at some point before the playoffs the pistons are going to have to play different.

Truth be told I like the way they play right now, and the record does speak volumes. It's amazing the pistons have won as much as they have playing the style they're playing. It's completely unexpected and very effective... for now. No one on the team is really taking any chances at getting injured, which also a very good thing. the competition is going to be forced to guard positions 1-4 all the way to three point line becuase of how well they have shown they can shoot, and that's a very good thing too.


however, when was the last time you saw a piston take a charge?

how about the last time Sheed dominated in the post?

have the pistons switched up their defense at all so far this year?

I'm just saying what everyone already knows. The pistons are not playing pistons basketball, they aren't playing PLAYOFF basketball. At some point they're going to have to start playing tough defense again, because in the playoffs this style doesn't tend to get championships.


However for the time being, I'm cool with this. Let Rasheed shoot three's all day, he stays healthy and we get wins so what's not to love. I don't think I want to see any pistons diving for lose balls, taking charges or anything until they need to get ready for the playoffs.

I hear ya. But come late March and April i'd hope to see them start to go 110% and start playing pistons bball.

I agree, jump shooters will stay healthier, but I don't see anybody off our bench being and willing to attack the basket like Wade or Gino does - we need that as a change of pace option, especially on the games where our jumpers are not falling. Usually its the two-guard and SF that do the dribble penetrating, and both Rip and Tay are not that kind of players, maybe Delfino could be that player, but I don't think he is tough enough - you take a ton of punishment when you play that style.

We're one of the healthiest teams, probably because of our playing style of jump shots, zone defense and reputation(Ben and Sheed).

Delfino attacks the basket. So does Evans.

Evens is the master at air ballin layups. Delfino tries, i'll give him that. Arroyo can get into the paint any time he wants, I dont understand why he dosnt. Break down the D and hand off the dice for the slam.

The guys they need more in the post (in this order):

1. Sheed - way too happy 3 feet behind the arc under Flip;

2. Tay - still a perimeter floater even in his 4th year;

3. Billups - on smaller guards.

They cannot guard a good SF. This is the same story with the Pistons when they were having trouble with Indiana and when they could not beat NJ. Good 3's (Artest, RJ, Kirlinko) beat up on Tayshaun, yet everyone wants to deam this guy as the next Scottie Pippen on defense.

[quote="theMUHMEshow"]They cannot guard a good SF. This is the same story with the Pistons when they were having trouble with Indiana and when they could not beat NJ. Good 3's (Artest, RJ, Kirlinko) beat up on Tayshaun, yet everyone wants to deam this guy as the next Scottie Pippen on defense.[/quote

I think obscure white forwards are more their problem, as history tells it. (See Croshere, Foster, Scalabrine, etc.)

They cannot guard a good SF. This is the same story with the Pistons when they were having trouble with Indiana and when they could not beat NJ. Good 3's (Artest, RJ, Kirlinko) beat up on Tayshaun, yet everyone wants to deam this guy as the next Scottie Pippen on defense.

This yr it's not just SFs, it's stars. We haven't even slowed down a team's star this year. Be it a career higher for Gasol, Randolph, a huge game from Wade, Kiri, Nash. Big players have big games against us and if it happens to be a SF so be it. Tay is an alright defender, he gets touted like Scottie for what he did to Tracy, Kobe and his amazing blocks. There are certain players that he's great with, but taller, quicker guys give him fits.

So far this year belive it or not, I'd give our best one-on-one defender award to Chauncey. We haven't been hurt by a single PG this year if my memory serves me correctly. Chauncey shut down Nash (no easy task at all), Bibby, Kidd, Baron, etc. We've had at least 3 guys at every other position kill us this year.

One of the problems with last year's offense was that teams would sag early in the shot clock because we were predictably dumping it inside (mostly Ben)...
What Flip is doing is establishing a reputation for our perimiter threats... this is especially effective for Rip.
You would hope that opponents will reluctantly play tight around the arc... this should open up the lanes for our slashers.
Hopefully they will gradually shift the focus to the inside... for now the basic strategy is to work outside then go inside so the paint isn't clogged (instead of Larry's disdain on establishing an outside threat).

The problem is that Ben can't get his man to follow him outside... until he can start hitting a mid-range shot they will always have a help defender inside against us.
The other problem is we're not getting to the foul line enough or getting enough easy put backs when we have everyone floating but Ben.

One of the problems with last year's offense was that teams would sag early in the shot clock because we were predictably dumping it inside (mostly Ben)...
What Flip is doing is establishing a reputation for our perimiter threats... this is especially effective for Rip.
You would hope that opponents will reluctantly play tight around the arc... this should open up the lanes for our slashers.
Hopefully they will gradually shift the focus to the inside... for now the basic strategy is to work outside then go inside so the paint isn't clogged (instead of Larry's disdain on establishing an outside threat).

The problem is that Ben can't get his man to follow him outside... until he can start hitting a mid-range shot they will always have a help defender inside against us.
The other problem is we're not getting to the foul line enough or getting enough easy put backs when we have everyone floating but Ben.

Great analysis Mercury. Glad to have you back with us!

I always said that if Ben could palm the ball, he'd be like Amare inside. Such a damn shame...

ben needs to develop a better shot to be a true "offensive jugernaut". Palming the basketball would only really help him dunk, he does that well enough to be more then efficent though.

My biggest concern when it comes to our post play is the fact that our players are reluctant to pass the ball into the post. Our players are content with jacking up jumper after jumper whether or not they are falling. I would like to see them throw the ball inside even if the resulting shot is a jumper. When you throw the ball into the post, it forces the defense to react and thereby help with free throws and rebounds.

I would also like coaching staff to better utilize some of our players. Tay, Delfino and Dyess in particular.

at some point before the playoffs the pistons are going to have to play different.

Truth be told I like the way they play right now, and the record does speak volumes. It's amazing the pistons have won as much as they have playing the style they're playing. It's completely unexpected and very effective... for now. No one on the team is really taking any chances at getting injured, which also a very good thing. the competition is going to be forced to guard positions 1-4 all the way to three point line becuase of how well they have shown they can shoot, and that's a very good thing too.


however, when was the last time you saw a piston take a charge?

how about the last time Sheed dominated in the post?

have the pistons switched up their defense at all so far this year?

I'm just saying what everyone already knows. The pistons are not playing pistons basketball, they aren't playing PLAYOFF basketball. At some point they're going to have to start playing tough defense again, because in the playoffs this style doesn't tend to get championships.


However for the time being, I'm cool with this. Let Rasheed shoot three's all day, he stays healthy and we get wins so what's not to love. I don't think I want to see any pistons diving for lose balls, taking charges or anything until they need to get ready for the playoffs.

Holy fuckin Batshit!

Um, post padding is not cool.

bow down to yee, nostradamus

No one predicted the future. The problems with the team simply haven't changed over the years.

The bit about Sheed in the post? Ring any bells?

Players falling in love with the 3-ball?

No back up for Tayshaun?

Lazy ass D?

It's been the same thing year after year and no coaching change could fix it. It's time the players took the hit for it. (you can only blame Joe for Tay not having a back-up, everything else is on the Coaches/Players)

Trades need to be made and new blood needs to be brought in regardless of who the Coach is.