Microwave, I can't believe you would call one of my rotation posts a suggestion. Nowhere do I suggest anything, but rather just bring up a possibility. As I post one after another, anyone thinking of them as actual suggestions would get a headache.

Now, here is another one.

Start Billups, Tay, Maxiell, Ben, Sheed.

2nd unit is Delfino, Rip, Amir Johnson, Dyess, Darko. Delfino plays point on offense, and Rip guards the point on defense.

Why? You just upped the rebounding on the starting squad tremendously by replacing Rip with Maxiell. Maxiell can also, as a small forward, score like a fiend, making Rip unneeded. Only guards who can handle the ball, getting it to Maxiell, are needed here.

Can Maxiell play small forward? Yep. Corliss could. Pretty darn well. And Corliss was not as fast, nor could jump as well, vs. Maxiell. Just like Corliss can dominate most small forwards, so can Acker. And Maxiell will cover power forwards and centers on switches better than Corliss could.

Arroyo, Evans, Dale Davis, Acker, and Hunter would be the spare players on the bench. Of these, Arroyo and Evans would be the ones dressed most nights, and probably the two who make the playoff roster.

Now, lets look at that 2nd unit again, Delfino, Rip, Amir Johnson, Dyess, Darko. You got a small forward there in Amir Johnson who will outrebound the center and power forward. Dyess will get his share of bounds. Darko will barely do acceptable in rebounding, yet he will be doing a ton of shot blocking. (At least at first. He has room to get better of course, and may rapidly with some serious playing time.) As will Amir Johnson soon as he gets comfortable out there.

Worried about Amir Johnson not staying out there because of foul trouble? Why worry at all. Maxiell is young and can play more. Or Evans can get off the bench. Or Prince could play small forward with Arroyo coming into the backcourt. Foul trouble will mean nothing. Let the kid foul out every game, as long as he keeps getting those bounds while in and gaining NBA experience.

I didn't. So you don't have to believe it!

__________________
To all of my friends, comrades and companions at PF.com

Thank you for another great season!

I believe I was suppose to addressing Motown Pride on that one.

Count me as a doubter. Corliss could play the position on offense, but not really on defense. I could actually see J-Max playing a bigger SF, like Artest, or a bruiser, like Nocioni (just to put them in their place), but not on a regular basis. He really is more of a natural 4.

All this is academic now anyway-I doubt he sees much of the court this year outside of garbage time. My personal feeling is that if he and Darko develop well, they will become the first two bigs off the bench next year (after the Wallaces), and McDyess will be shipped elsewhere.

Maxiell could probably contribute for a lot of teams this year-this one's just jam-packed at his position.

For now, Hunter is not even walking well, so it will be a while before he plays in the rotation.

That leaves the following 14 guys.

CB, Arroyo, Acker

Rip, Delfino

Tay, Evans, Amir Johnson

Ben, Dyess, Maxiell

Sheed, Darko, Davis.

This rotation has a ton of flexibility. Some of the obvious. Acker can play shooting guard with his 6-5 height and 7 foot wing span. Delfino can play small forward. Tay and Evans can play shooting guard. Amir Johnson can play power forward. Maxiell can play small forward. Ben and Dyess can play center. Sheed and Davis can play power forward.

When Hunter comes back, he could be the third string point with Acker being the 3rd string shooting guard. This would give us a 2nd unit of Arroyo, Delfino, Evans, Dyess, Darko, and a third unit of Hunter, Acker, Amir Johnson, Maxiell, and Davis.

How bad would our third string be? Hunter plays defense on the point guard. Acker acts as the point on offense. Davis, Johnson, and Maxiell can all rebound quite well. Maxiell would be the chief scoring threat.

To start the season, most likely we will start with two units, the starters and then our 2nd unit.

From there, who knows. I would guess that the first order of business would be to get Maxiell time as Flip can. Its a long season. Lots of back to backs (20 sets). Injuries might occur. Foul trouble. Yep, lots of reasons to let some guy from the 3rd unit get some time.

But what I like in a coach is planning. Don't let fate in any way decide how you develop your young guys. Find ways to get them involved, and I do not mean garbage time.

Part of this is to find favorable matchups for the rookies. For Maxiell, that might mean playing him at small forward against some of the slower small forwards of the league. For Acker, maybe a point guard that is not so good at going inside, but rather likes to shoot from outside. For Johnson, maybe a lesser offensive player. Let these guys show off what they have. For Acker, thats offense and defense too in many cases. For Maxiell, thats both offense and defense. For Amir Johnson, its rebounding, offense, and shot blocking.

None of these rookies need to play a ton. Just so that they do play. Lets see how Flip does.

Lee,

Acker is being used strictly at point this year. All of his reps in practice are at point. Perhaps in the future he'll play both 1 and 2, but not now.

Agreed. We can afford to bring them along slow and steady. I can't think of a better team or a better position to learn on the job (maybe SA as well). Minimal immediate expecations and a great experience, especially for the Bigs, being able to study under guys like Ben, Sheed, Dice and Davis.

Bill, his reps are at point because that is what they want to play him at. However, don't be surprised at all if he plays some shooting guard early with Arroyo. Afterall, he is a shooting guard naturally. A guy who can handle the point can pretty quickly learn the plays for the shooting guard. Its the point who must know exactly where his shooting guard is at all times, and know exactly where he is going and when exactly.

We could see a unit of Arroyo, Acker, Delfino, Dyess, and Darko at times. This would be done by simply sitting Evans a bit to give us more ball handling in the lineup. Like I said, its about finding opportunities to play the rooks.

Acker just may be able to guard a lot more shooting guards vs. points. So more ops to get playing time.

Barring injuries to Billups or Arroyo, I don't think we'll see Acker on the floor during meaningful minutes at all this year. In fact, he'll probably be in street clothes or in North Carolina for most of the season. I'm not saying that I don't like him. He's the 15th guy on the roster. That's all.

has earned my respect by mixing it up with Dirk. He looked like he was ready to go. Now that's what I'm talking about! As far as I'm concerned; Arroyo has become an authentic, bona-fide, take-no-prisioners, legitimate, true blue Piston! Looks like he might have found his shot too! Welcome aboard Arroyo!

Now willya drive the lane through traffic and FINISH once in a while?