Dinwiddie

[merc]

So Goodwill thinks Dinwiddie will play the last preseason game on Oct 23rd.... they say he practiced 5 on 5 Tuesday.... if this is true he's way ahead of schedule....
My guess is he'd start for the GR Drive to get his sea legs against lesser competition.... then again Arnie might want him by his side.

[cool breeze]

As long as everyone's advocating more playing time for their favorite scrub, I'd like to advocate for Lorenzo Brown.  With Meeks out for 2 months and KCP out for 2 weeks, SVG should give Brown some burn.  At 6'5, Brown is certainly tall enough to play SG; hopefully he can defend the position.

SVG should start Martin and bring Brown off the bench...at least until Dinwiddie is healthy enough to play.  Let's see what Brown looks like on the floor.

But you just know SVG is going to start Singler at SG, Smith at SF, and Monroe at PF...which effectively puts 3 players out of position.  

Van Gundy does that and he's not all the coach a lot of us (myself included) thinks he is. Murph, that's a great idea to take a look at; Martin and Brown at SG would keep the Big 3 rotating, as they should, and the spotlight on Singler at his natural position of SF. He has an excuse for underperforming at SG, but I want to see him play his way out of this funk at SF. We're going to need him at his best there or those minutes are going to go to Martin.

There are some really good outside shooters who are in training camp playing well on playoff teams and they are going to get cut before the first regular season game. Houston Rockets have a surplus of talent and one or two excellent shooters won't make the team. Will SVG snag one?

[merc]

Oracle, first let me apologize for missing Martin on the overpriced FAs... he clearly was a good signing for the money.
I completely agree with DRE making the hook his goto move... this old school shot will be unstoppable once it's fine tuned.
I can live with Smith at SF for 10 minutes... so far he's picking up what SVG is telling him about limiting the bombs... but please let's not make him a regular at SF!
Jennings is also listening about being a facilitator first & shooter last.
Would luv to be wrong about this team.

[Oracle]

1. Jennings isn't scoring much(2 points), but he dished 9 assists, and the team wins big! Call me crazy, but I do believe that PG's are judged by wins, not points!

2. Cartier Martin(11 points) was a great pickup! This dude is versatile and can play both the 2 & 3 at a competent to very high level as a backup!

3. JJ is playing great(10 points in 13 mins)!

4. Singler isn't playing great, but he's a VERY effective glue guy! His movement without the ball delivers way more results than people think! He's in constant motion, and has to be accounted for, which opens a lot of opportunities for everybody else. IMO, it's like an assist that never gets recorded!

5. Somebody woke up Augustin(16 points, 6 assists), good game!

6. The Big 3 worked great! All did well, but that hook of Drummonds is really developing into a weapon! I love the way SVG allows him to go at it on a regular basis, it's the only way to perfect it! The hook is one of the almost unstoppable moves, and if mastered by a big man, it's money in the 4th(if you can hit FT's )

Good article on Dre - What Detroit Pistons Need from Andre Drummond This Season

[Oracle]

Mitchell is a mess! Almost no defense and the same on offense, and he's just plain sloppy! He's a professional D-Leaguer or gone to China or something!

Datome has gone 4 for 4 in the midrange, not bad for a guy that gets no PT! Just like last year, everybody knows he's supposed to be a 3 pt specialist, so when he catches the ball deep, they're all over him.

There must also be a scouting report on him as a easy turnover because they send other guards at him when he has the ball and he does get a bit frazzled when it happens, but handled it today!

Update as I type, Datome is now 4 for 6.


Final Score: Pistons 104, Hornets 84

[Oracle]

I'm watching this game online, and it's really odd with no announcers!

The Pistons are playing like a well oiled machine, and the Big 3 is working like a charm with SVG's modifications!

Keith Langlois @Keith_Langlois
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Seeing hints of SVG's plan for big 3. One of Smith/Monroe at elbow, hi post, the other on baseline. Drummond on the other side. Just had one great example of ball movement out of that set. Wound up open 3 for Martin, who drained it!

[Murph]

The 'Stones are absolutely dominating the Hornets in the 3rd....up by 22...almost twice as many rebounds as the Hornets...more than twice as many assists...and shooting a combined 8-15 from the 3 pt line (53%).  

SVG appears to be a better coach than GM.

[Sebastian]

"Yeah, DX, SVG should have re-signed Stuckey to the contract that was awarded to F@ckin' Jodie Meeks."-Sebastian
No the hell, he shouldn't have! Stuckey was overrated in his heyday, now he's just on a downward arc.
DX, I agree with Seb here! If we signed Stuckey to the same contract as Augustin(about 3M), I'd take him all day long as the backup to KCP! Stuckey in limited minutes would truly provide a change of pace. My biggest problem with Stuckey was the price/performance ratio. At 3M, he's just about right!

Oracle, I agree with your statement regarding retaining Stuckey at Augustin's price, but Sebastian wanted him to receive Meeks money and I wasn't for that; I think/know Stuckey was too proud to take a $5 million cut in salary from us after the way Joe had spoiled him. IMHO Meeks, without injury, is the better bargain and fit for this team over Stuckey.

SVG the GM has been a colossal failure. The money that he threw at F@ckin Jodie Meeks ($7 million per over 3 years) and broke down Caron Butler ($5 million for a season, next season a team option) should had been used to acquire the 8th grader (Lance Stephenson) and retain the services of Rodney Norvell Stuckey. Remember what Lance eventually signed for to play for the Hornets, $9 million over three years, the third year a team option and Stuckey signed for crumbs, late in the FA period to play with the Pacers. I never will like the F@ckin' Jodie Meeks and Caron Butler signings.

Signing Lance and resigning Stuckey would have fortified OUR backcourt and Lance would be the solution at the SF position with the rotation of the bigs, Moose coming off to back-up both Josh and Dre would had been a hell of a roster. I bet Joe would had signed Lance and resigned Stuckey.

Note: I am cool with the D.J. Augustin signing, though.

In my puzzlement, I continue to ask the question: What the hell are SVG and Bowers doing?

[deusXango]

As long as everyone's advocating more playing time for their favorite scrub, I'd like to advocate for Lorenzo Brown.  With Meeks out for 2 months and KCP out for 2 weeks, SVG should give Brown some burn.  At 6'5, Brown is certainly tall enough to play SG; hopefully he can defend the position.

SVG should start Martin and bring Brown off the bench...at least until Dinwiddie is healthy enough to play.  Let's see what Brown looks like on the floor.

But you just know SVG is going to start Singler at SG, Smith at SF, and Monroe at PF...which effectively puts 3 players out of position.  

Van Gundy does that and he's not all the coach a lot of us (myself included) thinks he is. Murph, that's a great idea to take a look at; Martin and Brown at SG would keep the Big 3 rotating, as they should, and the spotlight on Singler at his natural position of SF. He has an excuse for underperforming at SG, but I want to see him play his way out of this funk at SF. We're going to need him at his best there or those minutes are going to go to Martin.

[deusXango]

"Yeah, DX, SVG should have re-signed Stuckey to the contract that was awarded to F@ckin' Jodie Meeks."-Sebastian
No the hell, he shouldn't have! Stuckey was overrated in his heyday, now he's just on a downward arc.
DX, I agree with Seb here! If we signed Stuckey to the same contract as Augustin(about 3M), I'd take him all day long as the backup to KCP! Stuckey in limited minutes would truly provide a change of pace. My biggest problem with Stuckey was the price/performance ratio. At 3M, he's just about right!

Oracle, I agree with your statement regarding retaining Stuckey at Augustin's price, but Sebastian wanted him to receive Meeks money and I wasn't for that; I think/know Stuckey was too proud to take a $5 million cut in salary from us after the way Joe had spoiled him. IMHO Meeks, without injury, is the better bargain and fit for this team over Stuckey.

[Murph]

As long as everyone's advocating more playing time for their favorite scrub, I'd like to advocate for Lorenzo Brown.  With Meeks out for 2 months and KCP out for 2 weeks, SVG should give Brown some burn.  At 6'5, Brown is certainly tall enough to play SG; hopefully he can defend the position.

SVG should start Martin and bring Brown off the bench...at least until Dinwiddie is healthy enough to play. Let's see what Brown looks like on the floor.

But you just know SVG is going to start Singler at SG, Smith at SF, and Monroe at PF...which effectively puts 3 players out of position.  

[Oracle]

Starting to wonder if we were duped by the Lakers... did Meeks have a clean bill before signing?
SVG should have had his physical status checked thoroughly before signing him.
While this is certainly a possibility, I just think Meeks isn't fully disclosing how he really hurt his back.

The price of each of our FA signings should be questioned... none of them can defend worth a **** (our biggest problem).
Agree 100% Merc.
Certainly Meeks, that was close to stupid at the time, but Augustin is on a reasonable contract no matter how you slice it! However, the statement that they are our biggest problem is truer now than before. 

I think we're putting too much faith in SVG's system... if you're not mobile they will break you down and create mismatches down low.
KCP was a better option from the start over Meeks... but SVG didn't know anything about him before plunking down a sizable offer to Meeks who will end up as another overpaid backup.... not that he's a bad player but in whose league is he a starter that gives your team the advantage at the position?
Mediocre doesn't lead to greatness... these signing are just treading water... they should be taking higher risks/reward chances.
Lance Stephenson, and Trevor Ariza are the two players I knew SVG would be going after, but he chose Meeks and Butler....big disappointment. Now he seems dead set on making Kyle Singler a star, but Kyle ain't having it. It's preseason, so let's wait and see what happens...that's the pat line Merc.
No f@ckin' sh!t!!! KCP was, IMO, the better option on day one, he's the more balanced player and he has by far the greater upside, not only in the future, but this year!

"Yeah, DX, SVG should have re-signed Stuckey to the contract that was awarded to F@ckin' Jodie Meeks."-Sebastian
No the hell, he shouldn't have! Stuckey was overrated in his heyday, now he's just on a downward arc.
DX, I agree with Seb here! If we signed Stuckey to the same contract as Augustin(about 3M), I'd take him all day long as the backup to KCP! Stuckey in limited minutes would truly provide a change of pace. My biggest problem with Stuckey was the price/performance ratio. At 3M, he's just about right!

Merc, SVG's system is great, but every system has lower limits on talent! Once the talent sinks to a level that's too low, no system can make up for it!

We're in cover up mode at the PG & SF positions defensively, which means that we likely can't beat good teams on a consistent basis(but can on some nights), so we'll likely to beat the hell out of everyone else to be good enough for the playoffs!

I agree that SVG the GM played it way too safe, and when he didn't he blew it(Meeks), and I'm fully on record as giving him a bad grade thus far!

While it would be nice to be a conference title contender, making the playoffs is where we are, and quiet as it's kept, we're in GREAT shape to make some in season/Feb deadline moves! We have players and cash, so we'll see what SVG & Crew can pull off!

[deusXango]

Starting to wonder if we were duped by the Lakers... did Meeks have a clean bill before signing?
SVG should have had his physical status checked thoroughly before signing him.

The price of each of our FA signings should be questioned... none of them can defend worth a **** (our biggest problem).
Agree 100% Merc.

I think we're putting too much faith in SVG's system... if you're not mobile they will break you down and create mismatches down low.
KCP was a better option from the start over Meeks... but SVG didn't know anything about him before plunking down a sizable offer to Meeks who will end up as another overpaid backup.... not that he's a bad player but in whose league is he a starter that gives your team the advantage at the position?
Mediocre doesn't lead to greatness... these signing are just treading water... they should be taking higher risks/reward chances.
Lance Stephenson, and Trevor Ariza are the two players I knew SVG would be going after, but he chose Meeks and Butler....big disappointment. Now he seems dead set on making Kyle Singler a star, but Kyle ain't having it. It's preseason, so let's wait and see what happens...that's the pat line Merc.

"Yeah, DX, SVG should have re-signed Stuckey to the contract that was awarded to F@ckin' Jodie Meeks."-Sebastian
No the hell, he shouldn't have! Stuckey was overrated in his heyday, now he's just on a downward arc.

[merc]

Starting to wonder if we were duped by the Lakers... did Meeks have a clean bill before signing?

The price of each of our FA signings should be questioned... none of them can defend worth a **** (our biggest problem).

I think we're putting too much faith in SVG's system... if you're not mobile they will break you down and create mismatches down low.
KCP was a better option from the start over Meeks... but SVG didn't know anything about him before plunking down a sizable offer to Meeks who will end up as another overpaid backup.... not that he's a bad player but in whose league is he a starter that gives your team the advantage at the position?
Mediocre doesn't lead to greatness... these signing are just treading water... they should be taking higher risks/reward chances.

[Fennis Dembo]

I'll hold off seeing it until it's made into a Broadway musical starring Justin Bieber and Katy Perry.

[WTF]

This has to be the dumbest sh!t yet! This must be a Netflix movie

[WTF]

Tonight Dallas versus Indiana
The battle of the century

Forget Bird vs. Magic.
Forget Wilt vs. Bill Russell.
Foget Michael Jordan vs. Zeke.
Forget the Thrilla in Manila.
It's Charlie Villanueva vs. Rodney Stuckey.

Get out your air horns and Roman candles.
It's  Mr. Low Percentage Three Point Attempt vs. Mr. Takin' It to the Hole Come Hell or High Water.
If your expectations are lower than a Limbo stick, this is the game for you.  Two overpaid underachievers that squashed our hopes and broke our hearts.   I can only hope that a Gypsy put a curse on both of them and they foul out in the first quarter.  

LOL, I'm pulling for the head butt that knocks them both out

Cracking up but I think is was Merc or Murph that said we might see CV have a breakout season. But the dude dropped 16pt in 11 minutes and added a block and 4 boards in the process. If he did that on a regular when he was here he would still be here. Just Saying and Stuckey was a DNP-CD for this one

[Oracle]

Will Bynum:  Injured his leg after falling off a rug and is currently on a reality show about little people. - Classic



Spencer Dinwiddie: Recovering nicely from the surgery he had in college.  Reportedly he has taken part time jobs as Beyonce's body guard, Condoleezza Rice's personal valet, and Kim Kardashian's big booty photographer.  Good work if you can get it.

Speaking of Kim, she has an impressive array of athletes & rap stars that have boned her and that hot booty!

Too bad she didn't get cast in ZOMBEAVERS, because she surely qualifies! Oh well, there's always ZOMBEAVERS 2!!!

It's a great film, with lines like:
Sweet young things: Our boyfriends are out there looking for Beavers.
Local sh!t stain inbred: Yeah, aren't we all!

[Sebastian]

Well, F@ckin Jodie Meeks has a f@ckin' stress fracture in his lower back and out 8 weeks, and who knows for how long, really because the back ain't nothing to play with. SVG should not have given F@ckin Jodie Meeks all of that money. Damn!!!

Yeah, DX, SVG should have re-signed Stuckey to the contract that was awarded to F@ckin' Jodie Meeks.

[deusXango]

While I've accepted the acquisition of Meeks, you have to wonder about taking a player from 1 million to near 7 million, a 6 to 7 times pay increase, how that changes their behavior!

This is a complete mystery injury because it didn't happen on the court, but during personal hours!

I'm not saying he changed his normal behavior, but who knows?

Brings to mind the severe ankle injury Charlie Villanueva sustained during a wet dream...non basketball related injuries are becoming all the rage.

[Fennis Dembo]

The Bogus Injury Status Report
Brought to you by  "The Snake Oil Elixir Travelling Medicine Show"

Since we never get the truth about these injuries anymore, I'll just make up some stuff, sort of like Brady Hoke.

Jody Meeks:  Out for an undetermined  amount of time after being kneecapped by a goon from Tonya Harding's Gang.

Will Bynum:  Injured his leg after falling off a rug and is currently on a reality show about little people.

KCP: Being treated for Rumpsha Gumpsha of the thrash bag.

Aaron Gray: Recovering well from a heart problem.  Claims the best selling novel "Fifty Shades of Grey" is really his biography.

Luigi Datome:  Not injured, healthy as a horse, but looking for a career change after not being allowed near a basketball.   He auditioned for the opera "The Marriage of Figaro" as Luciano Pavarotti's understudy.  Also he has recently been spotted cooking at a local Olive Garden.  The word out on the street is that his lasagna is to die for.

Spencer Dinwiddie: Recovering nicely from the surgery he had in college.  Reportedly he has taken part time jobs as Beyonce's body guard, Condoleezza Rice's personal valet, and Kim Kardashian's big booty photographer.  Good work if you can get it.

[Oracle]

Well he didn't say it, but he really said it! He has about as much faith in that position as most of us... it's the weakest part of the team.

Here's what he said,

That leaves the Pistons without their two top shooting guards for at least the three preseason games in the next four days, and perhaps all four remaining exhibitions.


"I came out feeling really good about that position over the first eight or nine days," Van Gundy said. "I thought with our three big guys, and that position, and our point-guard spot's pretty settled, I was feeling pretty good. I think that's going to be a good spot for us. But obviously, we're going to be a little thin there to begin."

Feeling good about everything except the SF position!

[Oracle]

NEW YORK, October 14, 2014 – The New York Liberty announced today that the franchise has not renewed the contract of Bill Laimbeer, the team's general manager and head coach.

“We thank Bill for his hard work and contributions to the New York Liberty,” said Allan Houston, the New York Knicks’ assistant general manager, who also oversees Liberty basketball operations. “The Liberty are a proud original member of the WNBA, with a loyal and passionate fan base. We will begin our search immediately to secure a general manager and coach to help us move forward and reach our ultimate goal of a WNBA Championship.”

In two seasons under Laimbeer, the Liberty posted a 26-42 record (.382).

[Oracle]

While I've accepted the acquisition of Meeks, you have to wonder about taking a player from 1 million to near 7 million, a 6 to 7 times pay increase, how that changes their behavior!

This is a complete mystery injury because it didn't happen on the court, but during personal hours!

I'm not saying he changed his normal behavior, but who knows?

[deusXango]

 @Keith_Langlois  [/url]
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Not sure who he'll start at 2G (Martin or Butler) or PG (Jennings or Augustin). Will Bynum, they hope, will play Friday & Saturday.

[url=https://twitter.com/Keith_Langlois] Keith Langlois

Sorry to hear about Meeks, but starting Martin at SG makes sense....Butler does not! Glad that the implications are to leave Singler at SF; he deserves a chance to develop at his natural position, uninterrupted.

"Will Bynum, they hope, will play Friday & Saturday." That's the sh!t I've been talking about; 1 day and 1 hour of practice and they're hoping to play him before a player who's been busting his ass since camp started. Is Datome the next player to get a raw deal in Detroit before he goes some place else and blows up? I'm thinking Houston, Okur, Afflalo, and Middleton, players who weren't given a fair chance in Detroit. The enfencence is on FAIR!!

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