Comments on: Walker Russell’s D-League performance predicted he’d have NBA success http://www.pistonpowered.com/2012/02/walker-russells-d-league-performance-predicted-hed-have-nba-success/ Your Go-To Source For Pistons Coverage Thu, 23 May 2013 12:18:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Patrick Hayes http://www.pistonpowered.com/2012/02/walker-russells-d-league-performance-predicted-hed-have-nba-success/comment-page-1/#comment-47397 Patrick Hayes Thu, 02 Feb 2012 02:38:33 +0000 http://www.pistonpowered.com/?p=8834#comment-47397 <p>Walker Russell might induct you into his Kiss My Ass Club for saying he can't shoot. He looked great vs. NJ.</p> Walker Russell might induct you into his Kiss My Ass Club for saying he can’t shoot. He looked great vs. NJ.

]]> By: frankie d http://www.pistonpowered.com/2012/02/walker-russells-d-league-performance-predicted-hed-have-nba-success/comment-page-1/#comment-47393 frankie d Thu, 02 Feb 2012 02:24:31 +0000 http://www.pistonpowered.com/?p=8834#comment-47393 as good as knight will evenutally be, imo, it was also clear that he wasn't ready to be an nba quality point guard.  which meant that you were going to need a point guard.  and joe didn't have a point guard. as simple as that. knight may be an accomplished guard late in year 2 or the 3rd year, but that is about the earliest. joe has needed a point guard since the chauncey trade and has never filled the hole. as good as knight will evenutally be, imo, it was also clear that he wasn’t ready to be an nba quality point guard.  which meant that you were going to need a point guard.  and joe didn’t have a point guard.
as simple as that.
knight may be an accomplished guard late in year 2 or the 3rd year, but that is about the earliest.
joe has needed a point guard since the chauncey trade and has never filled the hole.

]]> By: tarsier http://www.pistonpowered.com/2012/02/walker-russells-d-league-performance-predicted-hed-have-nba-success/comment-page-1/#comment-47383 tarsier Thu, 02 Feb 2012 01:34:01 +0000 http://www.pistonpowered.com/?p=8834#comment-47383 What do you think he tried to do in drafting Knight? Sure, Knight may not qualify as a "true" point guard. But he's a damn sight closer than half the PGs in the league. And he was the best shot at such a young player the Pistons had. Unless you happen to  like Kemba better. But almost everyone agrees taht of the two, Knight has more upside. What do you think he tried to do in drafting Knight? Sure, Knight may not qualify as a “true” point guard. But he’s a damn sight closer than half the PGs in the league. And he was the best shot at such a young player the Pistons had. Unless you happen to  like Kemba better. But almost everyone agrees taht of the two, Knight has more upside.

]]> By: frankie d http://www.pistonpowered.com/2012/02/walker-russells-d-league-performance-predicted-hed-have-nba-success/comment-page-1/#comment-47371 frankie d Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:24:13 +0000 http://www.pistonpowered.com/?p=8834#comment-47371 agreed.  numbers aside, a team needs a guard with the kind of skills that russell has. my problem with him is only this: he's 29 years old and there is nothing that expires quicker in the nba than a nonshooting/pass first guard who relies on his quickness. once he loses a half-step, he's pretty much useless, and russell is probably approaching that point sooner, rather than later.  i just wish joe had found a younger version, someone who might be with the team when the turnaround happens. someone like ish smith, who is basically a younger, even faster version of russell, with a bit less experience. the other issue is this...joe d has to understand the need for a true point guard.  if he didn't before, last year's experience with t-mac should have pounded it into his head. yet, he still comes into this season without that type of player and has to go to a d-league player - albeit a good one - in order to get that player. why it wasn't a priority to get a young guy who might be able to fill the role is beyond me., and,  yes, i know joe has this philosophical thing about combo guards, but enough is enough. agreed.  numbers aside, a team needs a guard with the kind of skills that russell has.
my problem with him is only this: he’s 29 years old and there is nothing that expires quicker in the nba than a nonshooting/pass first guard who relies on his quickness.
once he loses a half-step, he’s pretty much useless, and russell is probably approaching that point sooner, rather than later.  i just wish joe had found a younger version, someone who might be with the team when the turnaround happens.
someone like ish smith, who is basically a younger, even faster version of russell, with a bit less experience.
the other issue is this…joe d has to understand the need for a true point guard.  if he didn’t before, last year’s experience with t-mac should have pounded it into his head.
yet, he still comes into this season without that type of player and has to go to a d-league player – albeit a good one – in order to get that player.
why it wasn’t a priority to get a young guy who might be able to fill the role is beyond me.,
and,  yes, i know joe has this philosophical thing about combo guards, but enough is enough.

]]> By: Max http://www.pistonpowered.com/2012/02/walker-russells-d-league-performance-predicted-hed-have-nba-success/comment-page-1/#comment-47346 Max Wed, 01 Feb 2012 22:17:36 +0000 http://www.pistonpowered.com/?p=8834#comment-47346 Bynum hasn't been able to put together momentum for a long time though a combination of inconsistent health and role, but there was a time not that long ago when Bynomite had some fans around the country who usually hate on the 'Stones and I hope he gets a good stretch of health going someday while playing a regular backup role to Knight and some backup shooting guard. Didn't he dish 20 assists one night?   Didn't see the game.  How did that happen? Bynum hasn’t been able to put together momentum for a long time though a combination of inconsistent health and role, but there was a time not that long ago when Bynomite had some fans around the country who usually hate on the ‘Stones and I hope he gets a good stretch of health going someday while playing a regular backup role to Knight and some backup shooting guard.
Didn’t he dish 20 assists one night?   Didn’t see the game.  How did that happen?

]]> By: Max http://www.pistonpowered.com/2012/02/walker-russells-d-league-performance-predicted-hed-have-nba-success/comment-page-1/#comment-47345 Max Wed, 01 Feb 2012 22:11:34 +0000 http://www.pistonpowered.com/?p=8834#comment-47345 How do win shares get distributed when the team doesn't win? How do win shares get distributed when the team doesn’t win?

]]> By: vic http://www.pistonpowered.com/2012/02/walker-russells-d-league-performance-predicted-hed-have-nba-success/comment-page-1/#comment-47344 vic Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:48:31 +0000 http://www.pistonpowered.com/?p=8834#comment-47344 this is where you can't get blinded by stats at the expense of looking at what goes on on the court. I'll take a weak transmission that does its job versus putting a second engine where the transmission is supposed to be. Guards that pass well and initiate the offense make the whole team flow better. Guards that can't execute bounce passes in traffic or convert layups keep the team sputtering. this is where you can’t get blinded by stats at the expense of looking at what goes on on the court.

I’ll take a weak transmission that does its job versus putting a second engine where the transmission is supposed to be. Guards that pass well and initiate the offense make the whole team flow better.

Guards that can’t execute bounce passes in traffic or convert layups keep the team sputtering.

]]> By: Max http://www.pistonpowered.com/2012/02/walker-russells-d-league-performance-predicted-hed-have-nba-success/comment-page-1/#comment-47337 Max Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:32:25 +0000 http://www.pistonpowered.com/?p=8834#comment-47337 Does anyone know when we will see Bynum again? Does anyone know when we will see Bynum again?

]]> By: Mel http://www.pistonpowered.com/2012/02/walker-russells-d-league-performance-predicted-hed-have-nba-success/comment-page-1/#comment-47332 Mel Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:24:58 +0000 http://www.pistonpowered.com/?p=8834#comment-47332 Russell has a better feel for the game as a point guard than Bynum does. I know there skill set is different but I wouldn't go so far to say that Bynum is that much better than Russell. Bynum gives you the occasional game here or there but Russell manages the team better to me. Plus he doesn't turn the ball over like Bynum does. Now if Bynum and Russell could add a couple of inches I would play them together off the bench Russell Point Bynum SG. But thats just my little fantasy (what-ever). Russell has a better feel for the game as a point guard than Bynum does. I know there skill set is different but I wouldn’t go so far to say that Bynum is that much better than Russell. Bynum gives you the occasional game here or there but Russell manages the team better to me. Plus he doesn’t turn the ball over like Bynum does. Now if Bynum and Russell could add a couple of inches I would play them together off the bench Russell Point Bynum SG. But thats just my little fantasy (what-ever).

]]> By: Max http://www.pistonpowered.com/2012/02/walker-russells-d-league-performance-predicted-hed-have-nba-success/comment-page-1/#comment-47329 Max Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:09:06 +0000 http://www.pistonpowered.com/?p=8834#comment-47329 Also, while I won't argue that Stuck is not a veteran, I still think he deserves to be labeled "young". Also, while I won’t argue that Stuck is not a veteran, I still think he deserves to be labeled “young”.

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