3. I know it’s kinda cool to set a starting lineup that you know will bring loads of energy and hustle, while saving some scorers for the pine, but isn’t Pistons boss John Kuester taking it a bit far? Charlie Villanueva…Ben Gordon…Will Bynum…all explosive scorers and highly respected players that do not hear their names announced in the pre-game introductions. With Austin Daye also coming alive tonight with a sparkling 5 for 5 from the floor, the Pistons reserves managed to outscore the starters by a 54-44 margin. It’s been working fine so far, and obviously things will change once Rip and Tayshaun return, but Kuester is definitely playing with fire for the time being. Thankfully, Rodney Stuckey has been shooting the ball very well lately, making the “effort” starting lineup look a little more potent than they really are. Non-scorers like Maxiell, Jerebko, and Ben Wallace all sharing the court at the same time is generally not a recipe for success. But they’ve been getting off to solid starts as of late with this group, so I can’t blame Mr. Kuester too much. Just don’t get too comfortable with it, as there is almost assuredly a single-digit first quarter coming from these guys in the very near future.
via High Socks Legend: High Socks Review: Five Thoughts on the Detroit Pistons.
Some good stuff here on the progress the Pistons are making, particularly by using a high-muscle-high-motor lineup to start, then swinging with the scorers off the bench. Villanueva has no ego and Gordon’s used to coming off the bench. So this works well until Rip and Tayshaun get back. I still have serious concerns about how their chemistry will be when those two return. This team is becoming its own entity, taking on its own personality, and it’s radically different from the world Prince and Hamilton have known. Detroit’s also four games under .500, so it’s not like they don’t have the right to say their way is better. Detroit has won two in a row, now, though, so maybe they’re starting to put things together. That’s definitely something to watch, not only when those two return, but as we head for the trade deadline.
By the way, is anyone else blown away by Jerebko’s play? He’s like a less messy Taj Gibson! Only his team’s fans don’t hate him!
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I think the reason why he’s starting the energy guys is because Detroit has not been a good first quarter team or a good third quarter team. We tend to come out of the locker room flat. If he brings in guys who are going to lock it down defensively to start out with, it gets everyone on board before they have a chance to miss few shots and get their heads out of the game.
I like this team for the simple fact that they’re winning close games, a number of teams around the league don’t have the tenacity, headiness… whatever you want to call it to finish a close game. We’re still getting blown out by the top teams though, and we’re still going into the locker room at the half with leads and letting them go in the third or early 4th.
I think Prince and Rip will be fine coming back, they’ll help initiate the offense, and the new guards will continue this inside-out game they’ve started with the forwards.
Now we just need to win on the road. And, yes, I have been stunned that Jerebko’s play has been steadily getting better.