I was incorrect yesterday posting that Hunter would be the backup point guard.

As of this AM is looks like a basically a 3 person rotation at the guards.

Wallace gets Stern rebuke

KJ is on the ball again. She definitely knows her stuff.

ASK THE FREE PRESS: KRISTA JAHNKE: Response to a question about the Pistons rotation

It's got to be Dupree that gets cut - regardless of Stuckey's injury. I think final rosters are due today - so we should know for sure soon.

It will be Lindsay that gets put on the active roster in place in of Stuckey.

The two 2nd rounders will hang around only until they can be assigned to Fort Wayne. Joe will expose them to a couple weeks of NBA lifestyle, and then show them the D-League.

Since we debated whether we were better w/out Rip we actually toyed with what it would be like bringing Rip off the bench. LEE check this out:
Starters
PG-Billups
SG-AA
SF-Tay
PF-Maxiel
C-Sheed
Rotation:

1. Rip and Dyess Subs for AA&Maxiel - Leaving The usuals, after Tay and Sheed have got it going.
2. Stuckey & AJ then sub for Billups & Sheed - leaving RS,Rip,Tay,Dyess& AJ...WOW!!!,
3. Last sub Hayes for Tay.

Second unit = Stuckey/Flip, Rip, Hayes, AJ, & Dyess.
We end the half with the best five players on the floor based on who has it going strong. Meaning there could be games where Tay, Billups, and Sheed never check back into the game until after the half. Doing this would keep us ultra-competitive, keep the minutes low, and allow stars to be stars.

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"Ain't nothin' strange 'bout yo daddy, what's strange is what he had to deal wit'!!!!!" - Rev. AL.

This is all fine and dandy, but Rip will be back starting. However, Flip said that he'll keep youngsters in in the fourth, especially if they are performing to give them more experience.

I appreciate your post. Rotations is how I think about changes. Why Afflalo, and not Rip? Well, for SA, they realized that they want to be a post up team primarily, so they have one of their strongest guard scorers come off the bench now. It works. Just got them another championship.

Would it work for us. Probably. But there is one problem. Amir. Would you really want to let Rip shoot outside shots all night while Amir was not getting post scoring ops? So here is a slight adjustment:

Start Billups, Afflalo, Amir Johnson, Jason Maxiell, Rasheed Wallace.

This starting unit upgrades our rebounding by replacing Tay with Amir. It improves our interior D as far as size goes. And it puts our three strongest post up players in the game with the first unit, assuring we can start out every game doing damage in the post, getting the other team in foul trouble.

The bench is Stuckey, Rip, Tay, Hayes, Dyess. But Hayes and Dyess would be challenged for their minutes by Amir and JMAX, who could stay over on the 2nd unit.

Or you could use a four unit approach. Here the same starters play the first 6 minutes of each half, to ensure each half starts out with post play. (Billups, Afflalo, Amir, JMAX, Sheed) But for the next six minutes you bring in Hayes and Dyess for Amir and Jason, giving you this:

Billups, Afflalo, Hayes, Dyess, Sheed.

After Amir and JMAX have their 6 minute rest, you open the 2nd quarter with:

Stuckey, Rip, Tay, Amir, JMAX.

Then you play your 4th unit for the last 6 minutes of the half:

Billups, Rip, Tay, Amir, JMAX.

Lets look at the mintues projection for a game using this pattern:

Billups 36, Rip 24, Tay 24, Amir 36, Jason 36, Dyess 12, Hayes 12, Stuckey 12, Afflalo 24, Sheed 24.

Now some slight adjustments. Stuckey plays the last 2 minutes of the 1st and 3rd quarters. Dyess and Sheed stay on for the first two minutes of the 2nd and 4th quarters. New minutes totals:

Billups 32, Rip 24, Tay 24, Amir 32, Jason 32, Dyess 16, Hayes 12, Stuckey 16, Afflalo 24, Sheed 28

Lets look at those 4 minutes of transition between quarters. For two minutes to end the 1st and 3rd quarters:

Stuckey, Afflalo, Hayes, Dyess, Sheed.

And to open the first two minutes of each 2nd and 4th quarter:

Stucky, Rip, Tay, Dyess, Sheed

And finally, I will put this all together for a half of basketball:

Billups, Afflalo, Amir, JMAX, Sheed 6 minutes

Billups, Afflalo, Hayes, Dyess, Sheed. 4 minutes

Stuckey, Afflalo, Hayes, Dyess, Sheed. 2 minutes

Stucky, Rip, Tay, Dyess, Sheed 2 minutes

Stuckey, Rip, Tay, Amir, JMAX. 4 minutes

Billups, Rip, Tay, Amir, JMAX. 6 minutes

Of course, in close games, Sheed can come back in to end games. I will conclude this post with five possible units that could end a game by Sheed coming in the game for the last few minutes:

Billups, Tay, Amir, JMAX, Sheed.

Billups, Rip, Amir, JMAX, Sheed

Billups, Rip, Tay, Amir, Sheed

Billups, Rip, Tay, JMAX, Sheed, and finally, with Tay at point, going real tall:

Tay, Rip, Amir, JMAX, Sheed.

I think Tayshaun has greatly improved his rebounding. He would lead Team USA a lot of nights in rebounding even with guys like Dwight on the team. Check the Miami game as well. I agree though, things need to me mixed up on this team.

Remember, this was just a takeoff from someone else suggesting Rip come off the bench. As far as Tay rebounding, lets not make too many conclusions based on one game or two. I think you will find Amir gets twice the rebounds per minute vs. Tay. Lets see.

Sorry Lee, sometimes your rotations are waaaaayyy over my head and eventually get so complex that my head starts spinning. But I understand your logic about how an scoring perimeter player takes away from our inside post play. So I came up with a lineup that would be very fun to watch.
PG-Tay
SG-Rip
SF-Hayes
PF-Maxiel
C-Sheed
All five players can post up their defenders with ease. All 5 players have respectable midrange game. All 5 players rebound. This may also be one of our best defensive units. You could also bring in Amir for any frontcourt position and the good points still hold up. Also 4/5 can shoot the trey. All 5 players also can run the floor well.

__________________
"Ain't nothin' strange 'bout yo daddy, what's strange is what he had to deal wit'!!!!!" - Rev. AL.

It' not like Tay, Sheed, and CB don't have outside games.

I'll have to watch a few more games to get a better idea about the first 2. Were they the new brand of ball, or are we going back to the same stand around sets as before.