[King Mob]

If Daye was truly an offensive talent, he would have games in his career where he came off the bench and exploded, and he hasn't. If Daye is a very talented offensive player, what is Bynum? What Daye is is a guy with a sensational looking shooting stroke. He'd probably excel at spotting up and draining kickout J's. But you can't play a guy like that unless he's doing something else exceptionally well, and Daye does not. His defense and rebounding are poor, he doesn't score off the dribble or finish around the rim well, he's not really a catch-and-shoot and he doesn't seem to have a particularly good BB IQ. It's the reason I'm okay with the Prince signing: Daye does not have starting SF potential in this league.

[Kstat]

Originally Posted by hack

Still, even some skepticism is an interesting development.

It doesnt even qualify as skepticism. He's just blindly defending Austin.

[Hobbs]

He is pretty positive about Daye, but he's also clearly trying to temper his enthusiasm here and in general. No problems at all with the new MN.

[Orwellian O.]

Daye should be better, but like with CV and BG, to this point, for whatever reason, he is not.

[mn3]

Originally Posted by Kstat

It doesnt even qualify as skepticism. He's just blindly defending Austin.

Not really. I'm basing what I see as possible for Daye on what I've seen from him in quite a number of games last season. Last season, it sure looked to me like he was a highly confident shooter and player - but one who got down on himself way too much. He won quite a few games for us with his clutch shooting. I thought coming into this season that he'd get plenty enough touches to establish a rhythm and hopefully take it to a whole other improved level.

When we resigned Tay - a move I wasn't thrilled with (although it did sortof make sense to me because we really could use a solid veteran on the court to teach the young guys - but even that was tempered by my dislike of how Tay slows the whole game down) - I was worried that that might mean Daye got squeezed out of PT with Tay and possibly even JJ ahead of him at SF, and with our glut of guards.

We've played 13 games, we started December 26, and it's only 13 games through January 15. Daye has played horribly - no question. But we really are 3 weeks into the season - and there's been almost no training camp, no practice time, and we're playing a totally new system with new young guys trying to learn on the fly. Daye also missed some time due to an ankle injury, that I suppose he's still wrestling with. That just the facts.

There's a lot of games and a lot of PT to be had. Daye still could break out of this. I still see no harm in playing him and having him attempt to do what he should be able to best do - be one of our primary shooters and scorers and to put the ball in the hole. But my eyes are wide open about this. I can see the possibility that Daye will never fulfil his potential. That would be too bad, because the Pistons could really use exactly what he supposedly could bring to the table.

[Kstat]

His potential is as a 3 point shooter. You can find that anywhere. I really don't care if he comes out of his slump or not. Cut him loose if he can't, and find someone else for the job.

[mn3]

3 pt shooters are guys you absolutely can find all over the league. But not 6'11" long-armed 3 pt shooters who have some handle, who can play some SG and who willingly rebound (he does do that). Guys like that aren't a dime-a-dozen.

K-stat, on our sucky team, is there really a reason for not giving him PT? Unless his attitude sucks and he's just given up, do we have somebody better to develop who could possibly become a good player?

[Jeff Hause]

Originally Posted by Hobbs

He is pretty positive about Daye, but he's also clearly trying to temper his enthusiasm here and in general. No problems at all with the new MN.

I, too, applaud the new Newman...

[RodimusPrime]

Stop using the "it's only been 3 weeks" excuse for Daye. This is his third season. Since he was drafted what improvements have you seen in his game? He hasn't added any weight. He hasn't gotten any strong. He hasn't gotten any smarter. He hasn't become a better defender. He hasn't become a better rebounder. He hasn't become a better passer. He's made zero progress and now he can't hit the broadside of a barn with his jumper (which is the only thing he had going for him). Not improving in any area in 3 years shows he's either incapable and/or unwilling to learn or put in the work to improve.

[mn3]

Originally Posted by Jeff Hause

I, too, applaud the new Newman...

Uhm ... thanks?

[Hobbs]

We've actually got a decent amount of 3 point shooters now. Gordon and Knight should be good % with high volume from out there while Tay and Jerebko are solid percentage guys who hit them when they're open. If Singler steps in next year and falls into the latter category we should be pretty much set there.

[DYNOMITE]

Daye was good for 1 three and 3.8 rebounds per game last year.

He shot .410.

Matt's diabolical plan is working. Return to the forum and destroy it from with-in by making Austin Daye the #1 topic of discussion.

[Jeff Hause]

We need Newman. For three years this forum has been one person saying "we suck" and six guys agreeing. Now, if he's still pushing Daye in six months, after no progress...

[Orwellian O.]

Originally Posted by DYNOMITE

Daye was good for 1 three and 3.8 rebounds per game last year.

He shot .410.

Matt's diabolical plan is working. Return to the forum and destroy it from with-in by making Austin Daye the #1 topic of discussion.

Nothing else to talk about....

[DYNOMITE]

Originally Posted by Jeff Hause

We need Newman. For three years this forum has been one person saying "we suck" and six guys agreeing. Now, if he's still pushing Daye in six months, after no progress...

If only Amir was still here to balance out his enthusiasm.

[rpmfla]

Last night's game was really one of the most disappointing to watch. I'd even venture to say it was the first game I expected them to win. Golden State is not a good team (witness their thrashing the night before to the lowly Bobcats), but they did outplay us in several key areas. They looked like the team with rest...and they played the aggressor.

I think the Knight/Gordon combo is bad, especially when Gordon comes out reluctant to shoot. Last night the ball was passed to Gordon standing just beyond the free throw line and he was wide open...and he proceeded to pass the ball into the corner where Knight (I think) was much more closely defended.

Gordon=low basketball IQ (or focus)

I haven't looked at the +/- for Knight, but it sure seamed like when he went out the team stagnated big time.

[mn3]

Originally Posted by Jeff Hause

We need Newman. For three years this forum has been one person saying "we suck" and six guys agreeing. Now, if he's still pushing Daye in six months, after no progress...

If we continues sucking through the end of the season, I won't be pushing him. Frankly, the guy's play has been discouraging. I just don't see any better options.

The only thing I care about is this team finding and developing a core group of guys who someday could be the heart of a championship team. We seem to have one great player to build around in Monroe. We might have a second with Knight - we'll see in a couple years. Stuckey, JJ, Gordon and Daye could be nice pieces. I see nobody else who we'd consider potential fits in the future.

So, given the position this team's in, why not play a guy with a lot of potential?

[Kstat]

Austin has zero potential. That's the problem.

Monroe does a lot of things well. Knight does a few things well. That's why they were lottery picks. Daye was taken just outside the lottery because he was a 7 foot tall small forward with a sweet stroke, on the off chance he could develop one or two other things. He hasn't, and he's also gone backwards. He's also quite possible the slowest, least athletic 200-lb basketball player on earth, which is the other reason he wasn't taken in the lottery.

The only reason he even played last night was because Wilkins was out. I'd much rather see Wilkins, who is very limited offensively but plays good defense and never hangs his head like a sick puppy after every missed shot, which I am sick and tired of seeing from Austin.

If we don't take a small forward this summer, I'm satisfied with bringing Singler over and letting him have Austin's job. Unlike Austin, Singler doesn't need to be taught how to play, and he does a few things pretty well.

[DYNOMITE]

Speaking of Singler, Is there any overlap of seasons between the NBA and Euro? Is there any chance he plays here near the end of this season or is next season the earliest he can play?

[Kstat]

Euroleague ends in May, and there's a good chance Real Madrid will be going deep into the playoffs.

[Hobbs]

There's no way they'd waste a year of his contract on a short stint here either. Doesn't make financial sense for either side (he's going to want more than minimum salary, I'm guessing).

[DYNOMITE]

Originally Posted by Hobbs

There's no way they'd waste a year of his contract on a short stint here either. Doesn't make financial sense for either side (he's going to want more than minimum salary, I'm guessing).

So there are contract implications not just a timing issue. I get it now.

[Kstat]

[Kstat]

aside from the sweet stroke, you have to like that he has the grin of a serial killer.

[DYNOMITE]

Looks like Dirk-lite. Probably best for the team's long term outlook that he went overseas. Wouldn't want that sweet long range shooting fucking up our draft status.

[Stefan S]

Originally Posted by DYNOMITE

Looks like Dirk-lite. Probably best for the team's long term outlook that he went overseas. Wouldn't want that sweet long range shooting fucking up our draft status.

that was my first impression, too
some in the post moves were great, though

it looks like he may have an NBA starter's potential

[Kstat]

That's the feeling I get. He's a bit like Chase Budinger, with much better defense.

[Jeff Hause]

Nice! Heck, he looks like he could be Dirk's teenage son, but I like the confidence. I hadn't seen him play before...

[Kstat]

Not much in here from Singler's debut game with Real Madrid (he barely played), but check the sweet block at 0:35

[King Mob]

Hope he's ready to go from being a starter for Real Madrid to a bench guy playing limited minutes next year. If we go big in the draft like everyone anticipates there won't be a lot of minutes available for him, unless Tay's role is reduced drastically next season.

[Stefan S]

Some weak D:

[Kstat]

Originally Posted by King Mob

Hope he's ready to go from being a starter for Real Madrid to a bench guy playing limited minutes next year. If we go big in the draft like everyone anticipates there won't be a lot of minutes available for him, unless Tay's role is reduced drastically next season.

well, to be fair, we have no backup SFs right now, and Tayshaun didn't re-sign here with the promise of a lifetime starting spot.

[Stefan S]

he would help, for sure
likely off the bench for a year or two

[King Mob]

Originally Posted by Kstat

well, to be fair, we have no backup SFs right now, and Tayshaun didn't re-sign here with the promise of a lifetime starting spot.

I know, but I'm assuming JJ will still get minutes at the 4 even if he replaces Tay as the starter at SF. With Moose and Player X logging 35 minutes or so a night, that doesn't leave a lot left over.

[Kstat]

I can see where we let gordon go and use singler as a 2/3 backup, and Jonas as a 3/4.

[Mainevent]

I've never been a big fan of Singler, but he at least plays hard. And it looks like he's found his stroke after basically losing it for large portions of the past 2 seasons. Would love to be able to swap him out for Daye right now.

[Hobbs]

I think he's going to benefit from being a cog instead of a key piece. He had to do too much for Duke and it strained his efficiency.

[whoDean]

Singlet is this year's version of the great white overseas hope, like Andreas Glyniadakis.

[Hobbs]

Andreas was like the last pick in the entire draft. And he still played in the NBA for a couple of years (not just with Detroit, either).

[Kstat]

Also, glynaidakis was a guy the pistons told to stay away for a while, whereas singler was wanted right away but opted to stay in spain and work on his game

[mn3]

Kstat, we all hope you're proven right about Singler. Have you seen him play in some of his Euro games or read any scouting reports on his play over there? Also, did the college scouting reports on him indicate that he had enough athleticism to thrive in the NBA?

[Kstat]

Athleticism was never his issue. It was his lack of a defined role in the offense that landed him in the 2nd round. He never looked comfortable at duke, but his physical tools were never a question.

[DYNOMITE]

I got Singler penciled in for 22 a night and a starting gig from day one. 8-10 rebounds a night would be an added bonus.

[Mainevent]

Originally Posted by Hobbs

I think he's going to benefit from being a cog instead of a key piece. He had to do too much for Duke and it strained his efficiency.

Very true. Totally the type of guy that can take advantage of it with effort and a solid all-around skill set.

[Mel Kiper Jr]

The wildcard is our draft pick. Who knows...maybe we take a SF if thats who the best player available is when we pick.

[hack]

Looks to me like the shot will get him a look and defense will make the difference between a sustainable career or a lack of one. I suspect those post moves and off-the-dribble stuff won't work in the NBA.