Glenn
09-22-2008, 01:53 PM
:langlois:
MONDAY, September 22, 2008
Byron (Detroit, Mich.): I was wondering if you can explain to me how the minutes of all five big guys are going to be split up?
Langlois: It probably is going to vary from game to game depending on a lot of things, Byron. Is it the fourth game in five nights? Probably shorter stints for everyone. Are the Pistons playing the Knicks, with big Eddy Curry and Zach Randolph? Maybe a few more minutes for Kwame Brown. When I asked Joe Dumars last month if there was room to give all five minutes, here’s what he said: “That’s a good question and the answer is that Mike (Curry) and I have talked about this and what we’ve said is we’re in a position to match up on any given night however a team comes out there. We really like that kind of versatility. You’re not locked into just hoping something works. We can match up with really big teams, with athletic teams, with skill teams. To be able to have five different types of guys gives you the opportunity to match up 82 nights a year with whatever a team throws out there.” I don’t think you’ll see any of them average more than 30 minutes a night this year, which would mean a slight reduction in Wallace’s minutes. I think McDyess’ minutes will be cut from last year’s 29 to probably the low 20s. I’d guess Amir Johnson will get around 20. Jason Maxiell’s role will be similar to last year’s. The wild card is Brown. It will all play itself out.
Bryce (Ann Arbor, Mich.): No offense to Jason, but I’m hoping Amir or Kwame get the starting job over him. Jason’s game is so high energy, I think he would be better suited to wreaking havoc on the other team off the bench. We can leave the longer minutes to the other bigs. What do you think?
Langlois: My best guess would be that Maxiell is the least likely of the three to move into the starting lineup should the decision be made, as looks possible, to return Antonio McDyess to his off-the-bench role. Michael Curry told me in July that he’s going to be careful with Maxiell and he cited the playoffs when he played very well against Dwight Howard for a few games as a starter when McDyess was dealing with the effects of his broken nose, then had very little impact in the next few games. He knows that Maxiell plays himself to the point of exhaustion and then needs to give his body time to rejuvenate, so he wants to play him in shorter, more effective bursts.
Dan (Troy, Mich.): I know this may be a long shot, but do you think the NBA All-Star game can come to downtown Detroit in the future, either Joe Louis Arena or Cobo Hall?
Langlois: That’s a no shot, Dan, not a long shot. If the Pistons were to host an All-Star game, it would be at The Palace. Besides, Cobo isn’t up to standards and Joe Louis is really borderline anymore without well-positioned luxury suites.
Jason (Ann Arbor, Mich.): Channing Frye seems to be the odd man out in Portland with LaMarcus Aldridge, Greg Oden and others limiting his minutes. To me, he fits the Piston mold perfectly and his career also seems to mirror Chauncey and Rip’s – undervalued and a steal for the right team.
Langlois: The book on Frye is talented but a little soft, Jason. I’m not sure that fits the Piston mold, but you never know. He’s still young enough that maybe he’ll add a little bit of an edge as he matures. But I don’t see any real openings in the frontcourt rotation in Detroit for him right now with the Pistons already having five big men they see getting minutes.
Jonathan (Shelby Twp., Mich.): The roster is set, right? I don’t mind it because I know we will be fine. My question is who is the most dangerous up-and-coming team to the Pistons?
Langlois: I think Toronto and Philadelphia are the two Eastern teams whose off-season moves give them a chance to compete for the conference title along with the Pistons, Boston, Cleveland and maybe Orlando.
Thomas (Milan, Mich.): Walter Sharpe seems to have a good skill set for a guy his size, 6-foot-9 and 245 pounds. However, he does not look to be nearly as large as Amir Johnson at 210. What is the story here?
Langlois: The story is that Sharpe weighed 232 when he worked out for the Pistons the week of the draft. He was more than 250 in early May when he decided to stay in the draft and began getting into top shape in anticipation of predraft workouts. And the 210 for Amir is clearly outdated. I’m not sure what Amir actually weighs, but I’d guess about 230.
Mark (Grand Rapids, Mich.): There were some implications that Antonio McDyess might not start. Who do you think is qualified to take his starting spot? Might Stuckey, Rip and Billups all start with Prince and Wallace filling in the four and five spots?
Langlois: That might be a lineup that finishes games, Mark, but Stuckey will not start. Michael Curry said last week he wants Stuckey and McDyess coming off the bench to anchor the scoring for the second unit. Curry has said all three of the other big men he sees as fighting for spots in the rotation – Jason Maxiell, Kwame Brown and Amir Johnson – will get the chance to see how they fit with the starting unit during training camp and the preseason games. My best guess is that Maxiell will continue in his role as the energy guy off the bench and Johnson will get the first crack over Brown because I think Curry is going to want to pair Johnson with Wallace in the starting lineup.
Anders (Stockholm, Sweden): Do you think Walter Herrmann will get more minutes this year? It seems to me he is very popular and somewhat underrated.
Langlois: Joe Dumars and Michael Curry like Herrmann a great deal, Anders. He’s going to get a chance to prove he deserves consideration for minutes behind Tayshaun Prince. With the full expectation that both Rodney Stuckey and Arron Afflalo are going to get boosts in minutes, though, Herrmann might have to fight Rip Hamilton for minutes behind Prince – and it’s safe to guess that Hamilton will get the benefit of the doubt in that matchup.
Eric (Goldsboro, N.C.): I see on the Pistons’ roster that Kwame Brown has been assigned No. 54. Isn’t this the same number assigned to Jason Maxiell? Is there a trade in the works?
Langlois: Brown will wear No. 38. No trade in the works.
Joe (Rochester, Mich.): Does Joe Dumars’ lack of activity this off-season have anything to do with the loss of John Hammond to the Bucks? Was he really the brains behind the Pistons’ success?
Langlois: The lack of activity was due to the fact nobody countered with an offer that Joe D thought would make the Pistons a better team. Dumars would be the first to tell anyone that Hammond was a terrific first lieutenant for him all these years – they complemented each other tremendously – but Hammond would be the first to tell anyone that Dumars has no trouble being decisive.
Biren (Troy, Mich.): I keep going over what the Pistons could do with five big men and I came to Maxiell, Amir and Sheed on the floor at the same time with either Maxiell or Amir playing the three. The Pistons seem to be at their best when Sheed is stacking up all those technical fouls. Do you think he will be more emotionally free to do that this year with Michael Curry coaching and having four other big men?
Langlois: I don’t think you’ll see either Maxiell or Johnson defending too many small forwards. Maybe if New Jersey lines up with Yi Jianlian playing the position or Orlando with Rashard Lewis, but otherwise, no. As for Wallace’s technicals, no, I would expect Michael Curry to not be especially tolerant of a heavy accumulation of technicals.
Jason (Lewisburg, W.V.): Don’t get me wrong, I love the Pistons. But my concerns are how the team will be once we lose Chauncey, Rip, Antonio and Sheed. I know we have a great bench, but I don’t see anyone who can step up and be a leader after our veterans retire.
Langlois: The Pistons have Billups under contract for at least three more years and McDyess for two. Hamilton could opt out after next season, but the Pistons will try to work out a contract extension. Wallace’s contract is up after the season, but if he decides to continue playing as opposed to retiring, the Pistons should be the front-runners to get him, although I would expect a very active market for his services. That’s a long way of saying it’s way too early to start worrying about the demise of the Pistons. And in young guys like Rodney Stuckey, Arron Afflalo, Amir Johnson and Jason Maxiell, the Pistons are better positioned than the vast majority of other NBA teams with regard to their future.
MONDAY, September 22, 2008
Byron (Detroit, Mich.): I was wondering if you can explain to me how the minutes of all five big guys are going to be split up?
Langlois: It probably is going to vary from game to game depending on a lot of things, Byron. Is it the fourth game in five nights? Probably shorter stints for everyone. Are the Pistons playing the Knicks, with big Eddy Curry and Zach Randolph? Maybe a few more minutes for Kwame Brown. When I asked Joe Dumars last month if there was room to give all five minutes, here’s what he said: “That’s a good question and the answer is that Mike (Curry) and I have talked about this and what we’ve said is we’re in a position to match up on any given night however a team comes out there. We really like that kind of versatility. You’re not locked into just hoping something works. We can match up with really big teams, with athletic teams, with skill teams. To be able to have five different types of guys gives you the opportunity to match up 82 nights a year with whatever a team throws out there.” I don’t think you’ll see any of them average more than 30 minutes a night this year, which would mean a slight reduction in Wallace’s minutes. I think McDyess’ minutes will be cut from last year’s 29 to probably the low 20s. I’d guess Amir Johnson will get around 20. Jason Maxiell’s role will be similar to last year’s. The wild card is Brown. It will all play itself out.
Bryce (Ann Arbor, Mich.): No offense to Jason, but I’m hoping Amir or Kwame get the starting job over him. Jason’s game is so high energy, I think he would be better suited to wreaking havoc on the other team off the bench. We can leave the longer minutes to the other bigs. What do you think?
Langlois: My best guess would be that Maxiell is the least likely of the three to move into the starting lineup should the decision be made, as looks possible, to return Antonio McDyess to his off-the-bench role. Michael Curry told me in July that he’s going to be careful with Maxiell and he cited the playoffs when he played very well against Dwight Howard for a few games as a starter when McDyess was dealing with the effects of his broken nose, then had very little impact in the next few games. He knows that Maxiell plays himself to the point of exhaustion and then needs to give his body time to rejuvenate, so he wants to play him in shorter, more effective bursts.
Dan (Troy, Mich.): I know this may be a long shot, but do you think the NBA All-Star game can come to downtown Detroit in the future, either Joe Louis Arena or Cobo Hall?
Langlois: That’s a no shot, Dan, not a long shot. If the Pistons were to host an All-Star game, it would be at The Palace. Besides, Cobo isn’t up to standards and Joe Louis is really borderline anymore without well-positioned luxury suites.
Jason (Ann Arbor, Mich.): Channing Frye seems to be the odd man out in Portland with LaMarcus Aldridge, Greg Oden and others limiting his minutes. To me, he fits the Piston mold perfectly and his career also seems to mirror Chauncey and Rip’s – undervalued and a steal for the right team.
Langlois: The book on Frye is talented but a little soft, Jason. I’m not sure that fits the Piston mold, but you never know. He’s still young enough that maybe he’ll add a little bit of an edge as he matures. But I don’t see any real openings in the frontcourt rotation in Detroit for him right now with the Pistons already having five big men they see getting minutes.
Jonathan (Shelby Twp., Mich.): The roster is set, right? I don’t mind it because I know we will be fine. My question is who is the most dangerous up-and-coming team to the Pistons?
Langlois: I think Toronto and Philadelphia are the two Eastern teams whose off-season moves give them a chance to compete for the conference title along with the Pistons, Boston, Cleveland and maybe Orlando.
Thomas (Milan, Mich.): Walter Sharpe seems to have a good skill set for a guy his size, 6-foot-9 and 245 pounds. However, he does not look to be nearly as large as Amir Johnson at 210. What is the story here?
Langlois: The story is that Sharpe weighed 232 when he worked out for the Pistons the week of the draft. He was more than 250 in early May when he decided to stay in the draft and began getting into top shape in anticipation of predraft workouts. And the 210 for Amir is clearly outdated. I’m not sure what Amir actually weighs, but I’d guess about 230.
Mark (Grand Rapids, Mich.): There were some implications that Antonio McDyess might not start. Who do you think is qualified to take his starting spot? Might Stuckey, Rip and Billups all start with Prince and Wallace filling in the four and five spots?
Langlois: That might be a lineup that finishes games, Mark, but Stuckey will not start. Michael Curry said last week he wants Stuckey and McDyess coming off the bench to anchor the scoring for the second unit. Curry has said all three of the other big men he sees as fighting for spots in the rotation – Jason Maxiell, Kwame Brown and Amir Johnson – will get the chance to see how they fit with the starting unit during training camp and the preseason games. My best guess is that Maxiell will continue in his role as the energy guy off the bench and Johnson will get the first crack over Brown because I think Curry is going to want to pair Johnson with Wallace in the starting lineup.
Anders (Stockholm, Sweden): Do you think Walter Herrmann will get more minutes this year? It seems to me he is very popular and somewhat underrated.
Langlois: Joe Dumars and Michael Curry like Herrmann a great deal, Anders. He’s going to get a chance to prove he deserves consideration for minutes behind Tayshaun Prince. With the full expectation that both Rodney Stuckey and Arron Afflalo are going to get boosts in minutes, though, Herrmann might have to fight Rip Hamilton for minutes behind Prince – and it’s safe to guess that Hamilton will get the benefit of the doubt in that matchup.
Eric (Goldsboro, N.C.): I see on the Pistons’ roster that Kwame Brown has been assigned No. 54. Isn’t this the same number assigned to Jason Maxiell? Is there a trade in the works?
Langlois: Brown will wear No. 38. No trade in the works.
Joe (Rochester, Mich.): Does Joe Dumars’ lack of activity this off-season have anything to do with the loss of John Hammond to the Bucks? Was he really the brains behind the Pistons’ success?
Langlois: The lack of activity was due to the fact nobody countered with an offer that Joe D thought would make the Pistons a better team. Dumars would be the first to tell anyone that Hammond was a terrific first lieutenant for him all these years – they complemented each other tremendously – but Hammond would be the first to tell anyone that Dumars has no trouble being decisive.
Biren (Troy, Mich.): I keep going over what the Pistons could do with five big men and I came to Maxiell, Amir and Sheed on the floor at the same time with either Maxiell or Amir playing the three. The Pistons seem to be at their best when Sheed is stacking up all those technical fouls. Do you think he will be more emotionally free to do that this year with Michael Curry coaching and having four other big men?
Langlois: I don’t think you’ll see either Maxiell or Johnson defending too many small forwards. Maybe if New Jersey lines up with Yi Jianlian playing the position or Orlando with Rashard Lewis, but otherwise, no. As for Wallace’s technicals, no, I would expect Michael Curry to not be especially tolerant of a heavy accumulation of technicals.
Jason (Lewisburg, W.V.): Don’t get me wrong, I love the Pistons. But my concerns are how the team will be once we lose Chauncey, Rip, Antonio and Sheed. I know we have a great bench, but I don’t see anyone who can step up and be a leader after our veterans retire.
Langlois: The Pistons have Billups under contract for at least three more years and McDyess for two. Hamilton could opt out after next season, but the Pistons will try to work out a contract extension. Wallace’s contract is up after the season, but if he decides to continue playing as opposed to retiring, the Pistons should be the front-runners to get him, although I would expect a very active market for his services. That’s a long way of saying it’s way too early to start worrying about the demise of the Pistons. And in young guys like Rodney Stuckey, Arron Afflalo, Amir Johnson and Jason Maxiell, the Pistons are better positioned than the vast majority of other NBA teams with regard to their future.