My latest from HOOPSWORLD is a training camp preview for the Pistons. It may be a bit redundant to hard-core fans who have followed the team’s every move this summer, but hopefully it’s a good refresher for casual fans who suddenly realized training camp starts next week:
Detroit’s identity around the league is still based upon their starting lineup, and understandably so: Billups, Hamilton, Prince and Wallace have played together for three and a half years, not to mention an extra 82 playoff games. But the new wave is coming, and given the young and athletic bench, personifying this team as old and slow no longer applies.
Even so, it’ll be interesting to see if Detroit’s subtle youth movement can take hold without the benefit of a bona fide rebuilding year. Expectations should be tempered early in the year as the veterans and young players find their collective rhythm, but by the end of the season this team will be graded just like all the rest in recent memory: did it win an NBA title?.
And speaking of training camp, I have some exciting news: I’ll be representing HOOPSWORLD at the Pistons’ Media Day next week, which means I should have a chance to speak with many (and hopefully all) of the players and coaches.
I’m not entirely sure what to expect, but I want to be completely prepared: if you have any good questions you think I should ask, hit me up in the comments. I have a bunch already in mind and I can’t promise I’ll be able to use anything, but I’d be foolish not to tap into your collective imagination and curiosity.
for Rodney:
How does it feel knowing that you’re stepping into the rotation of a team that has been to the ECF 5 consecutive years? It’s going to be a big change from Eastern Washington, are you ready for the challenge?
for Afflalo:
Do you think the success you had at UCLA better prepares you for the NBA, and more specifically, a team that is in the upper echelon and competes for the conference crown year in and year out?
for Prince:
You’ve logged a lot of minutes in your career so far. Add on top of those minutes your appearance on this year’s summer olympic qualifier, do you think that all these minutes will catch up to you at some point? Of course we’re not hoping for that, but you gotta be worried a little right?
for Maxiell:
Who’s more fun to dunk on: Anderson Varejao or anyone else. Then follow it up (depending on his answer) with a statement like “I woulda said Varejao, but everybody dunks on him so it kinda loses it’s luster right?”
finally…
for Billups:
Aside from The Palace, which arena do you feel most comfortable shooting in?
For Afflalo:
Do you think that not having the pressure of being the go to scorer will open things up for you offensively?
For Lindsay:
Going into what is likely your final year and Rodney Stuckey’s first, is your job primarily to pester him in practice and make him a better point guard? From what you’ve seen, what do you think he needs to work on most in the weeks leading up to the regular season?
For Amir Johnson:
After your great performance on youtube, have you thought about trying out for American Idol?
For Rip Hamilton:
With you going bald, what counter measures are you taking to slow the process down? Hopefully you haven’t been taking tips from Lebron or Redd.
For Nazr Mohammad:
There’s been rumors that the real reason you left San Antonio is because Mark Cuban’s mouth is to big for Texas and you had to get away from it. Is this true?
For Rodney Stuckey:
Since you’re such a big fan of Dwade, does that mean you call yourself or you want to be called, Rstuck?
For Jason Maxiell:
(*While wearing your Maxiell eats babies shirt*) Have you actually eaten a fetus before?
For Rasheed Wallace:
When was the last time you’ve felt this good physically?
For Tayshaun Prince:
Is there someone in the league that annoys you and you’re just itching to block their shot into the stands?
AMIR - height?
weight?
what will his ideal playing weight be a few years from now?
CHEICK - height ?
weight ?
what will his ideal playing weight be a few years from now ?
I don’t really have a “question” per se Matt but if ya find the time could you just tell EVERYONE
“Thanks, the past 5 years have been amazing. Everyone always rags on you guys for not winning 5 championships and I know it must feel like nobody appreciates what you’ve done for Detroit. I do, thanks for making me proud to say I’m from D-Town again.”
Totally understand if you don’t have time, but please if at all possible pass the sentiment along, I get the feeling nobody has said that to these guys in 3 years.
Great comment PG4L
For Amir:
You’ve been in professional basketball for two years, but this is the first year you’ll be with the team full-time, on a guaranteed contract, expected to contribute. Do you feel more like a rookie or a veteran, and who do you identify with more?
And I don’t know if you’re working on or getting ready for a Detroit Bad Boys season preview, but one thing I would like to see is a couple sentences each on how the newish-look Pistons seem to match up with the contenders (Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Phoenix, San Antonio, Dallas).
First of all, Matt– Congratulations! I assume this has been a dream of yours for a very long time. As a loyal DBB reader, I wanted to throw you a proverbial “high five” and hope you have a blast at this event.
@Amir:
Are you aware of the cult following you have amongst die hard Pistons fans on the internet? Have you ever read DetroitBadBoys.com?
@Maxiell:
Are you aware of the nickname you’ve picked up on the web? They say “Jason Maxiell Eats Babies”, due to your no mercy dunking and rebound rage.
@Rasheed:
It has been mentioned in the press that you’ll be logging more minutes this season at the 5. In the past, you’ve mentioned you don’t like the banging at Center, and you’d prefer to stay at the 4. How do you feel now about starting at Center and being the cornerstone of the fresh-look Pistons defense?
@Flip Saunders:
Can you hold your head still for one full minute without twitching? I’m starting the clock right…. NOW.
Have fun– and again, congrats!
I would like to hear Jason Maxiell’s reponse to his nickname “The Baby Eater” and see if he will “offically” accept it.
Looks like most of you have covered the questions I would ask (Amir’s height)
But will Cheikh Samb be there?
height? WEIGHT! What he feels he needs to work on the most to be able to contribute by the end of the season/next season (i feel bad asking a question that assumes he will be playing in the d-league because I’m sure he would rather play for the Pistons, but he’s gotta be pretty realistic about his situation right?)
@ Maxiell: How many babies do you think you can eat in a 48 minute time span?
the baby-eating thing MUST be addressed by jason maxiell. and i would enjoy comments from other pistons regarding the nickname.
Have a blast Matt and congrats…
For Flip and Chauncey:
Which is more important: home court advantage through the playoffs or rested veterans and lots of minutes for young guys? (That probably needs to be a little less leading if you’re going to ask it)
Am I the only person around these parts who isn’t completely comfortable with the Baby Eater nickname? I’m fully aware it’s in jest, but uh, it kind of, um, evokes very disturbing imagery for me. That being said, I don’t think I could agree more with the reverence for the his style of play that spawned the name.
Also, is anyone looking into a nickname for Amir? I’m firmly of the belief that the youtube video of him lipsynching needs to be referenced in a nickname. Is sex cry a good nickname?
For Stuckey: He’s talked a lot following in D-Wade’s footsteps - Wade was a star right out of the box on a weak team (pre-Shaq). Has Stuckey given any thought to the modeling his path more along the lines of a Tayshaun Prince, growing from a complimentary role player to one of the 12 best players in the country?
I ask because A) I think more players become great pros taking the Prince route and B) Stuckey has always been far and away the best player on his team and now he’s playing behind two NBA All-Stars at G.
Flip or Chauncey:
we’ve needed a consistent slashing scorer for years now, but the offense you run leaves slashers like flip murray to take jumpshots. how will the offense change to make stuckey, johnson and murray real contributers?
Flip:
can you get the starter’s minutes closer to that of the san antonio spurs? they’re model seems to be the most consistent in terms of long term success.
Flip:
is starting mcdyess wise considering how he regularly fades in the playoffs?
Chauncey:
did watching jason kidd lead team usa and deal with all the egos give you any tips on how to handle sheed?
Joe D:
has there been any discussion of a disciplinary system for sheed?
LB - I think “Sex Cry” is just as disturbing as “Baby Eater!”
Fair point.