3-guard rotation does the trick for Stuckey and the Pistons
Here’s what yours truly had to say about the Pistons’ fortunes this season back in August and September [2009] with a few of their ardent and vociferous fans at the otherwise terrific site, DetroitBadBoys.com, concerning:
i. The continued development of Rodney Stuckey
ii. The proper role for Will Bynum
iii. The proper role for Rip Hamilton
iv. The proper role for Ben Gordon
iv. The proper role for Ben Wallace
v. The proper role for Jason Maxiell
vi. The proper role for Charlie Villanueva
vi. The proper roles for Jonas Jerebko, Austin Daye, DaJuan Summers and Deron Washington
vii. The proper decisions for John Kuester
viii. The effect of a 3-guard rotation on Team Cohesion
ix. The effect of Team Cohesion on Winning [i.e. Efficency, Effectiveness and Team Excellence]
Yes, it’s a huge thread with 651 comments [!] … many of which are immature and inane by a certain sub-set of Pistons fans active on that site … but, if you take the time to parce out what was actually said there by yours truly, you should be able to see just how accurate many of those initial comments have been to this point in the Pistons’ season. 
Since that time there have been several other articles and discussions concerning the Pistons’ plight this season, at the guard positions, in a variety of different locations on-line:
Could Will Bynum become the Detroit Pistons’ franchise player? [Nov 18]
Bynum or Stuckey? [Nov 19]
Will Bynum > Rodney Stuckey [Nov 20]
Bynum gets love, Stuckey gets none [Nov 25]
Detroit: Stuckey or Bynum – who should start? [Nov 25]
culminating in yesterday’s declaration by the NBA:
Stuckey the East’s Player of the Week
If the Pistons’ long term goal is to eventually regain their former perch at the very top of the Eastern Conference, then, what they’ll continue to do this season is … exactly what yours truly said in the “It’s contagious” thread,
because when a lead guard like Rodney Stuckey [PG, 6-5] gets an opportunity to play the game in this way alongside other elite level performers like:
GUARDS and FORWARDS
Rip Hamilton [OG, 6-7], Ben Gordon [OG-PG, 6-3], Tayshaun Prince [SF, 6-9], Jonas Jerebko [SF, 6-9], Austin Daye [OG-SF, 6-10], Dajuan Summers [PF, 6-9] and Deron Washington [SF-OG, 6-7]
POWER FORWARDS and CENTERS
Ben Wallace [C, 6-9], Jason Maxiell [PF, 6-7], Charlie Villanueva [PF, 6-10], Kwame Brown [C, 7-0] and Chris Wilcox [PF-C, 6-9]
his team has a chance to become a dominant force for years to come, in the NBA, with the benefit of Top Notch coaching and personnel management.
Clearly defining the proper roles for your team’s 2 Point Guards [i.e. I. The Starter; and, II. The Primary Back-up] within an almost exclusively 3-guard rotation, at the Point and Off Guard positions, is a MAJOR COMPONENT of building an elite level squad, when:
* One of your MAIN COGS is an expensive free agent signee, like Ben Gordon, who just happens to be 6-3, 205, and a Combination Guard that can stretch the defense with long distance 3’s and by creating high percentage shots off the bounce, either, for himself or his teammates;
* Another of your MAIN COGS is a seasoned [and wily] veteran, like Rip Hamilton, who is an expert at moving without the ball in his hands and scoring within the mid-range area of the floor; and,
* The 3rd of your MAIN COGS is a terrific young stud, like Rodney Stuckey, with good size and physicality, plus the ability to [A] drive the ball to the bucket and score, [B] convert free throw attempts into points scored, [C] knock down open jump-shots, [D] create high percentage shots for teammates, and [E] Defend and Rebound his own position, in an elite level manner.
The Pistons have now won 5 games in a row, and 6 of their last 7, overall; including 2 solid home-court victories against Atlanta [17-6/.739; 2nd, Southeast] and Denver [17-7/.708; 1st, Northwest].
A healthy Rip Hamilton [OG] is now back in the starting line-up, beside Rodney Stuckey [PG].
It is going to be very interesting to see what John Kuester proceeds to do with a healthy Ben Gordon [OG-PG] and Will Bynum [PG], when each one is ready to return to the Pistons’ regular rotation.
If he slots Gentle Ben [OG-PG] into the rotation as Detroit’s #3 guard, in support of the Stuckey [PG]/Hamilton [OG] pairing … and, alongside of a Maxiell [PF]/Wallace [C] front-court tandem, with support from Villanueva and Brown, and a Small Forward split between Jerebko, Daye and an eventually healthy T-Prince … then LOOK OUT [!], because the Pistons will be joining the Hawks as the “next best two teams” in the EC this season, on the heels of the Celtics, Magic and Cavaliers.
If he does not do this, however, and, instead, simply returns to using 3 [or more] Point Guards [i.e. Stuckey, Bynum, Gordon, and Atkins], on a regular basis, or using Rip Hamilton frequently at the SF position, in a “small” line-up, or using a 4-guard [or more] rotation, at the PG and OG positions [i.e. Stuckey and Hamilton; Bynum and Gordon; Player X and Atkins], etc., then, unfortunately, the Pistons will continue to flounder this season, hovering about the .500 mark and performing in an inconsistent manner.
High End teams in the NBA have Quality Depth throughout their roster.
One of the other distinguishing characteristics of these teams, however, is that they are each intelligent enough to pare their rotation down to a “working group” of only 7, 8 or 9 [max.] players; with the rest being able to accept their fate and their proper lesser roles, as reserves, this season.
The first Moment of Truth this season is about to arrive for the Pistons.
How John Kuester chooses to handle it will become a defining moment of his tenure as the head coach for their team.
Related:
Rip Hamilton praises Pistons coach John Kuester, team’s pluck
Tags: Austin Daye, Ben Gordon, Ben Wallace, Charlie Villanueva, Chris Wilcox, Chucky Atkins, DaJuan Summers, Detroit Pistons, Jason Maxiell, Joe Dumars, John Kuester, Jonas Jerebko, Kwame Brown, Michael Curry, Richard Hamilton, Rodney Stuckey, Tayshaun Prince, Will Bynum
December 15th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
Hey khandor,
Where you (and lots of other Pistons fans) and I agree wholeheartedly: Small Ball should be thrown out the window, except for short spurts on nights where matchups dictate it.
On some things, I think we can simply agree to disagree.
There is one thing, however, that I think is missing from this post, namely, how poorly Rodney played over the first 15 or so games of the season.
As good as Rodney has been over the past 7-8 games, he was absolutely terrible over the first 15. I’m thrilled with how well he’s played recently; however, it’s not yet clear which of the two Rodneys we’ve seen this season is the real Rodney.
I think (and hope) that the latter of the two choices is possible and probable (over the long-term). However, I also know that Rodney is going to have bad games and probably stretches of bad games (he’s a young player, after all). Because of that, I don’t see any reason to not play Bynum for 12-20 minutes per night, depending on matchups and performance.
Recently, Joe Dumars said that WB is part of the “core group” of players moving forward, so it seems unlikely that WB will be banished to the bench. What is likely, I think, is for Rip to see ~8 minutes at SF and ~20 minutes at SG (a reduction in his minutes, especially as he’s getting healthy again). Kuester also has to find minutes for JJ once Prince gets healthy, so that may not be so cut and dried.
We have four guards who are too good not to play. It’s going to be a balancing act, for sure, but I don’t think the solution is banishing Will Bynum — he’s too valuable to permanently ride the pine.
December 15th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
brgulker,
1. Part of the reason Rodney Stuckey played poorly during that initial stretch of games was because the Pistons were not using a 3-player rotation at the Point and Off Guard positions like they’ve been doing increasingly over this recent stretch of 5 games.
Game 19 vs Milwaukee
STARTERS: Stuckey/36 + Atkins/18
KEY SUBS: Bynum/29 + Gordon/22
Game 20 vs Washington
STARTERS: Stuckey/34 + Atkins/21
KEY SUB: Bynum27 + Gordon/11
Game 21 @ PHILADELPHIA
STARTERS: Stuckey/40 + Atkins/29
KEY SUB: Bynum/18
Game 22 vs Denver
STARTERS: Stuckey/38 + Atkins/35
KEY SUB: Daye/22
Game 23 vs Golden State
STARTERS: Stuckey/37 + Hamilton/36
KEY SUB: Atkins/33
2. It’s a fundamental error to believe that Will Bynum [PG] … despite his obvious individual talent … if he’s in the line-up, at all, has a huge “effect” on whether or not the Pistons can actually become a team which wins 50+ games again and is in consideration as the Top Dog in the EC.
3. Joe Dumars will be making a significant mistake if he decides to follow through on that specific comment about Will Bynum becoming a ‘fixture’ on the Pistons’ roster for years to come … if he plans on keeping Rodney Stuckey and Ben Gordon in the fold.
Unfortunately, Will Bynum does not “fit” with Rodney Stuckey and Ben Gordon, if the equation in Detroit is designed to return the Pistons to their former glory.
[... if, however, the goal is merely being an "average-to-good" team in EC then Will Bynum is plenty good enough to use in the Pistons' everyday rotation.]
In no way, shape or form should Will Bynum be considered as simply “too good a player” to receive zero PT with the Pistons.
The “balancing act” of which you speak is capable of derailing the Pistons from fulfilling their capacity for excellence this season … whereas, settling on a firm rotation that looks like this:
STARTERS: Stuckey + Hamilton
KEY SUBS: Gordon
will achieve the opposite result.
4. The key decision for the Pistons involves CHOOSING between Ben Gordon and Will Bynum rather than between Rodney Stuckey and Will Bynum.
In my book …
Rip Hamilton is a keeper, as the face of the franchise.
Rodney Stuckey is a keeper, as the real deal.
Ben Gordon is a keeper, as a combo guard who can stretch the defense.
Chucky Atkins is a keeper, as in inexpensive veteran back-up w/savvy.
Will Bynum is plenty good enough to trade successfully for a serviceable asset from another team’s treasure chest.
December 21st, 2009 at 6:12 am
This is a great article. It’s key that Stuckey can defend many 2s.
December 21st, 2009 at 12:54 pm
Brain,
1. Thanks for the compliment.
2. You’re correct. One of Stuckey’s main strengths is his ability to check most PGs, all 2OGs and some SFs.
February 23rd, 2010 at 5:37 pm
Rip Hamilton is the man!