Comments on: Pistons resort to anti-tanking measures against Timberwolves, lose anyway

By: Max

Max — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 21:27:00 +0000

Fact: Pistons this year only counting games when Stuckey played at least 30 minutes.
4-4 through first twenty games
11-8 through 21st to 40th game
1-2 through latest games
That adds up to a 15 and 14 record. Nothing to crow about but better than people think and Stuckey was playing hurt all year. He would have played a lot more minutes otherwise.

By: Max

Max — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 20:17:27 +0000

@2Touch. Stuckey did make big improvements this year but the yearly averages don’t reflect it for three main reasons:
1) He started off the season with his role in flux regarding whether he’d come off the bench or not but in either case, he was forced to spend the majority of his minutes at a new position on the floor and that is a major adjustment. He also signed late so didn’t even get the benefit of a full, truncated training camp.
2) Very shortly after being signed, Stuckey pulled his groin which, for all we know, continues to bother him until this day. He did say early on that he knew he was going to have to deal with the injury all year and he seemingly was correct.
3) After becoming used to his role and achieving a modicum of basic health, Stuckey played the best ball of his career by far around February and March and played the franchise guy Dumars and some Pistons fans have envisioned him to be, but then he got hurt (aggravated his season long injury?) again, missed some games, and has not been quite the same since.
Beyond the bad luck of incurring a early injury (which might have been due to signing late), the season’s lockout schedule was far more punishing to a pulled groin in general. I would speculate that even with the early injury, he would healed faster and stayed healthy if given a normal schedule and his numbers would have been by far the best of his career. Nevertheless, the reason why his improvement is obvious comes down to the best stretch of his career in February and March, having his best and most comfortable year from the three point line, and evincing a better attitude than ever before and even looking like he is having fun out there at times.
You might have also noticed that the Pistons record was somewhat decent this year when Stuckey started.

By: 2Tough

2Tough — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 17:24:35 +0000

Can someone please explain to me how Stuckey has improved so much when his numbers this year are actually WORSE than last year’s across the board?

By: tarsier

tarsier — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 22:28:28 +0000

“A team that tanks in an attempt to improve its draft opportunities? – which I feel is cheating the game and us as fans.”

I agree. i wish the system could be changed in a way to discourage tanking while still rewarding teams with the greatest need. But as long as the system is the way it is, I want the Pistons to try to work it to their greatest advantage–in this case, by tanking.

By: tarsier

tarsier — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 22:24:51 +0000

So “This is the worst Piston team you’ve ever seen” because last year’s was worse and this one only has a slightly better record?

By: Josh B

Josh B — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 19:38:48 +0000

I really don’t see how this team should be that much better than it is. We have a good(not dominant) big man in Monroe, and they’re still undersized on their frontline. Their roles are more clearly defined than they were last year, and I think that’s why this team has played around .500 basketball after that 4-20 start. There was no way this was gonna be a good team this year.

By: Alek

Alek — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 16:07:06 +0000

17 points really? well dribble dribble dribble 20 sec and then shoot. That’s not the BBall. You can see frustration on other 4 watching “one man show”. Release 12, 31, 8, 5, 54. Brig back Kyle, move 22 and pick for a good big. move JJ to 3. Bring backup SG. It will be at least 6-8 playoff spot. Then everything should be on coach to build contender.

By: Daye and Knight

Daye and Knight — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 15:09:26 +0000

And with the 9th pick the Detroit Pistons select…Elhahaji Morocu from ????

By: kamal

kamal — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 15:04:21 +0000

I say this year, because we should be so much better. Our roster sucked last year and the coach was God awful. Last year, nobody knew what they were doing.

This team’s roster is more balanced. They don’t have all the turmoil in the locker room. Roles are clearly defined. We SHOULD be much better. This team is so frustrating.

By: Patrick Hayes

Patrick Hayes — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 14:10:39 +0000

Yeah, why improve your chances at getting Anthony Davis when this year’s version of Patrick O’Bryant could be sitting there for the taking at nine.