[Inbetweengame]

Will Bynum sets up teammates more than anyone on the Pistons

By Patrick Hayes • 8:00 am • February 15, 2011


I want to take a minute to address what has become a huge annoyance: despite the presence of high-priced players who have underperformed (Jason Maxiell, Ben Gordon, Charlie Villanueva and Rip Hamilton) and a young player who seems to have plateaued when he’s essentially auditioning for his first big payday as a pro (Rodney Stuckey), a player who is taking a ridiculous amount of criticism, both from commenters (examples here and here) and from some who cover the team, is Will Bynum. A player who has been very productive since rejoining the rotation and who, more importantly, is one of only a handful of Pistons who is not astronomically overpaid.
The general sentiment, if I may summarize the rants posted in the comments and jokes made on Twitter, is that Bynum goes into the game essentially in get-mine mode. When his shot is falling, that’s great. When it’s not, people feel he plays selfish and out of control.
Those would be fair criticisms if they were accurate.
Will Bynum sets up teammates

Tracy McGrady has generally been panned by fans because his passing has added a dimension to the starting lineup the Pistons were lacking with Stuckey running the point. Namely, McGrady passes more and better than Stuckey.
I have no issues with those facts. McGrady has certainly been an unselfish player. Bynum, however, is kind of framed as the anti-McGrady. The point guard in name only who comes into the game looking to do one thing: score the ball. It’s just a flat-out wrong perception.
First, the most telling stat is assist percentage — “an estimate of the percentage of teammate field goals a player assisted while he was on on the floor.” Bynum leads the team at just over 28 percent of his possessions. McGrady, surprisingly, is only producing an assist on about 24 percent of his possessions.
That’s not to say Bynum is better at running a conventional offense than McGrady. McGrady very clearly is superior in the halfcourt, and often, his passes are about making the smart basketball play that keeps the offense moving rather than just making a pass that leads to a basket. But to say that Bynum is averse to passing is just not correct. He’s a different type of player, a freelancer who uses his quickness to create havoc and keep the defense off balance. His main goal is to score, for sure, but if he doesn’t have a shot, he passes to teammates in position to score more often than anyone on the team. Which brings me too …
Myth: Bynum is not an efficient scorer

Bynum shoots nearly 45 percent this season. That’s a better percentage than McGrady, Hamilton, Gordon, Stuckey and Villanueva. He averages fewer shot attempts per 36 minutes than Hamilton, Gordon, Stuckey, Tayshaun Prince, Villanueva, Daye and, hilariously, DaJuan Summers. So Bynum shoots a better percentage on fewer shot attempts than five key players, and people jump all over him for shooting even though he does it pretty efficiently?
And, just to add some recent data, in eight games in February so far, just as the criticism of him has been ratcheting up, his shooting percentage for the month is 52 percent. I’m sorry, but any guard who is shooting 52 percent should have the green light to shoot as often as he feels like he has good shots. Bynum is going to miss at the rim sometimes for a couple of reasons: a large percentage of his shots come at the rim and he’s really short. But when you compare his percentage to say, Stuckey, a much bigger player who has a similar game when it comes to attacking the basket, Bynum just flat out converts those attempts more often than Stuckey does.
The contract

Bynum is one of the four players on the Pistons (Greg Monroe, Ben Wallace and McGrady are the other three) whose production is in line with his pay. Bynum makes less than most backup point guards in the league. He produces about 14 points, 6 assists and 1.5 steals every 36 minutes while shooting 45 percent and 82 percent from the free throw line.
He’s not without flaws — he turns it over more than you’d like a point guard to and his playing with reckless abandon, while often changing the pace of the game and putting pressure on the opposing defense, can sometimes become out of control.
The takeaway

Even with limitations, what Bynum gives the team on a nightly basis — speed, aggression, intensity, playmaking, bench scoring and lately, ball-hawking defense (he has seven steals in the last two games) — for a cheap (by NBA standards) cost, there’s zero reason to really complain about his flaws, especially while bending over backwards to make excuses for a much higher paid player like Gordon who very often plays without aggression or intensity and, unlike Bynum, rarely does anything to set up teammates or create shots for them.
Bynum is far from the problem on the Pistons. It’s fair to criticize him when he makes a bad play, but this is the simple truth: if every Piston played with the heart and intensity that Bynum plays with, they’d be a playoff team.

[Inbetweengame]

I found this pretty interesting and it's a pretty clear rebuttal to all the people who rip on Will Bynum (who is flawed) and defend Ben Gordon.

[Kstat]

I couldn't read through it. It was too easy to laugh at.

Who wrote this, his mother?

[detroitsportsfan]

Let's Start BynumMania!!! Thanks Inbetweengame. You made my day. Take that suckas!!!

[Dwight Schrute]

Lol. Love it.

[sam dav]

Originally Posted by Kstat

I couldn't read through it. It was too easy to laugh at.

Who wrote this, his mother?

Of course you coudn't read it through it. That's because you are a retard.

My opinion on Bynum is...Is that he is pretty good when he tries hard and when he isn't beat up or not in good form. Once he loses his quickness or concentration, he is not good.

When he is on, he is on. I love seeing Bynum going hard at it on both ends of the court, he is fun. If he can settle into a consistent performer(most importantly on defense), he can lock down the rotation spot.

[Inbetweengame]

It says who wrote it clearly in the article, oh wait... it's from the Piston Powered blog.

[Inbetweengame]

You know this whole season would be a great blaxploitation movie.

[Santos]

Not defending the guy, but it tells a lot about your main guards when a fan's forum spends three consecutive weeks and loads of posts to discuss the supposedly fifth guard of the team as if he were the source of all our problems. I think it's fair to say that at this point we need psychiatrists to analyze the recent over fixation on Bynum. My guess would be that it's just pure frustration of how Stuckey and Gordon turned out and how Rip has abandoned the team.

[Jangul]

Originally Posted by Santos

I think it's fair to say that at this point we need psychiatrists to analyze the recent over fixation on Bynum. My guess would be that it's just pure frustration of how Stuckey and Gordon turned out and how Rip has abandoned the team.

That pretty much sums it up perfectly.

[Money23]

Bynum and Gordon are supposed to be doing different things, though. That's why you can point out their weaknesses separately. Gordon was brought in to score.

[hack]

``what Bynum gives the team on a nightly basis'' -- looks to me like someone's memory doesn't extend past 30 minutes...

[rpmfla]

"Tracy McGrady has generally been panned by fans because his passing has added a dimension to the starting lineup the Pistons were lacking..."

Really? I are surprised.


I like Will ok as a spark-plug kind of player, but he does try to do too much at times and he is not always strong on defense. I can see a difference in the Piston's when he does decide to distribute the ball. The energy level and attitude seems to improve when more guys get involved.

[tin mad dog]

Originally Posted by rpmfla

"Tracy McGrady has generally been panned by fans because his passing has added a dimension to the starting lineup the Pistons were lacking..."

Really? I are surprised.

I am guessing the writer wasn't bright enough to use "panned" correctly.

[tin mad dog]

Sorry, I called him a writer not a blogger, which is what he is. This is just like any of us sitting down for 30 minutes and typing it out.

Amongst this guys' other linkable blogs is one comparing T-Mac's career to Eminem's. I myself, think Bynum's career has mirrored Young MC's career.

[detroitsportsfan]

Looks like the writer of the article did some research to back up his points. Glad to see some posters in this thread give a little credit to Bynum and not bashing him senseless. Where were you guys when I was getting ambushed in the other threads???

[Jeff Hause]

Laughing at you, for comparing Bynum to Wade...

[Money23]

Originally Posted by tin mad dog

I myself, think Bynum's career has mirrored Young MC's career.

That's funny!

[detroitsportsfan]

I don't believe I compared Bynum to Wade. I just said that I didn't like the idea of a whiny, flopping Wade on the Pistons team and at the same time, didn't see Bynum as bad a player as some think in this forum. (By the way, did you happen to read the article at the beginning of this thread??? Probably not, eh???) Is D-Wade a better player than Bynum??? No doubt. That wasn't my point however.

Originally Posted by Jeff Hause

Laughing at you, for comparing Bynum to Wade...

[Detroit Playa]

Originally Posted by Inbetweengame

I found this pretty interesting and it's a pretty clear rebuttal to all the people who rip on Will Bynum (who is flawed) and defend Ben Gordon.

This is funny.. if this ws it would be halarious. i think is was rediculous.l haha

[hack]

Your point was that Bynum has Pistons DNA and Wade does not.

Bynum is a ballhog.

Wade is a champion.

[tin mad dog]

He forgot to qualify that there is a Teal Gene in Bynum's DNA.

[Jeff Hause]

Originally Posted by detroitsportsfan

I don't believe I compared Bynum to Wade. I just said that I didn't like the idea of a whiny, flopping Wade on the Pistons team and at the same time, didn't see Bynum as bad a player as some think in this forum.

Which would be.... wait for it... "comparing Bynum to Wade..."

Originally Posted by detroitsportsfan

(By the way, did you happen to read the article at the beginning of this thread??? Probably not, eh???) Is D-Wade a better player than Bynum??? No doubt. That wasn't my point however.

Yeah. It was a great article. It read like a junior high school report. Outside of talking about the number of steals he had in the last two games, the moron never mentioned defense once--which is the main thing people complain about with Bynum.

[tin mad dog]

In Willie B's defense, he did have a really good first half last game.

[Jeff Hause]

I do agree that there's a lot of justified discontentment with Stuckey, Gordon and Rip--but how this idiot says that translates into discontentment with Bynum is laughable. When the starters stink, people usually CALL FOR the sub to come in and play, and call sports radio shows about how much better we'd be. (Kind of like when Curry was starting and everybody oversold Prince as the answer, which led to us drafting Darko over Carmelo.)

But in this case, the starters suck, and the fans STILL groan when Bynum comes in--which tells you he REALLY sucks...

[fredsue]

again as has been said before...bynum is good alot of times in short stints...the problem is we have to used him at times for too long. If he was that change of pace guy off the bench great....if he is you main PG off the bench and in charge of leading the team for too long...not sure that is a good thing at all...

[hack]

Nobody should have their argument bastardized like that. To be fair to DSF it should be clear that he compared only some factors. I think the comparison is ridiculous enough that you don't have to turn it into something else to mock it. There's enough to go on based on his own words only.

[Jeff Hause]

It's too laughable on too many levels to worry about... When somebody says something that stupid, they deserve whatever they get. (I think he's trolling for the attention, anyway.)

[hack]

I don't think he is. DSF seems very earnest to me. But, disagree. Hoist him on his own petard, not some other one. It's just not right, and you don't need the extra help.

[Jeff Hause]

Oh please. I just said it was funny that he compared Bynum to Wade. He's the one arguing about what the comparison was...

[hack]

How could he have compared Bynum to Wade? Pistons are only reminiscent of other Pistons on Planet DSF.

[Jeff Hause]

Yeah, but Wade was a potential Piston when we drafted Darko. That makes him partially-reminiscent.

[hack]

I would like to see you take on greater challenges.

[Jeff Hause]

This year? We've been reduced to arguing about who sucks less...

[tin mad dog]

We could pick apart the Nazr/Webber delusions he has shared a bit more.

[Lou Stefanic]

I think we could solve this entire comparison problem by making Young MC and Eminem our 2011-12 Pistons' backcourt.

[Mel Kiper Jr]

Eminem reminds me of Tyson Chandler...but their games and body-type are different.

[detroitsportsfan]

Pistons' Will Bynum rolls with rotation, uses any lack of playing time as 'motivation'

Published: Wednesday, February 16, 2011, 8:00 AM

By Chris Iott


AP PhotoDetroit's Will Bynum drives against Atlanta's Mike Bibby.
AUBURN HILLS -- Coaches like to preach readiness.

Whether or not an NBA player is part of the regular rotation, he has to be prepared at all times in case his number is called.

So it raised a few eyebrows recently when Detroit Pistons guard Will Bynum said he shows up at the arena every day fully prepared to sit on the bench.

"Every game I’m expecting not to play," Bynum said after a game last month. "I’m approaching the game like I’m not playing. I’m going to go out there and get my conditioning in and whatever happens, happens from there.

"I’ll just be ready. But that’s how I’m approaching every game."

The 6-foot guard has repeated those sentiments since then, but make no mistake: Bynum is preparing himself physically to play. He simply prepares himself mentally in case he doesn’t.

It appears that Bynum has adopted the old cliche "expect nothing and you won’t be disappointed" as a motto when it comes to playing time. On the court, Bynum has been anything but a disappointment in recent weeks. He has averaged 13.4 points and 5.0 assists while shooting 53.3 percent (24-for-45) from the field in the past five games.

That a contrast from the start of the season. Bynum shot 33.0 percent (31-for-94) from the field and averaged 5.4 points and 1.9 assists in his first 17 games. Those struggles came after he battled a hamstring injury that plagued him in the preseason and at the start of the regular season.

His recent success also is a contrast from three games in December and four in January, where Bynum earned a "did not play: coach’s decision" in the box score despite being healthy.

Not knowing where he stood in the rotation or what the next day would bring was a source of frustration.

"Just dealing with that battle every day is tough, but it’s part of being a professional," Bynum said. "We get paid a lot of money to play this game, so all I can do is stay ready whenever my time comes. Whatever they go with, that’s what I’m rolling with. I’m 100 percent behind it. Whatever that is, I’m with it."

Pistons coach John Kuester has relied on Bynum heavily in the fourth quarter recently, and has given him 20 minutes or more of playing time in each of the past five games. That is the first time this season Bynum has earned that much time over that long of a stretch.

Still, Bynum simply refuses to assume that his spot in the rotation is safe.

"I’m still not expecting to play," Bynum said. "I’ve been through that already. I’ve been through not playing, so every time I come here I’m thinking I’m not playing. I’m preparing like I’m not playing. Every game.

"I like the motivation."



© 2011 MLive.com. All rights reserved.


How could you not like this guy??? It's easy to see why Dumars likes the guy.The guy definitely has some Pistons DNA in him. Now, watch the haters hate.

[tin mad dog]

Bynum shot like ass tonight but did have 7 assists and was only a -1 so that's not too bad.

[detroitsportsfan]

Led the team in assists (7) while only playing just over 17 minutes. Also had a couple of steals. Some of you guys are big on stats and the numbers don't lie.....Bynum is playing pretty decent right now. Doesn't matter.....the haters will continue to hate because that's what they do.

[Kstat]

His pair of bonehead rushed shots in the last 90 seconds that allowed Indiana two fast-break layups to tie the game nearly killed us.

Fanboys will continue to be all over his nuts because that's what they do....

the best part is the fanboy that sticks up for him the most doesn't even watch the games. The only reason he's this persistent is that his other love interest Rip Hamilton doesn't even play anymore.

[Lou Stefanic]

As a hater, I think I'm completely misunderstood. But I use that as motivation each and every time I come in here to post.

[hack]

So, a story about the bench player that just likes to go out there and give 110% and is ready whenever coach calls his number -- DSF have you noticed if anyone else in the history of sportswriting has written stories at all similar?

[Kstat]

Rip Hamilton has no idea what you're talking about.

[Big Jerm]

I need to go ahead and write up a blog post about how shitty Bynum is. Then one of you guys can post it here as if it's a reputable source.

That original article was something akin to using wikipedia to write a research paper.

[Kstat]

Wikipedia at least has some accuracy to it.

[hack]

That guy is a known blogger, not just any clown. That doesn't make him impervious to criticism, but I think he gets the benefit of the doubt for being a guy that is sometimes right, sometimes wrong, and most of the time more interesting and useful to read than the Vinces Ellis and Goodwill.

[Big Jerm]

Originally Posted by Inbetweengame

I found this pretty interesting and it's a pretty clear rebuttal to all the people who rip on Will Bynum (who is flawed) and defend Ben Gordon.

Would that be in any way similar to the person who rips Ben Gordon(who is flawed, but with a great team attitude) and defends Richard Hamilton(who is flawed, but with a cancerous attitude)?

[detroitsportsfan]

who's "fanboy???" am i he??? i've watched enough games to know what kind of player he is and he's not nearly as bad as you put him out to be as he would be out of the league if that was the case.

Originally Posted by Kstat

His pair of bonehead rushed shots in the last 90 seconds that allowed Indiana two fast-break layups to tie the game nearly killed us.

Fanboys will continue to be all over his nuts because that's what they do....

the best part is the fanboy that sticks up for him the most doesn't even watch the games. The only reason he's this persistent is that his other love interest Rip Hamilton doesn't even play anymore.

[detroitsportsfan]

Not all bench players have the same attitude as Bynum. I think he genuinely appreciates being able to play in the NBA. Seems like a coach's type of player. Again, easy to see why Joe D likes him. And he's got some talent to boot!!! Despite all that, haters will continue to hate. Sigh!

Originally Posted by hack

So, a story about the bench player that just likes to go out there and give 110% and is ready whenever coach calls his number -- DSF have you noticed if anyone else in the history of sportswriting has written stories at all similar?