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McDyess to start for rest of regular season
Chris McCosky / The Detroit News
AUBURN HILLS -- A couple of weeks ago, coach Michael Curry said he was thinking about moving Antonio McDyess into the starting lineup for the final stretch of the season.
He made that move a reality Monday.
"I just think it makes us more stable starting games off," Curry said. "It makes us more solid defensively, especially when we have to help."
McDyess will replace Amir Johnson, who had struggled in the weeks leading up to the All-Star break, beginning tonight against the Bucks.
"Our hope is that Amir will play better against the second-line guys," Curry said.
McDyess, who has grown fond of his role coming off the bench, initially balked at moving back into the starting lineup. But Curry said the two talked before the all-star break and McDyess is on board.
"It was easy," Curry said of having to convince McDyess. "He wants to win and he wants to do whatever it takes to help us win. We talked basketball and talked about the things that we could do to be better and he realized this (him starting) was one of those things. He welcomes it."
McDyess did not speak to the media Monday.
"At this point, we've had so many different lineup changes, it really doesn't matter," Tayshaun Prince said. "We just have to start playing together and try to get some wins. Dyess will help us defensively and rebounding and he will make some shots. But the key to it all now is, who's going to be that big coming off the bench for us? There's good ways and bad ways to look at it.
"I think coach made the decision because we have had trouble getting out of the gate and falling behind early in games."
Curry said Johnson, Jason Maxiell and Kwame Brown will all be used off the bench depending on matchups.
