Comments on: Jason Maxiell’s maddening mid-rangers

By: T Casey

T Casey — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 07:29:06 +0000

This article shows exactly why I’ve never understood the argument of starting Maxiel over Drummond because of floor spacing. At one point early in his career, Maxiel’s mid rang j was deadly, but now he hardly connects on them. The fact that the only attribute he has keeping him in the starting lineup vs a guy who’s better in every other way is something that he’s not even good is mind boggling to say the least.

By: Ryank

Ryank — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 23:08:24 +0000

Everyone who thinks it’s Frank’s fault doesn’t know basketball. The reason Maxiell is taking these shots is because he’s open…not because Frank is letting him, not because Maxiell is hogging the ball, and not because it’s a late in the clock situation. The defense is slacking off him while tightening up on the other options. They want Maxiell to take that shot. He’s getting the ball late in the clock because no one else has a good look…

Maxiell is not a stretch player and he doesn’t want to play inside…so where is there room for a player like that on an NBA team?

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 22:31:26 +0000

This problem isn’t really Maxiell’s though. It’s Frank’s. Haven’t done the research, but Max takes a lot of these late in the shot clock when other options have been exhausted. That’s not his fault.

By: Jon

Jon — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 22:27:47 +0000

he said ‘something good that we have’ not the only thing good we have but either way i disagree

By: Franks Must Go

Franks Must Go — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 22:26:40 +0000

Max take and miss all those mid range jumpers not just because of shot clock situations… He take them because oppossing teams leave him wide open for them, and he should take them… Even when the clock is running down, nobody on the opposing team is going to run out and defend Maxiell shooting a jumper… It’s actually the only offense he think he has other than put-backs… a few years back he started developing that shot as a go to shot and although he showed promise early, he never really developed that or any other offensive move. The problem is not that he takes so many and why… The problem is that he is a horrible shooter/player and not be on the floor to take that many jumpers… We need a better starting four…

By: Franks Must Go

Franks Must Go — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 22:15:28 +0000

It’s rare that we have a reader post something where he is sounding completely clueless, but Jim stated that Maxiell is the only good thing we have… I am not even going to bother breaking down all the many reasons I think Jim was smoking something when he wrote that…

By: Evan

Evan — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 22:03:24 +0000

Agreed. The reason for this is simple. The Pistons are terrible in the half court offense and when it inevitably breaks down (and often does so with little time left) and Maxiell is passed the ball, as long as he slightly open he’s taking the shot. Can I blame Maxiell? Not really. There are rarely times he takes that shot with other options.
Bottom line: This team needs to run. They need to get down the court before the defense has time to set up to get easy buckets in transition, since they don’t have any actual shooters on this team. We need to play to our strengths and playing half court offense is one of our biggest weaknesses.

By: danny

danny — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 21:38:13 +0000

someone gets it and its on the coach. If he wasn’t supposed to shoot dont you think he would be taken out the game? I swear the only logical reason why frank does what he does is so we can give up our draft pick this year. This years draft is a bit weak so might as well let it go now.

By: Gareth Masters

Gareth Masters — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 21:12:20 +0000

Even earlier in the season when his mid range shot was falling, I was still shocked that they were going in, if that makes sense…

By: Huddy

Huddy — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 20:59:57 +0000

I don’t think he should start or anything but this is actually a good point. I notice that a lot of his mid rangers are end of the shot clock or after everyone has moved the ball around and no one wants to drive or shoot. That doesn’t excuse such a high percentage, but it is definitely a trend I see often, I don’t really think he is getting the ball 5 sec in and hoisting mid rangers like Westbrook or anything. Either way not that important he will be gone or in a rotation role after this season (hopefully).