just found this interesting tidbit from Henry Abbott at TrueHoop:

Just a personal observation: For whatever reason, Rip Hamilton showed up in several of these videos. And time and again, what he did looked clean at game speed. But in slow motion, just about every time he was involved, he was actually committing a foul.

It’s an interesting article in its entirety as well.

http://myespn.go.com/nba/truehoop

by Glenn on Sep 24, 2008 9:45 PM EDT reply actions

Curry is the perfect coach for Kwame since Curry managed to be an effective player with no discernable offensive skills.

by Quick Darshan on Sep 25, 2008 12:32 AM EDT reply actions

@garret – afflalo was the first player to come to my mind as well. those defensive skills combined with the offensive abilities he showed during summer camp make him a good shooting guard off the bench

by ohad on Sep 25, 2008 1:13 AM EDT reply actions