Cause I’m making a joke. I’ll admit that it isn’t particularly funny (call me a Bill Simmons wannabe), but I deny that there is any particular reason to find it offensive. At best, you could argue that I am mocking the fact that he practices religion at all, but that is not my aim.

Moreso, I am just making light of the various excuses we make for players who, in most instances, just don’t bother to train in the offseason.

I’d apologize, but it would be one of those “I’m sorry you found this offensive” type of apologies that effectively amounts to a patronizing insult. So I’ll simply say that I can see your point, but respectfully disagree.

Best line ever. Sauce FTW.

Okay, so you say you’re criticizing his lack of practice. You say it’s this lack of practice–not fasting–that is potentially causing his poor free throw shooting. Yet you say the comment which equates his poor free throw shooting with his religion would apply to any religion that requires fasting. How exactly does the religion comment apply when fasting for religious purposes is not, as you, yourself, suggest, the cause of his free throw shooting woes? Why make a deliberate effort to link the two?

If you want to criticize him for shooting like crap from the free throw line, by all means, go right ahead. (Frankly, I’d be standing right next to you, egging you on, because he most certainly has shot like crap from the free throw line and deserves the criticsm.) I’m sure you can find a way to do it without taking an unnecessary poke at a man’s religion.

Hamilton - Needs to stay in the offense. And shoot better at the line. Like how he’s finishing going to the basket though. And he’s shooting well from the 3pt line.

Prince - Really coming into his own. I like the way Flip is separating his and Rip’s minutes.

Sheed - Has been phenemonal. I’ve been hard on him in the past but he’s been everything we’ve needed. The Team MVP so far.

Dyess - Moving him to the starting lineup was a move I hoped they’d do as soon as Ben Wallace left. He and Sheed are really playing well together.

Stuckey - I think the Pistons are anticipating him being their best player coming off the bench. If that’s the case, we really haven’t seen just how good this team can be.

Maxiell - Has improved his rebounding. Looks comfortable on offense. Not ready for the starting lineup yet.

Hayes - A great bench player. Doesn’t need to get into the flow of the game for his jumper to be effective.

Afflalo - Always in the right place. Still needs work defensively against faster players. And needs to expand his range. When Stuckey comes back, I hope he’s Rip’s primary backup because I think have things figured out by the end of the year given the minutes.

Murray - If Rip or Chauncey get hurt, I like him in the starting lineup. Otherwise, I’d rather see the youngsters in there.

Nazr - Good job on the boards and on-the-ball defense. Needs to shoot better from the line.

Amir - I’m not sure what all the fuss is about. Needs to work on his rebounding and defense so he can take Nazr’s minutes.

Samb - Wow. Has shown me more than Amir has. Definitely has a place on the Pistons as (at least) a backup center of the future.

Hunter - Good insurance.

Dupree - Samb has moved ahead of him and Hunter, making Dupe the 15th man.

But other than that, i would say that is some pretty accurate grading of our Piston roster after only 13 games.