THE Answer for the Pistons
Whether Michael Curry, Joe Dumars or Allen Iverson like it or not … the Detroit Pistons will only become the 2nd best team in the Eastern Conference, again this season, if they eventually come to the following realization about their team’s mix of players:
#1. PG - Stuckey [should be playing 30+ MPG]
#2. OG – Rip [should be playing 30+ MPG]
#3. SF - Prince [back-up back-up PG, should be playing 30+ MPG]
#4. PF – Maxiell/Johnson/McDyess
#5. C – Sheed
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#6. OG/PG - Iverson [ala The Micro-wave]
#7. SF - Afflalo
#8. PF – McDyess/Maxiell/Johnson
#9. C – Brown
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#10. SF - Herrmann
#11. PF/C - Johnson/Maxiel/Brown
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#12. PG - Bynum [4th string]
Although their best Group-Of-5 does not include Mr. Iverson, if he’s used corrrectly, off the bench …
for high intensity spot duty, in relief of Stuckey or Rip, ala Vinnie Johnson [from yesteryear], as the 3rd Guard in the rotation, behind Zeke & Little Jo, who could really fill it up whenever he’s in the game; but, is nowhere nearly good enough defensively or in terms of rebounding, at this stage of his career, to justify [i] receiving major minutes on this team, or [ii] the holding back of Stuckey, in general, at the PG spot …
then, the Pistons still have what it takes to regain their perch beside the Celtics.
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How he handles this situation, from here on in, is the first significant test of Michael Curry’s leadership with the Pistons.
Tags: Allen Iverson, Amir Johnson, Antonio McDyess, Arron Afflalo, Jason Maxiell, Joe Dumars, Kwame Brown, Michael Curry, Rasheed Wallace, Richard Hamilton, Rodney Stuckey, Tayshaun Prince, Walter Herrmann, Will Bynum
December 8th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
I’m assuming a “response” to this?:
http://www.freep.com/article/20081208/SPORTS03/81208048/1048
December 8th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
100% agree.
December 8th, 2008 at 11:39 pm
interesting it took so long. imo this should have been the plan from day one. any word from iverson ont his move yet?
December 9th, 2008 at 7:40 am
Raps Fan… AI is not coming of the bench as Kha is suggesting. Click the link. Not sure what this does in terms of rebounding for the Pistons.
December 9th, 2008 at 8:20 am
IMO, what the Pistons’ new line-up …
PG – Stuckey
OG – Ivers
SF – Rip
PF – Prince
C – Sheed
actually does, is spin their wheels unnecessarily, again.
i.e. That ^^^, right there, is not the sort of group which is going to beat the Celtics or the Cavaliers.
February 19th, 2009 at 4:10 pm
whether it’s iverson being a diva, curry being dumb or joe telling curry what to do (and being dumb), the fact that iverson off the bench hasn’t even been legitimately considered is astounding.
this has been a bad season, everyone has disappointed except for rip, dyess and (debatably) amir.