buddah, i understand where you're coming from with AJ's and Max's rebound numbers, but it's difficult to compare them. Many of AJ's minutes are in garbage time and/or against bench scrubs, who are looking for their own offense and easier to predict for the blocks. Give Amir all of Maxiell's minutes and he most likely doesn't keep up that production. Plus he's a lot more foul-prone than Max, who has learned to pick his spots and not pick up silly fouls as often.

I'm not saying Amir isn't a great shot blocker or is incapable of playing at or above Max's level, but I think those numbers need to be put into perspective.

HQ, holla! Megan Fox is the hot chick from Transformers. I love (and mostly agree with) your assessment of our young guys. Credit has to be given to Joe Dumars - we've got an awesome combination of championship vets, young vets, role players, and building blocks. With Stuckey getting minutes and Flip/Nazr gone from the lineup, I don't think I'm going to get bored watching the Pistons for the rest of the year, as opposed to earlier in the season.

As I recall Maxey's numbers in his first year were also mostly in garbage time. That was even true to a certain extent last year.

So I believe that in comparing first year numbers of both players, my comparison is valid.

Weird how there is no Darko talk in a game that he actually played in. Its all Amir and the current Pistons which is good. Last year we would not have had a thread like this.

B/c last year nobody (Dumars too) knew, where pick lands and what you could get. And DMC has been a dissapointment for Memphis fans.

Maybe for the moment. I say give Amir 5 straight games of 20 minutes and he supasses JMAX on offensive rebounding. Give him the minutes that JMAX has had this season, and then there would be no comparison. Amir is much taller than JMAX, far more athletic, far quicker. JMAX does have better strength to hold his ground, but that won't keep him ahead of Amir for long.

Both players bring something different so it really should not be a competition even though it is by what positions the coach has deemed appropriate for them to play.

Jmax brings toughness and a passion for playing inside which we desperatly needed. Amir is more athletic. Can probably take 5-6 mins right from Dyess's 30 MPG and give them to Amir right now. But I am still trying to figure out why Amir would not be able to play some SF? Could probably bump him up to about 10-12 MPG if that were the case.

I am still trying to learn Amir's game and potential to see where he will fit in.

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AJ is not a small forward, never had been and never will be. I have no idea where that thinking came from. To my knowledge he has never played the #3 in his life except maybe by accident.

He is being groomed as a #5.

You don't play your best rebounder and best shot blocker, who is a 7 footer (almost) at the #3. When you defend against a #3 you spend a lot of your time away from the basket. Why on earth would you play your best rebounder and shot blocker on the perimeter on defense? The only exception I can think of is if the opposing #5 played on the outside on offense, but even then I would switch and put a smaller man on their #5 and keep my best rebounder, and shot blocker near the basket, except on jump outs for double teams. AJ is also very effective at altering opponents shots in the paint. He can't do that if he is playing defense on the perimeter.

1) We originally were grooming Amir to be a small forward for his first two years in the league, due to his slight build at that time. But he never played, and the plan was dropped after he grew some.

2) It matters not one iota how good a rebounder you are, or how good a shot blocker you are. No criteria matters one bit except one. Would you help the team more vs. playing someone else those minutes.? Right now, we are not playing Amir many minutes at the 5, or 4; so he has plenty of spare time to play at the 3.

3) Now back to the criteria. Hayes is currently getting small forward minutes. Would Amir do a better job than Hayes with those minutes?

a) Rebounding. Yep, Amir is our best rebounder, so of course he would give us more rebounds vs. Hayes.

b) Defense. I do see some improvement from Hayes as the season goes on. But I still see Hayes as a slow defender overall. As speed is a big part of defending a small forward, I am pretty sure Amir will do a better job vs. Hayes at defense.

c) Post up scoring. It never hurts to add post up scoring. Hayes does do some, but lately his slump has him down to a bucket every other game from post moves. Plus he is very limited, relying almost solely on face up or fade-a-way jumpers out of the post. Amir in contrast has a myriad of post moves that us fans would dearly love to be entertained by.

d) Blocks. Hayes never. Amir, better shot blocker for the league.

e) Ball handling. Hayes seems to be a near zero in this. Amir seems to be a good passer.

f) Outside shooting. Supposedly, this is a strength of Hayes. Possibly the only reason anyone would choose Hayes over Amir as a small forward. But Hayes ain't hitting outside shots at the moment. Maybe some fair competition for his minutes could light a fire under him in this respect. Meanwhile, Amir himself can hit outside shots these days. Its just a matter of letting him shoot the ball.

g. it works for lee's way of thinking and thats all that counts GRIN


AJ will play the 4 and 5 and thats what he has done since he's been here, if I have missed all this "making him a 3" for the last 2 years would somebody please point me where this was told to the masses by somebody that really knows the story.... aka joe's mouth

against certain teams he might be able to play against other teams 3's granted, but most nights he would get toasted he's to big to be guarding the star 3's of the league and were built to beat those teams not to beat a couple of losing teams that we would never play in the playoffs.

Post just one link to a player's and team's stats in the history of the NBA where a SF lead his team in rebounds and blocked shots per 48 minutes played in one year, then I will concede your point.

Until then we will just have to agree to disagree.