Big Swami
12-27-2007, 11:34 AM
:langlois:
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Curtis (Lansing): I’ve heard rumors about Chris Webber being signed. Do you think signing him will slow the development of Jason Maxiell and Amir Johnson or will practicing and learning from him only make them better?
Langlois: If Webber is signed – and I don’t think that’s a priority for Joe Dumars right now – it will have no impact on Maxiell, for sure. He’s entrenched now as the first big guy off the bench and has more to offer at this point than Webber. Johnson’s playing time could be affected, I suppose, although he also will be battling with Primoz Brezec for situational minutes as the No. 4 big man.
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Hameed: Do the Pistons have Minnesota’s first-round pick this year?
Langlois: Nope. Minnesota got its own No. 1 pick back – which will certainly be a high lottery pick in another deep and talented draft – in the Kevin Garnett trade with Boston. The Pistons own Minnesota’s No. 2 pick, which has a very good shot at being the No. 31 pick in the draft and should yield a solid player. It’s the pick the Timberwolves sent Detroit for Ronald Dupree in his first tour of duty with the Pistons.
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Angela (Detroit): With the trade of Nazr Mohammed giving the Pistons greater cap flexibility, would Joe Dumars consider signing Ron Artest? I know he has baggage, but he’d be a defensive nightmare for opposing forwards like LeBron James or Paul Pierce.
Langlois: Never say never, Angela, but this comes as close as possible. If you could forget that Artest instigated The Palace brawl and just look at the rest of his extremely checkered career, that by itself would be enough for Dumars to rule him out. It isn’t necessarily Joe D’s goal to have a locker room of Boy Scouts, but he does want a locker room that’s harmonious, and harmony doesn’t survive Ron Artest for long.
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Matt (Redford): In my NBA Live ’08 game, playing as the Pistons, I was offered a trade by Toronto – Chris Bosh for Tayshaun Prince. I was wondering which team would benefit more from that trade.
Langlois: Toronto wouldn’t do that deal, Matt. As gifted and versatile as Prince is, nobody trades a young big man who’s already been an All-Star. There wouldn’t be more than a handful of players in the league that Toronto would consider trading for Bosh and most of those guys – Lebron James, Dwight Howard, et al – are virtually untouchable.
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Spencer: I know Atlanta would not do this trade, but ESPN.com’s Trade Machine says you could trade Walter Herrmann for Josh Smith. If the Hawks were really that stupid, would Joe Dumars do that trade?
Langlois: Well, let’s see … a guy who hasn’t cracked the active list yet for one of the most dynamic young athletes in the game? Yeah, I have a hunch Joe D would do that deal. Smith has some significant maturity issues, and he’ll be a restricted free agent after the season, but he can affect games in too many ways to not be of interest to any team in the league. Herrmann, by the way, could be of help to the Pistons before it’s all said and done. I have a hard time seeing how he’ll get minutes unless Jarvis Hayes goes into a prolonged shooting slump, but he’s a legitimate NBA player.
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Kevin (Lathrup Village): The last six games (before Wednesday’s New Jersey game), Pistons opponents have averaged 80.2 points per game. Are you reminded that the Pistons routinely held opponents under 100, 80 and even 70 a few years back? It’s even more impressive with the league being more offensive-oriented now. Can the team maintain this intensity against the Western powerhouses?
Langlois: I think they’ll maintain their intensity, but the better teams from the West will probably have higher scoring averages if for no other reason than many of them play at a faster tempo that means more possessions per game. But you make a great point, Kevin – the league has changed significantly in the way it’s officiated since the 2003-04 Pistons had that impressive run of holding teams under 70 points and were known as the NBA’s best defensive team. This team also rates among the top five in pretty much every defensive category.
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Andrea (Battle Creek): Arron Afflalo has had some awesome games lately. I agree with Flip Saunders’ comment that working hard is a talent and he has it. About our two new players, Walter Herrmann and Primoz Brezec, what are they like?
Langlois: I haven’t had much chance to talk to those guys, Andrea, because the Pistons just haven’t had many practices since they’ve joined the team. But both seem to be very pleased with the trade that brought them to Detroit, even though neither one has a very significant role on the team to this point. They’ll both be free agents this summer, as will Jarvis Hayes. If Hayes can get a larger role – and a bigger payday – with somebody else, it’s possible the Pistons will consider Herrmann an option to back up Tayshaun Prince. Brezec, too, could come back in a backup role. Brezec is a very pleasant guy who speaks four languages. Both players seem pleasantly amused by the camaraderie and good-natured verbal sparring that’s a constant around the Pistons.
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Jody (Canton): I’m happy to see Nazr Mohammed getting minutes and doing well in Charlotte. If he keeps it up, all the people who complained about him when he was here will probably complain that we let such a good player go. I’ve noticed that Rasheed Wallace wears the pockets on his warmup pants inside-out. What’s up with that?
Langlois: Just a Rasheed quirk, Jody. At practice, he usually wears ratty old sweat pants and always has the pockets turned inside-out on them, too. You’re right about Mohammed. He was criticized far too harshly during his time as a Piston. When given a consistent role, he delivered consistent numbers. And he was nothing but a pro’s pro despite tough circumstances. He’ll help the Bobcats.
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Lee (Oklahoma): The Pistons surprised me when they beat the Celtics. What was so impressive is that Prince and Wallace both had poor shooting games. Do you think the Pistons are better than they were last year?
Langlois: I do, Lee. It traces to the greater production they’re getting out of their frontcourt with the insertion of Antonio McDyess into the starting lineup and the dramatic improvement of Jason Maxiell as part of a significantly upgraded bench. And it’s only going to get better as Rodney Stuckey finds his way around the NBA.
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Rob (Canton): With Lindsey Hunter playing well and Arron Afflalo contributing, how will Rodney Stuckey’s return affect the backcourt rotation?
Langlois: The first effect was Flip Murray going to the inactive list. It remains to be seen how the rest shakes out. For now, Flip Saunders loves what Lindsey Hunter gives the Pistons in limited minutes and Arron Afflalo has been a terrific defender who now is giving the team efficient minutes on the other end, as well. But when Stuckey shakes off the rust, I can’t help but think he’s going to squeeze minutes from everyone.
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Clifford (Detroit): Do you see the Pistons coming out of the East this year? And who do you see coming out of the West?
Langlois: The Pistons and Celtics sure appear to be on a collision course, Clifford, but it’s five months until the Eastern Conference finals – lots can happen between now and then. Until I see any reason to think otherwise, I’m staying with San Antonio in the West.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Curtis (Lansing): I’ve heard rumors about Chris Webber being signed. Do you think signing him will slow the development of Jason Maxiell and Amir Johnson or will practicing and learning from him only make them better?
Langlois: If Webber is signed – and I don’t think that’s a priority for Joe Dumars right now – it will have no impact on Maxiell, for sure. He’s entrenched now as the first big guy off the bench and has more to offer at this point than Webber. Johnson’s playing time could be affected, I suppose, although he also will be battling with Primoz Brezec for situational minutes as the No. 4 big man.
-----
Hameed: Do the Pistons have Minnesota’s first-round pick this year?
Langlois: Nope. Minnesota got its own No. 1 pick back – which will certainly be a high lottery pick in another deep and talented draft – in the Kevin Garnett trade with Boston. The Pistons own Minnesota’s No. 2 pick, which has a very good shot at being the No. 31 pick in the draft and should yield a solid player. It’s the pick the Timberwolves sent Detroit for Ronald Dupree in his first tour of duty with the Pistons.
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Angela (Detroit): With the trade of Nazr Mohammed giving the Pistons greater cap flexibility, would Joe Dumars consider signing Ron Artest? I know he has baggage, but he’d be a defensive nightmare for opposing forwards like LeBron James or Paul Pierce.
Langlois: Never say never, Angela, but this comes as close as possible. If you could forget that Artest instigated The Palace brawl and just look at the rest of his extremely checkered career, that by itself would be enough for Dumars to rule him out. It isn’t necessarily Joe D’s goal to have a locker room of Boy Scouts, but he does want a locker room that’s harmonious, and harmony doesn’t survive Ron Artest for long.
-----
Matt (Redford): In my NBA Live ’08 game, playing as the Pistons, I was offered a trade by Toronto – Chris Bosh for Tayshaun Prince. I was wondering which team would benefit more from that trade.
Langlois: Toronto wouldn’t do that deal, Matt. As gifted and versatile as Prince is, nobody trades a young big man who’s already been an All-Star. There wouldn’t be more than a handful of players in the league that Toronto would consider trading for Bosh and most of those guys – Lebron James, Dwight Howard, et al – are virtually untouchable.
-----
Spencer: I know Atlanta would not do this trade, but ESPN.com’s Trade Machine says you could trade Walter Herrmann for Josh Smith. If the Hawks were really that stupid, would Joe Dumars do that trade?
Langlois: Well, let’s see … a guy who hasn’t cracked the active list yet for one of the most dynamic young athletes in the game? Yeah, I have a hunch Joe D would do that deal. Smith has some significant maturity issues, and he’ll be a restricted free agent after the season, but he can affect games in too many ways to not be of interest to any team in the league. Herrmann, by the way, could be of help to the Pistons before it’s all said and done. I have a hard time seeing how he’ll get minutes unless Jarvis Hayes goes into a prolonged shooting slump, but he’s a legitimate NBA player.
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Kevin (Lathrup Village): The last six games (before Wednesday’s New Jersey game), Pistons opponents have averaged 80.2 points per game. Are you reminded that the Pistons routinely held opponents under 100, 80 and even 70 a few years back? It’s even more impressive with the league being more offensive-oriented now. Can the team maintain this intensity against the Western powerhouses?
Langlois: I think they’ll maintain their intensity, but the better teams from the West will probably have higher scoring averages if for no other reason than many of them play at a faster tempo that means more possessions per game. But you make a great point, Kevin – the league has changed significantly in the way it’s officiated since the 2003-04 Pistons had that impressive run of holding teams under 70 points and were known as the NBA’s best defensive team. This team also rates among the top five in pretty much every defensive category.
-----
Andrea (Battle Creek): Arron Afflalo has had some awesome games lately. I agree with Flip Saunders’ comment that working hard is a talent and he has it. About our two new players, Walter Herrmann and Primoz Brezec, what are they like?
Langlois: I haven’t had much chance to talk to those guys, Andrea, because the Pistons just haven’t had many practices since they’ve joined the team. But both seem to be very pleased with the trade that brought them to Detroit, even though neither one has a very significant role on the team to this point. They’ll both be free agents this summer, as will Jarvis Hayes. If Hayes can get a larger role – and a bigger payday – with somebody else, it’s possible the Pistons will consider Herrmann an option to back up Tayshaun Prince. Brezec, too, could come back in a backup role. Brezec is a very pleasant guy who speaks four languages. Both players seem pleasantly amused by the camaraderie and good-natured verbal sparring that’s a constant around the Pistons.
-----
Jody (Canton): I’m happy to see Nazr Mohammed getting minutes and doing well in Charlotte. If he keeps it up, all the people who complained about him when he was here will probably complain that we let such a good player go. I’ve noticed that Rasheed Wallace wears the pockets on his warmup pants inside-out. What’s up with that?
Langlois: Just a Rasheed quirk, Jody. At practice, he usually wears ratty old sweat pants and always has the pockets turned inside-out on them, too. You’re right about Mohammed. He was criticized far too harshly during his time as a Piston. When given a consistent role, he delivered consistent numbers. And he was nothing but a pro’s pro despite tough circumstances. He’ll help the Bobcats.
-----
Lee (Oklahoma): The Pistons surprised me when they beat the Celtics. What was so impressive is that Prince and Wallace both had poor shooting games. Do you think the Pistons are better than they were last year?
Langlois: I do, Lee. It traces to the greater production they’re getting out of their frontcourt with the insertion of Antonio McDyess into the starting lineup and the dramatic improvement of Jason Maxiell as part of a significantly upgraded bench. And it’s only going to get better as Rodney Stuckey finds his way around the NBA.
-----
Rob (Canton): With Lindsey Hunter playing well and Arron Afflalo contributing, how will Rodney Stuckey’s return affect the backcourt rotation?
Langlois: The first effect was Flip Murray going to the inactive list. It remains to be seen how the rest shakes out. For now, Flip Saunders loves what Lindsey Hunter gives the Pistons in limited minutes and Arron Afflalo has been a terrific defender who now is giving the team efficient minutes on the other end, as well. But when Stuckey shakes off the rust, I can’t help but think he’s going to squeeze minutes from everyone.
-----
Clifford (Detroit): Do you see the Pistons coming out of the East this year? And who do you see coming out of the West?
Langlois: The Pistons and Celtics sure appear to be on a collision course, Clifford, but it’s five months until the Eastern Conference finals – lots can happen between now and then. Until I see any reason to think otherwise, I’m staying with San Antonio in the West.