Rodney Stuckey-Charlie Villanueva combo makes Pistons play like the NBA’s best offensive team
Three long years ago, Rodney Stuckey and Charlie Villanueva were centerpieces in the Detroit Pistons’ retooling effort.
There was no player on the roster the Pistons had drafted higher than Stuckey. The year prior, Detroit even traded Chauncey Billups to, among other things, give Stuckey a larger role.
Villanueva was the Pistons’ highest-paid big man, a key free agent addition after his breakout season with the Milwaukee Bucks.
As we all know, that retooling largely has been a failure, as the Pistons haven’t made the playoffs since signing Villanueva and making Stuckey a regular starter. But finally, long after their stars have dimmed in Detroit, Stuckey and Villanueva are playing like the productive combination many hoped they could become.
In the 264 minutes Stuckey and Villanueva have played together this season, the Pistons have outscored their opponents by 39 points. No Detroit combination has played more together and posted a better plus-minus, either in sum or per minute.
Defensively, the Pistons perform about the same with those two on the court. The real boost comes offensively, where the results are staggering. According to nba.com/stats:
• Pistons’ points per 100 possessions overall: 99.9 (21st in the NBA).
• Pistons’ points per 100 possessions with Stuckey and Villanueva playing: 110.7 (equivalent of first in the NBA).
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Dec 28, 2012 • 6:30 pm
by Trysdor
Slightly misleading title, but good for Charlie. About time he even moderately lived up to his big contract.
Dec 28, 2012 • 6:44 pm
by Haan
Shouldn’t your headline be about Villanueva rather than Drummond? The substance of your story is.
Dec 28, 2012 • 6:50 pm
by Dan Feldman
Thanks, fixed! Drummond is a factor, which I wrote about in a portion of the Freep column I didn’t excerpt.
Dec 28, 2012 • 6:45 pm
by Crispus
I’m glad for both of those guys. They finally found their roles on the team. I just hope some of the other guys can settle in as the season goes.
Dec 28, 2012 • 6:47 pm
by Mark
This may sound blasphemous with all the chants for Drummond to start, but I’m starting to want CV in the starting lineup with the way he’s been scoring. We could really use his stretch 4 ability in the starting lineup, over the little offense Maxiell provides.
If Frank isnt ready yet to put the responsibility of starting on Drummmond, then at least start CV over Max. Something needs to change with this SL/
Dec 28, 2012 • 7:21 pm
by Chris H
So who can we trade Stuckey and CV for? Takers? Anyone? Best offense in the NBA… Hello? … Hello? … Bueller?
Dec 28, 2012 • 8:40 pm
by Brigs
It really looks like stuckey has finally learned how to run the point and just throwin this out there but chauncey need about the same amount of years before he did too
Dec 28, 2012 • 9:53 pm
by Vic
So basically, Andre Drummond improves all of his teammates offense and defense…
Dec 28, 2012 • 11:43 pm
by Tyrone
Keep playing hard and stay humble CV