By Kevin Sawyer
What better time to do a spot check on our favorite team than fresh off the all-star game. At the beginning of the season, I stated what I thought each player needed to deliver for the Pistons to perform at a championship level. Given that they are on a 61 win pace, there are some solid grades to go around. Here they are…
Chauncey Billups – A
What they needed: Chauncey to be Chauncey
What they’ve got: Chauncey exceeding Chauncey
Billups continues to play at an MVP-caliber level, so what can I say that hasn’t already been said? His ability to match last year’s output in three fewer minutes means that Rodney Stuckey has some dealer money to play with and, more importantly, that Billups should have fresher legs come playoff time. He is also on pace to finish with the highest true-shooting percentage in Pistons history, a testament to his extraordinary efficiency.
Rip Hamilton – A-
What they needed: Hamilton to expand his perimeter game
What they’ve got: TRAMP BALL!
Hamilton wasn’t going to be able to get to blow by defenders forever, so Hamilton needed to continue his transformation into a modern day Reggie Miller by developing his outside game. Hamilton is now on pace to set career highs for both attempts and percentage from three-point range (and rank sixteenth in NBA history in the latter), which bodes well for him as he enters his thirties, but it will mean less consistency from the guy who can drop 20 ppg in his sleep. He was arguably the best player in the conference from December 5 – January 4, but has disappeared from games when his long-range shot isn’t falling.
Rasheed Wallace – B+
What they needed – Fewer techs
What they’ve got – A kinder, gentler Sheed
Sheed has managed to get his technical foul count down to a manageable level, and the team is on pace for about 25 fewer techs this season. As a result, he made his 4th all-star game, just as I predicted. Offensively, he’s done the same thing he has for the last several seasons but, like Chauncey, has done so with (albeit slightly) diminished minutes and fewer turnovers. Not a game goes by where announcers do not opine that Wallace needs to hit the post more frequently. I don’t buy it. His defense is top-notch as usual, and he seems to be doing a better job fronting big men and disrupting passing lanes.
Tayshaun Prince – B
What they needed: More aggression
What they’ve got: Same aggression
As Rip Hamilton goes, so goes Prince in the opposite direction. Prince would be the second scoring option on most teams, but generally falls to the 4th peg on the Pistons. This year, he has had more difficulty than usual getting to the basket, and he is disappearing on offense for longer stretches than normal. That said, he’s passing and rebounding as well as he ever has, and his merciless defense is all the more impressive given his infinitesimal (and ever shrinking) foul rate. With the Pistons re-emergence as a top-three defensive squad, Prince might hear some DPOY talk this year, and it will be much deserved.
Antonio McDyess – C+
What they needed: A replication of the second half of last season
What they’ve got: A replication of the first half of last season
It would be easy to dismiss McDyess’ woes as stemming from fatigue, but he has been more and more active on the boards as the season has progressed. McDyess has been a late bloomer the last few seasons, and he hasn’t done anything that would cost him his starting spot. Further, he has been fouling a lot less and he has been more than able to stand up to starting big men. I’m still jonesing for those 9-10 shooting games where his 14 footer is automatic.
Jason Maxiell – B
What they needed: More of the same with fewer fouls and turnovers
What they’ve got: Fewer, but still too many fouls and turnovers
Maxiell is in a bit of a slump right now, which could be part of a concerted effort to cut down on fouling, which he has in recent weeks. Max appears ready to take the starting job, but he needs to be able to guard starting big men without fouling out in 16 minutes. On wonders if we have to take a modicum of streakiness from such an emotional player, and his recent slide does coincide with the emergence of Rodney Stuckey (though you think his rate of offensive rebounds would increase). Still, his recent performance has been a major disappointment after his tantalizing start.
Jarvis Hayes – B-
What they needed: Three point shooting in the high 30s
What they’ve got: 38.6% three point shooting
Hayes has actually been a nice surprise this year. His reputation as a streak shooter is somewhat unwarranted, his fluctuating percentage more a function of low volume than anything. By the same token, he hasn’t really taken over any games as yet, so let’s wait on the Microwave comparisons, eh?
Rodney Stuckey – C+
What they needed: An unbroken hand and 43% shooting
What they’ve got: A slow return to preseason form
First off, he needs a nickname. I tried to pimp Stuckey-Snax for awhile, but that didn’t catch fire. Maybe a nickname will help Stuckey’s jumpshot, which will hold the key to his entire career. If he can’t drill 15-18 footers with some regularity, defenders will pack the lane against him, and all that talent and instinct will go to waste.
Arron Afflalo – C
What they needed: Defensive aggressiveness
What they’ve got: The disappearing player
Spellcheck’s game has expanded as his shooting has improved, but the Pistons need a little more energy and, yes, risk-taking from their experienced rookie. He is not yet the disruptive defender Hunter is, and his long range has yet to develop, which leaves him keeping time until the starters come back.
Amir Johnson – B+
What they needed: A 0.8 BPG/Foul ratio
What they’ve got: A 0.6 BPG/Foul ratio
If he could stay on the court, he’d be having a tremendous season. Nonetheless, even without his shotblocking (which is hard to overlook), Amir is doing more than enough to carry his weight. His 18.7 PER rates third on the team. Of the Piston’s young guns, Amir is the one who seems poised to deliver at an all-star level. But not if he continues to get one foul every five minutes.
Flip Murray – Inc.
What they needed: Spot starter duty
What they’ve got: That, and a very handsomely paid cheerleader
Murray got off to a solid start, but eventually found his way to the pine through no fault of his own. Over the last several seasons, has any team had more players lead their team in scoring one game and DNP-CD another in the same season? It’s feast or famine when you wear a Piston’s uniform.
Just noticed something: the Pistons don’t have anyone on the team who averages 2 or more turnovers per game. That’s pretty freaking remarkable.
That’s one thing you can credit Flip for. Flip is a great offensive coach because he values efficiency. Turnovers mean DNPs, in case you haven’t noticed.
nice job Kevin
I beg to differ on two points:
I think that DICE deserves an A - not because of his offense or defense but because of his attitude and results. He basically took it upon himself to play really strong interior defense and rebound. These are what the pistons need for him, we have enough scoring from lots of other sources.
Second, and a much smaller point - I believe that Flip Murray did indeed bring his benching upon himself. When he came in the game he was a total ball hog. Me first is not the way the Pistons play and instead of helping to acclimate the youngsters, Murray simply shot ant shot and shot some more. Selfishness got him to the bench and he only has himself to blame
“from him”
Late night here in Israel
nickname for Stuckey
Rodney “stick it to them” Stuckey
dyess is a strange case. first, i think his interior defense and rebounding are something this team desperately needs and usually lacks. getting rid of him would be a bad idea unless whoever we’re getting in return is REALLY good in those areas.
however, i don’t think we should really blame dyess for having offensive problems. the last couple of years his fg% during the second half of the season has been remarkable, but more importantly, it disappeared once the playoffs started.
as much as i’d like to see dyess hitting those shots. i’m glad we’re not relying on offense from a player who can’t hit a shot in the playoffs. it’s better that we get used to using him as a ben-wallace-esque non-offensive player who can OCCASIONALLY hit a wide open 15 footer.
i wonder if it would behoove use to try to make tay the focus of our early offense. if the two following statements are true:
1. Tay’s shot is often off because he’s tired from his big defensive assignments.
2. Tay has to be offensively aggressive to wear out whoever is defending him, even if he’s shooting poorly.
then it makes sense to use his offense early. He’d be fresh enough to make his shots and he’d get the jump on wearing out his defender. if he’s going to take ten shots a night then he should take them early, before his defensive assignment has the time to wear him down.
i guess the problem with that is that he’d be more tired during the rest of the game and cookie jarvis still hasn’t shown too much reliability. though i think he is improving a great deal as a defender.
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though, of course, it would be better if he did, i’m not sure stuckey really needs a reliable mid-range jumper right now. defenders will pack the lane sure, but that will leave other shooters open.
“the last couple of years his fg% during the second half of the season has been remarkable, but more importantly, it disappeared once the playoffs started.”
He shot 56% in the playoffs two years ago.
This is one report card I won’t be hiding from Mom. Nice work
Two caveats:
re: Hayes– I’d say he’s a C at best. Consistency and shooting are real issues for him. I’ve got an article coming tomorrow that will explore this more…
re: Stuckey– I agree with your points on his outside shot, etc. I think he might deserve an incomplete over a C+. Our expectations for Rodney were shattered with his left wrist. You yourself had mentioned that “yeah, Stuckey isn’t happening this season”. In spite of all that, he did close out the pre-All Star break with 11 ppg over the last seven games. In an incomplete first half, he has begun to show significant hope.
What? No Flip Saunders grade? I’d go with a solid A- for the Flipster. Working in the youngsters, keeping the minutes down for the starters, and still keeping us at the top of the league. Points off for sitting on Amir for so long and then acting like he called up Joe to see if it was ok to play him. And for his flip face. Really, though, couldn’t ask for much more from him this season.
Yeah I will echo the previous remarks regarding Flip Murray being relegated to the bench.
I think he plays pretty well when he’s in the game with starters/regular rotation but when he was on the floor at the end of the game, often with afflalo, amir, and samb, he took a complete “me first” attitude which honestly I think hindered the early season development of Amir considerably.
I don’t ever remember him getting touches that weren’t a direct result of Amir’s hustle on defense/offensive glass.
Stuckey’s nickname- Fiddy
And I’m surprised your not happy with Afflalo’s D. He seems to be doing a pretty good job to me.
How bout “Grip” for Stuckey. Or “Busted keyboard”
i didn’t realize he’d shot that well. i admit that playoffs i was doing shakespeare in the park so i only got to listen to some games backstage on my sirius. however the dropoff between last years season and playoffs i saw, and it was dramatic. i think the last three weeks of the season he was outshooting everyone on the team and then as soon as the playoffs started he couldn’t hit anything. Either way, I think it’s best we don’t rely on his scoring in the playoffs.
How about “Key” for Stuckey? It’s part of his name, he’s a big key to our future he can unlock defenses with his dribble penetration. Eh?
Coaches are tough to grade, because I do think playoff chess games are half the battle.
I think we need Dyess’ scoring in the playoffs. His shot is very difficult to defend, and he is a great go-to during our inevitable slumps.
I wish Tay would be the option on more plays - most of the time when he takes a shot, it’s after the play has been broken and it’s late in the shot clock. Usually he just has to jack one up. It seems like lately he’s been able to hit more of those broken-play shots, but I’d like to see him get just a couple more touches.
McDyess’ grade is way too low. As a starter he doesn’t need to be the scorer that he was before coming off the bench. He’s the 5th offensive option of the starters. For the past month or more he has been working his ass off on the boards and has been routinely getting double-doubles with more boards than points. Thats exactly what is needed from him.
On the other hand, Bullethead Hayes should be a C- at best. His 3’s have been a little off lately and his defense hasn’t been much to brag about, but his shot selection has been pretty much awful. If he gets half a step open then you can pretty much count on him heaving it up.
I would have to give Flip Saunders a lovely A+ so far. The only doubt I have in my mine is if he maybe could play Herrmann more. Flip has been great so far but I have this constant fear that he will get embarrassingly outcoached at some point in the playoffs.
To the nicknames - I think of Stucky, Afflalo, and Amir grouped together as Snap, Crackle, and Pop.
Afflalo would have to be Krakcell.
“On the other hand, Bullethead Hayes should be a C- at best. His 3’s have been a little off lately”
47% over the last ten games, including last night’s dud.
“For the past month or more he has been working his ass off on the boards and has been routinely getting double-doubles with more boards than points”
He has one double-double in the last eight games.