Stuckey finished the game with 19 points, nine assists, seven rebounds and just two turnovers. In his last four games, since moving to point guard, he’s averaging 20.75 points, eight assists and six rebounds.

It’s obviously a small sample size, but only three other players in the league are averaging 20+ points and 8+ assists per game this season. None of those players – all point guards – are averaging more than five rebounds per game.

Stuckey’s made more assists in a four-game stretch just three times previously – once in February 2010 and three times in December 2008.

He’s grabbed more rebounds in a four-game stretch just five times previously – once in February 2010 and three times in November 2009.

Stuckey had never posted those rebounding and assist numbers in the same four-game stretch before now.

In his last six games, he’s averaging 20.5 points per game. In his last seven games, Stuckey’s averaging, 20.1 points per game. He hasn’t bested either mark since December 2009.

Stuckey may never become Chauncey Billups, but sometimes it’s easy to forget that he’s just 24 years old and has had to play in systems (read: slow, veteran pace) that don’t fit his play style.

With Tracy McGrady seemingly no longer in the rotation, Stuckey will get every opportunity to prove he’s the team’s present and future at point guard. So far, he’s doing just that.

Charlie Villanueva shows his potential, explodes off the bench

At this point in his career, Charlie Villanueva might be what he is – a bench player who can come in cold and score in bunches. There’s nothing wrong with that. Many NBA players earn very nice paychecks doing the same thing.

But you can’t help but think that Joe Dumars and the rest of Pistons management had bigger plans for Villanueva when they signed him in the summer of 2009.

Villanueva came off the bench to score all 16 of his points in a span of 7:36 in the second quarter, and he grabbed four rebounds, as well. But he didn’t score again tonight. He also grabbed only one more rebound in the second half.

Additionally, eight of Villanueva’s 11 field-goal attempts were 3-pointers. Although Villanueva seemed to have the “hot hand,” it would have been nice to see him in the low post, where he’s very hard to stop.

Pistons’ small forwards dominate

With Tayshaun Prince’s return to the lineup, Austin Daye once again came off the bench. And both brought it, albeit in different ways.

Prince had one of his better games of the season, leading Detroit with 20 points on 10-19 shooting in 37 minutes with solid, consistent play throughout. It’s games like this that make re-signing Prince seem like a viable and sensible option.

But then there’s Daye.

Daye, in just 18 minutes, poured in 12 points (5-6 shooting), five boards, two assists and three blocks in 18 minutes. And he continued his season-long trend of knocking down clutch shots as he scored five of his points in a span of 36 seconds near the end of the fourth quarter.

Although he’s more known for his smooth stroke, Daye’s energy and hustle were also on display. He drew offensive fouls, blocked three shots (including a chase-down block from behind) and always seemed to be in the right place at the right time.

Daye still struggles on defense, but he might be the Piston with the most potential and upside.

If Prince is ultimately not on the roster next season, then perhaps these sporadic glimpse of Daye’s potential will become a nightly occurrence.

Teams: Washington Wizards at Detroit Pistons

Date: March 6,  2011

Time: 6 p.m.

Television: Fox Sports Detroit

Records

Pistons: 22-41

Wizards: 16-45

Probable starters

Pistons:

• Rodney Stuckey
• Ben Gordon
• Tayshaun Prince
• Chris Wilcox
• Greg Monroe

Wizards:

• John Wall
• Jordan Crawford Nick Young
• Rashard Lewis Maurice Evans
• Andray Blatche
• JaVale McGee

Las Vegas projection

Spread: Pistons -4.5

Over/under: 201.5

Score: Pistons win, 103-98.5

Three things to watch

1. Tracy McGrady – from starting point guard to DNP-CDs

It seems Tracy McGrady himself is at a loss for his lack of playing time. Head Coach John Kuester’s rotation will go just 10 deep , meaning that McGrady might continue to be outside the playing rotation after not logging a single minute on the court in four straight games. And with Richard Hamilton’s return to the lineup this trend could very well continue.

This is a somewhat odd decision by Kuester since McGrady has been one of the team’s better players, but maybe there’s more going on behind the scenes. Either way, it’s a disappointing development for a player regarded as one of the few bright spots of this dismal season.

2. Pistons get first look at John Wall

John Wall, the number one pick of the 2010 NBA draft, was injured and did not play the first time these teams met back in late November. Wall is having a fantastic rookie season, although he’s been overlooked by the Clippers’ Blaker Griffin. He’s averaging 8.9 assists in his rookie season, which is something that only three other players have done in league history, including Oscar Robertson.

The two-time East Rookie of the Month will be a challenge for the Pistons as they have really struggled to defend young, big, super-athletic point guards this season. Wall is extremely fast and can cause a lot of damage with his dribble penetration, so expect to see Rodney Stuckey guarding him most of the game.

Detroit has defeated Washington six straight times at home and hopes to not be the team that gives the Wizards just their 2nd winning streak of the season and just second win on the road (NBA-worst 1-28 on the road).

3. If you’re going to lose, then lose big

While the Pistons are still technically alive in the playoff race, those dreams are all but over unless the team goes on a monumental run to end the season. Even if they did, is it worth it? Does Detroit want another repeat from 2009 when they were swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers by more than 15 points a game?

Experiencing the playoffs would be great for youngsters like Austin Daye and Greg Monroe. On the other hand, is it worth more to get that shot at the number one overall draft pick?

There is merit to both sides of the argument, but put me in the camp with Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. I don’t want to see the Pistons to continue to walk “the mediocrity treadmill.”

Pregame Reading

• Dan Devine writes about Tracy McGrady’s freakish talent and his place in basketball’s space-time continuum
• Holly MacKenzie addresses the Pistons Mutiny at Voice on the Floor
• Injured rookie Terrico White hopes to be playing in the D-League “in a couple of weeks”
• David Berri uses advanced stats to explain why the Pistons are misbehaving