F.A. SIGNING: Pistons strike deal with Ben Gordon

I'm with Mxy on that one. I don't think Gordon is clearly better than Rip. I'd say they're about equal, talent-wise. Gordon has a better offensive game because he can handle the ball and shoot the 3 a bit better, but Rip's defense is leaps and bounds better than Gordon's. Rip has a better mid-range game. I'd bet Rip has better endurance. It really comes down to who fits the offense better, and Gordon may fit better with Stuckey, were Rip would fit better with distributing PGs. We'll have to wait and see.

I'd say, in the Eastern Conference, if you put Rip on a team with a pass-happy PG he's back to All-Star form (too many good SGs in the west).

Rip would be (even more) awesome with a playmaking PG, IMO.

But where would Rip play?

SF?

You have Stuckey at SG, right GD?

Or did you bench him again?

You trying to create some fireworks?

I love it

There's my opinion and then there is reality. And the two rarely meet, as I'm sure that many here will agree.

In my world, Stuckey is a very good 6th man (at least until he's better than Rip).

But I know that ain't gonna happen, Joe can't put the toothpaste back in the tube.

That's true on all counts, including Stuckey being the 3rd guard/6th Man.

And especially true of toothpaste.

You ever attempt that?

Stuckey should have never been anointed the starter role. He was perfect as the 6th man and would have been best left playing that role while he developed.

if Dumars really wants to keep RIP, he traded the wrong player for capspace... Chauncey/Gordon/Stuckey >> RIP/Gordon/Stuckey

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Asberry

Chauncey/Gordon/Stuckey >> RIP/Gordon/Stuckey

So very true, but we couldn't really trade Rip 3 days after his extension was signed, plus Billups was the one wearing down in the playoffs and taking the laid-back attitude too far. We weren't getting AI's giant expiring contract for Rip either. They needed a PG. We wanted a rebuild. I don't know if any other deals were available.

Not only is Rip a better player than billups he has a much longer shelf life physically given both of their contracts. Chauncey Billups is very much over-rated and I'm ecstatic this team turned him into ben gordon.

I believe Joe was just saying that a 3 guard rotation of Chauncey, Stuckey, Gordon is far better than that of Rip, Stuckey, Gordon.

What if Gordon has a turnaround like Chauncey did? Chauncey was a scorer when he was younger, correct? He was on bad teams and he dominated the ball. Eventually, he found that middle ground where he could take over when needed and distribute when needed. If Gordon learns a similar skill, he'll be a fantastic signing. I'm not saying he can become an everyday PG. I'm just saying if he develops his distribution skills a little bit, he can play some PG if needed. He can handle the ball, he can shoot the lights out, he just needs to learn to share. Hopefully that's something that he can develop and he's not already too far down the chucker path.