So we're two games into the season, or roughly 2.5%, and the Pistons are at 1-1 vs. the two youngest teams in the league.

http://www.hourdetroit.com/galleries/414/12570-MaryandGeorgeBlaha.jpg

Mary makes an appearance! Nice!

Also, we're a lottery team without a significant change.

Looks like sucking it up pretty good after last night. I think it is important to have RIP and Gordon in at the same time.

Just read Stein's power rankings on ESPN's NBA page. I think he lifted one of my posts from here.

Not to pick on your poll options, because that sucks, but I think we're looking at a just under .500 team (39 wins is my guess) which means the lottery. Can't choose between those two options.

so we'll be as good as last yr? (39 wins)...

I think I'll take that, given the roster.

Our success depends on how our frontcourt goes.

We all know our guards are gonna be fine over the course of the season. We're deep at both G positions and if someone gets injured we've got some cover.

But SF, PF and C are serious weaknesses. Let's be brutal here:

Prince has rookies backing him up if we don't use a 3 guard line-up.
At C we have ZERO offense or ZERO defense, depending on who we put in the line-up.
At PF Nova has struggled, which is to be expected after him not playing pre-season. But what about our other bigs? We have Wilcox, Maxiell, Kwame, Jerebko and maybe even Summer and Daye for short periods.

I really have to ask why we're getting so little production offensively from our frontline? Is it our offensive sets? Or are our frontline players just too fucking passive?

I'm ok with having zero offense at C.But we need scoring from the 4 and the 3 to offset that.

We're not getting production from Max and Kwame because they simply are not good enough. It's that simple.They cannot do the things this offense demands of them.

Wilcox could offer some offense at the 4, but he sucks defensively. That's a decision Q is going to have to make.

Jerebko isnt very offensively skilled, but he's providing some energy and he can at least finish at the rim.

Tayshaun isnt a good fit for this offense, because it doesnt allow for him to post up, which is about the only thing he can do well consistently. That said, he doesnt have to create his own offense in our starting lineup, because we have 3 quality offensive players.

Daye and Sumemrs havent played long enough to show what they can do. They need to be given the chance.

V I don't worry as much about, because he's a natural scorer, and he'll find his groove eventually. But as I said in another thread, when he has to sit down, things are going from bad to worse. We need a scoring forward off the bench.

I think going forward, our best options sans a trade will be to have Jerebko back up at the 4 and Daye or Summers back up the 3. Both of those guys can score, and theoretically are good fits in this offense.

IMO:

Tay really needs to step up offensively, especially given his tenure. And now that we've got some back up for him he should make the fucking effort offensively.

As for back up at PF we should play Wilcox with Ben to cover for Willy's poor D

Tay's issue is the offense really is based on dribble penetration on the perimeter, and Tay simply does not do that well. He can pick and pop all game long, but he's not going to get many scoring chances that way.

When he's tried to play a bigger part, he's gotten the ball ripped away from him. He just isnt that good a ballhandler to be taking guys off the dribble.

So after Stuckey, Bynum or Gordon penetrate Tay just isn't in a position to get the kick out?

Or are you saying he is, and that's pretty much all he's getting out of our sets?

Cause if that's all Coach has for him then we're fucked.

Yes and yes.

Really, Tayshaun doesnt have anything else to go to, aside from his post game.

If he was capable of handling the ball, he'd be able to do more. But he isnt.

Tayshaun doesnt necessarily need to do more in this offense, either. If V gets his act together, Tayshaun will be just fine as a #4 option in our starting 5.

The main issue right now isnt tayshaun. It's the bigs not getting involved on offense. Teams are adjusting and sending a big to help out on the guards, and telling their wing to stay at home on tyashaun.

Well, if our bigs are not getting the job done offensively then Coach needs to react and make the change.

From all reports (haven't downloaded a game yet) Ben is doing a fine job on D. Kwame ain't bad either. Simply rotate those 2 at C and use Wilcox as the back up PF to have some offense when Nova sits.

I still think we really need to explore a Kwame + Bynum + Summers trade package and see what big we can land. Someone out there must want a nice expiring contract, a change of pace guard and a reasonable prospect.

It's just a shame there aren't on a lot of bigs on the trading block

Well, could you imagine Joe managing to trade Rip/Kwame to Utah in a sign-and-trade deal this summer?

That would have been pretty neat. I was against Boozer joining the Stones at first, but after watching them lately, post-scoring is exactly what they need. Ben Wallace complements Boozer pretty well imho, and a starting lineup of:

Stuckey/Bynum
Gordon/Stuckey
Tay/Daye
Boozer/Villanueva/Wilcox
Ben/Boozer/Wilcox

Would have been a better squad than the current one, even if lacking depth in the backcourt.

We've needed low post scoring/rebounding for years now, but Joe seems allergic to the notion. And yes, the Boozer trade would have fit the bill. Hopefully we can revisit it.

As Utah struggles, Joe will call about Boozer. He has the pieces to offer Utah, potentially without even trading Rip. Would Utah take Summers, Bynum, Kwame, and a pick? I'm not looking at numbers, just bodies, so don't crap on me if it's not financially feasible. I'm just looking to try to keep Rip.

I think they can get a better package than that for Booz.

I think they can get a better package than that for Booz.

Probably. This team is pure garbage outside of Gordon/Hamilton/Prince.

A lot of Piston's peeps don't think much of Stuck, but he still has value in a trade.

Utah would probably accept a rip/wilcox for utah trade. We'd just lose Rip for nothing in the end, right?

I do read your posts Cross, but I find myself admiring your Ava a lil longer.

I don't think there is any way that the Jazz take on any long term deals for Boozer, unless that also get young, cheap talent, too. They'd probably love to pair Deron with Stuckey.
If nothing else, the Jazz would want the package they take back to make 25% less than Boozer does. Are the Pistons willing to go over the luxury tax for Boozer? For anybody?

I've read certain reports that suggest the Spurs and Orlando loaded up this off-season because they figure there will be a lockout.

Sell Utah on the idea that there will be some sort of lockout and offer them Rip for Boozer. We've got some dudes to include to sweeten the deal and they have some scrubs to make the numbers work.

I'd still rather try to keep Rip and go shop a Kwame/Bynum/Summers package first. I don't think Bynum is a long-term answer with Rip, Gordon and Stuckey here. We need a set up man in his spot IMO. Summers is gonna get sqeezed out by Daye and Jerebko anyway.

I've read certain reports that suggest the Spurs and Orlando loaded up this off-season because they figure there will be a lockout.


Where did you read that, just out of curiousity? That's my theory, but I haven't read it anywhere else. That's why I think Orlando will add another piece with the Turkoglu trade exception.

As for the Jazz, I think the only way they trade Boozer is if they can lower their luxury tax number, like Glenn said.

I don't think the Pistons have ever lost to the Thunder and Bucks back to back.

It's a transition period..but this is getting gruesome...not like im watching the games though..

Where did you read that, just out of curiousity? That's my theory, but I haven't read it anywhere else. That's why I think Orlando will add another piece with the Turkoglu trade exception.

I either read it here in some thread or on Yahoo cause I don't go anywhere else for info.

And whomever wrote the article also said that he expected Orlando to use the trade exception...

And this is why Shags should post more.

I either read it here in some thread or on Yahoo cause I don't go anywhere else for info.

And whomever wrote the article also said that he expected Orlando to use the trade exception...

And this is why Shags should post more.

Lol, I think your source was actually shags.

Lol, I think your source was actually shags.

funny

+13 Vinnies.

Wake me up when it's February... it's gonna be a long bumby ride.

Hope there's a decent 5 with our lotto pick.

Jeremy (Kewadin, Mich.): I have heard rumors the Pistons will trade Rip Hamilton to Utah for Carlos Boozer. If Detroit could sign Boozer to a long-term deal, is it a trade worth making?

Langlois: An oldie but a goodie. Won’t go into the same detail I’ve given on this in the past, but suffice it to say Utah seems happy with Ronnie Brewer and C.J. Miles and would be committing to taking on three extra years of a hefty contract for a team already facing huge luxury-tax implications in a small market, and the Pistons would run the strong risk of losing Boozer after the season, when he can become a free agent. To your point about “if Detroit could sign Boozer to a long-term deal” – there’s the rub. They can’t negotiate with him until he’s their property, and at that point he’d have the leverage with free agency pending. Unlikely deal from both sides.

Lol, I think your source was actually shags.

If I was your source, than it's very unreliable. It's just a theory I made up based on three things:

1. Raef LaFrentz was the most desirable potentially available player at last season's trade deadline.
2. My belief that the Spurs are the smartest, savviest franchise in the NBA (and maybe all pro sports).
3. The Magic paid $35 million for a player who will play about 12 to 15 minutes a game.

If I read it here I seriously doubt it was posted by shags, cause he rarely posts lol

And the article didn't mention anything about LaFrentz or the Magic spending all that money on a dude who won't get lots of playing time.

It did mention how the Spurs are so fucking smart as an organisation, but it's not like that's a big dark secret. Everyone knows they're great.

Anyway, I think the article also said something about Utah and how they might be kind of sitting on the fence in relation to a lockout, which is why they matched on Millsap. They take a short-term hit paying the tax but will save the money in the lockout, so they'll actually be better off.

So if you wanna try and trade for Boozer giving them a Kwame/Rip package might not be out of the question.

Also remember that teams under the tax threshold only get a share of what the teams above the threshold paid. What if no teams (or only a couple of teams) are above the threshold? Teams that stayed under the threshold get (next to) nothing!

Which is gonna be the case in a year or 3. Not a lot of owners wanna pay the tax anymore.

http://wtfdetroit.com/forums/showpost.php?p=351228&postcount=13

Nah, that's not where I saw it.

I'm sure it was Yahoo.

It should be noted the Pistons are currently the suckiest team ever to be ranked 2nd in the entire league in both ppg allowed and defensive %FG.

It should be noted the Pistons are currently the suckiest team ever to be ranked 2nd in the entire league in both ppg allowed and defensive %FG.

Wow, would we be the first lottery team to ever rank that high?


(couldn't resist, that's actually pretty cool, although the ppg is largely due to pace of play, I bet)

Rip needs to come back soon, I am really eager to see if the first game with Rip and Gordon tearing it up together is the 'norm'.

Bynum and Stuck are good too, but we are way too top heavy. CV needs to do better to take pressure off the guards and make it harder to defend us. Eventually scouting reports will instruct people to load up on our guards.

Pistons are currently at 2-3 vs. opponents with a combined record of 7-9 (not including games vs. Pistons).

After a five minute run-through of NBADraft.net and DraftExpress, the upcoming draft class isn't anything to tank for outside of Wall. Maybe Favors, too.

all 3 of those losses came without Rip Hamilton.

So did 50% of the wins.

and %0 of the losses.

And 1/2 the wins.