Stuckey and Knight developing chemistry

Kstat · 02-19-2012, 01:42 PM

Pistons rookie Brandon Knight having positive effect on veteran Rodney Stuckey

Vincent Goodwill
15 Comments

Rodney Stuckey (3) has come on strong in February, averaging nearly 18 points this month (28 points per game in the last three) on 51 percent shooting, along with four assists and 3.2 rebounds. (Clarence Tabb Jr./Detroit News)

Auburn Hills— Pistons guard Rodney Stuckey stood in front of his locker Friday night, answering questions in his usual monotone, when he was asked if he fouled Sacramento's Jason Thompson on a block attempt late in the third quarter.
As Stuckey began to give his standard answer, a voice piped in from across the room:

"Yo, that was a great play."

The voice was rookie guard Brandon Knight, who was smiling as he exited. Then Stuckey smiled, an act we hadn't seen much of over the past few years.

It might not mean much on the surface, but basketball has seemed like a chore to Stuckey. He didn't really enjoy the game. After all, nobody likes losing and combined with the turmoil he had a part in last season, it's easy to see why there wasn't much to smile about.

He was at odds with previous coach John Kuester, and there seemed to be two different yet distinctive teams in the Pistons locker room last season.

But Knight seems to have lit something inside Stuckey — in a positive way. He readily admits Knight has had an effect on him.

"It's a different atmosphere than in the past couple years, everything's positive, everyone's just trying to get better," Stuckey said after Saturday's practice.
It's not just his improving numbers or their growing chemistry. He's averaging nearly 18 points this month (28 points per game in the last three) on 51 percent shooting, along with four assists and 3.2 rebounds.

Stuckey and Knight complement one another very well when both are on the floor. Neither is a full-time point guard, but both are effective with the ball. Stuckey's more of a slasher, while Knight is a better shooter, perhaps the best 3-point shooter in the rookie class.

"We didn't want to start the way we started, but at this point we're happy with the progress that we're making," said Stuckey, speaking of the Pistons' 4-20 start.
Good influence

But there's a more positive spirit, an infectiousness Knight has carried with him since arriving here. Knight is enthusiastic while not being braggadocios or disrespectful. It can't help but permeate the rest of the team.
Perhaps Knight showed Stuckey how to be a consummate professional, simply with his work ethic.
"He's a phenomenal player, he's only going to get better," Stuckey said. "We're gonna have a lot of years together. The kid can shoot the ball. We're only going to get better with each other."
When Stuckey hit what turned out to be the back-breaking 3-pointer against the Kings — off a pass from Knight — he ran downcourt, halfway bent down and pulled out three fingers, all smiles.
"He's a lot happier, and I think everybody can see it," one teammate said about Stuckey.
Stuckey speaks of Knight in a big-brother type of way, one that's surprising considering Stuckey has seemingly shied away from being a leader.
"He's a great kid, he comes in with an attitude to learn and get better," Stuckey said. "He's positive, and there's nothing really negative about him. Having that kind of energy around you really helps you and picks you up."
Several around the team have remarked about Knight's positive influence on Stuckey, and Pistons coach Lawrence Frank has recently talked about Stuckey's "spirit."
"He's just so engaged in the game and you can feel it," Frank said. "Not to be corny, but it's got to be one heartbeat for the team. When you struggle, everyone's into what's plaguing them.
"Rodney's really giving himself to the team. Whether it's on the bench, at halftime, he's engaged.
"When I talk about 'spirit,' that's what I mean. You're so focused on the team and what needs to be done to help the team win, it's a powerful effect."
Working on the intangibles

So much of basketball is more than strengths and weaknesses, something much more important that what stat geeks can quantify with numbers and theorems. It's visible but not tangible.

The human aspect, where one player can inspire another, which can motivate everyone in a locker room, is so underrated, and yet so rare to find.
It's why Stuckey has recognized the importance of building a relationship with Knight.

"We're gonna get some work in," Stuckey said. "We're gonna commit ourselves at least one or two (summer) months working with Arnie (Kander), you know bonding with each other."

Who knows what the future holds for this franchise or for Stuckey in particular, but his sudden change in demeanor can't be a bad thing…especially if the voice across the way in the locker room is the cause.

Kstat · 02-19-2012, 01:47 PM

On a side note, this is the first real beat reporting I've seen from Goodwill all season.

tin mad dog · 02-19-2012, 02:06 PM

From the Canswer to The (Real) Answer?

papalawrence · 02-19-2012, 03:30 PM

I too like what I am seeing from them as a tandem. Chemistry and confidence can mean a lot in the NBA, especially on a team without a superstar.

King Mob · 02-19-2012, 04:11 PM

My prediction that everyone here would forget about Stuckey's preseason and Keuster era buffoonery by the ASB appears to have come to pass.

Kstat · 02-19-2012, 04:12 PM

Nobody has forgotten about it. It's just not worth dwelling on.

Stuckey us the best player on the team. He plays as hard as anyone else on the team. He takes more physical punishment than anyone else on the team. His past transgressions are small potatoes, given the circumstances.

hack · 02-19-2012, 06:32 PM

I'd like to see him continue playing as hard as anyone else. Good trend though.

capnpaco · 02-20-2012, 07:59 AM

nfl jerseys as carry out? Can you eat them?

capnpaco · 02-21-2012, 05:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kstat

On a side note, this is the first real beat reporting I've seen from Goodwill all season.

On that note:

Vince Ellis: Pistons all smiles after winning seven of past nine games | Detroit Free Press | freep.com

Quote:

Pistons player development coach Steve Hutzel said something Monday that drew a wide grin from Rodney Stuckey.

So close, and yet so far away...

El Axe · 02-21-2012, 10:22 AM

This month is the last "easy" part of the Pistons schedule. It's very good to see the team find success -- definitely more than I predicted. It will be interesting to see what happens next month against the toughest part of their schedule.

Personally, I'm still hoping for many close and encouraging losses sprinkled with a few nice wins.

02-19-2012, 01:42 PM	#1
Kstat Sixth Man Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 6,245 : 0 For This Post 0 Total	Stuckey and Knight developing chemistry Pistons rookie Brandon Knight having positive effect on veteran Rodney Stuckey Vincent Goodwill 15 Comments Rodney Stuckey (3) has come on strong in February, averaging nearly 18 points this month (28 points per game in the last three) on 51 percent shooting, along with four assists and 3.2 rebounds. (Clarence Tabb Jr./Detroit News) Auburn Hills— Pistons guard Rodney Stuckey stood in front of his locker Friday night, answering questions in his usual monotone, when he was asked if he fouled Sacramento's Jason Thompson on a block attempt late in the third quarter. As Stuckey began to give his standard answer, a voice piped in from across the room: "Yo, that was a great play." The voice was rookie guard Brandon Knight, who was smiling as he exited. Then Stuckey smiled, an act we hadn't seen much of over the past few years. It might not mean much on the surface, but basketball has seemed like a chore to Stuckey. He didn't really enjoy the game. After all, nobody likes losing and combined with the turmoil he had a part in last season, it's easy to see why there wasn't much to smile about. He was at odds with previous coach John Kuester, and there seemed to be two different yet distinctive teams in the Pistons locker room last season. But Knight seems to have lit something inside Stuckey — in a positive way. He readily admits Knight has had an effect on him. "It's a different atmosphere than in the past couple years, everything's positive, everyone's just trying to get better," Stuckey said after Saturday's practice. It's not just his improving numbers or their growing chemistry. He's averaging nearly 18 points this month (28 points per game in the last three) on 51 percent shooting, along with four assists and 3.2 rebounds. Stuckey and Knight complement one another very well when both are on the floor. Neither is a full-time point guard, but both are effective with the ball. Stuckey's more of a slasher, while Knight is a better shooter, perhaps the best 3-point shooter in the rookie class. "We didn't want to start the way we started, but at this point we're happy with the progress that we're making," said Stuckey, speaking of the Pistons' 4-20 start. Good influence But there's a more positive spirit, an infectiousness Knight has carried with him since arriving here. Knight is enthusiastic while not being braggadocios or disrespectful. It can't help but permeate the rest of the team. Perhaps Knight showed Stuckey how to be a consummate professional, simply with his work ethic. "He's a phenomenal player, he's only going to get better," Stuckey said. "We're gonna have a lot of years together. The kid can shoot the ball. We're only going to get better with each other." When Stuckey hit what turned out to be the back-breaking 3-pointer against the Kings — off a pass from Knight — he ran downcourt, halfway bent down and pulled out three fingers, all smiles. "He's a lot happier, and I think everybody can see it," one teammate said about Stuckey. Stuckey speaks of Knight in a big-brother type of way, one that's surprising considering Stuckey has seemingly shied away from being a leader. "He's a great kid, he comes in with an attitude to learn and get better," Stuckey said. "He's positive, and there's nothing really negative about him. Having that kind of energy around you really helps you and picks you up." Several around the team have remarked about Knight's positive influence on Stuckey, and Pistons coach Lawrence Frank has recently talked about Stuckey's "spirit." "He's just so engaged in the game and you can feel it," Frank said. "Not to be corny, but it's got to be one heartbeat for the team. When you struggle, everyone's into what's plaguing them. "Rodney's really giving himself to the team. Whether it's on the bench, at halftime, he's engaged. "When I talk about 'spirit,' that's what I mean. You're so focused on the team and what needs to be done to help the team win, it's a powerful effect." Working on the intangibles So much of basketball is more than strengths and weaknesses, something much more important that what stat geeks can quantify with numbers and theorems. It's visible but not tangible. The human aspect, where one player can inspire another, which can motivate everyone in a locker room, is so underrated, and yet so rare to find. It's why Stuckey has recognized the importance of building a relationship with Knight. "We're gonna get some work in," Stuckey said. "We're gonna commit ourselves at least one or two (summer) months working with Arnie (Kander), you know bonding with each other." Who knows what the future holds for this franchise or for Stuckey in particular, but his sudden change in demeanor can't be a bad thing…especially if the voice across the way in the locker room is the cause.

02-19-2012, 02:06 PM	#3
tin mad dog Starter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Long Island City, NY Posts: 9,844 : 0 For This Post 1 Total	From the Canswer to The (Real) Answer? __________________ 2011- Oh Bismack, where art thou?

02-19-2012, 04:12 PM	#6
Kstat Sixth Man Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 6,245 : 0 For This Post 0 Total	Nobody has forgotten about it. It's just not worth dwelling on. Stuckey us the best player on the team. He plays as hard as anyone else on the team. He takes more physical punishment than anyone else on the team. His past transgressions are small potatoes, given the circumstances. Last edited by Kstat; 02-19-2012 at 04:16 PM.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

02-19-2012, 01:47 PM	#2
Kstat Sixth Man Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 6,245 : 0 For This Post 0 Total	On a side note, this is the first real beat reporting I've seen from Goodwill all season.

02-19-2012, 03:30 PM	#4
papalawrence Water Boy Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 863 : 0 For This Post 0 Total	I too like what I am seeing from them as a tandem. Chemistry and confidence can mean a lot in the NBA, especially on a team without a superstar.

02-19-2012, 04:11 PM	#5
King Mob Bench Player Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 1,448 : 0 For This Post 0 Total	My prediction that everyone here would forget about Stuckey's preseason and Keuster era buffoonery by the ASB appears to have come to pass.

02-19-2012, 06:32 PM	#7
hack Starter Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 11,082 : 0 For This Post 0 Total	I'd like to see him continue playing as hard as anyone else. Good trend though.

02-20-2012, 07:59 AM	#8
capnpaco Water Boy Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 902 : 0 For This Post 0 Total	nfl jerseys as carry out? Can you eat them?

02-21-2012, 10:22 AM	#10
El Axe Water Boy Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 698 : 0 For This Post 0 Total	This month is the last "easy" part of the Pistons schedule. It's very good to see the team find success -- definitely more than I predicted. It will be interesting to see what happens next month against the toughest part of their schedule. Personally, I'm still hoping for many close and encouraging losses sprinkled with a few nice wins.