Comments on: Pistons sting Hornets

By: Ohad

Ohad — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 21:10:04 +0000

kevin s, i agree the spurs are a good model where the average starter (and that includes ginobili) clock 29 min/game.
But:
1) We are clocking 32 min/game/starter
2) i think on each position we have more veteran (i just don’t want to say older) players than they do

By: Quick Darshan

Quick Darshan — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 01:15:06 +0000

Reading every basketball experts opinion I could get my hads on heading into the season, I noticed that there were some common themes in terms of positives and question marks.

The positives were McDyess replacing Webber in the starting lineup combined with Maxiell’s presumed development. Also, Jarvis Hayes was seen as a capable backup for Tayshaun.

I boiled down question marks into Three Keys to the Pistons Season:

1. RASHEED NEEDS TO STOP BEING A TOXIC INFLUENCE. A resounding check here. He’s limited his technicals. He’s made a seamless and successful transition to center. He’s playing in the post and dominating on defense.

2. STUCKEY NEEDS TO PROVIDE A VIABLE BACKUP PG FOR CHAUNCEY. Hopefully, this will be the case by the time the playoffs run around. I have faith.

3. AMIR NEEDS TO SUPPLANT NAZR IN THE ROTATION. Kudos to Nazr for playing well enough to make Amir earn his minutes. This year, we really just need Amir to develop his game enough to do the things that Nazr does (play defense, rebound, score on putbacks and dumpoffs) only better. Hopefully the challenge that Nazr is presenting the young kid will force him to work harder and eventually take over his minutes.

By: Kyl

Kyl — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 00:09:33 +0000

this is an interesting conversation because i remember chauncey getting put on the all defensive second team a couple years ago so i’ve always thought of him as a good defensive player. but i also realize our bigs are always getting into foul trouble because the perimeter players allow so much penetration.

By: E-Double

E-Double — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 23:27:34 +0000

Sheed has been playfully dissing Chauncey for 3 years now about his slow foot speed. And he’s right. Chauncey gets blown by more than a kite in the Chicago wind. I didn’t think there was any argument over his slow foot speed when guarding quick pg’s. I guess everyone has their own
opinion.

By: jleet

jleet — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 22:55:31 +0000

we started slow but great finish led by the defence

By: Pistons_Fan_in_Chicago

Pistons_Fan_in_Chicago — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 21:11:33 +0000

maybe not smaller, but this year and years past he has struggled defensively against quicker gaurds. This year against portland (Jack), sacremento (Udrich), golden state (Davis), chicago (Heinrich), and Utah (Williams). Not to mention last year in the playoffs against Boobie. The year before that with Jason Williams. The year before that Tony Parker.

I may be wrong in my assertion, but I have noticed this trend with Chauncey. Don’t get me wrong, usually Chauncey can get his on the same guards by working from the post. But without that solid help D we used to have, Chauncey seems to struggle with quicker pgs. I didn’t get to watch last night’s game, but it appears he held CP3 in check. That’s all.

By: kevin s.

kevin s. — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 19:30:25 +0000

I am still confused as to where this “Chauncey is defensively deficient” narrative came from. Was that in a news article somewhere? It just doesn’t hold up to the evidence.

Ohad, the starters aren’t clocking that many minutes at all. The guards are under 35 minutes, and that’s with injuries to the backcourt. I think the Spurs are a good model for resting their best players while remaining competitive, giving them 28-34 minutes each.

By: Pistons_Fan_in_Chicago

Pistons_Fan_in_Chicago — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 19:17:56 +0000

It’s nice to see Chauncey did not get smoked by the smaller, quicker Paul. Hopefully as the season wears on he will continue to improve his D on the smaller PGs. We’ll need it if we end up facing San Antone.

By: IsraeliPiston

IsraeliPiston — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 17:38:51 +0000

Matt

Nice new look - much easier to read

By: rj

rj — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 17:37:57 +0000

sorry to be a nazi, but i believe nazr’s assist came off a pass to tayshaun and not rip

By: Kyle

Kyle — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 15:27:52 +0000

as for minutes played, It’s all about averages, so I’m going to chalk this up to being an anomaly. but why did he keep the starters in at the end? Seems kind of stupid and counterproductive to me.

By: Rob G

Rob G — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 14:18:18 +0000

Actually, Nazr did play, in the 3rd quarter I believe. Although he only played three minutes, he had a very timely offensive rebound which he passed out to Rip for an easy two.

By: Rena

Rena — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 13:56:25 +0000

Nazr did play in the fourth quarter. He came in when the Hornets were shooting free throws, but only stayetd in for a couple of minutes.

By: Pat Hunt

Pat Hunt — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 13:32:41 +0000

I was surprised by Lindsay Hunter’s low +/-. His defense helped turn around that early drought.

By: Ohad

Ohad — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 10:37:55 +0000

what’s with all theminutes the starters are clocking? we’re winning by 20+ points every game and they’reclocking 30+ mins?
give some more time for the younger guys. if not for their sake than for the health of the starters…