Dice to start (again)

[Glenn]

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.

[Fool]

I thought the last lineup was the last one for the season?

[Glenn]

Can't blame him for changing his mind, but he should have never said that. He's running out of corners to paint himself into.

[Uncle Mxy]

At this point, we've had so many different lineup changes, it really doesn't matter," Tayshaun Prince said.

Is it just me, or is Tayshaun the team captain by default now?

[Tahoe]

This frickin team...done

[Black Dynamite]

he's our best rebounder and busting his ass to get back his post game he abandoned after his first season here(remember that money fade away he had). If we are serious about competing and no making any moves, then he needs to start, Its not like anyone on this team outside of Kwame can be classified as a true center.

Rip replaces Dyess's scoring off the bench as it is.

[shags]

All of this hope about cap space next year and potential future moves and lineup changes, none of it matters if Curry isn't fired. NONE OF IT. He is absolutely clueless, and the core players (Rip, Prince, Sheed, and Dice) are frustrated as hell because of it. The body language of this team is awful, and no lineup change is going to change that.

[Cross]

We are going to get killed by teams with faster post players

[Black Dynamite]

We are going to get killed by teams with faster post players

If that were the case it woulda happened last year. I'm ok with dyess starting. There is no better option and the teams worth a damn arent that fast up front.

[Tahoe]

Pistons playin Zone right now...and it worked