Comments on: In defense of young legs http://www.detroitbadboys.com/archives/2008-04-23/in-defense-of-young-legs/ A Detroit Pistons blog Fri, 09 Jan 2009 03:54:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: David http://www.detroitbadboys.com/archives/2008-04-23/in-defense-of-young-legs/#comment-131045 David Wed, 23 Apr 2008 13:26:24 +0000 http://www.detroitbadboys.com/archives/2008-04-23/in-defense-of-young-legs/#comment-131045 I've always wondered why hockey uses the +/- rating and baskteball doesn't. I mean I've always considered hockey to be more of a gimmicky game, hence these type of stats, but I think +/- does prove some things and I'm glad to see it being used in reference to this series. I think its an interesting dynamic going on here where the Sixers have decided to play their younger inexperienced guys late in games and as you can see from Henry's article, they have had amazing results. Younger legs could be a deciding factor in this series as you have to admit, the Pistons do have 4 starters over 30 and they did falter in the latter parts of Game 1. Since the Sixers traded Korver back in Decemeber, their crunch time 5 has been the Andres, Thad, LouWill and Sammy. Depsite seeing Reggie Evans in Game 1 play in crunch time, that will not be the norm going forward in this series unless he plays out of his head like he did in Game 1. Thad Young is extremely talented (same talent level in HS as Oden and Durant) and is very slick around the basket. I've never seen him get rattled. Lou Williams has come a long long long way since his rookie year when he was mid 2nd round pick right out of high school. He'd get schooled by Iverson on a daily basis in practice (ok maybe not daily since AI was not a participant that often) and late last year he finally started playing with confidence. Now he's there in crunch time hitting big time shots. Dalembert played 2 years in College and just had started learning the game prior to that. Each game he gets smarter and better. Andre Miller is 32 but if it weren't for him, this team would be no where. He continues to make the big shots at the end of games and almost lulls you to sleep before driving right past you. Andre Iguodala can jump out of the gym and has an extremely competitive spirit, relentless on both ends of the court. In contrast, the Pistons were a step slower in game 1, missed a lot of shots and seemed to lack a certain fire. I expect Game 2 to be a different story, but I thought Game 1 would go easily to Detroit. Perhaps I've overestimated this Pistons team. Perhaps Hamilton is still hurting, is Chauncey injured too? Is Prince fired up? Can McDyess give a better effort? Will Flip get Stuckey more involved? Can Maxiel match his play from Game 1 (history says he's too inconsistent)? There are many questions lingering for Detroit as we head into game 2, questions that weren't even considered before Sunday night....... I’ve always wondered why hockey uses the +/- rating and baskteball doesn’t. I mean I’ve always considered hockey to be more of a gimmicky game, hence these type of stats, but I think +/- does prove some things and I’m glad to see it being used in reference to this series. I think its an interesting dynamic going on here where the Sixers have decided to play their younger inexperienced guys late in games and as you can see from Henry’s article, they have had amazing results. Younger legs could be a deciding factor in this series as you have to admit, the Pistons do have 4 starters over 30 and they did falter in the latter parts of Game 1.

Since the Sixers traded Korver back in Decemeber, their crunch time 5 has been the Andres, Thad, LouWill and Sammy. Depsite seeing Reggie Evans in Game 1 play in crunch time, that will not be the norm going forward in this series unless he plays out of his head like he did in Game 1. Thad Young is extremely talented (same talent level in HS as Oden and Durant) and is very slick around the basket. I’ve never seen him get rattled. Lou Williams has come a long long long way since his rookie year when he was mid 2nd round pick right out of high school. He’d get schooled by Iverson on a daily basis in practice (ok maybe not daily since AI was not a participant that often) and late last year he finally started playing with confidence. Now he’s there in crunch time hitting big time shots. Dalembert played 2 years in College and just had started learning the game prior to that. Each game he gets smarter and better. Andre Miller is 32 but if it weren’t for him, this team would be no where. He continues to make the big shots at the end of games and almost lulls you to sleep before driving right past you. Andre Iguodala can jump out of the gym and has an extremely competitive spirit, relentless on both ends of the court.

In contrast, the Pistons were a step slower in game 1, missed a lot of shots and seemed to lack a certain fire. I expect Game 2 to be a different story, but I thought Game 1 would go easily to Detroit. Perhaps I’ve overestimated this Pistons team. Perhaps Hamilton is still hurting, is Chauncey injured too? Is Prince fired up? Can McDyess give a better effort? Will Flip get Stuckey more involved? Can Maxiel match his play from Game 1 (history says he’s too inconsistent)? There are many questions lingering for Detroit as we head into game 2, questions that weren’t even considered before Sunday night…….

]]>