Comments on: Pistons’ bad luck ups pressure on current players, especially lottery rep Brandon Knight

By: Chris

Chris — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 18:00:06 +0000

Sorry but I find your smug shit boring.

By: tarsier

tarsier — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 21:49:36 +0000

Well I deliberately stopped short of saying that you actually underestimate his room for improvement. Just that my impression from what was said was that he doesn’t have that much more room. But with this statement, I completely agree, well, depending how much “much closer” means. :)

By: Max

Max — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 19:17:08 +0000

There are lots of different player narratives. It seems to me that Stuckey is becoming more of a man and a bully out there and his improvement could be helped by that.
Also, chemistry can make players a lot better and I haven’t really seen it much yet but I still envision Monroe becoming a passing hub and developing some stuff with Stuckey out of the high post with Stuckey cutting.
Monroe’s rookie summer league was remarkable in that he showed more passing in one summer than he practically showed in two years in the NBA. Even so, Monroe was amongst the league leaders at center in assists this year and led for some of it. But I’m not really surprised because coach Q didn’t let Monroe have any decision making responsibilities and Frank didn’t get a summer league, full training camp or even much practice time this year with Monroe. Even so, Monroe was amongst the league leaders at center in assists this year and led for some of it.
I still see Monroe as a player who is gradually improving and who has a long way to go. There is something unassuming and measured about him that is perhaps stalling his being able to put it all together in terms of his entire personal skill set but the total set we’ve seen is staggering. I think he’s going to have a monster year next year and to put it in fantasy terms, people will be drafting him in the 2nd and 1rst round next year. I drafted him in the 4th or 5th rounds of three leagues this year and he greatly rewarded me and I won 2 of them. I see a Kevin Love level breakout year for Monroe next season and the league will finally take notice.
BTW: Despite my always saying the Pistons can’t draw free agents, Monroe could actually be the kind of player that other players are really drawn to. How many team’s best player and big man is mature, unassuming, unselfish and a great passer?

By: Dan Feldman

Dan Feldman — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 18:57:13 +0000

I can’t speak for Patrick, but I think Monroe has big-time room for improvement. But he’s much closer to his ceiling than Knight. Knight has more room for improvement than anyone on the team outside of Austin Daye.

By: Max

Max — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 18:21:42 +0000

You could say though that he never got to be concentrate on being a starting shooting guard until last year and that he flourished like never before once he was comfortable in his role and healthy. The game he played against Kobe and the Lakers wasn’t an aberration at the time but just the game that stood out most amongst a host of big games he was having.

By: Patrick Hayes

Patrick Hayes — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 13:02:37 +0000

@Max:

I’m not saying it couldn’t happen. It’s just highly unlikely. Stuckey is 26 (will turn 27 late next season) and has been in the league six years. He’s also played big minutes. Typically, players who fit that description don’t make some huge leap forward. I’d suspect, if he stays healthy, he’ll have a good season, but I just don’t think he has all that much upside anymore. He’s not a prospect like Monroe or Knight, he’s entering his prime years. I’d certainly like to be wrong, but all indicators are that, by now, Stuckey just kind of is what he is, a pretty solid starter versatile enough to give quality minutes at either guard spot. I don’t think it’s reasonable to expect much more than that. Most guys who make a big leap in their late 20s are guys who just haven’t got a chance to play a lot earlier in their careers, then shine when they finally get minutes. Stuckey doesn’t fit that description.

By: Max

Max — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 08:00:00 +0000

One question: Why is it so unlikely that Stuckey makes a big improvement next year when by my count, once he got healthy this year, he played like a stud all star and was putting up 25 every night? Why is it so unlikely that he could enjoy a healthy season, develop chemistry with Monroe and Knight and put up some big numbers?

By: tarsier

tarsier — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 03:42:22 +0000

I just want to point out that Steve has one valid point. He didn’t flesh it out well, but you two, if I correctly interpreted your impressions of Monroe, do underestimate his potential for improvement. His stats might not go up a ton, but he is presently terrible on defense. He appears to have the intelligence to vastly improve on that end. And, given how important defense is for big men, that would make him a much better player. Enough to make a significant difference in Detroit’s level of play without any improvement from Knight whatsoever.

Steve, please understand that if you want anyone to take you seriously when your English is so incredibly poor, your arguments would have to be downright stellar. They are not, so I recommend, besides improving your arguments, fixing the technical details of your writing. My brain hurts every time I see the language so thoroughly massacred. And please don’t respond by saying that you don’t care if anyone takes you seriously. If you don’t why on earth do you bother to post comments at all?

By: Lorenzo

Lorenzo — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 00:13:11 +0000

Agree with neutes, no point in trading up unless it’s top 3….and that too only if you loooovveeee MKG or Robinson (I’m assuming number 1 and Davis can’t be had)….which is a sketchy prospect in it’s self. Guys like Drummond and rest of the bunch have too many questions marks and not enough talent separation to warrant mortgaging assets.

By: Dan Feldman

Dan Feldman — Thu, 31 May 2012 20:22:56 +0000

Yes he barely made it ..duh, but where is the praise that HE DID MAKE IT??? http://twitter.com/PistonPowered/status/205033217743532032 Again where is the praise for the ROOKIE being compared to BEN WALLACE work ethic?? Read what Frank said. He wasn't comparing Wallace and Knight. He said they were the team's two hardest workers. For all we know, Wallace could work way harder than Knight, who worked only slightly harder than the third hardest worker. this site suggested that b. knight should be traded “in a what if” scenario because his value is high now and may never get this high again. this site did trade scenarios for all the players, but my point in that scenario you or pat said because his value may never get higher, SO the hardest worker, who just happens to be a rookie, that plays the toughest position in the league wont see his value go up?? Here's the article you're talking about. Copy and paste an excerpt that shows we said what you claim we said. what makes g. hill better than knight?? teague? lin played 35 games and if you look at his numbers they went DOWN the more he played. devin harris cant shoot and is a TO machine still in his 8th yr in the league, and knight shoots better than chalmers already!please use facts not your eyes Fact: Knight finished last in PER, win shares and win shares per 48 minutes among that group -- by a wide margin. Win shares aren't a perfect measure, but Knight is so far behind, it would be very difficult to believe he's better than those players. Monroe can get MUCH better, More dominant where he can LEAD them to victories, not just learning how to play, since this was his 2nd yr in the league and 1st being the “main” guy. i expect his number to be 19 and 10 next yr and better D. and EVERYONE says hes just scratching the surface from dumars, frank, ben wallace, espn d. thorpe, draftexprss giovany, etc. smh Monroe can get much better. So can Knight. Because Monroe is better than Knight already, that means Knight has more room for improvement.