From Milive weblog:


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Odds and Ends from Toronto
TORONTO — Based on what Flip Saunders and the players are saying, it looks like you'll see Detroit's key players on the floor a lot less in the next four games. While it does make some sense to do this to avoid injuries heading into the playoffs, Detroit's starters still only show flashes of cohesiveness, while the bench has been surprisingly consistent. The guy who needs to rest the most, I believe, is Antonio McDyess. He's got a sore Achilles tendon which isn't bad enough to where it affects his play, but I don't believe Detroit should take any chances with a guy who means as much to them, as McDyess.
If he goes down, this team will not win it all. They have other guys who can step up, but no one off the bench has the ability to stretch defenses the way McDyess, as well as rebound, shot block and defend in the post.

A couple more things to consider ... It's great that Amir Johnson has helped Detroit's D-League team in Sioux Falls (S.D.) get into the playoffs, but this kid should be called up now. He has dominated the competition at the D-League, and should be rewarded with some spot duty this week with the Pistons. Ditto for Ronald Dupree, who has been a steady practice player who has earned the right to be on the active roster now that Detroit's playoff seeding won't change. ... Chauncey Billups' right thigh bruise seems to be a non-issue for tonight's game. Speaking of Billups, you can add him to the Sam Mitchell for Coach-of-the-Year club. I went up to Chauncey this morning to ask him about Sam. Before I could even finish my first question, he said, 'who coach of the Year, Sam? That's the COY right there, coach of the year."

Chauncey, who played with Sam in Minnesota and has always held him in high regard, spoke about what Sam has meant to him and the role he believes Sam has played in elevating the Raptors to the franchise's first Atlantic Division title.

A couple more things to consider ... It's great that Amir Johnson has helped Detroit's D-League team in Sioux Falls (S.D.) get into the playoffs, but this kid should be called up now. He has dominated the competition at the D-League, and should be rewarded with some spot duty this week with the Pistons.

i actually agree with McCosky that Amir should play out the NBDL playoffs, since he's become "the man" on the team (and possibly the NBDL). he might get a few minutes of garbage time up here, but back on his NBDL team, he's going to be in a pressure situation where they'll look to him to lead. that might be more valuable in the long run.

well, McCosky, you've made me an idiot as well.


Chris McCosky

Fri, Apr 13, 2007 at 10:05 AM

Upon further review

Well, don't I feel like an idiot this morning. Less than 24 hours after I posted my last blog saying that Amir Johnson was going to be staying in Sioux Falls for the D-League playoffs, he's expected to be here in Toronto for shoot-around and could be in uniform tonight for the Pistons. Lovely. Here's what happened. Flip Saunders said the other day that he thought it would be best for Amir to play in the D-League playoffs and experience what it was like to carry the load in pressure situations. Plus, he said, Mo McHone, the coach of the Skyforce, deserves a chance to win. Sometime between Tuesday and today, that decision got reversed. I am assuming John Hammond and Joe Dumars felt the NBA game experience would benefit Johnson more than D-League minutes. That's the beautiful thing about news -- it changes. Will Blalock, I am pretty sure, is staying down in the D-League.

When are the playoffs there? Are they just rewarding Amir with some solid minutes tonight before sending him back for playoffs there?

If I squint at this a little, this be a game thread. :)


Amir struggling a little bit, but the Pistons have a comfy lead.

50-37 at the half -- our bench has been whooping it up against their starters.

TJ Ford nearly split his head open going for a ball out of bounds...

Rip's on fire... it's just that simple.

Bench needs some ball movement.

Wow... Toronto needs to be embarrassed that they needed a banked three to beat our 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th men, plus a guy not on the roster.

Sorry Toronto, but you guys really suck.

would YOU rather play in nbdl playoffs or a meaningless nba game? i'd rather play in the nba game. give him a chance to test his stuff against the best level.

dnp for nazr tonight? hmmmmmmmmm...

Wow... Toronto needs to be embarrassed that they needed a banked three to beat our 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th men, plus a guy not on the roster.

Sorry Toronto, but you guys really suck.
I disagree. The Pistons suck for handing away games.

What was the point of playing the bench without a meaningful sub (Dupree doesn't count) in the 4th? We were inches from the goal line and elected to take a knee.

Stupid. These games aren't meaningless. We rolled into the 04 and 05 playoffs with a lot of cohesion and purpose. You can't generate that kind of effort on the fly or turn it on like a faucet.

would YOU rather play in nbdl playoffs or a meaningless nba game? i'd rather play in the nba game. give him a chance to test his stuff against the best level.
Except for getting him to realize that his NBDL success doesn't necessarily translate into NBA success, I can't see the point. Strategically, there is something to be said for taking care of your affiliate franchise and stealing what has become their franchise player a few games before the playoffs so he can play meaningless minutes with Lindsey Hunter and Ronald Dupree is stupid IMO.

I disagree. The Pistons suck for handing away games.

What was the point of playing the bench without a meaningful sub (Dupree doesn't count) in the 4th? We were inches from the goal line and elected to take a knee.

Stupid. These games aren't meaningless. We rolled into the 04 and 05 playoffs with a lot of cohesion and purpose. You can't generate that kind of effort on the fly or turn it on like a faucet.

I agree, but it only takes one unfortunate mistake and we lose one of our key players for the playoffs. I know that cohesion is important, but there's only 3 games left, and I don't want to take that risk. In a perfect world without injuries, I say go for it and make Toronto look stupid.

However, the bench got some quality minutes last night, and it might help them out in the future.

LOL @ caring about a win. I was pissed Lindsey and Fino were out there.

I'm sure Raptors fans think they can take us in the playoffs.

just by looking at boxscores, it seems like Amir didn't get alot of touches?


Strategically, there is something to be said for taking care of your affiliate franchise and stealing what has become their franchise player a few games before the playoffs so he can play meaningless minutes with Lindsey Hunter and Ronald Dupree is stupid IMO.

I don;t think the minutes are meaningless. This is the next step to get better after you dominate in the NBDL, especially for a guy like Amir. He's still "growing" and playing guys like Bosh and some regular rotation players and especially a team that still needs a victory is obviously going to help Amir grow into the NBA. In the next few games, Amir should be seeing +15 minutes.

Amir seemed to be having trouble with the plays being run, probably because he hasn't been practicing with our team in awhile.

They are not meaningless minutes for Amir:


Second-year forward Amir Johnson, 19, played nearly 35 minutes and wooed the crowd with an assortment of blocked shots and a big dunk while second-year player Jason Maxiell had a thunderous one-handed dunk over an unsuspecting 76er.
While Maxiell has been used to getting some playing time, Johnson has rarely played this season, having spent much of his time in the National Basketball Development League, with the Sioux Falls, S.D., team.
Johnson had a rough start Sunday as his first couple of shots were blocked by Philadelphia's Samuel Dalembert.
"He's still got a ways to go," Saunders said. "He came back to the bench and Chauncey hit him on the head and said `This isn't the NBDL. You can't just turn around and shoot over people.'
"Everyone's asked the question about what he was doing down in the NBDL and how would that transfer to here? I said then, `We'll wait and see.' And I think we still are. He did some very positive things, he had some blocked shots, but he missed some easy shots he doesn't normally miss. That's the advantage of these games right now for him."
Johnson had 10 points (on 3-of-12 shooting from the field), 10 rebounds and seven blocked shots.
"He was great," Billups said. "He hasn't played that much all year. He's athletic and he played great.
"Those first two or three little jump-hooks, those are easy buckets in the `D' league, but you come here and they'll all get blocked. It's an adjustment you have to make; you have to let them know you're back in the NBA."
There was a point in the third quarter when Saunders put his starters back in, but had Johnson playing in place of Rasheed Wallace.
"I haven't played with them all year so I was trying to get familiar with the plays. I forgot some of the plays while I was down in `D' league," Johnson said. "I was just trying to get familiar with the guys so I can get ready for next year and maybe get more minutes.
"I have a lot more confidence, going down to the `D' league and just playing. I'm not scared to shoot the ball."


Now he can take what he's done in the NBDL and apply what he learned last night. I'm glad to see Billups helping him out with that stuff.