Chuck Daly has pancreatic cancer

This is terrible news. Pancreatic cancer is very dangerous. My best wishes to him and his family.

Daddy Rich forever … guy is timeless in Detroit. Best wishes for Chuck and his family.

Hawks broadcast:

http://atdhe.net/live-tv-4508.html

Sort of a solemn entry on which to make game posts, don’t you think?

It’s fine TDP, the best way to show solidarity is by cheering on our Pistons!

how dare Third Quarter Collapse refer to Daly as former Magic coach… that’s like the Seahawks saying “former Seahawk great Jerry Rice”.

Daly will always be the Pistons’ coach.

Indeed, Boney. He’s ours.

Why is Kwame ahead of Amir in the rotation?

quiet in here today!

Sauce, let me be the first to say.

It’s nice to have you back, even if it is only temporary. I feel like you’re the reason for the recent turnaround

god kwame has butterfingers.. he can NEVER hold onto the ball well

I am confused as to why he is still getting minutes over Amir.

Kwame is really bad. His playing time is the biggest thing keeping Curry AFI. Amir is an upgrade in every way except guarding Shaq, Dwight, etc. But against Zaza Pachulia? I’ll take Amir, thanks Curry.

Boney, sometimes I feel like Dr. Manhattan, coming back a little too late, watching the rot of my neglected fruit, wondering why everyone is mopey and there’s so many chatchfaces, and forgetting that I’m the blue dong in the first place for being an absentee mojo landlord.

Unfortunately, any game where AI’s around, that guy is a fucking disease. Call your Pistons congressman … expedite Allen’s expulsion, toute suite!

LONG LIVE CHUCK DALY, HE IS AN IMMORTAL.

Long live Daddy Rich… long live Daddy fucking Rich

Sauce and Boney. Together again.

Wow, Rip just SMASHED Josh Smith in the face with an elbow while trying to drive awkwardly down the lane through 3 defenders. And Smith got called for the defensive foul. Awwww yeah.

is anyone else getting some periodic insane music really loud on that feed?

pinon,

It’s the Who wants to be a millionaire song

Here’s a cool retrolink to Chuck Daly’s One on One … guy who posted this session with Daddy Rich and Joe D was also the kid who asked the question, tres cool.

Here’s some Detroit-centric listening for halftime:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9e8efedBLkk

so whyTF am i hearing the who wants to be a millionare theme song???

Chuck Daly coached some pretty crazy Nets teams to good records. If Daly coached the ‘Sheed Blazers they probably would have had 2 rings in Portland. I’m thinking Daly has to be one of the more famous basketball coaches in the world too because of his time as Dream Team coach. And of course, he has his Pistons championship rings and invented Detroit Basketball as we know it. Best wishes to you Coach Daly!

cuz the person with the live feed is being an idiot on his computer pinon

I’m really scared for Chuck, pancreatic cancer is one of the worst kinds…stay tough Chuck, we love you

Very inconsistent officiating tonight.

I’m watching a Rewind halftime show with Ahmad, GP, and CWebb and GP is pretty much just making sound effects the entire time! Hilarious!

I’m not a fan of these Atlanta fellows…

So this is the game thread? Well my best wishes and prayers go out to Daly and his family. Definitely, one of Detroit’s greatest sports legends.

Gary Parasite, eh?

pinon: Are you watching this? http://atdhe.net/live-tv-4508.html

I’m not getting any theme music.

Garrett – yeah I’m getting it on that feed. It was playing periodically, like a 5 second sound clip every so often—but only towards the end of the second quarter. Also, it was extremely annoying.

There was some “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” music going on through out the last few minutes of the 2nd quarter.

And yes, it was very loud and annoying.

Have you guys seen the NBA At 50 DVD? The NBA puts out some pretty crappy DVDs, but NBA At 50 is pretty stellar. If you don’t have it, you can pick it up on EBay for like $5 probably. But here’s one of my favourite moments from the DVD, in the final chapter where players and coaches talk about their love of the game. Daly says:

“I can’t paint… and I don’t play the piano and I wish I could do both. I wish I had those kind of artistic talents. But I’m a basketball lifer.”

Chuck Daly is the main and will alway represent Detroit Basketball at its finest.

*man

Yeah, thoughts and prayers to Chuck Daly.

Chuck Daly coached the game like Mozart and painted strategy like Michelangelo. He’s the best of the best.

Sauce,

Chuck Daly recently said that this team could win with AI… I have a feeling that’s the only thing basketball related I disagree with

This game is the 4th seed right here. I really feel like this is gonna be a tight finish with some tough play.

I’m watching this game on a little tape-delay, but it can’t be said enough: Kwame Brown sucks. Even the Atlanta announcers noticed how much he sucks. Otherwise, this is like Pistons of old. I’ve missed these guys so…

If Chuck was coaching them, yeah, but he’s giving Bebounds too much courtesy. I don’t hate him for it, after all he’s close to the Detroit vest … I don’t remember him serving Flip a humble pie either, he’s just keepin’ it decent.

Billups, on the other hand, pretty much deaded me and reminded me why we got rid of him with his AI comments during the Denver dance.

Casey, when Joe D picked up Kwame, I argued that the guy was Nazr but with national humiliation in tow. So basically, Nazr with baggage … Kwame’s a little better defensively, but they’re both that kind of stump-hand idiot in the post … guy has lost the baggage but only because Detroit’s been out of the spotlight with Detroit closer to .500 … how it is, oh well.

Get them fritos.

Here comes Flip Murray to score 500 on us, probably.

And as I type that, Flip hits a weird fadeaway that bounces a million times on the rim and then falls in. And so it begins.

And now he draws Rip’s 4th foul and will be going to line.

You know, I kind of wish we were ahead and not the Hawks.

just me or is this feed getting crappier? Stones need to keep their foot down.. or they will lose this one. Why the hell was kwame even in this game earlier??

I accepted that Kwame wasn’t going to come in here and make a huge difference, but the man is a turnover machine. And, if he’s not getting classic turnovers, he’s finding ways to lose easy rebounds out of bounds. Just sit his tail on the bench, and let some productive players get some run.

MC is seriously improving, but he needs to learn not to waste our time with Kwame. I guess if that’s our worst complaint about him then things aren’t nearly as bleak as they were just a couple of weeks ago.

Rasheed takes a considerable amount of time at the frito line.

Al Horford can play a little.

Speaking of coaches, I don’t get the whole Woodson hate affair they have going on in ATL. I’m not even close to paying attention to their scene, but I hear them squawk, loudly, about him.

is there a reason why amir sits for kwame? i am ready to be schooled.

Haha. Indeed, Zaza gets his hands on a lot of balls.

Does anyone else have audio problems watching the game?? Then I look at NBA.com and they have us playing the Bulls tonight…..and the Hawks tomorrow night, losing to the Hawks 99-95!! WTF!!

i am going to do the dishes. pray god this game turns around.

haha flashlight

TDP, you watch your mouth when you talk about Zaza Pachulia. He’s the best center in the NBA!

/LawyerBoy’d

watch them lose 99-95, and prove that its all rigged.

I with you Sauce. Had we known Larry Brown was passing his resume out to the whole league in 2005 we woulda wrapped up Woodson for the future. I’m pretty sure he was being groomed to be the next Piston head coach after LB, Atlanta just beat us to him. Hard to say if we would have had more success with him than Flip.

Yeah Casey, I hear that. I don’t know what it is about Kwame, other than he’s one of the bigger (albeit not extremely strong) bods out there that Curry can toss against, in terms of big bod on big bod … I was gonna point out that Curry seems to feel salary pressure, in terms of giving AI minutes and plays he didn’t earn, Kwame time at all, but that ain’t the case because Curry’s got no problem giving Amir the splinters.

flashlight, you’ve obviously stumbled into a time warp.

Holy crap, we spend the last 5mins of the quarter missing all our FG attempts due to mostly poor shot selection. Since when has Tay been able to back down two defenders in the post, let alone with the leagues best help ‘shit’ blocker waiting for him?

Weak end to the quarter.
spits

I believe the correct spelling is “patchouli.”

Also Casey, in the sense that what is ATL gonna get besides Woodson, if Detroit is digging with Curry …

I give Coach Curry credit for playing the bench in a tight game. Everybody but Amir and Sharpe have gotten signficant burn against a quality opponent in a tight game. I’m willing to put up with mistakes from the bench for the sake of fresh legs late in the game. Hopefully it pays off in the 4th quarter.

MCIFL = is f%#king learning!

I think I have!! This better not end 99-95! I just want to hear the game. I can not even hear George or Greg. Just the p.a. announcer, the arena music crap and static!

Hmm… I do not like how things have progressed here. Not one bit.

Kwame should strictly be an insurance player, a la Elden Cambell and Dale Davis. There is no way he should be in the rotation unless we are playing Shaq. Rasheed is THE defender when it comes to Dwight Howard. Otherwise let that man ride the pine and get some splinters in his baby-hands and free Amir already.

We gonna lose this one. I can feel it in my bones.

MAXIELL!!!!!

They just showed Sharpe sitting on the bench.

He looked totally wide awake which is more than Dyess and Kwame look on the court tonight.

I can totally deal with a loss like this, considering that winning with AI feels worse.

Man that was a cheap shit travel call. Especially with all the talk about everyone taking walks since Maravich.

I didn’t think about it that way Sauce. You’re right, no marquee coach is headed to Atlanta. Their roster is kinda stacked, but the management group is still a disaster. Might as well man-up with the coach that got you to the playoffs for the first time in eons.

This is the first game since the midget went down that the Pistons aren’t getting the calls.

It looks like Stern wants the Pistons in the playoffs but in the lower bracket

This will boost 1st round ratings
Insure that Pistons don’t get a lottery pick
Insure that the Piston don’t advance to the 2nd round.

Stern, he be a genius.

I disagree, Sauce. Wholeheartedly. Extreme was a great band.

Someone please take the padlock off Amir’s leg chain. He needs to pee.

This game is over.

Stern’s minions have taken control for the Hawks.

See ya all at the next game.

Pistons are getting beat on the boards again and Atlanta is taking care of the basketball better than Detroit. Those aren’t signs that point towards victory so hopefully a turnover and some offensive rebounds turn things around down the stretch.

Let’s do this!

Great cut by Stuckey. We don’t do nearly enough of that.

Don’t think we’re gonna make it to your fixed game score of 99-95. At this rate it might take a couple of overtimes. Sweet touch pass, too bad it was Atlanta’s.

haha tdp

Fizzuck…

Argh.

Wow, someone throw in Fourth Quarter Slaughter, so we can get a couple turnovers.

This reminds me of how much I hated the Hawks in the Grant Hill era.

lol, Sheed layup scooper duper

[Insert cliche government bailout joke here.]

Get ready for long threes by Sheed. They go in, we are a chance. He misses, we lose by 10+

Philips Arena could use a few more shades of brown.

Yippee!

Two threes in a row by Rip!

Stay tuned folks. I was wrong and I dont care!

The thing I hate about AI’s ‘contribution’ to a situation like this … first thing you think is “well see, with Rip and 5 fouls, how are you not lovin’ what AI can do” … I can’t even love it now, for the simple fact that this game is a defensive sleeper hold. AI, when in games like this, when down, sometimes pushes it more on the offensive end … they just stuff him more and turn the points around on him in transition. So instead of 78-70 rallying to a tie .. we’re looking at 85-70 right now, ATL comfy-coasting to a not-close win.

RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIP!!!!

Wow, I can’t believe we stumbled back into this one.

BALL DONT LIE

AI WOULDNT HIT 2 3s BACK TO BACK@!@

RIP HAMILTONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

YESSIR!

Whoa! I leave for 5 minutes and suddenly we’re back in it!

whistles go WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

nice run by the stones!!

Night of….Magic? That was a terribly ugly..and beautiful possesion followed by another Rip 3. I’m glad Rip is finally over his separation anxiety, and is back to playing basketball.

The world sees ugly boring basketball. I see magic and bebounds and a couple punch-drunk fighters in the 8th round.

One man’s boring is another man’s awesome.

I see the Hocks getting all pissy and frustrated the rest of the way…

Telenovela don’t lie!

Amazing man-d on that set going into the 3:53 mark.

F*ck the Gators.

Too bad they’re a little vulnerable in transition on those ugly turnovers ATL forces.

I’m with ya sauce, I love me Pistons basketball.

F*ck Shaw College.

Getting Flip Murray’s junk all in your face is not how you keep your momentum going.

Who is this “Flip Murray” character who likes to score a lot of points?

Doesn’t FQS hold some kind of grudge against us?

*Does

I wish Sheed could still make a dunk shot.

Casey, I think you meant the shit on Flip Murray’s face. What is that goiter?

Yeah, I hate to say it, but unless Joe D lands a big man beast we can run with for 4-5 half-court years, I think we have to keep ’Sheed around …

Josh Smith looks like he might cry.

Now I do.

Trading fritos is not gonna do it. Need some baskets. Or we can just turn the ball over. Yep, that’s the winning play.

WOW. A travel on Rip at the top of the 3-point line? BRUTAL.

I wish they’d call LeBron for that.

Not sure where this travel garbage is coming from … awfully tight on that tonight. So much for never calling it as the sad untrue refrain …

I think ‘Sheed would be happy in a hybrid McDyess/Robert Horry role. 25 minutes a game. Role player. He might actually play better in a smaller role because he’d be more focused. I think he’s bored as heck with the regular season and has been for a long time but that breeds bad habits come playoff time. The dreaded “switch” issue.

They really don’t like Rip tonight. He’s been on a leash.

With Atlanta shooting all these fritos and us not getting the bebounds, this has not been a good forf quarter.

3j, I see that … so long as his agent doesn’t roll with 12-13 mil per or 4 years.

Son of a bitch, ATL’s D is a SMOTHER …

nice 2nd chance Rip trey

Rip Hamilton…keep hitting those 3s.

Too little too late, but man this is a hot one.

McDyess!!!

Hmm. Too bad we went so cold right before and after halftime. Not a bad effort.

Nice Dice tip-in.

Dyess is the man. He needs a ring, dammit!

Love the heart. Now it comes down to Atlanta’s fritos. And our ability to foul. Where’s Amir when we need him.

Hello, Barbie girl.

That’s what I was thinking. Girls in Atlanta aren’t bad looking.

i think i heard the term fritos enough now.

They just said this was a sellout crowd. There accountants must work with the folks at the Palace. And that’s the game wah wah wah…

*Their

http://www.sadtrombone.com

Nice effort, Detroit. ATL had the jump on D and energy. Considering Rip was in foul hell, this coulda been way worse.

pinon,

fritos and bebounds will never get old.

okay loss – can’t complain about it too much – a few cold spells/sloppy spots. I got the impression that MC thought this was another golden state game by the time the second quarter started.. and then went in kwame and a bit less effort from others.

4 real, Garrett, re: that trombone.

I’m not sure what Amir Johnson did to get shackled in this Chinese Democracy, but he sure as hell is buried and dead.

More like a rusty trombone…

Atlanta only had 7 turnovers. That’s good ball. It’s never good to lose but it wasn’t a bad game and I love seeing the bench get minutes. Night of mehgic!

The Rock is on SNL tonight.

Erin Andrews is saving the Louisville/West Virginia game. Yes, please.

Damn Flip Murray to hell!

Well, it was an entertaining game. If we could just take away a couple of possesions towards the end of the fourth quarter we might’ve had a different result. As it stands, some innocent Helghans must die now because of my team’s inability to beat Atlanta. Have a good night and don’t forget to set your clocks forward lest ye poor souls who have to work tomorrow (like me) are late.

We ruined ATL’s individual stat lines. Lotta 6-17 blargh to go with that 19 points and for Josh. Killer D though … Bibby had a nice quiet game. Horford kinda, too.

I don’t think Detroit did anything wrong, in terms of neon signs. It was literally the inability to pass the ball around without fear of turning it over, and that speaks most to ATL’s D. That was a pretty-tight effort on both teams, and DET just got a touch too sloppy.

Curry seems really unlike the guy who was freakin’ out in these after-games … those perplexed babblings … they feel like it was yesterday … it’s like night and day, he actually got a handle on what happened.

It’s kinda aggravating to search YouTube for Chuck Daly and get a mountain of returns for some dude with firearms.

So, I think we are all forgetting why people thought AI could work in Detroit. It was to break down playoff quality defenses that had throttled Detroit in the ECF. Unfortunately, today’s game looked all too similar to those kind of losses. There were nasty stretches where they settled for low-quality shots and couldn’t make any points. Give credit where its due to the Hawk’s D, but a good team should be able to get some offense going in those situations. The old Pistons are truly back. Here’s to hoping AI gets 20 minutes off of the bench in these kind of games.

so he can brink shots and then put on a pouty face when we start to lose? ha

but yea didnt get to watch the game tonite, but saw the boxscore, obviously not what i wanted to see…

on a completely different note i watched watchmen today… with the gf who also read the book… man it was good, i was worried they wouldnt do the book justice but they did…. was done very well.. they didnt get to go as in depth in each character obviously, like kovacs … but honestly great movie… surprised some ppl didnt like it

YOOOO the AI shit talking needs to stop cough cough SAUCE cough.. seriously, it is really immature, really really immature… if you’re not a big fan thats fine, that’s your opinion, but the dude hasn’t played in a couple weeks and we are still throwing shots at him like he’s the reason this team is winning or losing. lets grow up seriously. he has more talent than any person you know so lets hate on him bc he doesn’t fit in with this team mostly bc they don’t want to play with someone who’s replacing their best buddy Chauncey!!!

David, it’ll never stop. He sucked, therefore, we burninate.

Some how, some way, AI made us lose last night!

@David Stern – “but the dude hasn’t played in a couple weeks and we are still throwing shots at him like he’s the reason this team is winning or losing. lets grow up seriously. he has more talent than any person you know so lets hate on him bc he doesn’t fit in with this team mostly bc they don’t want to play with someone who’s replacing their best buddy Chauncey!!!”

First, I don’t think we lost any game because our vets “didn’t want to play” with Iverson. Iverson plays one way, our vets (and team) play another… neither is gonna change. Its hogwash to say/imply/infer that our vets were undermining Iverson because he replaced “their best buddy”

Second, to say “he has more talent than any person you know” really doesn’t matter even if it is true. Basketball is a team sport in case you haven’t noticed. And on this TEAM he deserves to be coming of the bench… great talent or not.

Btw, he may not be the single reason we lose every game, but he’s definitely the most significant factor in most of our losses this season.

Btw, he may not be the single reason we lose every game, but he’s definitely the most significant factor in most of our losses this season.
_______

Seems like an overstatement. “Definitely the most…” You know, they say exaggeration is like a million BILLION times worse than understatement.

“As it stands, some innocent Helghans must die now…”

There’s no such thing as an innocent Helghan, they belong in hell right next to Flip Murray.

Frank: All the signs are pointing down for Iverson

AROUND THE NBA • By MARTIN FRANK • March 8, 2009

Has Iverson Played His Last Game In Detroit?

Mar 08, 2009 11:09 AM EST

Allen Iverson has been told to rest his ailing back by doctors, and the injury coupled with a demotion to the bench could mean that he’s played his final game for the Pistons.

Iverson, 34, will become a free agent at the end of the season.

Detroit, 31-30, has a loose grip on the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference with roughly 20 games left.

Doctors suggested earlier this week that Iverson rest his back for two weeks; he will then be re-evaluated.

There are whispers out there that the end game is in place now for Allen Iverson’s season in Detroit, possibly leaving the rest of his career in jeopardy.
Advertisement

Iverson is sidelined with a back injury. He was told to take two weeks off. And the Pistons told him that when he returns, he will be coming off the bench.

This couldn’t come at a worse time for Iverson…….

cont on link

http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20090308/SPORTS03/903080391/1023

http://basketball.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/57775/20090308/has_iverson_played_his_last_game_in_detroit/#

david stern: Most Pistons fans, DBBers, have already made up their mind on Iverson. It’s not going to change. Also, saying he has “more talent than any person you know” probably isn’t the best route. That all being said, in terms of the blame game, I’m completely on your side.

I told you clowns a “truce” with ‘david’ was a mistake.

donde estas Petey?

http://www.justin.tv/messiah_of_metal is running The Watchmen non-stop. It’s a crappy cam version, but it’s fun to re-watch if you’ve already seen the film.

Here’s an abbreviated version of how to create a portrait of the ideal sixth man: draw an S, and then a more different S…you can add smoke or fire…just make sure you put one of those beefy arms on him for good measure…and of course, add majestic lines, for majesty.

@TDP – There’s no exaggeration. Let me put it another way : He’s the main reason we’ve lost so many games. Of the 30 games we’ve lost we can blame him as the primary reason at least 16 times… I’d say it’s closer to 29, but I wouldn’t want to exaggerate.

DJ Canoli, absoulutely, lol, Trogdor!!

@Brad:
I’ve said on here that I feel we’d be better off if AI doesn’t join the team for the rest of the season. But I don’t know how you can pin our losses solely on Iverson. Scapegoat all you want, but there is a hell of a lot else to complain about this season and if anyone is truly to blame, its Dumars. The main reason we lost so many games is that a) Dumars hired a bad coach and b) he traded our franchise star for a player who does NOT fit in this system. Can anyone dispute that?

Still to this day I am pro-trade. For our future, Dumars did the right thing by trading Chauncey for $20M expiring (no matter who owns that contract). On the micro level, from November to April, he alone is responsible for these losses.

Personally, I don’t want to see Iverson in a Pistons uniform for the rest of the season. I want number 12 getting those minutes. But that doesn’t mean Iverson is to blame. Its just that his skill set doesn’t match the task at hand. You don’t blame the employee in those cases. You blame the manager.

Don’t look now but the Nuggets have lost 7 of 10 and 4 of their last 5. They got beat bell to bell today by a Sacramento team without Francisco Garcia and Beno Udrih (who has been viewed as nothing but mediocre this year). They’re the worst team in the NBA even when they’re healthy. Yeesh, tough couple of weeks for Chauncey.

@LaywerBoy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgXkwiM0hIQ

btw: AI (okay, maybe FatLip just looks like him) comes in at 1:59 in that video.

MP:

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4469/gamelog;_ylt=AkRADpsv5fJIEftweShxbq7SPaB4

Remember when you said Amir was better than him in every way? That was a real gas!

@LawyerBoy:
Does that give you a Clipper Boner?

MP: Not as big as the one you get dissing AI.

@LawyerBoy:
scroll up.

I have a Clipper boner, that’s for sure.

DJ White fo’ lyf!!!!

Come on, it’s fun to be ridiculous. Ask Michael Curry.

I KIN DO EET

Come on, it’s fun to be ridiculous. Ask Michael Curry.

I KIN DO EET

Pretty sure Francisco played in that game. I saw a clip of him hitting a retarded three on sports center.

Colin: Good call. He played hurt, my mistake. Denver has still looked awful lately. They lost to us for cryin’ out loud (Zing!).

MP: Usually people reserve something like, “I’ve said on here that I feel we’d be better off if AI doesn’t join the team for the rest of the season.”, for team cancers (Steve Francis, Stephon Marbury, etc.), not a guy who is still uniquely capable of dropping 30 any night. How does AI contribute or create problems for this team exactly?

Drop 30 … give up 33.

Sauce: Are we talking about Stuckey or AI? I’m confused.

@LawyerBoy:
I don’t remember calling anyone a team cancer. I do remember saying I think we’d be better off without AI, which both statistically and “visually” have been proven true. Besides, of those three nights of magic where AI dropped 30 or more, we didn’t fare so well.

How does AI contribute or create problems for this team exactly?

Do you even watch Pistons games any more?

@LawyerBoy:
Sauce: Are we talking about Stuckey or AI? I’m confused.

Nevermind, you just answered my “do you even watch Pistons games any more” question.

To defend Sauce’s point:

Rodney Stuckey
January 14th vs. Indiana: 30 points (total opp backcourt – 24 points)
January 2nd at Sacramento: 38 points (total opp backcourt – 9 points)
December 23rd at Chicago: 40 points (total opp backcourt – 28 points)

Total: 108 points vs BOTH opposing backcourt players: 61 points

Allen Iverson
February 19th vs. SAS: 31 points (total opp backcourt – 27 points)
December 19th vs. Utah: 38 points (total opp backcourt – 43 points)
November 11th at. Sacramento: 30 points (total opp back – 29 points)

Total: 99 points vs. BOTH opposing backcourt players: 99 points

I get what you’re saying, LB, if what you’re saying is “well, you know, Stuckey, he’s not so hot in the defensive department either.”

The difference is, we got this kid for a while.

That’s the same difference with Rip.

I’m with Mike Payne on the “Joe Dumars, what is WRONG WITH YOU” movement. I’m at like strike 3 or 4, here. I doubt if I’ll ever hate the guy, but I sure as hell won’t forgive him for trading for the Starbury Everyone Says Is Okay 2 Love.

Also, you people telling me to get off of AI’s back realize that if Rasheed did the same candy-ass routine upon joinging Detroit back in ‘04 … couple that with an alternate reality of a crappy finish to the year, like an 8th seed and .500 ball … we’d have been screaming at Joe then, especially with Darko around, just frickin’ livid in general … but the brunt of the displeasure would have been felt by “Rashweed.”

joinginin. jongangalang. jungian. we are all interconnected with typing fail.

“Sauce: Are we talking about Stuckey or AI? I’m confused.”

Really? Ummmm……I think you generally have a point in the whole AI as a scapegoat tiff that’s going on, but that seemed like you were trying to bait pretty much everyone on here. Stuckey has been up and down defensively, but in general, I like his defense better than AI’s. Additionally, he’s in his second year so we can watch him improve rather than decline. Honestly, that comment seemed more like the kind of think petey or someone else who isn’t an actual fan would say.

MP: It also backs my point that the Piston’s dislike playing with AI and have been playing harder in his absence…. Obviously, AI and Stuckey both played in all 6 of those games you just used in support. So considering they both probably played heavy minutes, they are equally responsible for defending the opposing teams’ backcourt. In those 3 games AI scored well, the Piston’s simply did not play hard defensively. They end up struggling or losing the game and it appears even when AI does play “well”, they still lose. I know to Piston fans this may sound outright ridiculous, but it’s something that has been apparent to this AI fan all season. Thanks for some evidence. Just another way to look at things fellas.

I’m with you colin, that adds everything there is to be patient with Stuckey that isn’t going to be there with AI.

Sauce,

MP is in favor of the trade. He’s saying that the losses are Joe D’s fault but they are worth it in order to get the cap space. Or at least that was my take. Are you sure you’re with him?

My theory on why Curry is playing Kwame so much:

There’s a good chance the Pistons will play Orlando in the first round and he needs to keep him “sharp” to play against Howard. Hopefully, he’ll keep Amir in the loop too in case the Pistons play Atlanta in the first round.

I don’t think they’re playing harder in his absence. I think they’re playing smarter. AI’s game is built on fancy garbage.

DS,

I wish you would stop asserting that the Pistons didn’t play as hard when AI was playing. Why would they do that. There is no indication that they personally dislike him and even if there was, why would they cut of their nose to spite their face?

I’m with him to put the brunt of the blame on Joe D, in that sense.

What I’m down with ….

" The main reason we lost so many games is that a) Dumars hired a bad coach and b) he traded our franchise star for a player who does NOT fit in this system. Can anyone dispute that?"

I can still agree with that part and tear AI to ribbons.

“fancy garbage” and defense are two different things. AI himself realizes defense wins games. He said a few weeks when the O looked anemic at times that it was the team’s inability to get stops that was causing the L’s to keep piling up. You can’t tell me that removing one player from your team and you magically go from a poor defensive team to a juggernaught is not odd.

QD,

My ultimate fantasy is that we play well enough to get the 4th or 5th seed and Orlando catches Cle/Bos for the number one seed. The latter is extremely unlikely, but if it did it would mean if we got past either ATL or MIA, we would face Orlando in the Second round and have a decent shot at getting to the ECF AGAIN! I know this will never happen, but i gotta have something to hold onto.

Well, AI can certainly pinpoint the problem, but he certainly doesn’t play real defense to help with that problem.

And yes, without that guy pushing the envelope and putting everyone in a bad position on each possession, they’re doing a hell of a better job out there with clogging and bogging.

“You can’t tell me that removing one player from your team and you magically go from a poor defensive team to a juggernaught is not odd.”

Well, we were pretty damn good at defense before he arrived so…….

The common variable in both instances is no AI………..

Correlation does not equal causation……but that seems more plausible than saying the moody Pistons didn’t want to play with AI and only started playing hard once their bestest friend Rip reentered the starting line up.

You make a good argument, but I’m not buying it yet. AI is not liked by many(as shown by the dialogue of this blog) so therefore I’m not going to be easily convinced that his teammates are not playing harder without him.

For a guy who’s supposed to be really talented and smart, AI sure as hell doesn’t seem to be able to figure out how to work with others.

Sauce: Bingo, Stuckey’s a not so hot defender and he’s foul happy too which will kill us in the playoffs when refs call everything. I’d say Chauncey is probably the best defensive PG in the league. I’ve always thought the guy believed too much hype about his overall game, but his defense is not a question to me. He was invaluable to us on defense and I believed Stuckey was a good defender. I’m not sure why, but I believed that. I now think he’s not. And if he isn’t going to play the position Chauncey played here we’re screwed without a replacement.

Stuck has time in the future to prove that he can be a PG (and I’m not going to say he can’t) but he hasn’t proven squat this season in that regard.

26-24 Rip v. Stuckey in assists in these last 5 games AI has been out. 10-8 in the 2 games after the trade before AI came along (makes a grand total of 36-32). Stuckey and Rip almost have nearly the exact same assist/TO ratio for the season. Chauncey is rolling over in his grave with the thought of Rip running the offense. I don’t care if Stuckey is 22 or 32, you’re not a freakin’ point guard if RIP is beating you in assist totals when you’re the starting guards. It’s cool to say AI is keeping Stuckey from running the offense, but is he really?

Colin: I like Stuck and I think he’s a good player and obviously he’s on a low-rate rookie contract for two years beyond this one (big plus). I think he’s a combo guard at best and a shooting guard at worst right now. I don’t know whether Joe thought Stuckey was gonna lead this team to success this year as a PG or in years to come. Stuckey’s play on the team though is as much a detriment to this team’s success this season, not to be confused with FUTURE seasons, as AI’s presence is. That’s why I resent the whole “Send AI to the gallows” movement. I’m with you on the “moody Pistons” beef, but don’t forget we lost Chauncey’s D too. He is a terrific defender and in his absence, we’ve naturally given more minutes to Stuckey. AI may be a common variable, but loss of Chauncey and promotion of Stuckey are two very important variables that could also make for a plausible argument as to why the defensive wheels falling off aren’t AI’s fault either.

cosign LB

I’ve already said, I’m not sure that Stuckey is best suited as a PG, so I’m not going to argue that. When you say, “Stuckey’s play on the team though is as much a detriment to this team’s success this season, not to be confused with FUTURE seasons, as AI’s presence is” I think you are way overstating things. Even if you say stipulate that Stuckey is as bad as AI at D (which I don’t) Stuckey has shown the ability to score much more efficiently. He hurts us less because he jacks up fewer low percentage shots.

“but loss of Chauncey and promotion of Stuckey are two very important variables that could also make for a plausible argument as to why the defensive wheels falling off aren’t AI’s fault either.”

I’m sure that that has something to do with it, but why has the D seemed to gotten better with no AI?

haha i love it when you guys say we traded away our “franchise” in chauncey. i understand the guy is a natural leader but if he is your franchise than something is wrong. i understand he took the stones to a championship, but he is nothing more than an average point guard who got caught in a system, which pretty much consisted of him standing beyond the three point arc throwing a chest pass to rip. pretty much and true point guard could have done what he did and by no means is he a franchise player, and your head is in the sand if you believe that. sorry to burst you guys bubble.

Whoah, LB.

“Stuckey’s play on the team though is as much a detriment to this team’s success this season, not to be confused with FUTURE seasons, as AI’s presence is. That’s why I resent the whole "Send AI to the gallows" movement. I’m with you on the "moody Pistons" beef, but don’t forget we lost Chauncey’s D too. He is a terrific defender and in his absence, we’ve naturally given more minutes to Stuckey. AI may be a common variable, but loss of Chauncey and promotion of Stuckey are two very important variables that could also make for a plausible argument as to why the defensive wheels falling off aren’t AI’s fault either.”

“Aren’t AI’s fault” …. there’s a huge problem, right there.

Not even sharing the blame, huh …

Joe wasn’t paying for AI to blend in with Stuckey’s level of development.

CBG, an average point guard is T.J. Ford. That assessment is so far out that left field doesn’t begin the location … I think that’s in the parking lot.

and as stated on here months ago, T.J. Ford is a poor man’s Allen Iverson. Therefore, AI is an overvalued, average PG.

AI’s an overvalued, average 2, also.

Sauce: Of course AI is nowhere near the defender that Chauncey is, and I’m not going to say AI’s better at defense than Stuckey, but AI’s not the only one out there on the floor. I apologize if the point got diluted. The point is that fixating on AI’s shortcomings (of which defense is a major one) is ignoring the entirety of the team’s shortcomings, not all of which belong solely to Mr. Iverson.

“…but [Billups’] defense is not a question to me. He was invaluable to us on defense…”
_

See: Rajon Rondo.

“The point is that fixating on AI’s shortcomings (of which defense is a major one) is ignoring the entirety of the team’s shortcomings, not all of which belong solely to Mr. Iverson.”

And when he’s out there, the results are a disaster. Indisputable fact. Can not pass it, collect 200 dollars, or even justify resentment over the attacks on him.

The Pistons may not have had a shot at a championship with Billups, and without AI, they seem to be less powerful yet talented enough to get more than a few games over .500 … but with AI, they’re a lottery club. That’s damnation to AI, and AI alone.

I don’t care how bad Curry is as a coach, how average Rodney’s D is, in comparison to this guy AI … he ain’t pulling the weight.

Just remember, there’s no ‘AI’ in ‘team.’

@LawyerBoy – How can you judge Stuckey’s PG abilities when he’s been playing next to Iverson who thrives on Chaos? Now that there’s structure in place Stuckey seems fine if not excellent as the 1.

@David Stern – As far as people playing hard… it’s kinda hard to go full out when you have no idea where the person with the ball is going to be or whether he’s going to shoot or pass. AI’s version of offense is to dribble around until he gets into trouble, then jump, then decide if he wants to shoot or kick it out. If you’re his teammate, you have no idea whether you should stand out by the 3 point line, set a pick, or attack the boards. So what you saw was alot of indecisiveness. That’s not the same thing as not playing hard.

pistons getting MAGIC on end of TOUGH back-to-back. good CHANCE for good win against GOOD team. need to bring ENERGY and hustle, and play HARD. just epinion

here’s to DaddyRich…

Also…SENSURGENCY is the pistons theme on freep today.

David Stern…Sorry, I just can’t buy the argument that our players effort level is dependant on whether or not AI plays. So you actually think that our players will say to themselves “Well AI is playing tonight, so I’m only going to give 80% effort today”? I think that’s a convenient excuse you try to use to rationalize the difference in our level of play with AI vs. with out him…8-2 with a +8 ppg (when he doesn’t play) vs. 23-28 and -2.5 ppg when he does. We have over a 10 ppg scoring differential with him versus with out him! When you combine that with the success we’ve had for years before he arrived I think it’s clear that he doesn’t fit in well here. Again, nothing against him personally, but he’s just a bad fit with the rest of the Pistons team.

You know, the Atlanta game had me thinking…Bibby and Smith would have worked straight up for Sheed and Chauncey on a salary basis. I don’t know about the whole BYC thing works and unfortunately Petey isn’t around because there’s no AI to watch to give us all of his CBA insight from all of his years of being a self-indulgent, delusional…um…something. But I don’t give a shit about the intricacies of the CBA anyways. I was never a fan of trying to bring in J-Smooth – I don’t think he’d fit in with the half court game – but with him and Woodson’s troubles, maybe they would have been interested in the deal mid-season. Just throwing that out there.

TDP: I don’t think we had a tougher time with Rondo than any other team did in the playoffs last year.

Brad: Without AI available, Rip is collecting the majority of the assists. It’s not like Rip’s a guy with 5 assists a game his whole career, but he is averaging that when he and Stuckey are available and AI isn’t. How does that vouch for Stuckey’s skills as a PG? There’s no decisive leadership there from Stuck.

Sauce: Rasheed has over 1000 regular season and 150 playoff games on his legs. He and Dice are allergic to the post, Rasheed more than ever. Stuckey is an average defender as you said yourself. He, like everyone else on our team this year can’t shoot the three with any competency. And he’s not a natural point guard. Rasheed is getting too old for Stuckey and AI to let everyone through to the hoop. Is AI at fault for some of it? Of course. Is AI any more at fault than Sheed who’s hucking up all those 3s on dead legs? Forty-three percent of the guy’s shots are threes, which in and of itself is not a colossal problem (see: Bonner, Matt) if he makes them and his front-court cohort makes his living in the post. All sorts of problems plague this squad.

Jim: Only two of those 10 games were against healthy, playoff caliber teams. When you get softballs like the Wizards, the early season Bobcats w/J Rich, a glorified D-League roster Warriors team last week, of course your point differential is going to go up. The chemistry is no more AI’s fault than it is Stuckey’s than it is Rip’s. I mean, we are 8-2 when either Stuckey or Rip is out, right?

newswire Mike Payne for Rick Mahorn’s behind-the-mic abilities, plus 2nd round pick.

“When you get softballs like the Wizards, the early season Bobcats w/J Rich, a glorified D-League roster Warriors team last week, of course your point differential is going to go up.”

Let’s compare to the 11 game stretch when Rip was out with his hamstring injury to the games we’ve played with out AI. We went 8-3 against many glorified D-Leauge rosters with an overall +/- of +1.6 ppg when Rip was out. Part of that was a 7 game win streak which was described by John Hollinger as arguably the worst one ever due to the lack of quality competition and the fact that many of those teams were missing key players. The schedule we played with out Rip was probably easier then the schedule we’ve played with out AI, yet we had a much better ppg differential (~6 ppg better) with no AI.

Your point is well taken about our good record when we have one of our guards out, but if we’re choosing one to miss a game it has to be AI right? The stats point that way, but I don’t even think they are necessary. To me it’s clear just from watching the games how much better as a team we are when AI is the one out.

Correction…it was only an 8 game stretch with out Rip. We went 6-2 with a +2.1 ppg, so my points above still stand.

Without AI available, Rip is collecting the majority of the assists. It’s not like Rip’s a guy with 5 assists a game his whole career, but he is averaging that when he and Stuckey are available and AI isn’t. How does that vouch for Stuckey’s skills as a PG? There’s no decisive leadership there from Stuck.

Stuck shouldn’t have to be the leader. How many playoff teams out there have a 23 year old point guard who is one of the team’s major scorers, leads the starters in field goal percentage, and leads the team in assists (while averaging only a touch over 2 turnovers a game)?

Stuckey is an average defender as you said yourself.

Like every second year player.

He, like everyone else on our team this year can’t shoot the three with any competency.

And most young players adjust to the NBA three point range immediately?

And he’s not a natural point guard.

Player A: 31 mpg, 11.3 ppg, 34.9 fg%, 31.6 3pt%, 2.7 rpg, 3.3 apg, 1.9 to/g, 1.0 st/g

Player B: 31 mpg, 13.2 ppg, 46.0 fg%, 32.1 3pt%, 3.4 rpg, 4.8 apg, 2.2 to/g, 1.0 st/g

Player A, Chauncey Billups in his second year. Player B, Rodney Stuckey this year. Uh, yeah. Stuck’s doing all right for an unnatural point guard.

I co-sign Shinons’s remarks. The Pistons do have some problems, but Rodney Stuckey is not one of them. His defense and assist/TO ratio will continue to improve (and hopefully with better coaching). But his ability to score, both in the paint and from mid-range, is what sets him apart from his peers at this stage of his development.

I look forward to many years of watching Stuckey play PG for Detroit.

Player C: 39.4 mpg, 22.0 ppg, 46.1 fg%, 29.8 3pt%, 3.7 rpg, 6.2 apg, 3.0 to/g, 2.2 st/g

Player C would have been a senior in college. If only Detroit had a player like this on their roster.. Oh wait, they do.

And he’s not a natural point guard.

Neither was the point guard named 2007’s NBA Finals MVP. Neither are most of the point guards in the league. True point guards are so few and far between that almost every PG is actually a combo guard by statistical measurement.

Required Reading.

Speaking of the ‘07 Finals MVP Tony Parker, he’s likely the closest statistical match to Stuckey’s skill set— and could point to Stuckey’s ceiling as a player if all goes right.

Tom Ziller is the shit. Nice post MP.

“Player C: 39.4 mpg, 22.0 ppg, 46.1 fg%, 29.8 3pt%, 3.7 rpg, 6.2 apg, 3.0 to/g, 2.2 st/g

Player C would have been a senior in college. If only Detroit had a player like this on their roster.. Oh wait, they do."

What’s the point of showing AI’s stats from when he was 22…he’s not the same player now. I could post McDyess’s stats from 2000 when he averaged 20 and 10, but it would do no good, he’s not the same player either.

Jim: We were pretty good when we whooped on the Lakers and the Cavs earlier in the season when Stuckey had yet to be promoted or get significant minutes. The organization is clearly focused on grooming Stuckey, and that’s really quite fine with me. But as a result we’re taking a couple steps backward this season before we go forward, and it’s hardly due in majority to AI.

Shinons: You said Stuckey is an average defender, “Like every second year player.”

Mario Chalmers is a rookie and so is Luc Richard Mbah a Moute. There are so many examples of good young defenders in this league (I don’t wanna start boring everyone with a list) that render that concept preposterous. A player can always improve, but either you are a good defender or you aren’t. You don’t get a pass because it’s your 2nd year when plenty of young guys seem to handle defense immediately.

“And most young players adjust to the NBA three point range immediately?”

Wasn’t this year’s 3-Point Shootout champ Daequan Cook part of Stuckey’s rookie class? Durant, DJ Augustin, Courtney Lee can all stroke it too. That concept is equally preposterous. Stuckey is not a good three-point shooter. It’s certainly not a pre-req for being a solid NBA PG (ask Rajon Rondo), but Stuckey ain’t any good at it either.

“Player A, Chauncey Billups in his second year. Player B, Rodney Stuckey this year. Uh, yeah. Stuck’s doing all right for an unnatural point guard.”

And Chauncey is shooting at the same field goal percentage as AI is this year yet he’s widely praised for the Denver resurgence while AI is supremely blamed for the Pistons dropoff. People see what they want to. It’s a team game, and our team has plenty of holes with guilt to go all the way around from AI to Stuck to Rip to Sheed, etc. It doesn’t matter what happened in Chauncey’s second year. I never said Rodney couldn’t get better in time. If Joe thinks he will then I think he will. People are blaming Allen Iverson for the fact that we’re not winning now, not for our future record. Although, it’s pretty obvious that Rodney Stuckey starting and playing 30+ minutes this season raises just as many red flags as AI. If Joe wanted to win now more than anything else he’d have eased the ascendancy of Stuckey, not abruptly bumped him to 30+ minutes a game. Promoting Stuckey shows you where Joe’s priorities lie. And no amount of fan whining or media ripping is going to change Joe’s mind. We’re mediocre now so presumably we can be great in the future. That’s how it goes.

I like Tom Ziller, but that chart is only good for a season at a time. A chart from this week might be a better source if we’re talking about today. Stuckey’s ceiling could be painted by Michelangelo, it doesn’t have a thing to do with the team’s wins and losses this season.

Random stat stuff: comparison between the age 22 seasons of Devin Harris, Tony Parker, D Wade, and Stuckey.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/fc/pcm_finder.cgi?request=1&sum=0&=s&p1=stuckro01&y1=2009&=p&p2=parketo01&y2=2005&=w&p3=wadedw01&y3=2004&=h&p4=harride01&y4=2006

If you look at the per/36 minutes and advanced stats, Stuckey’s pretty much in the middle of the pack in everything. Really the big thing that he needs to get better at is drawing fouls. That’s really the only reason Harris is a more efficient scorer, and drawing a lot more fouls is also what propelled Wade to the superstar that he became in later seasons. Everything else with Stuckey is already very solid, he’s definitely not a Tony Parker style freakish inside finisher, but nobody is. Still, with a little more experience if he can just draw a few more fouls per game to compensate then he’s basically hands down at least a star level player.

Stuckey’s D has dropped off a little from last year when he was tutored by Lindsey. I was pretty impressed with how good he was last year.

But, I wouldn’t say he’s a bad defender. I actually think he might be a little underrated because he gives you the ability to switch more often. He’s strong enough to not get manhandled when he has to pick up a SF or even sometimes a PF. I’ve seen him have to pick someone up in what should have been a mismatch and he got a stop.

This is something that a lot of people overlook when looking at a PG’s defense. There are very few PGs that can offer that kind of versatility.

LB, you can cherry pick a couple games where we played great with AI if you want, but overall we’ve been a lottery level team with him in the line-up and a good to very good team with out him.

It’s not his fault…he wasn’t the one who traded himself here and the Pistons have told him play his game, but it just doesn’t mesh well with the rest of our team.

Gabe, if Stuckey starts dating Rihanna, he’ll draw more fouls.

I like Tom Ziller, but that chart is only good for a season at a time. A chart from this week might be a better source if we’re talking about today.

That has nothing to do with the reason I referenced that article. The chart isn’t the point. The point is that everybody is a combo guard in today’s NBA. So saying Stuckey is not a natural point guard isn’t saying anything at all, especially when some of the most successful at that position don’t have high assist numbers.

Stuckey’s ceiling could be painted by Michelangelo, it doesn’t have a thing to do with the team’s wins and losses this season.

Yeah, just like that statement has nothing to do with what I said. I’m talking skill sets as players regardless of what team they’re on.

LB, Chalmers, Mbah a Moute, Batum, anyone else on your list are all pretty much defensive specialists at this point. Cook, Lee, etc. are three point specialists. Durant is a franchise player. You’re criticizing Stuckey for being an average defender and go-to three point shooter. He is above average in every other aspect of his game though. So he deserves your ire for not being a fully developed, fully complete point guard in his second year? Seriously? Behind Kevin Durant, show me any more complete player in the 2007 or 2008 draft. Show me any more complete point guard aged 23 or under than him. And you’re contending that giving Jarvis Hayes, Juan Dixon, and Lindsey Hunter’s minutes to Stuck is what made us a .500 team over replacing AI with Billups? Seriously?

He will eventually be every bit as good of a defender as Chauncey is – his height, athleticism, and strength assure that. He will eventually be able to knock down the three ball consistently – he’s already shown his expanded range. And he’s 23! What more could you ask for out of him? Are you just universally opposed to playing anyone who isn’t at the peak of their professional careers?

Yeah QD, it’s sad, but that probably would help a lot. He also needs to go to the Ginobli/Billups Academy of “Accentuating Contact.”

LB doesn’t like it when no one from your starting 5 is a former Hoosier.

Lawyerboy – ya, you’re right. Stuckey won’t be an assist machine. I don’t think he’ll ever be one. Lets face it, Stuckey’s job is pretty easy… run a play through another player (in most cases, Rip), create space, if you’re wide open take a shot, if you have an open lane then drive, get a foul, and possibly finish. He’ll never be a Chris Paul or Isiah, but he works well in our system.

As far as defense goes, I think you said AI was invaluable on defense. I couldn’t disagree more. I think our defense works at it’s best when Stuckey guards the 1 and Rip and Teyshaun split duty on the 2 and 3’s.

Jim: People are cherry-picking the games with AI out. That’s the whole point. Dude has missed what, 6 games all season since getting here and we’re 4-2? What kind of sample size is that when the teams we’re beating are bitten by the injury bug? It’s easy to blame AI, but maybe it’s more accurate to say that by Joe even making the trade in the first place he knew that miserable failure was a real, real, possibility.

Shinons: Mario Chalmers is a defensive specialist? Jeez, the guy has more total assists and less total turnovers than Stuckey does this season. I’m not really criticizing Stuckey. I’m criticizing those who are willing to heap blame on AI while not acknowledging Stuckey’s learning on the job right now and that’s producing uneven results. Those who are giving the guy a free pass on our losses while attacking AI rabidly, that’s what I’m going after. Going to get better doesn’t win ballgames now. I don’t know what separates Stuckey from his contemporaries like: Rondo, Westbrook, Rose, Mayo, Augustin. And that’s just point guards. There’s Rudy Gay, Brook Lopez, Thad Young, Al Horford, Marvin Williams and Andrew Bynum in terms of other positions. The guy is a fine player, but that’s it for right now. Fine. What he does in the future isn’t an excuse for blaming AI now.

All I’m contending with regard to Jarvis Hayes, is dude is better than Walter Herrmann. Same goes for Lindsey vs. Will Bynum on an account of veteran wiles.

QD: Of course Stuckey’s body makes him versatile in that he’s tall, strong and fairly quick. However, when he’s on defense PGs have a step on him and he’s way more prone to commit a bad foul off of a blown assignment than AI.

Brad: I said Chauncey was invaluable on our defense. The thought of AI being invaluable to our defense makes me laugh :) Seriously, just ask Steve Nash what he thought about it last month when he dropped 21 assists and the Suns had 66 points in the paint. Ask him if he missed having Chauncey around. Who knows what the future holds for Stuckey? He absolutely could blossom into the player Chauncey did, but that won’t happen this season. I really don’t mean to single the guy out, but he’s like the one guy no DBBer seems to criticize. There are all sorts of guys to blame and Stuckey shares is all I’m saying. Putting majority blame on AI is just scapegoating, it’s not looking at the plethora of problems.

I think it’s a bit harsh to lay equal blame on Stuckey and AI. Stuckey hasn’t been in the league as long as any of the other players on the team. To expect Stuckey to step right in and improve this 59 win team is just ridiculous.

When you acquire a talent like AI (5th all time ppg), you expect his scoring ability to make up for the lack of leadership from your 2nd year converted point guard.

Also, the improvement of the Denver Nuggets can be seen in the way that their offense flows now. Chauncey Billups is shooting 3s at a 40% clip which is more important to me than his FG% that matches AI’s. What Chauncey brings to the floor in leadership AI doesn’t make up for in anything.

It’s not all AI’s fault, but Stuckey doesn’t deserve equal blame either.

oh and….

“However, when he’s on defense PGs have a step on him and he’s way more prone to commit a bad foul off of a blown assignment than AI.”

I’d rather have a guy commit a bad foul than let his man run free to the basket causing our big men to leave their men and foul because they’re out of position. Especially considering how light we are in the big man department.

LB, with AI, the team stinks, and can’t even begin to win now. You have to give a majority blame. This team is better without him, and your resentment is irrelevant.

ZOMG I CAN FEEL THE LB TERM PAPER BOILING UP RIGHT NOW

The Detroit Iversons is what tried to happen, and finally, Rip stood up for the good of basketballkind and said, “NO ALLEN YOU WILL NOT HAVE A HOOPER.”

I think the reason Rip’s assists are high and Stuckey’s are lower is because teams seem to be keying on Rip (from the games I saw).

The Pistons were running their offense through Rip. He would come off screens. Boston, for example, would double him and he would make the pass.

It’s interesting because I don’t remember Boston doing that last year. Partly because Posey was doing a good job on Rip. And maybe partly because they feared Chauncey’s three.

I don’t know. But, I think there are a number of factors that go into the lower assist totals.

I don’t know what separates Stuckey from his contemporaries like: Rondo, Westbrook, Rose, Mayo, Augustin. And that’s just point guards.

You complain that Stuckey isn’t a real point guard, but he is more complete than any of these guys. Stuckey shoots the ball better than Rose, Westbrook, or Rondo. Mayo is NOT a point guard – that’s Conley. Augustin is absolutely mediocre.

Mario Chalmers is a defensive specialist? Jeez, the guy has more total assists and less total turnovers than Stuckey does this season.

That would be true no matter who Miami’s point guard was. Chris Quinn did the exact same thing for them last year (4.1/1.5 assist/to in March, 6.6/1.8 in April). You pass to Wade, Wade scores, you thank him for your assist. The only reason Chalmers has gotten the minutes he has is because of his defense and that Miami has no other reasonable options at point guard. That’s why they were still in the market for a pg at the trade deadline.

Those who are giving the guy a free pass on our losses while attacking AI rabidly, that’s what I’m going after. Going to get better doesn’t win ballgames now.

Allen Iverson replaced Chauncey Billups. We traded one for the other. There is a linear comparison. Anyone who would expect Stuck, a 23 year old second year point guard, to produce at the level of NBA Finals MVP is insane. AI’s job was to replace at least a modicum of Billups, while understanding that he wasn’t going to be a perfect fit. Rodney Stuckey is getting the minutes he had last year plus those random perimeter guys’ minutes, like Jarvis Hayes, Hunter, Dixon, etc. He’s playing better than those guys did. That’s not basing his success on future performance, it’s basing it on the fact that he’s an upgrade over the compilation of players in his role last year.

@LawyerBoy – Ahhhhh, OK. I don’t criticize Stuckey cause I know he’s young and I can accept mistakes from a young player. He’s still learning. Once he gets in to his 3rd year, that’s when I’ll start expecting him to run the offense and lead the team. Right now, in my opinion, he’s very good at allowing the rest of the players to run offense they’ve ran for years, and taking advantage of the opportunities that present themselves.