[Kstat]

Dorsey has Ben Wallace written all over him. Maybe he won't be as productive, but his game is a mirror image.

I'd love to get him on this team. Much like Big Ben, I think his best chance to get a fair shake is in Detroit, where we have a long history of embracing players like him.

[Kstat]

Interesting fact:

Every starting point guard in the central division is 24 or younger, and has 3 years of NBA experience or less.

Derrick Rose- 23 years old, 4th season.
Darren Collison- 24 years old, 3rd season
Brandon Jennings- 22 years old, 3rd season
Brandon Knight- 20 years old, rookie
Kyrie Irving- 19 years old, rookie

[Whitley]

I think you put Knight (35) and Gordon (34) in the backcourt and let Stuckey eat up the rest of minutes with Gordon getting a few at the SF spot.

[Kstat]

ok, the 3 guards should never, ever see the floor at the same time. That's kuester-type insanity.

Second, if Frank wants to stress defense, suckey should start over Gordon.

[The King]

Knight and Stuckey better be starting. They are the present and the future. No way is Gordon better than Stuckey at the 2 if you want to preach defense.

[Kstat]

Even without the defense, he's a better all around player.

I'd be ok with playing all three of them 30+ minutes per game, but Stuckey and Knight need to set the tone.

[hack]

Great news. It would have been more emotionally satisfying to be rid of him but cooler heads prevailed and that's good.

[Dave Bing]

LOL, Whitley thinks that Ben Gordon should play SF. That's funny!

[Stefan S]

Originally Posted by Whitley

I think you put Knight (35) and Gordon (34) in the backcourt and let Stuckey eat up the rest of minutes with Gordon getting a few at the SF spot.

Gordon much much much MUCH too short to play SF.

However, Stuckey can get some spot minutes at SF and he has demonstrated in the past he can play good D on some SFs.

[detroitsportsfan]

Some of those guys are big men who can block shots (if that's what we're interested in). Maybe they can't do much more but hey, the Pistons have their needs and need to fill out the roster.

Originally Posted by Kstat

Humphries and Dalembert would help any team, but we can't afford either one.

The rest are garbage.

[Whitley]

Originally Posted by Kstat

ok, the 3 guards should never, ever see the floor at the same time. That's kuester-type insanity.

Second, if Frank wants to stress defense, suckey should start over Gordon.

You are going to see some spot minutes with a 3 guard lineup I think. It is a way to get some more offense out there---there are going to be nights when Gordon forces his way into minutes because of his shooting. And if Frank is really concernced about defense then Bynum should have a very limited role on this team.

[Kstat]

Originally Posted by Whitley

And if Frank is really concernced about defense then Bynum should have a very limited role on this team.

That's what we're all hoping.

[Mel Kiper Jr]

Originally Posted by Whitley

You are going to see some spot minutes with a 3 guard lineup I think. It is a way to get some more offense out there---there are going to be nights when Gordon forces his way into minutes because of his shooting. And if Frank is really concernced about defense then Bynum should have a very limited role on this team.

I think you will see a 3 Guard rotation of Knight/Stuckey...then when Gordon comes in Knight/Stuckey play PG.

At SF you will have Prince/Daye/Jerebko at times.

[Billl]

I could see us with 3 guards out there situationally. I sure hope Frank won't try that for any length of time, but they probably will be our 3 best offensive players. At the very least, I expect to see them occasionally for end of quarter/half/game offensive possessions - especially if CV is having an off shooting night.

[Kstat]

The only situation i could see is if we go panic mode needing a bunch of points in a very short time. That lineup would get killed defensively.

[ghandi]

IF anything Stuckey would be the 3rd guard to play SF not Gordon...Gordon cant even guard 2 guards, not to mention SFs......ALso with Daye and Tay theres no reason to play the 3 guards unless its 10 seconds left in the game and the Pistons are on offense.

[Kstat]

right..so you'd then have two players out there that can't defend their position. Stuckey is too small to defend 6'8" small forwards.

[DYNOMITE]

My main concern with our guard rotation is that we no longer have the best 4th and 5th guards on our depth chart. How is this team going to compete when we have no answer for the Avery Bradleys of the league?

[FadedMario]

With Pistons rookie Brandon Knight making a favorable impression early, Rodney Stuckey might be seeing more playing time at shooting guard this season. He certainly envisions it that way.

"It's early, we're just playing around, mixing up the lineup and stuff like that," Stuckey said after practice. "I know this year I'm going to be playing a little more two while Will or Brandon are in the game."

Stuckey, who has been the team's primary starting point guard during the past three seasons, isn't phased by the idea of playing another position.

"It doesn't really matter to me, as long as I'm on the court helping my team out," Stuckey said. "I'm willing to do whatever to help my teammates out."

Via Justin Rogers/MLive.com

[Dave Bing]

You want to help the team out, Rodney? Take 1500 jumpshots a day.

[King Mob]

Afflalo re-signs with Denver for 5 years and $43 million, slightly more than Stuckey money.

[Orwellian O.]

Originally Posted by Kstat

right..so you'd then have two players out there that can't defend their position. Stuckey is too small to defend 6'8" small forwards.

Stuckey is 6'5 and 230+. He should be able to guard a small forward for a few minutes without completely embarrassing himself (unlike Gordon and Bynum already do with SG and PG, respectively).

[King Mob]

230?? You're thinking of Baron Davis.

[Hobbs]

Stuckey has already played a bit at SF and held his own defensively. Sometimes he was good, and sometimes he was bad, but he was almost never totally outsized/muscled.

I wouldn't want him playing major minutes at SF, but he can get a few here or there.

[B.I.G.]

stuckey weigh 206 pounds.

[hack]

Yikes - that's too much to pay for Afflalo.

[Jeff Hause]

Yeah, he's almost getting half of what Ben Gordon makes!!!

[Stefan S]

I do not know if this was already posted:

Rodney Stuckey’s 3-point shooting: aberration or breakthrough?
By Dan Feldman • 11:44 am • January 27, 2012

Rodney Stuckey is shooting 37.5 percent on 2.9 3-point attempts per 36 minutes. If those numbers hold, they’d both be career highs and, for the first time, Stuckey’s 3-point percentage will best the NBA average.

Has the fourth-year guard finally solidified his outside shot?

Maybe.

It’s encouraging that Stuckey is attempting so many 3-pointers – 32 in 14 games so far this season – because that indicates his high percentage is a result of increased skill, not becoming more choosy in his shot selection. Before this year, he had never attempted more than 28 3-pointers in a 14-game stretch.

But Stuckey’s 12 makes in 32 attempts don’t break new ground. He’s achieved that 17 others times during his career, though they came as part of just two independent stretches, one that mostly occurred during the middle of the 2008-09 season and one that mostly occurred late last season. In fact, he made 13-of-32 3-pointers four times during his 2008-09 hot streak.

Stuckey producing like this at the beginning of a season certainly gives more reason for optimism. It’s easy to imagine him spending the lockout launching 3-pointer after 3-pointer in a Seattle gym. Whether that happened, I don’t know. But I’m more less likely to consider his 3-point shooting a fluke than had he dropped these numbers in the middle of the season.

I’m encouraged by Stuckey’s production from beyond the arc so far, but until he shoots like this long enough to post the best 3-point-shooting stretch of his career, I’m not ready to declare definitively that he’s turned the corner.

Rodney Stuckey’s 3-point shooting: aberration or breakthrough? PistonPowered

[mn3]

If Stuckey does become a quality 3 pt shooter, then the Pistons will be in great shape at the guard position. He and Knight could be one of the top pairs of starting guards in the league in a couple seasons.

[DYNOMITE]

Add in Amir Johnson, I mean Austin Daye, and we will be set.

[Mel Kiper Jr]

Originally Posted by mn3

If Stuckey does become a quality 3 pt shooter, then the Pistons will be in great shape at the guard position. He and Knight could be one of the top pairs of starting guards in the league in a couple seasons.

I think that is realistic. Knight is going to have to develop some pure PG skills, but his offense is ahead of where I thought it would be. Monroe should be quality for years too, so we have 3 positions set.

Jerebko is the bench/hustle guy that we need so I'd consider that role filled.

[Billl]

I'm gonna call BS on the 3 point stat. Stuckey had 1 hot game where he made 4 of 5. He's only hit 9 3's all year other than that at a 31% clip. That is a modest improvement from last year not a quantum leap.

[hack]

Against Portland. Agreed; that's silly. Feldman's a bit of a Hollinger, IMO. Forest/trees issues.

[mn3]

Originally Posted by Billl

I'm gonna call BS on the 3 point stat. Stuckey had 1 hot game where he made 4 of 5. He's only hit 9 3's all year other than that at a 31% clip. That is a modest improvement from last year not a quantum leap.

I'm questioning that too. However, let's assume Stuckey continues deferring to Knight as the unquestioned main point guard. If Stuckey is focused on being a SG and not running the offense, then it seems to me that his shotmaking will improve because he'll be focused on that as one of his main roles. As the team gets better over time, and the spacing of the team on offense improves and the team grows and develops together to become more and more of a well-oiled machine, and as we find players at the SF (Daye could still turn out to be the guy who claims that position) and add an all-around star at PF - Stuckey could end up taking a lot more shots in the rhythm of the offense.

Players in this league often develop their shooting efficiency as they enter their prime years. There really is no reason that cannot happen for Stuckey too. Hell, I'd think his great free throw shooting is some measure of proof that he can become a really good long-range shooter. If it happened for Jason Kidd, it can happen for Stuck.

[Billl]

Most players make some improvement over the years. They practice and play all the time, so you hope they get better. Most don't make huge leaps though, they just get steadily more reliable.

BTW - Kidd shot 33.6% in his second year. He made it all the way up to 42.5% 2 years ago, but was actually down to 34.0% for the championship run. Rodney is averaging 28% so far. If he works at it, he should slowly rise into the 30's, but I wouldn't expect him to every be known as a 3 point shooter.

[Stefan S]

Also, it seems like Knight himself may become a good distance shooter. So, between them two maybe we'll have what we need.

[Kstat]

I think his shot selection has improved, though not necessarily his shooting.

He rarely takes a three off the bounce anymore. He's got a pretty reliable and consistent set release from distance, which is really all he needs. He doesn't have to be great from the arc, just good enough to keep his defender honest.

He badly, badly needs to develop his mid-range game, though. He'd be so much more efficient if he could just stop ever other drive to the hoop and pull up from 8-12 feet.

[mn3]

Originally Posted by Kstat

I think his shot selection has improved, though not necessarily his shooting.

He rarely takes a three off the bounce anymore. He's got a pretty reliable and consistent set release from distance, which is really all he needs. He doesn't have to be great from the arc, just good enough to keep his defender honest.

He badly, badly needs to develop his mid-range game, though. He'd be so much more efficient if he could just stop ever other drive to the hoop and pull up from 8-12 feet.

It would be great if he could ever have developed his floater. I thought that was something he WAS going to be at work at, but we haven't seen him use that. That's one of the really encouraging thing about Knight - he's got a really good floater now, and that's going to develop into a great weapon for him. It's the shot which IMO has Rose be a super-duper star instead of just a really good player.

[Billl]

Stuckey isn't exactly a floater type of player. If he gets you going for a block, he's trying to draw contact.

He does need to be able to pull up and knock down the short J when guys step in front of him. He still bowls guys over on a regular basis for silly turnovers.

[tin mad dog]

Originally Posted by Stefan S

I do not know if this was already posted:


Rodney Stuckey’s 3-point shooting: aberration or breakthrough? PistonPowered

Stuckey can't only be in his 4th year, can he?

[Stefan S]

Originally Posted by tin mad dog

Stuckey can't only be in his 4th year, can he?

Drafted in 2007. So, it looks like its' his 5th year.

[Kstat]

Stuckey's slingshot release does not lend itself well to pet shots. You never saw Vinnie Johnson attempt many floaters, either, although he had a nice finger roll once in a blue moon.

[Stefan S]

3-on-3: The Pistons development of Rodney Stuckey

By Patrick Hayes • 1:58 pm • February 9, 2012



Modeled after ESPN’s 5-on-5, Dan and I will answer three questions about a Pistons-related topic.
For each 3-on-3, we’ll be joined by a guest contributor. Today, that’s Michael Rosenberg of the Detroit Free Press and Sports Illustrated.
Could Rodney Stuckey be a top two player on a contending team?

Dan Feldman: No. I’m not convinced he has the talent to do it, but he definitely hasn’t shown the mental fortitude. At minimum, championship teams play 16 playoffs games, since the NBA adopted the best-of-seven first round, they’ve all played at least 20. When has Stuckey been engaged, focused and active for 16-20 straight games? That’s what it takes to win in the playoffs.
Patrick Hayes: Maybe, if the top player on that team was really good and the 3-7 or so players in that rotation are pretty close to as good as Stuckey. He certainly has skills that are valuable — a guard who gets to the line like he does is a nice luxury for sure, as is his ability to play both backcourt spots. He’s still improving some, as evidenced by his 3-point shooting this season. And although he’s never shown it consistently, he still has the physical tools to be a top defensive player. He’s versatile and he’d certainly help any good team, but it’s a stretch to see him as the second best player on a contender unless the top player is one of the handful of legit franchise guys in the league.
Michael Rosenberg: No. There was a time when I would have said yes without hesitation. The Pistons saw him that way and his teammates gushed about his talent. But it has become clear that a) Stuckey is not a point guard, which decreases the impact of his 6-foot-5 frame, and b) Stuckey does not have the killer mentality that a top-two player on a contending team needs. He coasts, he complains, he has a misguided sense of what he has actually accomplished. He can still start for a contending team if he becomes more consistent, but he can’t lead one.

Could Rodney Stuckey be a top 10 player at either shooting guard or point guard?

Dan Feldman: He’s more likely to make it at point guard, but I don’t see him reaching that level at either position. He passes very well for a shooting guard, but his subpar outside shooting hinders him and clogs the court because defenders can sag off him. Plus, he’s an average athlete at shooting guard. His physical skills stand out more at point guard, and he takes care of the ball well, but he hasn’t shown a feel for the position. Stuckey is a better shooting guard right now, but he has more potential at point guard.
Patrick Hayes: No, but he’s not far off at either position. His problem at point guard is he’s not all that adept at creating for others, except when he petulantly (but hilariously) refuses to shoot in order to show up the coaching staff. His problem at shooting guard is that he doesn’t shoot from 3-point range or finish at the rim well enough to be among the best at that spot. He’s a really nice player to have who can fill in ably at both spots, but he’s also most likely never going to be considered an elite player at either position.
Michael Rosenberg: Not at point guard. Potentially at shooting guard. But he has to improve his outside shot and, as I mentioned, his consistency. Shooting guard is a high-energy position — a player has to want to free himself open on almost every offensive possession and guard somebody trying to do the same thing on every defensive possession. Stuckey has the ability, but he needs to show that energy.

If the Pistons had not made the Chauncey Billups trade, thus not opening a spot for Stuckey to start immediately, would Stuckey be a better right now as a result of getting more time to develop in the sixth man role he looked to be excelling in during the 2007 NBA Playoffs?

Dan Feldman: Probably not. I think playing behind Billups would have helped Stuckey in the long term. At this point, though, the increased minutes were probably just as valuable. But now what? Stuckey has already been handed a starting job. He’s already been handed an $8 million-per-year contract. He’s already been handed carte blanche to disrespect a coach without serious repercussions. What motivates Stuckey to get better from here? Earning minutes from Billups would have given Stuckey a challenge he desperately needs.
Patrick Hayes: Yes. Playing behind Billups for at least another year would’ve kept the expectations on Stuckey from ratcheting up so quickly. He would’ve excelled as a third guard backing up Billups and Rip Hamilton. He would’ve been able to develop and learn the position at a more natural pace and he would’ve had a willing teacher in Billups (see: the work Billups did with Ty Lawson in Denver). On top of that, that Pistons team probably would’ve had at least one more deep playoff run in it, giving Stuckey even more postseason experience.
Michael Rosenberg: Interesting question. One could argue that Billups would have mentored him and forced him to earn his position. I don’t know that I buy that, though. Stuckey sat on the bench as a rookie. Most great players, and even most really good players, get significant minutes by their second season. So I don’t think the Billups trade either stunted or spurred Stuckey’s growth. I think the Pistons hurt him with two bad coaching hires: Michael Curry and John Kuester. With a great coach the last three years, Stuckey would be a better player now.
Players: Rodney Stuckey

Posted in Analysis • 4 Comments

3-on-3: The Pistons development of Rodney Stuckey PistonPowered

[Kstat]

Rodney Stuckey was still at Eastern Washington during the 2007 NBA playoffs....

[hack]

That was a good collection of takes on Stuckey.

[mn3]

The next question is can he be a core player on a championship team assuming for sake of argument that Monroe, Knight and our 2012 pick develop into star players. I think the answer to that is "yes."

I think the same answer is true for JJ. I'm hoping still that Daye can snap out of it and be one too, but that hope is getting smaller and smaller.

[hack]

It will be interesting to see how Stuckey takes to no longer being the Upside Kid. If he reacts positively to the idea that he'll be, at best, the third or fourth-most impotant player on the team, that's great. Having him around as a nice role-playing starter would be good. But he'll have to prove himself coachable and leadable by whomever the team's leader is.

[Stefan S]

Originally Posted by mn3

The next question is can he be a core player on a championship team assuming for sake of argument that Monroe, Knight and our 2012 pick develop into star players. I think the answer to that is "yes."

I think the same answer is true for JJ. I'm hoping still that Daye can snap out of it and be one too, but that hope is getting smaller and smaller.

I agree including a hope for Austin.
i wonder, perhaps the fact we start Prince messes up with his mind.

[King Mob]

It didn't mess with Prince's when he was coming off the bench behind the Binary Man. If Daye is that mentally weak then we should try move him for whatever we can before the league catches on.

[Kstat]

Daye is mentally weak period. If he doesn't start, he mopes. If he misses his first shot, he mopes. If he turns the ball over, he mopes.

He needs to be moved, ASAP.