This one is based on AS Blakely's observations so far at mlive.com. But I see Just Insane already posted it as his favorite rotation. And of course, this is a rotation I have been pushing since we got Arroyo last season to see, with the exception that Mo Evans replaces Ron Dupree in this one.

Starters: CB, Rip, Tay, Ben, Dyess

2nd unit: Arroyo, Delfino, Mo Evans (or switch Evans and Delfino, I think it will depend on matchups to some extent), Dyess, Darko.

IL is Hunter and Dale Davis taking turns on, with the other being on the active roster.

The other 3 players to complete the 14 man active roster are our three rookies, Amir Johnson, Alex Acker, and Jason Maxiell.

Minutes break down for the season: (Total minutes available assuming 7 overtimes is 19,855)

CB, Rip, Tay, Ben, and Sheed 2340 minutes each for the season. That is assuming 78 games each with a 30 minute per game average.

Arroyo, Delfino, Mo Evans, and Darko get 1092 mintues each for the season. This is 78 games times an average of 14 minutes per game.

Dyess gets 1404 minutes for the season.

11,700 minutes for the starters.
4368 minutes for Arroyo, Delfino, Evans, and Darko combined.
1404 minutes for Dyess.
Total = 17,472

Left for the rookies, Hunter and Davis, 2383 minutes

Hunter and Davis, 300 each. Thats 10 minutes in each of the last 30 games of the season.

Left over for rookies: 1783 mintues.

Each rookie gets about 600 minutes, which is 60 games times 10 minutes. This is plenty to keep them interested and improving.

Next, the playoff roster. Maybe just 12. Thats Blakely's best guess at the moment, although he is not sure if maybe we can change who the 12 are for each series.

I hope its true we can change per series, but here is a roster with just 12 guys.

Acker is off the roster. Mo Evans is suppose to be capable of guarding point guards thru small forwards. Hunter does not make the team either. Just a numbers thing. Mo Evans basically takes his role on defense, while playing that D with 4 inches more height and an offensive game to go with the defensive game.

Amir Johnson is gone off the list. Again, a numbers thing. Just no room.This leaves: (I will list starter, main sub, then anyone else who can play that position in no particular order)

Point: CB, Arroyo, Prince, Delfino

Shooting guard: Rip, Delfino, Evans, CB, Prince

Small forward: Prince, Mo Evans, Delfino, Maxiell, Sheed

Power forward: Ben, Dyess, Sheed, Maxiell, Darko

Center: Sheed, Darko, Dale Davis, Ben, Dyess

At first, it might seem this leaves us weak at point, but it does not. Delfino can run the point as well as anyone, while Rip can defend it pretty darn well. As a combo, Rip and Delfino can do everything needed. Delfino would bring the ball up and run the plays. On defense, Delfino guards the shooting guard while Rip guards the point. And thats the 4th option with Tay being the 3rd after CB and Arroyo.

Last year this would be dangerous, as it might mean getting Rip in foul trouble by playing him at point defense. But this season, we are all set. Rip's replacements of Delfino and Mo Evans can fill in for him just fine at shooting guard, as can Tay. Maxiell playing small forward here is the key. If Maxiell can play some small forward when needed, to makes everyone else available for guard duty. A very flexible roster indeed.

And finally, what are we "wasting in youth developent."

The answer is nothing. Remember this, the idea is to ensure another title. Someone could get injured. With Acker who can play at either guard, and Amir Johnson who can play the forward positions, we got injuries covered. Not to mention we got Hunter if we had to use him.

I would hate to see Darko injured, but Davis could probably step in and do well enough for us. Indeed, we could lose about 4 players to injury, as long as not at key positions, and still be quite ready to win it all.

But to answer the numbers question. The time Amir Johnson and Alex Acker play this season, 1200 minutes, could be considered waste if we end up not using either in the playoffs this year. But there is next season to consider. And there is trade value that we add to these players by giving them some NBA experience.

1200 minutes is 6% of the player minutes available for the season. Not to much to ask to help ensure wins in future seasons, increase trade values, and ensuring we have players ready to step in if an injury occurs. Oh, and Hunters 300 minutes too would be counted as waste. But again, nothing like having a proven vet around if the young guys (in this case Mo Evans) can't handle the job. (Or is injured during the season)

Arroyo, Billups, Evans, Dyess, and Sheed-posted by Dave over at detnews.com just now. Thats one five man unit we could see. Getting tired at this point in the evening, but I will work a bit on a substitution pattern where we might see this.

Usual starters, CB, Rip, Tay, Ben, Sheed.

Four minutes left in the 1st quarter, Arroyo comes in for Rip, Evans for Tay, and Dyess for Ben. But lets modify that a bit and say Dyess and Arroyo come in a couple minutes earlier than that. Anyway, for 4 minutes, this unit exists that Dave thought of tonight.

To start the 2nd quarter, you need some more starters to go out, as they have played 12 mintues. Ben and Rip have rested 6 mintues already, so they come back in to rest Billups and Sheed. But wait, you don't want Ben at center, so you start the quarter with Darko instead.

Now you have Arroyo, Rip, Evans, Dyess, and Darko.

But no, trying to leave 2 starters in at all times. So instead, you start the 2nd quarter with:

Arroyo, Rip, Evans, Ben, Darko.

Now, Ben and Rip have had their rest for the half for the most part, but I am trying to keep them to just 30 minutes a game. They are both at 6 minutes played at this point with a target of 15 minuteseach for this first half. Tay has been sitting for 4 minutes at this point, and has 8 minute of the 15 targeted for this half. Sheed and CB are on the bench with no rest at this point and 12 of 15 minutes played for the half.

Delfino has not got into the game, and I am targeting 7 mintues for him this half, and Dyess needs 3 more as his target is nine.

Well, it gets a bit complicated at this point. And its late. Good nite all. I will finish this tomorro on another post.

This is after watching the Milwaukee preseason game tonight

Twelve guys who can really play. Thats a lot for one team. On this list will be good solid players on both ends of the floor: Billups, Arroyo, Acker at point. Rip, Mo Evans at shooting guard. Tay, Delfino, Maxiell at small forward. Ben and Dyess at power forward. Sheed, Darko at center. And no one past the age of 31. To this, add two guys who shore up your defensive depth. Dale Davis and either Dupree or Hunter. And finally, one spot for youth, Amir Johnson.

Now, what about whittling it down to just 10 rotation players? Two five man units. Sorry, just no way to do it. Not one of these 12 guys should just sit on the bench this season. So Billups will just have to have his minutes cut a bit, while Arroyo and Acker split those backup point guard minutes somewhat. Last season, Hunter and Arroyo both played backup point while Billups got all kinds of minutes. Its doable. Some nights, Acker will be the guy, some nights Arroyo all depending on the matchups.

Similarly, Delfino and Mo Evans are going to have to share some minutes at shooting guard while Rip is also kept fresh for the playoffs by having his minutes cut. Thats 6 guys in the backcourt.

In the front court, you got Maxiell backing up Tay. And if Maxiell is occasionally too slow to guard that nights backup small forward, then you let Mo Evans do the job. And yes, occasionally you let Amir Johnson step in and play a few minutes at the end of the 1st quarter, or the end of the 1st half.

Next, Ben and Dyess. Sheed and Darko. You got a lot of flexibility here as Dale Davis and Maxiell are around for 5th and 6th big men. Even Amir Johnson could add depth there in case of injury.

And going the other way is just as promising. You could on occasion go big, although using Maxiell at small forward is really already going big a lot. But Sheed or Darko could play a bit of small forward with Ben being out there as the third guy. That is a lot of length indeed out there. Man, is this team going to be good.</B></B></B>

I really do not know whats going to happen. It could be and it is possible that Arroyo can be the odd-man out this year.

It seems so far in the preseason the second unit plays better when left to themselves. When we start to mix in starters with bench it falls apart.
Aside from Dyess. If Flip goes to zone how about this lineup.
Tay, Dyess, Sheed, Ben and Darko. Let's see someone try and drive on them.
I like this second unit CarArr, Evans, Max or Amir, Darko and Davis. Hunter sits. Delflino sits. Acker sits. Dupree sits. Except for emergencies.

Who is the 2 guard in this lineup? I'm assuming you have Tay running the point.

Quick guards will drive on Tay and Dice all day long.

I really read only the first couple of paragraphs and if they play Darko as you are suggesting while giving `12 minutes a game to Davis, I sincerely hope they trade DMC. Going back to very few minutes a game and back to garbage time will set his career back immeasurably. And setting his career back at all is not in the best interests of the Pistons.

So, under the conditions you suggest, I hope he goes somewhere else. Playing Davis those minutes at the end of his career is just not in the best interests of this team.

I think that Dyce and Darko should get the major minutes after WallaceX2, and Davis and TMax get what are left. If it looks as though TMax is going to outdo Darko, so be it. But I would use those minutes to make Darko and/or JMax ready for the late season surge and the playoffs. To me, Davis is strictly backup to DMC/JMax.

Not that I think it would happen but.....
PG-Delfino
SG-MoEvans
SF-Tayshaun
PF-Rasheed
C-Darko.

This lineup is big, strong, fast and all defense, save Delfino.

Delfino, Tay, Darko and Sheed are really good passers.
Delfino, Tay, and Evans can really finish at the rim on the break.
Delfino, Tay and Evans are about as good of perimeter rebounders as you'll find in the league.
Rasheed is a good of a frontcourt defender as there is in the league, Darko is blocking shots very well, Tay and Evans have shown that they can block shots also.
With the exception of Sheed it's also a very young lineup.
All three players can shoot from the perimeter as far as the 3pt line, except maybe Darko. DMC has shown he can shoot from that far out w/out changing his mechanics, they just haven't dropped, same can be said for Delfino. Evans, Tay and Sheed have demonstrated in games that they can make it happen from beyond the arc.

LEE356, ROTATION GURU...GIMME SOME FEEDBACK.

What's in a name, does it matter on Dee who is the 2, it's a zone, if they drive pass Tay can they get pass Wx2? On Off Dyess is the 1st option with Tay at point. It's a big lineup, could it work?