As of this afternoon, Rodney Stuckey still hadn’t joined the Pistons in Sacramento. There’s no word on the results of whatever tests Stuckey underwent following Sunday’s unexplained bout of dizziness, but Michael Curry is holding out hope that the second-year guard will join the team at some point during the Pistons’ four-game swing out west.
But hey, even without Stuckey, the Kings shouldn’t pose too much of a threat, especially when you consider they’ll be without leading-scorer Kevin Martin for the next week or so … right? Actually, I’m not too sure. The Pistons lost both of their games against the Kings last year, and over the last 12 years they’ve won at Arco Arena exactly once.
Past performance is not an indicator of future results, sure, but the Kings are tougher than their 3-5 record suggests. Even without Martin, they have an intriguing front court of Brad Miller, Spencer Hawes and rookie Jason Thompson, not to mention a couple of underrated wings in John Salmons, whom I’ve been watching ever since I profiled him last January, and Beno Udrih, who’s grown exponentially since being routinely abused by the Pistons in the 2005 NBA Finals.
Plus, win or lose, we’ll get to read about the game from Sactown Royalty’s Tom Ziller, one of the best basketball writers in the blogosphere existence. The ball tips at 10 PM on FSN — join the rest of your fellow Piston-loving night owls by leaving your thoughts in the comments.
P.S. Rasheed Wallace is a toaster. Order the Free Darko book.
We lost twice last year because of Ron Artest; he’s not there anymore.
link?
I’m watching the Lakers/Mavs game. Gerald Greene looks like he finally got his head out of his ass. Great rebounder at his position.
I’m excited to see tay run the point more. I also wanna see AI take over the game more and look for his shot. if not its gonna be a long game again.
Ironically enough, Detroit didn’t have Dyess for the game in Sacramento last year, either.
Salmons is for real. If it weren’t for Artest standing in his way last year, everyone would already know this.
Charley Rosen called Salmons the only complete player on the Kings.
no link available?
I already don’t like this… 2-10 our loss to start.
Cough, live stream, cough
Thank you.
2-14… wtf
Man, this is ugly. The last 8 quarters have been a way too prolonged shooting slump.
a.i. needs to start being a.i.
THANKS, MAX, GREAT JOB!!!!!
8-21. Ouch.
rip needs to start being rip
rip is getting tourched on d
This shit is unwatchable… no penetration, no inside presence, no rebounds, everyone standing around confused while rip takes terrible fadeaway jumper after terrible fadeaway jumper…
I keep promising myself I won’t say this but:
NICE TRADE JOE…
jesus…
ANd don’t bother telling me to relax, I am relaxed, I’ve aceepted my team PURPOSELY became a 6th seed 2nd round casualty….
*cries*
anyone got a link?
hey . thanks for making a basket rip… first one since n.j?
FOUND IT…
Max! You’re giving me all you got, buddy! Great job out there!
I think I can say with complete honesty and sincerity that I hate this lineup right now.
Too bad we weren’t in the West, we could be a lottery team.
I want Blaylock, Afflalo,Herrmann, Amir, and Kwame, please, MC.
I’m following the stats on cbssportsline. Seems like a lot of putbacks for the Kings. This means the team is giving up too much penetration. Sloppy offense I can deal with because it’s a new situation. The bad defense in unforgivable.
I was trying to give it some time before jumping to conclusions, but this is looking like a bust of a trade. We look lost out there, we need a point guard. I thought the trade sounded good at first, but has been all bad since A.I. started.
With Stucky out, I think we actually need a good dose of Bynum already.
I cannot WAIT until A.I. drops 60 and shuts us all up.
Gogol: and by Will Blalock you mean Will Bynum, right?
So we win two games without Billups, then lose 2 (3?) in a row with AI?
That’s more like it, Kwame. Catch the ball. Dunk the ball. Remember: you’re bigger than everyone else.
This game is so depressing, I’ve got my pistons second round Wills mixed up.
Tayshaun has had enough.
Isn’t Bonzi Wells still a free agent?
chest bump
We are now officially the Etroit Pistons.
Bonzi who?
Just kick the ball into the stands.
Defense?
This Hawes kid looks impressive.
Kwame is being owned on the boards by Beno Udrih…
Garrett
Garrett +1
(sadly)
Okay, let’s hope the second unit can do something.
My question is… Will McDyess actually WANT to re-sign? Ha ha.
I’d like to see Curry’s defensive grades for this quarter.
We have no defense. Every team since A.I. seems to have great defense. We cant get to the paint, and every other team can with ease.
Remember “Hang Time”? Good times… good times…
and 1
Teddy is on Law & Order now…
maybe AI should come off the bench…
AI to Kwame = Stockton to Malone?
(I kid)
I really hope Iverson’s starting to realize that we need him to be Allen Iverson and not Chauncey Billups lite.
A.I is carrying us so far.
RIP has been TERRIBLE since the Denver deal. SUCK IT UP, RIP!
Also, Hawes is way more athletic than I thought.
I need a Bynum jersey. Nice drive and finish.
Bynum is the man.
“I really hope Iverson’s starting to realize that we need him to be Allen Iverson and not Chauncey Billups lite.”
And I hope the rest of the team realizes we need them to be themselves and not every other faceless supporting cast AI had pre-Denver ….
Malone. Yuck. Almost as sickening a Title-Chaser as Gary Parasite.
Thank you, already looks better with Bynum.
second the bynum jersey
Our offense is looking disjointed, but it’s working and we’re scoring. If we could just stop them every now and then we’d be in good shape.
Kwit it, Kwame!
Watching from 2nd today, AI is looking good no?
I think Bynum may be a better at the rim finisher than Stuckey…
So we have a team option on Bynum’s contract for next year right?
Iverson can’t be blamed for the poor play since the trade. It’s ridiculous how bad Rip has been playing, and Rasheed seems to have been invisible as well. It’s great that the role players have stepped up but that’s just not gonna cut it.
Bynum looks like Hunter on D
Wow! Rasheed making things happen in the lane! Novel idea!
We are getting spenced tonight.
I can’t believe people compared Hawes to Miller. Hawes is really remarkably athletic for his body type.
This should be a game where Sheed scores 30. Seriously. Who can guard him on the Kings?
This Hawes guy is really gettin’ on my nerves, man.
@ Sean W.:
I couldn’t agree more.
Random picture of the day: Brad Miller’s daughter being entertained by the Dallas Mavericks mascot as Patrick Ewing checks his BlackBerry in the foreground, taken by yours truly at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. That pic alone was worth braving Las Vegas in July.
Great, here comes RIP.
NOW he’s looking like a 20-year-old KID. Ha ha! (I just realized I may be the only one watching the Kings broadcast.)
These announcers are inane. It’s a bad idea to try to steal the ball from a guy who already has it? From whom should he steal it?
I agree, Bynum has been looking better than Stuckey and I want to keep him. He reminds me of Hunter too.
It’s more of a philosophical statement, kevin.
I’ve never seen anyone hesitate before they move more than kwame brown does.
You know what we’re really bad at? Getting and 1s on fast breaks. We almost never finish those fast break layups on fouls.
Bynum worries me a little with his decision making. Other than that, he is a damn good 3rd string guard.
Unacceptable
Someone was just yelling at the ref: “You’re a loser, John. A loser. That’s a bad call, Johnny.”
ouch
That pass was NOT Bynum’s fault. It was actually so good Afflalo didn’t expect it.
Showbe!
AA!!!!!!!!!
much better with a PG (Bynum)
I REALLY like Afflalo. He just seems like a glue-guy who does good things and makes smart basketball plays.
I like the “Spellcheck” nickname best.
It would be nice to see AA step up tonight.
Is anyone else sick of that Garnett commercial? I’m forced to actually momentarily change the channel when it comes on.
I liked AI and Bynum together… actually worked pretty well.
But here is my real question: Why isn’t Sheed CAMPED on the block!????!?!?!
He could drop 30+ tonight.
But alas he is Sheed: one of the most talented and frustrating players in the game! Arghhhh!
Bad call, but I’ll take it.
Speaking of nicknames … I asked Afflalo about that. He thinks Snowflake is “stupid” but said anything is better than Showbe. Afflac doesn’t really bother him, but I didn’t have the nerve to ask about Spellcheck.
Wow nice pass. Glad Prince was paying attention.
Bynum is good. Plain and simple.
Whoever’s doing the score graphic on FSD is doing a lousy job tonight.
Why “Spellcheck?” Never heard that before.
Did you see Bynum go for that rebound!?! Does he know he isn’t 6′ 10″?
Bynum was on that show back in the day about Chicago high school basketball, wasn’t he? The one that featured Eddy Curry, for the most part.
Where’s Amir?
Will Bynum > Allen Iverson?
“Spellcheck” originated on this site, did it not? Don’t get it, though? A-R-R-O-N A-F-F-L-A-L-O.
AI was totally fronting Mikki Moore there. Definitely.
Margins got me on that one.
Defense is really sloppy. Too many breakdowns.
Bynum is like the guard version of Maxiell. Explosive, but I think he might be most useful in spurts. A baby, baby-eater if you will.
Stop. Herrmann time.
i really like the bynum/ maxiel comparison! indeed!
i agree TW
The nickname “Spellcheck” made its debut in the DBB comments by kevin s. moments after the Pistons drafted Arron Afflalo.
“Afflac doesn’t really bother him, but I didn’t have the nerve to ask about Spellcheck.”
You called him a duck and a snowflake, and this was the one that had you nervous?
Thanks for bringing me up to date on that one. I like it.
I really hope Curry doesn’t already start forgetting that Fabio is good. We really don’t need him riding the bench again.
The top three stupidest nicknames i know are owned by afflalo.
Come on, George. “Don’t look now, but the Pistons are within one!”
Oh wait, there’s Amir! Getting a foul in the backcourt! WTF?
Tay really seems to thrive in this free-flowing offense. I’ve never seen him be so consistently aggressive over a few games before.
Amir of the Desert!
Beno only had six?
I like this John Goble guy. He’s like the anti-Crawford.
Not “owned by,” but “bestowed upon” Afflalo. If he had his druthers, I get the vibe he’d like no part of them.
Speaking of nicknames … what’s up with Mason introducing AI as “Allen ‘The I’ Verson.” He’s “The Answer” or “AI”. Calling him “The I” makes no sense.
Who else regrets letting Mikki Moore go? Ha ha.
We need him to help put the ‘I’ in team…
(Here’s the Pistons intro from AI’s home debut if my Mason comment doesn’t make sense)
Have a feeling the Pistons are going to have a third quarter like the first.
Yah … I wasn’t too keen on that I-Verson introduction either. Well considering the way that half started I’m happy with the score right now.
Iverson on the Pistons reminds me of when Gasol went to the Lakers. Someone on here posted a hilarious hypothetical conversation between Kobe and Gasol that basically said, “Pau, don’t try to be nice and blend in. Do what you do, score all your points and get your rebounds and we’ll be a better team.” AI needs to do that.
Nice finish to the half, AI is looking better and even Rip has improved.
Didn’t like the Iverson intro either. I don’t get it.
I only caught the last 6 minutes of the 2nd half, but the Pistons didn’t look half bad. If they can keep that up the rest of the game things should go quite well.
I found it, so now I have to cut and paste just because I think it’s funny (and it seems kind of relevant). By Kevin Sawyer:
Pau Gasol: I just want you to know, I’m not about stats. I just want to win.
Kobe Bryant: No, no, forget all that… Just score 30 points.
Pau Gasol: What?
Kobe Bryant: I make it easy. Trust me.
Pau Gasol: Typical American arrogance. Reminds me of Damon Stoudamire.
Post-game conversation in the Laker locker room
Pau Gasol: Wow, you were right. That WAS easy.
Kobe Bryant: That’s right. I’m Kobe @#%$^ Bryant. Also, I knit you this sweater at halftime.
Pau Gasol: It’s beautiful.
Kobe Bryant: (Disappears in a puff of purple smoke).
maybe someone should have looked at tape of that spencer hawes kid.
i second ks, matt. i would be more offended by snowflake than spellcheck.
just got home from work. glad i missed that first Q. if we can’t beat this kings, we are in sorry shape.
In other news…
LBJ scores 41 points tonight for 3rd time in 4 games to go along with his 6 assists, 5 rebounds and 3 steals.
Ben Wallace’s line? 4 rebounds and 0 points in 20 minutes. Still missing that guy. :S
I thought Damon Stoudamire puffed the purple smoke.
P.S. Ben is actually making more money this year than Lebron….
I rather have been down early then tie at the half, than lead earlier and be tied at the half. Gives is more reason to fight it out.
That was pre-Iverson. The Pistons being up 15 and losing the lead before halftime… possibly a couple times.
Actually, is this the first bad first quarter we’ve had this season? Usually things have started going downhill sometime in the second.
Holy crap, when does Ben’s contract expire?
“That’s right. I’m Kobe @#%$^ Bryant. Also, I knit you this sweater at halftime.”-Hilarious!
So Moore just shoves Amir into the backboard stand and nobody says or does anything? Hmm.
Amir is like a big kid… wait, he IS a big kid…
Blaha was livid. For a second or two.
I think tay went and got a haircut from his old compton barber.
Love Blaha calling out the ref.
Haha! Blaha just described John Gobel is, “Out of control,” saying, “I don’t know what’s up with him.”
Blaha’s pissed! Normally, he stays pretty composed.
@Keegan: Ben still has 2 years remaining (this year and next) on his current contract at 14,500,000 this year. Lebron has the same amount left making just over 14,000,000 million this year. Ridiculous isn’t it?
Blaha is ALL OVER Gobel (or however you spell his name). Fantastic!
Refs killing this for me!
Blaha is ALL OVER Gobel! Hilarious! They just keep coming… even as I type this. “We’re in his world”.
I’ve never heard Blaha so blatantly agitated, It’s AWESOME!
Cool, we get comprehensive correspondence on the calls now.
Whoa Dash Rick! We are part of the Pistons collective.
Blaha is stopping just short of making a Donaghy reference here.
“Hey, somebody else blew the whistle”
Lol… nice Blaha … nice…
Garret… Indeed! Blaha is just awesome tonight. Hope we actually win.
That was a man’s rebound by Brad Miller off that Iverson missed 3. He tossed Amir.
hopefully he doesn’t get so worked up he references gobel’s leadership to hitler…
The ball, in fact, does not lie.
It really is getting chippy tonight. Also, Rip is killing me tonight.
Sheed’s pass was lovely.
there is no quickness to this team. everyone’s playing so tentative. i’ve never seen so many fadeaways. people cut to the basket, get the ball, and then almost wait as if to see what’s going to happen next.
Brick City, PA
i can’t believe rip was only good because of chauncey. is that what he’s trying to prove?
Amir is damn tenacious. Tenacious D!
Rip is doing his best A.I. impression lately. Arm sleeve, jumping in passing lanes, and low field goal percentage.
Heard that, Brick City. Needs to go see Dr. Rahmani again or something…….
Random comment from the crazy Justin.tv chatters:
11:40gonzalma:Afflao is not too much different than obama
Curry must be punishing herrmann for stopping by hollywood looking for a movie deal.
What does that even mean?
Restruter_It-lol
I don’t buy referee conspiracy theories … but of the league’s 65 officials, Palmer, Wunderlich and Goble all favor the home team against the spread this year. Sample size makes this irrelevant, but since I bothered to look it up I figured I’d pass it along.
We need Bynum…
I have no idea why amir doesn’t play 30+ minutes a night.
Quincy Douby is Acie Law’s twin brother?
Tay’s running hook is a force to be reckoned with.
You don’t have to be a conspiracy theorist to notice that officiating in the NBA is consistently bad.
BOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Seems these guys are finally starting to learn how to catch A.I.’s passes..
A hightlight!
Beno just Bynum’d Sheed!
Someone needs to guard my fellow citizen Udrih….and we’ll be ok.
Here’s a random comment for everybody:
Watching Ryan Field do a side story involving Micheal Phelps makes me want to vomit.
Great defense, but they’ve got to finish it off with a rebound.
While phelphs is competing in the olympics — Go USA
Any other time — scUM
way to box out, tay.
He has the fire in his eyes just reminded me of beerfest: ‘he has the eye of the jew’
why is iverson on salmons?
Who is this Jason Thompson and why is he walking to the rim for lay-ups?
Jason Thompson trying to show he wasn’t the worst pick in the draft…
Is Jason Thompson good or are the Pistons just making him look that way?
Anyone else hear the idiot in the background through Blaha’s mic?
Bring in the Herminator!!
Okay Stones, time to steal one.
I think for my fantasy team I’m just going to see who the Pistons are playing that week and add a random scrub to my lineup. They’re sure to average 18 and 7 against us. Damn it.
thompson’s actually been incredible so far this year for the kings. they have some really good young players, and we haven’t even seen donte green.
“Anyone else hear the idiot in the background through Blaha’s mic?”
Yeah he’s so freakin annoying..all game long..blah, blah
Five in double figures for the Kings.
nown for his size, ability to rebound, amazing ball-handling skills for his size and position, his mid-range jump shots, ability and will to run the floor, his immensely unselfish attitude and his passing ability, Jason Thompson’s strengths are extremely clear to all of those people who watch him complete in the sport of basketball. Unfortunately for Jason his weaknesses are obvious as well. Jason Thompson often settles for shots that are less then ideal, is a poor defender in all aspects, and often lacks toughness and strength underneath the basket, he will need to improve on these components of his game in order to be a star in the NBA.
Will f-ing Bynum. Nice.
Bynum is the new Herrmann.
Like I said: We need Bynum!
I love Will Bynum. I’m so glad he’s on the team, especially with Stuckey down.
@Primosh: You think security would take care of that.
I want a No. 12 jersey that says “M.F. Bynum” on the back.
Bynum just took it to Hawes! HE HAS NO FEAR.
why do keep getting into horrible mismatches? stop f-ing switching, numnutses.
Will Bynum is the scrub who torches every other team. Put him on your fantasy squad.
I still want to go to a Raptors game dressed as Herrmann.
If the Pistons win tonight, I’m convinced Blaha is gonna finsh something off with “….BITCHES!”
Ex:
“Pistons win the first of the west coast road trip 95-91…BITCHES!”
Oh man. Textbook Kwame: he had a WIDE OPEN offensive rebound and the ball just squirted out of his hands like it had a mind of its own.
Here’s my jersey: http://tinyurl.com/5ggnda
Wow, that was an awful possession for Kwame.
By.
Num.
B-B-B-Bynum!
if i see another lazy pass from a guy in blue, i’m going shoot my tv.
that’s the kwame brown i know. horrible hands. easily blocked.
i do not understand how will bynum is this good.
Bynum baby!!!!
Another mismatch!
Did I mention that I LOVE Will Bynum?
dribble, dribble, dribble.
fade
a
way
Bynum: Ok, I am a believer. Dude has serious game.
Kwame: Has quick feet I guess.
Shame we can’t get away with 2 6-footers in the backcourt all the time. I like this Iverson/Bynum combo a lot.
Starting lineup suggestion…
Bynum, A.I, Tayshaun, Sheed, Amir
2nd Line
Stuckey, Rip, Hermann, Max, Kwame
Bynum ain’t no scrub!
Image a lineup of Bynum, Iverson, Stuckey and Tay. Thats one lineup that isnt afraid to attack the hoop.
And when stuckey gets back, Bynum still has to play. Let Stuckey play sg off the bench. Or start him and Ai. But bynum needs to play and stuckey can be more aggresive as the sg.
Quick! Trade Bynum while his stock is high!
(I kid)
We’ve really stepped up our free-throw D tonight. They’re only shooting 58%
Eric: He certainly isn’t, but look at it from the perspective of a Sacramento/Boston/Toronto fan.
Classic Sheed.
Friggin Sheed!
Bynum = Hunter (but much, much better)
@gogol
because the ball doesn’t lie… bad calls
For whatever it’s worth, the Sactown/Lakers games early in the season last year were the ones that Amir and Cheikh blocked like 20 shots … before getting buried on the bench. Here’s to hoping Curry is smarter than the Flipper was in regards to Bynum.
i’m kind of confused why we’re going small when they have brad miller, hawes and jason thompson all in the game…?
Ha! That loud fan is a bald, fat dude. Of course.
maybe to be faster?
Woo great read by AI.
9 assists for AI.
@Garrett: That guy is STILL chirpin!
thanks for the memory MW. I looked like a genius that day saying amir was bound for great things… then flip was flip.
JD: to force the other team to adjust instead of the other way around? Something has to give one way or the other.
I hope they throw that monkey off tonight!
That steal/outlet to a streaking Rip might be a vision of things to come……
Hell, we look better with Rip off the court! Yikes.
Imagine us getting Rip going, Sheed doing some low post work, Afflalo contributing like this (deserves the minutes Curry!) and give us some Herm.
Love it. Go Pistons.
Finally, how about these DB’s behind Blaha & Kelser?!
i gotta get to arco arena:
nine inch nails
some chick named sarah brightman
and TWO shows from TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHSTRA!!!
enjoy, sacramento!
Sarah Brightman has an enchanting voice. I’m just saying.
mw, it’s worked these last few possessions. but if spencer hawes gets bynum on the block a few more times, we’re going to start seeing a post-clinic.
garrett, i could tell from the commercial. haunting.
and ill say it again .. friggin sheed!
Really, Sheed? A 27-footer?
I wish somebody would at least tell Sheed that it’s not a 4 pointer if you’re 5 feet beyond the arc.
We run a small lineup and Sheed still chucks threes. GRRRRR
Curry should yank Sheed for that. I mean, come on.
if you have an open shot you gotta take it.
Thompson has one of those grills that leads you to think he may have sucked his thumb until he was 12.
Wow, I just noticed that Iverson’s played 42 minutes. Way he likes it, I guess.
He’s open because he makes like 20 something % of those.
Haha! the game hasn’t even gone 42 minutes!
I’m usually the last to complain about Sheed’s loose cannon when it comes to 3 pointers, but that last one was ridculous. When he’s been misfiring, and we now have an excellent shooter on the floor, there is NO need for that.
when sheed wants to defend, he does stuff like that.
Eric: I’m with you. They’ve got all the pieces. If they can pull out of this shooting slump and figure out the chemistry issues the Pistons should be looking good going into the playoffs. Right now things are completely falling apart for about 15 minutes each game. The rest of the time they’re looking pretty good.
“Iverson will give the pistons a superstar that can score late in games when they are in a drought”
I hope we see it right now.
That’s a ridiculous make.
dribble, dribble, dribble
fade
a
way
(even you, tay?)
Man, these west coast games kill me. I should totally be doing work right now. Or sleeping.
STFU stupid kings fan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I really want to punch the bald fat man….
Special K @ the fat man “Can’t play a lick…”
who the f does BEANo uDRIP think he is?
I did appreciate that comment by special k also.
That’s why the local broadcast guys are so much better than the national guys. You’d never hear stuff like this from Mike Breen.
That was crazy awesome ball movement.
Haven’t seen ball movement like that in…a while.
I think Rip has finally ended his poor-shooting, I-miss-Chauncey strike.
holy s***! an actual play! out of a timeout! with crisp passing!
BEAUTIFUL give-and-go from Rip to Sheed back to Rip. That’s Pistons basketball.
Rip?
The Kings should charge extra for those seats behind the visiting announcers — you get a great view and a chance to be heard on TV all night long.
that was an awful shot by tay
Salami and Cheese?
Mediocre game, but I’ll take the W.
You might wind up sitting in behind Rick Mahorn though, Matt. Won’t see a thing.
Pistons win the first of the wet coast trip 98-92….BITCHES!
12:29kuthey:HERMANN IS A EURO GIGALO
Haha!
Count it! First win with AI. May it be the first of many…
Get that, Amir!
get that, amir X 3
Actually, sitting behind Mahorn = best seat in the house.
Thanks for fouling. We like getting to 100 points.
The AI mini-era now has a win, so maybe things will be a bit looser from here on in.
Matt W: Best quote ever?
“Now you know who is gansta? Really gangsta,” Herrmann said in heavily accented English.
spread vs. lakers on friday: LAKERS (-32) pistons
Justin TV is the best thing ever. I love the interwebs.
Winning feels soooo good. I hope we can find Bynum some playing time when Stuckey gets back, and I hope Sheed will find the power box. Now that we got over this little hump,winning, we can start working on more minute details of the game.
I think that with Bynum playing so well, Spellcheck will definately get moved to the 5th guard spot. Either that or he takes the minutes at the backup 3 spot and Herrmann rides the pine.
Afflalo was +14 tonight, Bynum was +10, Rip was -1. Doesn’t really mean anything (Rip was on the court for that 1Q massacre), but still, here’s to hoping he takes minutes at SF and doesn’t get completely buried in the regular rotation.
The View From The Box Score:
Good production from the backup guards (Afflalo and Bynum).
Worrisome production from the frontcourt. I was wrong. We do need Dyess back.
Regardless, seems like points in the paint will be much higher even without him.
Also, AI is shorter than Eli. That cracks me up.
AI looked pretty good, Sheed and Rip need to relax and play there game, Tayshuan doesn’t seem to give a shit who plays the one, Amir needs a few more minutes, Bynum deserves a LOT more minutes, Maxiell seems to understand AI does pass the ball, Kwame…I’m beginning to believe he is a bust, but its still early.
Satisfying win, bench played really good.
Prince is playing like a top 10 player in the league right now
can curry please force sheed to go down on the block at least once or twice in the first quarter?
i did like thetrade.
because i didn´t see it coming, but rip absolutely sucks without billups next to him. to make things worse, a backcourt of ai and rip is a defensive liability all the time.
imagine this stuckey-heart-beat-thing is getting serious.
sheed still gunning from the parking lot, leaving amir in the post, although he has no post game.
lottery 2009
It’s really too early to tell what the rotation is going to look like come Feb.
1) If Dice doesn’t sign with someone in a week, chances are he’ll be back here (yes, I read that he only wants to play in Detroit).
2) Hermann was DNPCD last night probably because Tay had to play point forward. I predict Hermann gets minutes against LAL Thurs night. But the fact that we have no experienced point guard, and Rip and AI don’t compliment each other well at all, is going to mean diminished minutes for Walter. We’re going to be seeing a lot of 3 guard sets, and Tay running the offense.
2a) Bynum will be getting some burn at PG, does MC have a choice? Can’t wait to see his comments.
2b) Let’s hope Stuckey continues to develop and quickly, it would solve a lot of problems.
3) The immediate problem I see with the AI trade is that he doesn’t mesh well with the chemistry of this team, let alone the DP philosophy. The latter can be changed, but the former is going to be difficult. It’s not a hopeless cause yet, it’s still too early to tell, but getting the right combinations on the court and the minutes is going to be a challenge. You have right now, five guards who deserve playing time, two are All Stars and a third is touted as a future All Star, but none of the three really mesh well together-yet. So, you’re committed to a 3G offense, but the 3-man is the one running the offense. Kind of problematical, isn’t it? Not enough balls for this team and not enough minutes. It may sound irrational, but AI’s addition may cost the team wins. We’ll see how it shakes out come May.
3a) Lindsey Hunter, anyone? Check back with me in May.
4) Kwame has been as advertised. Like Roberto Duran, he has hands of stone, but is sound on D. He’s going to be an efficient two year rental, nothing more or less.