I was listening to the Joe D interview on 1270 and he was really talking up Amir's increased role next season. One comment that caught my attention was when he said "Amir's the fastest guy on the team, faster than Rip." If that's true, damn. Rip's damn quick and to think a 6'10" guy is faster, that's unbelieveable. Amir's crazy athletic and that seems to be exactly what we need. The dude could have been a lottery pick this year, had he gone to college. We're all hoping to add youth, talent, and athleticism in the draft and maybe in trades, but could Amir Johnson be our answer?

So, what do you guys invision Amir's contribution being next season? Does he get 15 min a game?

Some Amir Youtube-love:

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And who coul forget Amir's HS dunk contest:

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I think he's already my favorite Piston.

Don't know if Flip will use him without Joe prodding him, though.

I'd say 8th man at best ~ 10 mins max.

I say he takes over for Max. Meaning he does what Max did the last two seasons. I think he'll sit on the bench and play a few minutes here and there and then have one or two random games where he plays great. The best part will be everyone of us bitching and complaining that they need to play him more...........just like Delfino and Maxiell for the last two years.

I couldn't agree more. He'll get random minutes here and there and towards the end of the season he may get a more defined role. We'll hate it but that's just how it will go, unless JoeD steps in.

If he really is the fastest guy on our team I'd like to know what position he plays. Can he play backup SF next year? With his size and leaping he could dominate the boards off the bench.

If he really is the fastest guy on our team I'd like to know what position he plays. Can he play backup SF next year? With his size and leaping he could dominate the boards off the bench.

in the 8 games he played last season, he averaged nearly 15 minutes a game and almost 5 boards during that time. granted, it was garbage time and only 8 games, but that's a pretty good rate.

with this size and speed, he could be a defensive monster, too...

He's just got to develop it. Give him some time on the floor. He can only learn so much in practice.

He's just got to develop it. Give him some time on the floor. He can only learn so much in practice.

That's the same thing that people were saying about our former #2 pick.

I was one of those that disagreed with that then, and I still do.

Amir needs to earn his PT in practice, and the staff needs to be willing to give him that time if he does indeed perform.

The last guy wasn't willing to work for his minutes, hopefully Amir is.

I'm not saying he doesn't need to earn the PT. I'm just saying there's only so much you can learn in practice and he'll get even better once he starts getting playing time. I agreed that Darko needed to earn his playing time back then, just like every other player in the league. Darko just had a sense of entitlement. Amir seems to be a hard working kid. He'll earn it in practice, but once he does they'd better give him the chance to develop in the game.

Fuck "earn" PT. Coaches don't dish out on merit anyway. The good players should play period. I don't give a shit if Dupree works hard, kid can't play well enough. Play the good players and if they perform keep playing them. If not sit him and try again later.

I think we're on the same page, Zekyl.

I don't think if Amir is awarded minutes in "garbage time" that he will consider them to be "garbage". I hope not, at least.

I'd say earning it in practice and earning it in garbage time are about equal in importance.

didn't Amir earn some right to play by tearing up the NBDL? i know the competition isn't great (read: Mateen), but his purpose to go down there was to develop and show what he could do. he responded very well.

i say, the pistons will succeed next season if Maxiell and Amir can get ~15 minutes a night. they're young, athletic, and give our team tons of energy.

I definitely think Amir's NBDL performance should get factored into his playing time this year. He went down, was a good trooper, and kicked some serious ass.

If he comes into camp with a good attitude and performs, there should be absolutely no reason that he can't find the floor for 10+ minutes per night.

Especially since Joe D thinks cutting our starter's minutes is the magic cure-all.

Fuck "earn" PT. Coaches don't dish out on merit anyway. The good players should play period. I don't give a shit if Dupree works hard, kid can't play well enough. Play the good players and if they perform keep playing them. If not sit him and try again later.
Not earn it by working hard. Earn it by proving that you're the better player. I bet Sheed doesn't work as hard in practice as Dupree, but he earns the PT by proving he's the better player.

The point was to play the starters less, not the whole game. The best 5 guys on the team are already known.

Well he doesn't have to be the best on the team. Just good enough to get PT.

And what I am saying is that's a terrible way to go about it. You play the better vet. The play the rook with the most talent to see if he's got a head on his shoulders.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say Amir and Max don't need to earn PT. I'm willing to bet they listen and go balls out in practice. I think we can assume they work hard at this point.

So, you give them a couple games of run and see what they do with it. Max has already shown he deserves that run. Let Amir show it as well. If he stinks for a few games, pull him back and work on his downfalls in practice.

And what I am saying is that's a terrible way to go about it. You play the better vet. The play the rook with the most talent to see if he's got a head on his shoulders.

How does handing out minutes without having to do anything to earn them help Joe/Flip reverse this "culture of complacency/entitlement"?

I don't think it does, in fact, I think it fosters that culture.

If the roster isn't going to turn over, it's time to zero base this thing and reward the guys that have their heart in it and sit (or better yet, trade) the guys that don't.

I think that is pretty much what Dumars said his plan was, in not so many words.

The vets are the ones that are complacent. Maybe sitting them for a while to DEVELOPE THE ROOKIES would give them a reason to care about their playing time.

The vets are the ones that are complacent. Maybe sitting them for a while to DEVELOPE THE ROOKIES would give them a reason to care about their playing time.
Sounds good to me. I hope they actually follow through with the plan: Keep the vets minutes down, give the extra time to the young guys to develop.

Unless he plays like KG, Joe will have to force Flip to play him, which flip will respond by giving him a load of inconsistent minutes and we'll trade him to another team in 2 years.

The team should be building around Amir, I seriously mean that.

Amir is god...plain and simple

Signed,

guy that has seen him practice the past two years.
<----

Amir is god...plain and simple

Signed,

guy that has seen him practice the past two years.
<----
You can watch him practice a couple more years before we give up on him if you want.

The team should be building around Amir, I seriously mean that.
No you don't. You mean they should build around Alex Acker. The next Lebron James in Waiting.

quote from McCosky's blog, Glenn posted in the Delfino thread:


On another matter, I have also heard people say that this trade makes room for Amir Johnson. Not really. Though the Pistons tried to turn Johnson into a small forward, it didn't work. The consensus in the organization now is that Johnson has to be a power forward. He's just not comfortable out on the perimeter. Whatever role Johnson earns next season will be in the front court. And I am telling you, there is a major division within the organization about Johnson's future. Joe Dumars and John Hammond believe the kid could be something very special. Some on the coaching staff believe he will never be more than an end of the bench reserve. Coach Flip Saunders has steadfastly refused to make any final determination, giving the 20-year-old ample time to mature. But Johnson has to get stronger. He has to get tougher and he has to start showing some court judgment. He still relies on his inate athleticism to get him through. He forgets plays and assignments. He has enough physical tools to make an impact. But he has to learn how to play the game -- otherwise, he could end up like Rodney White.

Some on the coaching staff believe he will never be more than an end of the bench reserve.
Any idea of who "some on the coaching staff" is?

I love when MUHME plays the "I go to the practices" card.

Any idea of who "some on the coaching staff" is?
This is CM at his most Piston friendly. Its Flip. but he can't say that. Furthermore, he says its not flip to throw his best curve ball.[smilie=peepwall.gi:

I love when MUHME plays the "I go to the practices" card.
Beats the, "I am pontificating from my anus," card.

Sadly, it doesn't.

"anal pontification" > "anal enemation"

I love when MUHME plays the "I go to the practices" card.
Jesus Christ man...I just said I have seen him kill that is why i think he will be great. Sorry, I'm not going off what other people that see him practice say. I formed my opinion on what I have personally seen. Damn

Unless he plays like KG, Joe will have to force Flip to play him, which flip will respond by giving him a load of inconsistent minutes and we'll trade him to another team in 2 years.

your not implying that we should *give* time to a player are you?!?! cuz im 10000% certain you said the pistons definitly shouldnt have given time to darko.

waiting for response on par with the time you said, within minutes on different threads, that the board both over rated and underrated ben wallace.

This message is hidden because b-diddy is on your ignore list.
I gotta remember to not read threads until I sign in. So I dont have to see the ridiculous nature of this silly fuck B-Diddy.

I can only hope this was the only attempt to waste my time since I blacklisted ya'. Either way to answer that post. I never said "give" minutes to anyone. Delfino earned more minutes and gave more effort imo, darko did not. That comparison is an utter waste of time(again). Flip's rotations suck, but not as much and Darko's quitting on the court because he doesnt like his minutes. Amir Johnson has played harder in less minutes. That says enough. Or has your memory gotten so lopsided that you've forgotten the key ingredient of Darko's lackluster effort?

Ben Wallace flip Flop? If you say so. He's underrated and overpaid. Nothing weird about that combo. Either way, go start a thread about Chris Webber the worthless POS not tipping baggage handlers or something..Now that is a Flip flop when compared to him being in your useless good graces this season. :) You got your one combative reply for the summer Diddy. Move on now.[smilie=heatsmiley2:

I gotta remember to not read threads until I sign in. So I dont have to see the ridiculous nature of this silly fuck B-Diddy.

I can only hope this was the only attempt to waste my time since I blacklisted ya'. Either way to answer that post. I never said "give" minutes to anyone. Delfino earned more minutes and gave more effort imo, darko did not. That comparison is an utter waste of time(again). Flip's rotations suck, but not as much and Darko's quitting on the court because he doesnt like his minutes. Amir Johnson has played harder in less minutes. That says enough. Or has your memory gotten so lopsided that you've forgotten the key ingredient of Darko's lackluster effort?

Ben Wallace flip Flop? If you say so. He's underrated and overpaid. Nothing weird about that combo. Either way, go start a thread about Chris Webber the worthless POS not tipping baggage handlers or something..Now that is a Flip flop when compared to him being in your useless good graces this season. :) You got your one combative reply for the summer Diddy. Move on now.[smilie=heatsmiley2:

you really are great at nonsensical posting. honestly, a -> d -> q ->L -> 7 -> ?.

i would love to hear your explanation of how "joe d forces him to play amir" =/= giving him playing time. i'd be real impressed if you could do so without mentioning my take on the lions or my thoughts on spiderman 3, but if you need to include those for your argument i'll understand.

stupid? maybe. but atleast no one would accuse you of being a coward... oh wait.