Joe D. Plays Softball Part III

by Kevin Sawyer on Sep 3, 2009 1:23 PM EDT

And in Part III, Joe Dumars finally confesses to his role in Whitewater. I edited out that whole portion, though, because it wasn't really relevant to basketball and, frankly, seems unlikely.

KEITH LANGLOIS: Let’s shift to the rookies. We talked early in the week in Vegas and I said that GMs always come out of draft night saying we never expected to get these guys. You said you haven’t really said that much. This year, it was true. Then the week unfolded in Vegas and those guys kept getting even better. Do you feel even more strongly now than you did on draft night?

I can't make heads or tails of this. I will simply assume he meant to ask "how do you feel about the rookies?"

JOE DUMARS: You draft guys, you feel good on draft night, everybody shakes hands and you feel great about it. And then the next day you wake up and immediately you think, OK, this guy has got to show up and show it now.

Joe: (Wakes up in a cold sweat.) Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God! (Dials his cell phone.)

Jonas Jerebko: (blearily answering) Derf?

Joe: Jonas. I need to see something from you... Uh, make me a peach marzipan.

Jonas Jerebko: Derf?

Joe: Do it now!

Jonas Jerebko: Derf?

(click)

KL: I know what they show in training camp when they get out there with the veterans will dictate a lot of it, but do you see each or any of (the rookies) having a role this year?

Maybe Keith has been given a press release, and he's trying to re-word the questions on the spot, and so that explains why he partially answers all of his questions.

JD: All you can do is hope they have a role. They have to get out there and prove it and earn it. What you want to do is put a team together that can compete with or without their input right away. We used the second pick in the draft on Darko, didn’t play, and won a championship.

Keith: What role do you see for rookies this year?

Joe: Depends. Here's an anecdote about Darko Milicic.

(in the distance, both men hear a shotgun blast, muffled only by a sometime sports-bloggers mouth.)

JD: We used the 23rd pick on Tayshaun Prince

Howzabout we lead with that example next time?

KL: With Daye, I’m not sure exactly what I expected going into Vegas, but he appeared farther along than I would have thought. I think he had two rebounds in the first game and after that he averaged 10½ .

See, Keith knows his stats.

JD: None of us ever questioned his ability on the court. When the only question is strength, I’ll take my chances on that. It’s almost like people are conceding he’s good enough. But is he strong enough? Think about the opposite of that. Man, the kid is big, he’s got a great body, he’s strong enough. I don’t know if he’s good enough. Well, I don’t want that.

Seems reasonable.

KL: DaJuan Summers out in Vegas was a guy that both Darrell Walker and Pat Sullivan said had an NBA-ready body and they played him at both spots, the three and the four, and he held up well. Just talk about what you saw from him and his readiness.

JD: Here’s a guy who’s almost the opposite of Austin in the sense that no one questioned his body and his strength.

That's exactly the opposite of what he said above.

JD: Just because of the way the roster shakes out, he looks like more of a four/five for us, a 6-10 guy who can put it on the floor, who can stretch the defense, who’s non-stop hustle.

Sounds like a Quentin Tarantino movie to me. The Wrong DaJuan IS Non-Stop Hustle... Also starring Uma Thurman and Gordon Thomson.

Also, not feeling DaJuan at Center. Talk about his hustle all you like, but I think there's no way that happens.

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Comments

I don’t know how Summers is anything but a big 3 who sometimes plays at the 4.

And I’m still more intrigued by Jerebko than I am by Summers, because of the rebounding numbers the two put up during summer league.

by brgulker on Sep 3, 2009 1:48 PM EDT reply actions

If DaJuan Summers plays even a minute of center on this squad, Joe and I will fight with knives.

by Mike Payne on Sep 3, 2009 1:53 PM EDT reply actions

Don’t you mean Q-ster?

by brgulker on Sep 3, 2009 1:59 PM EDT reply actions

I read the original article and I think JoeD was talking about JJ at the 4/5 not Summers. At least that’s how I read it. I’m excited to see the picks play. I hope they all pan out. Neither of them seemed like a reach at the position they were drafted at.

I think the Blair and Summers discussion will go on for a while until both players have some games under their belts. That’ll be interesting to see.

by Rami on Sep 3, 2009 2:40 PM EDT reply actions

I can’t see Summers at Center. That must be Jerebko.

I can’t quite remember who coined the nickname “The wrong Dajuan” but I’d say it’s at least 2 or 3 seasons too early. I’m using “Don Magic Bishop Dajuan” forthwith

by Skylar on Sep 3, 2009 2:47 PM EDT reply actions

Another slam-bang Langlois scoop from his most recent article:
http://www.nba.com/pistons/news/truebluepistons_090903.html

“Interesting conversation with Scott Perry, Pistons vice president, on Wednesday afternoon. We were talking about Rodney Stuckey and the tough lessons he absorbed in his first season as the starter [snip]… He said Stuckey is aware of the way public sentiment has shifted over the past year, from the giddy highs of proclaiming him a breakout star following his terrific 2008 postseason run to the sudden skepticism that he can evolve into an elite point guard. I asked what Stuckey really thought about being bypassed by USA Basketball for an invitation to the U.S. Select Team camp this summer while 2008-09 rookies like D.J. Augustin, Jerryd Bayless, O.J. Mayo and Eric Gordon were invited.

"It did not go unnoticed," Perry said."

Thanks Keith!

by Gabe on Sep 3, 2009 3:48 PM EDT reply actions

Can anyone with half a basketball brain be surprised that Stuckey was bypassed?

I like the kid, but his numbers were sub-par last season.

by brgulker on Sep 3, 2009 3:50 PM EDT reply actions

@brgulker:
Can anyone with half a basketball brain be surprised that Stuckey was bypassed?

I like the kid, but his numbers were sub-par last season.

When names like DJ Augustin and Jerryd Bayless were invited and Stuckey was not, yeah— I am very surprised.

In my mind, there was only one real knock on Stuckey last season— he sucked in February, hitting the typical rookie wall. Ignoring that, he was a rock star from December on. Once you remove MCIAFI and poor team chemistry (ai/sheed)— and bring in Kuester and give Stuck more leadership, those who didn’t invite him will regret what they will see.

by Mike Payne on Sep 3, 2009 4:05 PM EDT reply actions

I can’t kill Stuck on his numbers last year. I don’t think any young player would’ve succeeded in that situation with AI thinking he’s a point guard, MCIAFI not knowing which way is up, and a bunch of prima donna’s not wanting to change how they play.

by Rami on Sep 3, 2009 4:28 PM EDT reply actions

second rami on last season’s travails…stuckey’s assist numbers should improve (especially with gordon as a kick-out option), and young players tend to get more free-throw opportunities as their “status” rises. 44% FG and 80% FT is a good start. we just have to hope that he learns to make treys and defend, both of which often improve with experience.

by Scott on Sep 3, 2009 5:10 PM EDT reply actions

interesting article from langlois
http://www.nba.com/pistons/news/truebluepistons_090903.html

i actually thought it gave me decent insight

by mannie32 on Sep 3, 2009 5:26 PM EDT reply actions

also looks like charlie v had a very efficient game today, only played 19 minutes to rest up, and DR won… but still managed 14 points (66% FG), 3 rebounds, 2 blocks, 3 assists and no turnoevers

not bad

http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fe/09/facm/p/eid/4042/gid/12/grid/X/rid/7164/sid/4042/game.html

by mannie32 on Sep 3, 2009 5:49 PM EDT reply actions

Stuck’s numbers weren’t bad though. His 13.5/5/3.5 is better than anything Jameer Nelson did up until last year. I fully expect somewhere around 16/7/5 and possibly some all-star buzz, specifically for the reason Scott stated above— we have guys who can hit shots to kick out to now. Last year? Not so much.

by Joel on Sep 3, 2009 5:55 PM EDT reply actions

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by scntfc on Sep 3, 2009 8:58 PM EDT reply actions

Smooth scntfc. Smooth my man. :-)

by E-Double on Sep 3, 2009 9:25 PM EDT reply actions

Wow, am I in an AOL chat room circa 1998?

by Colin on Sep 3, 2009 9:45 PM EDT reply actions

Hawt.

by Garrett on Sep 3, 2009 10:08 PM EDT reply actions

@colin:
        / \ / _/ _|
       / _ \ \_ \_ \
      / _ \ _) |) |
     // \\_/__/

by Mike Payne on Sep 3, 2009 10:15 PM EDT reply actions

@mikepayne:
fail.

by Mike Payne on Sep 3, 2009 10:16 PM EDT reply actions

Booooooooooo

by Shinons on Sep 3, 2009 10:24 PM EDT reply actions

Hint: mine said “ass”. Heh heh, heh.

by Mike Payne on Sep 3, 2009 10:34 PM EDT reply actions

o
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      ##
                      \\
                   / \O
                  O_/ 7
                  0 /|
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   _______________||_______

11/14/09 – DBB photo credit – Washington, D.C., Pistons guard Ben Gordon hits the game winning jump shot over the Wizards Gilbert Arenas as Detroit wins 117-115.

by joejoejoe on Sep 3, 2009 11:05 PM EDT reply actions