Detroit Pistons 2010-11 Preseason Review
by Mike Payne on Oct 24, 2010 4:39 PM EDT
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With the 2010-11 NBA Preseason officially over, it's time to take one last look at player expectations for the season ahead. The Pistons preseason started off in the worst way possible, losing Jonas Jerebko for the season and Terrico White for the early part of his rookie season. Beyond that, there were other, more positive storylines (highlighted by Austin Daye) that bear repeating. That said, hit the jump for the final verdict on the Pistons Player Previews for the 2010-11 NBA season. Our season hits Wednesday with a win over the New Jersey Nets. Book it.
Terrico White (player preview):
White broke his right foot during the Pistons preseason opener against the Miami Heat. Terrico will be sitting out another four weeks for recovery before he can begin rehabbing. It's safe to assume we may not see White on the court until January at the earliest... and that court may be in the D-League, not the NBA.
DaJuan Summers (player preview) Preseason Averages:
15.1 mpg | 6.1 PPG | 40.0 FG% | 35.7 3% | 80.0 FT% | 1.6 RPG | .4 APG | .5 SPG | .1 BPG | .6 TO
The only thing that really changed for DaJuan Summers during the preseason is that the depth chart is less, well, deep from where he sits now. With Jerebko out and McGrady chained to the bench, Summers saw increased burn in the last two weeks. Sadly, he didn't capitalize-- despite a nice performance or two, this preseason showed more of the same from DaJuan.
Chris Wilcox (player preview):
Wilcox logged only nine minutes this preseason despite the open opportunity at power forward. His Hamstring is still sore, as it was last season, and there isn't any clear indication that it's improving. The consensus about Wilcox in our preview is that he's trade bait at this point, nothing more, or cap relief for the Pistons themselves. This preseason did nothing to change that.
Tracy McGrady (player preview):
Two words: "tired legs".
Austin Daye (player preview) Preseason Averages:
28.1 MPG | 15.9 ppg | 47.1 FG% | 50.0 3% | 70.6 FT% | 5.6 RPG | 1.5 APG | .8 SPG | .9 BPG | 1.2 TO
Austin Daye was, without a doubt, the top story of the preseason for the Pistons. While there are far too many positive things to say about the kid's performance in these 8 games, his three point shooting stands out. 50% from outside is unreal, and even more exciting if you note that he attempted 34 outside shots in this preseason.
Jason Maxiell (player preview) Preseason Averages:
21.2 MPG | 5.4 PPG | 45.5 FG% | 0.0 3% | 58.3 FT% | 4.2 RPG | 0.0 APG | 1.0 SPG | 1.4 BPG | 1.6 TO
Maxiell missed the last three preseason games with a sore knee, but should be ready to return for the season opener this week. Despite decent burn, Maxiell didn't exert himself in the preseason to warrant consideration for first-big-off-the-bench status, let alone a starting nod in Jerebko's absense.
Greg Monroe (player preview) Preseason Averages:
25.3 MPG | 7.8 PPG | 40.8 FG% | 0.0 3% | 71.0 FT% | 4.9 RPG | 1.9 APG | 1.5 SPG | .4 BPG | 2.0 TO
Monroe had a terrible preseason, pretty much across the board. He shot poorly, he turned the ball over a lot, he didn't rebound well and he looked completely out of place on the court. The only consolation I can take in the abysmal preseason Monroe had-- is that DeMarcus Cousins had a really bad preseason too. Actually, that really doesn't make me feel better at all.
Jonas Jerebko (player preview)
A moment of silence...
Wlil Bynum (player preview) Preseason Averages:
30.7 MPG | 10.3 PPG | 48.8 FG% | 36.4 3% | 78.3 FT% | 3.2 RPG | 5.0 APG | .8 SPG | .2 BPG | 2.7 TO
What started with vintage Will Bynum ended with injury, which one could suggest is soon becoming the definition of "vintage Will Bynum". Up until he sat out with a sore hamstring, Bynum distributed well, scored efficiently and added serious range to his game, converted at a hopeful 36.4% from the three point line. If Bynum maintains his range improvements into the season, it'll be tough for Rodney Stuckey to maintain his starting gig. Not, however, if Rodney plays as well as he did this preseason...
Ben Wallace (player preview) Preseason Averages:
19.6 MPG | 3.7 PPG | 63.2 FG% | 0.0 3% | 28.6 FT% | 6.3 RPG | 1.3 APG | 1.1 SPG | 0.3 BPG | 1.0 TO
The Benaissance continued in the preseason, although Ben logged fewer minutes than he did in the last regular season. If we had any other viable options at center, this kind of playing time could be sustainable for Ben throughout the rest of his contract. Or he could pull a Mutombo and play until he's 50.
Charlie Villanueva (player preview) Preseason Averages:
22.9 MPG | 12.3 PPG | 44.9 FG% | 39.1 3% | 78.9 FT% | 3.9 RPG | 0.6 APG | 0.7 SPG | 0.7 BPG | 1.3 TO
Honestly, Charlie had a pretty solid preseason. He seemed to be more committed to defense and feeling more natural about his offense. He started slow, but picked up the pace and hit hard for the last four of seven preseason games he played. If there's one thing Charlie needs to continue to work on, it's rebounding. His defense wasn't as bad as it has been, but his rebounding must improve.
Richard Hamilton (player preview) Preseason Averages:
22.2 MPG | 8.0 PPG | 38.6 FG% | 30.8 3% | 90.9 FT% | 1.8 RPG | 3.0 APG | 0.3 SPG | 0.0 BPG | 1.7 TO
If fans were looking for a return to form from Richard Hamilton going into this season, he gave them no hope with his preseason play.
Tayshaun Prince (player preview) Preseason Averages:
26.7 MPG | 9.1 PPG | 47.3 FG% | 55.6 3% | 63.6 FT% | 3.6 RPG | 2.7 APG | 0.3 SPG | 0.1 BPG | 1.0 TO
Despite a serious spike in perimeter shooting, this preseason was same-old/same-old for Tayshaun Prince. And this is a great thing-- seeing Tayshaun fully healed and back-to-normal is precisely what this team needs. Whether that'll benefit this roster or another remains to be seen, but either way, a productive and healthy Tayshaun will make for a better Pistons team.
Ben Gordon (player preview) Preseason Averages:
25.5 MPG | 10.8 PPG | 43.1 FG% | 31.8 3% | 95.8 FT% | 2.1 RPG | 2.3 APG | 0.4 SPG | 0.0 BPG | 2.4 TO
Funny, but "Fully Healed" Ben Gordon appears to look just like "Fully Injured" Ben Gordon. If this is what Detroit can expect out of Gordon this season, our win projection could dip back into the 20s...
Rodney Stuckey (player preview) Preseason Averages:
28.0 MPG | 16.1 PPG | 47.4 FG% | 15.4 3% | 90.2 FT% | 3.0 RPG | 4.8 APG | 1.0 SPG | 0.0 BPG | 3.0 TO
Rodney Stuckey had an excellent preseason, overshadowed only by the solid play of Austin Daye. Stuckey was scoring the ball efficiently, getting to the line, converting at a high rate, etc. Rodney was finally doing the things that he's supposed to be good at-- and doing them well. Let's hope to see his passing numbers improve once he's got a set lineup to play with, as well as a dip in those turnovers. If he can improve his passing and maintain this type of efficiency from the floor, I personally don't care if that 3-point shot never develops.
- - - - - - - - - -
Detroit's season begins Wednesday in New Jersey. Jersey will be without Troy Murphy, and rookie Derrick Favors doesn't look ready enough to help them win. Let's start this season off with a bang, yeah? After New Jersey, wins will not be easy to come by...
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Good summary of what we've got
Stucky and Daye are the pleasant surprises that we can hope will continue into the regular season. If they do, and the other guys do as expected, we might be pretty decent. I always figured Monroe would need time to develop, and hope he’ll learn a lot this year and then be ready to make a strong contribution next year as Daye is doing now.
Looking at the rest of our supposed "scorers"
It’s particularly depressing to see Rip, Tay, Ben, and Charlie V. all averaging below 15 points per game. I know they didn’t play a lot of minutes, but still it doesn’t give much flavor to the kool-aid we’ll all be chugging come game time.
Jonas Jerebko once killed a charging female rhinoceros in heat protecting its young with nothing more than a hook shot.
I’m going to go ahead and assume that Q told the team to look for the young guys on offense to let them develop faster. If Rip or Gordon had average 25 pts a game it would have been worthless for the good of the team overall. The veterans are supposed to take it easy in the preseason. If Rip and BG still look this mediocre in a week or so from now, then I will worried.
There's no justice like angry mob justice!
i predict that your prediction of my prediction of that other prediction is wrong. or something.
hey i’m hoping RIp tears it up on his way out of town.
I think Rip has a lot to prove this year and will come out on fire. He has to prove that he’s not washed up, the injury was a fluke and he’s back to 100%, his contract was worth it, and that the Pistons can still win games. I think it will also help that (hopefully) the entire team just plays better and more cohesively, making the game easier for him.
by garrettelliott on Oct 26, 2010 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions
see but he is washed up
he’s taking way too many jumpers. everyone thinks that’s what he does, but it didn’t used to be. he isn’t shooting any worse on his jumpers than he used to, he’s just taking more of them, which is dragging his FG% down.
I think the injury messed him up last year and he’s going to prove you wrong this year. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see!
by garrettelliott on Oct 26, 2010 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions
i thought Charlie looked pretty sweet in the post for the one game i was able to watch
he has a nice lil bag of tricks in the post. hopefully he wont “sheed out” and just want to shoot 3 balls all game.
Its funny
Based purely on preaseason play, our strongest position seems to be the point.
Jonas, jag älskar dig! Du är vacker.
Ben Gordon was "fully frustrating" to be honest.
The first 4 games, he was tremendous. Shot 55%, looking to pass (turnovers were high), even rebounding the ball.
Then the next 4, he was awful. Just putrid.
Austin Daye is rendering about $23 million in guards even more obsolete. That is not good at all.
Terrence J. is feeling a bit fishy...
by Trout Jefferson on Oct 24, 2010 9:50 PM EDT reply actions
Oh, and I agree on CV.
He looked better overall. Still some issues, but I feel like he’s improved from last season.
Terrence J. is feeling a bit fishy...
by Trout Jefferson on Oct 24, 2010 10:00 PM EDT reply actions
he doesnt look any more ripped or anything
but it looks like he moving a little bit quicker out there. its kinda maddening to see him bust out super smooth spin moves in the paint and then watch him jack up threes. feels like he could be a huge help scoring down low.
I have no problem with the three point shooting so long as it's kept in check.
39.1% is good. Granted, 1/3rd of his shots being three pointers is not what I want, but I definitely want him to keep the three in his repertoire. He could cut it down to 1/4th or 1/5th, I’d live with that. But on a team hurting for three point threats and CV shooting the third best 3-point percentage on the team (and one of them ahead of him was Summers), we can’t ask him to stop completely.
And how about team three point shooting? 37.6% for the team. We can thank Daye for most of the that. If we shot that last year, we’d be third in three point percentage for the season.
Terrence J. is feeling a bit fishy...
by Trout Jefferson on Oct 24, 2010 10:21 PM EDT up reply actions
stretch four
We don’t have the front court presence for everyone on the team to be jacking up 3’s all game. Both our presumed PF options are so called ‘stretch 4’s’. This is a team in serious need of rebounding. If Daye wants to shoot 50% he can take as many 3’s as he wants, but Charlie needs to be doing more work down low. He’s taking more and more 3’s every season if you look at his numbers. An offensive rebound or two wouldn’t hurt. Higher percentage shots can’t be a bad thing either.
Actually I think Tay shot better than Daye from beyond the arc...didn't take nearly as many shots but still
Jonas Jerebko once killed a charging female rhinoceros in heat protecting its young with nothing more than a hook shot.
I was actually refering last season for CV's three point percentage.
Should have cleared that up.
Terrence J. is feeling a bit fishy...
by Trout Jefferson on Oct 25, 2010 6:31 PM EDT up reply actions
Charlie V. seems to be his own worst enemy at times. I think he realizes he should be better so he puts added pressure on himself and then begins to force his game. I wish he could just stay calm and realize that every possession isn’t going to define his career and just let the offense come to him.
I think Austin Daye is going to have huge year. I think it’s going to be a lot like Tay’s rookie season. Q will probably bury him on the bench early (when he’s not playing out of position), but he’ll get an opportunity that he’ll take advantage of and then it’ll be hard to deny him.
**My thoughts are only based on last season, and the first preseason game this year, and what I’ve read so far about the team this preseason. I either a) couldn’t get access to a televised preseason game so far, or b) was not home when one was televised.
One thing I really liked seeing in the last preseason game...
…was CV putting the ball on the floor to get better shots. He really puts pressure on the defense that way. And it will be a way to get more points in the paint and more offensive rebounds.
Anybody check out the ESPN Power Rankings
They can’t be that bad…right?
Since you mentioned ESPN...
I see in the insider rumors section today (I don’t pay for it because..) they said that the Pistons are looking to trade for a big man. Really? I had no idea. If I’m Reali on “Around The Horn” I’m giving them 3 pts for insider information.
But I was glad to see the Heat trimming their roster to 15 was headline news.
ESPN's Power BS
Not trying to come off as a fanGURL but ranking the Pistons dead last is way off. I can think of a few teams who are a lot worse off than the Pistons.
I missed all but one of the pre-season games but from what I did see Daye and Stuckey did improve. Maybe the underdog card (don’t we always do this??!) will be motivation.
Kicking (_)_) before bedtime.
fangurl? ARE YOU A CHICK?!?!?!?!
omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg
Jonas Jerebko once killed a charging female rhinoceros in heat protecting its young with nothing more than a hook shot.
worse off?
i can think of a few teams worse off for the season, but barring a trade i can’t think of many teams with lower prospects over the next 3-4 years.
of course I checked your profile, and...
Whoah, Fusicology. My boy Victor designed an older version of that site for its founder.
For Jonas!!
Yup Fusicology
I’m the other partner. I know Victor, he’s in the Chi now. Both of us are huge bball fans, she’s in LA and I’m here in Michigan. I have been a DBB lurker for about 2 years now.
Kicking (_)_) before bedtime.
Not to be a pessimist, but. . . .
So, what do we know now we didn’t know before the preason started? We won’t have Jerebko; Daye may be poised to have a really good season; Monroe isn’t ready for prime-time, at least not yet and probably not for a while. And same for McGrady, for folks who thought he might contribute something significant soon.
Even with all that, I’ll say what I said before the preseason. There’s a decent chance the Pistons will be worse than they look on paper because of the screwy roster. It’s not just that we lack bigs with a post offense or that we’re paying a ton of money to BOTH Rip and Ben Gordon.
Even beyond that, the pieces don’t seem to mesh — the sum is less than the total of its parts. We have some good offensive weapons, but few if any who can consistently create their own shots, so we need a sharp-eyed, sharp passing PG, and although Suckey has real positives, I’m not sure that’s one. Our defense will suffer not only from Jerebko’s injury but also, I fear, from playing guys out of position — Daye has been great, but I don’t see him being a good defender on bigger 4s. Same with Tay. And I’ll bet we’ll see both at the 4 a lot. Maxy is giving up a lot of height if we play him at the 5, which I bet we will.
In short, I’m not convinced this roster will allow Q to get the most out of his players. I hope I’m wrong, and let’s face it, nobody thinks Detroit is going anywhere with this roster anyway, but that’s my 2 cents.
by Toledo Joe on Oct 25, 2010 2:03 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
Yeah...I definitely think the apparent lack of chemistry is very noticeable.
Interviews, etc. seem to paint a picture of everyone saying the right things but no one really meaning it…maybe with the exception of JJ pre pre-season and Ben Wallace always.
But hearing multiple players saying things like, “We just gotta get out there and do what we do and the pieces will fall into place” is a huge red flag for me.
But is having a top 5 pick this draft all that bad of a thing? Shouldn’t there be at least 1 top tier combo-guard errr point guard that we can grab?
Jonas Jerebko once killed a charging female rhinoceros in heat protecting its young with nothing more than a hook shot.
Saw a Rip interview in the Toledo Blade where he implicitly said the same thing
Basically, he said that they had played a lot of different lineup, people weren’t always used to playing with each other, and roles weren’t always defined.
Contrast this to the 2003-08 era. ALL the starters had very clearly defined roles on both offense and defense. OK, ‘Sheed didn’t play in the post as much as we would like, but everyone knew what the other guys should be doing, what they were likely to be doing, and how to make that work. Now our offense is “a bunch of jump shooters who can’t create their own shot except maybe for guards barrelling toward the basket and hoping for the best,” and our defense is, well, not good.
I’m going to be paying close attention to two guys: Stuckey and Daye.
If pre-season Stuckey is the new and improved Stuckey, I’ll gladly eat crow. He had some boneheaded plays late in one game, but beyond that, from what I saw in person and in the numbers looks like he’s turned a bit of a corner. If he is the player for 82 games that he was this preseason, that has huge implications for our future.
Same for Austin Daye. As I think MP noted in his player preview, I’d agree that Daye presents the single biggest chance of righting the ship. I’m skeptical he could ever be a franchise guy … but I think he could be a large part of whatever our future core turns out to be — although I agree with others that I see him comparing better against SGs and SFs than PFs.
I still cannot believe that we traded away Afflalo as a result of signing Ben Gordon
Jonas Jerebko once killed a charging female rhinoceros in heat protecting its young with nothing more than a hook shot.
that is to say, seeing how Afflalo has developed...
how could JoD have been so dense as to spend another $10+ mil a year on a backup undersized shooting guard when he had a legit lockdown defender and 3 PT threat on his roster for cheap.
Jonas Jerebko once killed a charging female rhinoceros in heat protecting its young with nothing more than a hook shot.
Exactly.
Sitting at home. The only flaw I saw with Afflalo was that he wasn’t fully involved in the game or wasn’t aggresive and confident enough. Take your pick. He played very good when he wasn’t spending all his time standing in the corner waiting to get the ball for a shot from 3.
And he finishes at the rim with a smooth flow. Something Stuckey still can’t do.
To experience the consequences of my own choices. This is why I live
by JumpingBlob on Oct 27, 2010 12:34 AM EDT up reply actions
I said a million times in the past that I was always impressed how Afflalo went straight to the rim, every time. He was a fantastic finisher at breakneck speed.
by garrettelliott on Oct 27, 2010 1:11 AM EDT up reply actions
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