As much as I’d like to pretend otherwise, it’s officially time to ponder whether Chauncey Billups is healthy enough to make any kind of sustained impact in this series. I thought he turned a corner in Game 2, but in hindsight it seems more likely that a) Game 2 was a mirage; b) he aggravated the injury in Game 2; or c) some combination of above.
Whatever the case, Billups is intent is playing on. From the Free Press:
“I don’t want it to be an issue,” he said. “As much as it is, I don’t want it to be. The bottom line is I’ve got to play better. We’ve got to play better. Whether it’s still hurt or not, I’ve still gotta play through it … and that’s exactly what I intend on doing.”
[…] “I think, at this juncture of the season, you can’t sit out,” Billups said. “I’m … one of the main leaders of this team. No matter what’s going on, I feel like I’m better out there on the court.”
He also talked a bit about how he can help if he’s not producing:
“(In Game 3), I, personally, didn’t do a good job of leading,” Billups said. “And that’s not just shooting the ball or scoring the ball. I just didn’t do a good job of leading. The game got away from us early. I didn’t step up enough vocally when guys were missing coverages and things weren’t going right.
“When I can’t do the things that I’m accustomed to doing offensively, there have gotta be other ways to have a presence. I thought I waited too late yesterday to step up and lead that way.”
I don’t want to underestimate the importance of on-court leadership, but if it’s a given that Billups can’t play any better than he did in Game 3, I’d prefer he impart his words of wisdom from the sidelines and let Rodney Stuckey clock 40 minutes of action.
Maybe it won’t come to that, maybe Arnie Kander spent Sunday afternoon conjuring black magic on Billups’ hamstring, but if things can’t drastically improve, I’d rather have that energy on the court early in the game instead of inserted halfway through the first quarter when the Pistons are already facing a double-digit deficit.
Billups was a -25 on Saturday. I know it’s misleading to read too much into single-game plus/minus numbers, but in Billups’ four stints on the floor, the Pistons didn’t score more points than they gave up once.
Stuckey, meanwhile, was a +3. Sure, he had the advantage of not facing Boston’s starters 100% of the time, but what if he had? Does anyone think it’d result in a 28-point swing? I don’t see it that way.
For what it’s worth, Billups isn’t completely against swallowing his pride for the greater good …
Keeping Billups off the floor isn’t easy — or usually smart. But if that’s what it takes to beat Boston, he said he’ll go along with it.
“The bottom line is we’re going to try to win,” Billups said. “If that’s what that means, then that’s what that means.”
… I just hope the coaching staff has the guts to make a quick decision, because this team can ill-afford another 27 minutes of nothingness out of the point guard spot. If he’s not productive from jump street, give him the quick hook and let him spend the rest of the half on the trainer’s table. And if he’s still not loose come the third quarter, put him on ice and let Stuckey finish.
Making a bold move now sends the decisive signal that the most productive players will decide this series. Waiting until you’re down 3-1 to shake things up reeks of desperation and could very well trigger another meltdown like last year’s Game 6. And if Flip Saunders can’t recognize that by now, I might have to take back all the nice things I just said two days ago.
Chauncey’s remarks are depressing. You have to, what, think about being more vocal and assertive when the team starts the game like, well, crap? It’s game 3 of the ECF!!! Not training camp! You want to spot them, like 20 points and then say, “hey fellas we should play better?”
How far would Zeke or Chuck Daly have tolerated this nonsense? Where does this sense of entitlement come from? One title? We’re hearing that “Atlanta Braves” analogy, but, hell, those guys TRIED to win and just didn’t quite have the talent. We have the talent to win, but what, we got something better to do? If we choke this one, 1 ring and 6 ECF appearances in a row will not be looked on all that favorably.
I can’t believe I’m saying this, but until the burst in the 4th quarter , we looked…bored.
Well its do or die once again! I was so sick during game 3. Its going to be hard to win this series now. To win two games in Boston will be really hard at this point. We did not shot the ball well which that is going to happen from time to time. However the way we played defense was weak.We let the role players beat us. I am starting to think our team is all talk. They say they want to win but it does not show on the court at times. Its so hard to be a Pistons fan. You never know what team is going to show up. The bad thing is our time is running out. The east will be much better next year. The Bulls have the # 1 pick and should be better. The Magic are a Charles Oakley and bigger PG from being a great team. Its going to be hard for me to watch the game later but I will. If we spot them 8 to 10 points again I’m going to go crazy. If we don’t push the series to 7 games it will be hard for Joe D to keep this team together another year if the goal is to win another ring.The only good thing a see thus far from this series win or lose is the play of Stuckey. I love the way he plays. Once he adds some range to his jumper he will be great for us. Mr. Big Shot will soon to be Mr. Back up and another year or so.I love the Pistons. Come on guys. All my friends and co-workers know how much I love the Pistons. When we lose I hate going to work because they like to give me sh$t about the game. I wish at times I did not care but I do. Maybe more than I should. Once again its hard to a Pistons fan. I guess I could look at it another way. We won back in 2004. So I was able to see our team win 3 rings since I been following basketball. Please play with some heart today. Lets do it!!!! Sorry about the post but this team drives me crazy.
Wake up and smell the coffee people, Chauncey is washed up…the fact that you all place it solely on the hamstring instead of making him accountable for blowing out there is pathetic.
I can see Billups playing some backup 2-guard minutes (mostly as a spot up 3-shooter) if he’s not 100% but he’s not going to be able to bring the ball up as PG under pressure or D-up if his hammy isn’t right. I want Billups in the game for big minutes if he’s healthy but if he’s not, go with a mix of Stuckey, Hunter, and Prince initiating the offense. Be decisive, play the healthy players, and take away all the excuses for the TEAM.
*Sigh*
F U Jameer Nelson.
I can’t watch and I can’t even find out what happened until tomorrow… so please, Pistons, do the right thing - Chauncey or Stuckey, whatever you need… just WIN!
The new intro started off by saying “WERE BACK” I guess I failed to look at that completely. They were definately back, lathargic as ever. At least I was able to switch to the Wings. That alone probably saved me a T.V. God bless, thank a veteran, and tell your kids you love them. Still hopin’ for a D tri-fecta!
Oh and maybe give Joe D a W as a belated B-day present!
It’s impossible to answer this without knowing how bad Chauncey’s injury is. But let me be honest: if Chauncey can’t make a significant contribution, Detroit is not going to win this series. Yes, Stuckey is playing extremely well for a rookie guard in his first ECF. But Boston isn’t Orlando. For Detroit to do well, they have to dominate the point guard matchup, they need the type of experience and ability Chauncey has when he’s 100%. Maybe Detroit could steal a game without that, but it’s a pretty big risk to not at least try him tonight, because if we go down 1-3, the series is pretty much over.
On the other hand, I have some optimism. Boston’s win in game 3 was based in part on CB’s absence, but also on Detroit missing a bunch of open shots early, Detroit not getting a number of defensive rebounds, and Boston’s role players stepping up in an atypical way. I think most or all of those could easily be different tonight.
Stuckey should starts in game 4. Billups as much as we all love for him to play he is not 90-100% himself. If we go down 3-1 after tonight at home then the series is over and done. But then again if a coach doesn’t trust his captain of the team to play like how Flip did to Billups then it is on his head on how game 3 turned out. New coach will be needed regardless if the Pistons by a miracle chance wins the Championship because Joe D absolutely cannot stand by and wait for better results after a single loss in the Playoffs anymore. Joe D has done everything except for replacing the coach during the summer last year. Maybe changing the coach maybe the last thing to do. Right Joe D?
my question: is this really a result of the hamstring or is this just the time in the playoffs where chauncey billups becomes a detriment? it’s happened the last two ecf’s.
i know it must hurt, but it doesn’t make you pass up shots. it may limit your ability to drive, but it shouldn’t make you afraid to do so. i’m honestly starting to think this is just chauncey being chauncey, not a result of his injury. it’s not like he’s limping around, he’s mobile. he’s just playing badly, same as last year and the year before that.
Sit Chauncey, start Stuckey. If Chauncey earns his spot back by the finals so be it, but as it is now chauncey’s not earning his minutes. it’s disgraceful that for three games in a row we’ve been massively outhustled in the first six minutes of the game. that’s on our precious, bulletproof starts. everybody can mock those of us who actually think the bench makes a difference, but when your starters are playing like absolute shit and your captains are proudly adding their links to the pile, it’s time to mix things up.
For what it’s worth I think chauncey’s leg isn’t 100% and he had a bad game. We should start Stuckey and bring billups in based on performance. Stuckey can play well enough to give us a chance to win. Our defense was just so horrible, that if we fix that alone it should give us a good shot. If C is hurt, we need to put him on the bench where his injured leg isnt a detriment.
If he’s hurt, he’s hurt. But his quote about leading better makes me angry. Yeah, he might not be able to do the things he normally does, but he wasn’t even getting the offense into its sets. That’s just unacceptable. If he’s that hurt, he shouldn’t play. And if he’s capable of playing, there’s no excuse for not leading. What Chauncey fails to see is that when he’s in control, the Pistons offense usually clicks. Simply, the team takes their cues from him. And if he hasn’t gotten that by now, in my opinion, its time to go in another direction. I want a PG who’s going to lead every night.
HB: If we win the title, everyone will forget all the confusing, painful losses we had to endure. That’s the problem: when you’re winning, nothing is wrong and when you’re losing everything is wrong. It’s somewhere in between. Flip has made beautiful adjustments all playoffs (putting a billion different one-on-one defensive looks on Howard, McDyess on Garnett, any of these ring a bell?). His boys have not done their best at times. If Joe D. thought there was a “switch” or problems with this team being led by Flip, he would’ve said so instead of going out of his way to state the exact opposite.
i’m beginning to believe lb is phil saunders in a message board mask.
hearing about this hammy stuff is turning my world upside down. didn’t arnie “god’s own trainer” kander say chauncey couldn’t make it worse by playing? black is white. up is down. michael jordan is a non-gambling addict, non-womanizing wonderful person. i’m so confused.
i think between flip’s “brilliant” adjustments and a potential celtic letdown after stealing back home court, i think we can get this one depending on chauncey. i’m worried about him on both ends of the floor. wasn’t he the primary defender on ray allen in game 2 when allen went off? i just think we need to beat these bastards down and get some momentum going back to beantown. we haven’t whipped a team’s ass in weeks. why can’t we be the team winning by 15-20? get on it, detroit!
guapo at 5, lb.
I believe he re-injured his hamstring in game 2 , he’s just acting like he didn’t.He is a gamer and he wants to play.
Chauncey’s being blamed for his lack of aggressiveness in game 3, and that blame is being placed completely on his injury. What I wonder, though, is why no one attributes any of his lack of aggressiveness to his three fouls in the first half, especially the two in the first quarter. I don’t believe Chauncey is completely healthy, and his injury does worry me a lot, but isn’t foul trouble something that is known for making players tentative? It just seems like a factor that could be mentioned.
Also, I hate all the flip-flopping by the media (and some fans). How can the Pistons be lauded for being such a great team after winning game 2, and now be given no chance after losing game 3? Would you count the Celtics out if we were up 2-1 and still had stolen home court advantage? Probably not. When we win tonight, we’re right back on track. If not, our chances are truly slim. But wait until then before giving up on them, at least!
Either way, Juan Dixon should be activated. He’s got the speed to get the ball up quickly and to pressure the ball on the other side.
Not to upset anyone, but I think it’s more than just the hamstring injury that is bothering Billups. I think it’s old(er)age. If you look back on the last couple of playoff seasons, he’s been getting beat off of the dribble, quite often against quicker guards. Even though he can post up smaller guards on offense, he’s become somewhat of a liability on defense over the last couple of years. Plus his “smoothness” or whatever you call it, really irritates the heck out of me. The cameras showed him walking (pimping) into the locker room after the game, and friends and I and were wondering if we’d gotten punked and the Pistons really won the game. He was slapping five with the fans and hugging teammates just like they’d came off of a big win. His decisions in the paint are killing me. It’s not just the hamstring folks. I really believe that it’s time to consider trading him while you can get some value for him, and let Stuckey take over for good. Look at Boston. They’ve handed second year player Rondo the reigns, and he’s done relatively fine. I’m not a hater, but Chauncey is looking really long in the tooth. Time for a tough (long term) decision.
There is no reason that the Pistons are struggling to score against these Celtics. They are older and can’t move nearly as fast. Where is the ball movement from the 2004 Pistons??
QD: +1, hadn’t even thought of that but love it. JackDutch and I will be @ El Guapo on Melrose if you’d like to join.
Okay all of you, are you guys serious right now? I can not believe you all are already counting the pistons out, seriously if we were up 2-1 in the series would you count out the celtics…ummm probably not! It is not fair to say that this series is over…the pistons have been in these situations before and they know how to handle it….so what chauncey had a bad night he will be fine in game 4….If any of you are really piston fans you would support your team and not say this series is over….Now lets go its DETROIIT BASKETBALLL!!!