I think they will get some decent burn early in the year... the other consideration is the lack of injuries we've had the last couple of years... the odds are against this trend continuing.

Between Delfino, Acker, Amir & Jmax I see Delfino and Acker seeing the most action:

My guesstimate on the position depth:
C- Nazr, Sheed, Davis
SF- Tay, Delfino, Amir
PF- Sheed, Dice, Jmax
SG- Rip, Acker, Hunter
PG- CBill, FA or Acker, Hunter

I think Amir & Blalock will be sent to the D-League
Samb will be in Spain
I expect Hunter to be used sparingly until later in the season.
I have little doubt that this year Delfino gets a legit chance (unless he flops terribly).

__________________
Big or Bust

Pretty harsh commentary, considering the players need to execute and their egos started getting the better of them. IMO the grumbling started before Flip joined and he was never able to stem the tide.

I don't support Flip but I don't think this team was a good as their inflated self worth led them to believe. Joe also let this team stagnate for the last 2 years with no trades worth mentioning. Looks like he gets a free ride.

I'd think there would be Palace rebellion if at least some of these guys don't play, but it's tough to see how to fit them in.

Up front...

Sheed, Dice, and Nazr tag team the four and five spots. If you only wanted the three of them, they could average 32 minutes each and you're done. Assume Dice stays in the 25 range and Nazr between there and 30. That leaves somewhere around 10-12 minutes a game for a fourth big to fit in, down to five or six in close games when Sheed's minutes go up. If Nazr can't play that much, then there is more time for a bench player.

In the back...

If Davis were to be traded for Knight then hopefully you would see CB getting around 32 and Knight around 16. CB may not be interested in dropping any minutes in a contract year though. Hunter sits on IR until playoff time. Without a PG backup, CB gets 36-38 and we see if Hunter than take the long season. Flip will never go for what I see as the obvious move which is to play Prince at point foward for a couple of short spurts along with two shooters.

Maybe there would be a three man rotation around the two and three spots with Rip, Tay, and Delf - same idea as above. Acker could get some spot minutes, but 3's are hard to come by on the bench. Delfino seems like the first guy off for both positions.

Barring injury I'd say that only Delfino gets a decent chance.

__________________
"But first, are you experienced? Or have you you ever been experienced? Well, I have."
Jimi

My bad, I thought that was his job. To keep the guys motivated and help expand their games.

By the way, to say I've given Joey D. a free pass is highly inaccurate. Please refer to virtually all of my posts on the subject of losing Ben Wallace. They have not been flattering to Joe Dumars (although I wouldn't trade him for anyone in the league) or Bill Davidson at all.

So, I guess you subscribe to the belief that if a teacher takes over an honor class and the entire class underachieves. Shame on the students. Poor helpless teacher must have had all the students quit on him/her. Let me make it plain for ya. If Flip couldn't motivate these guys, its because he probably wasn't qualified to do it in the first place. If you think I'm too harsh on my criticisms, I also invite you to read DBA's article which does a statistical comparison of the players before and after Flip. The numbers, results and loss of a starter speaks to my point loud in clear.

__________________
"Great coach, this team wins the title. Average coach, they get to the ECF repeatedly and fail. Crap coach, this season happens" - The Low

Having been an honor student (not bragging) I can tell you that I didn't depend on the teacher once I got to a certain level of competence, usually at the undergraduate/graduate level, because I wanted to do well on my own accord. So that's a poor analogy. A motivated person works hard and the best motivation is internal. You don't lower your standards or work ethic because of your situation. You perform your duties and leave at the end of the contract, not quit in the middle and point fingers.

The team implosion had as much to do with their own egos as it had to do with Flip.

For lack of my being Flip, I've chosen to say . . They all get a chance, but only a few make it (Delfino included). AS much as I like to see CD play, I just don't think he has what it takes to be a solid player in the league. That's my opinion. Please, no flaming. He has some mean-streaks, though. Amir and !Le Brahma! will do well, though.

There is no lack of uncertainly around Defino. 75% of the time I think he can play and will be effective at least off the bench in this league. The other 25% of the time I wonder if I've just mixed him up with Manu.

Well, Toot, Toot!

I was an honor student too. LOL!

I can definitely see your point regarding self-motivation...but the entire team having a letdown???? I don't buy it. I think my analogy stands. If the ENTIRE team underperforms you have to point to something else. We are talking about players who had to scratch and crawl to get to where they are at. Perhaps an overemphasis on one area (**cough**, offense!) caused the students to become weaker in other areas and more importantly unprepared for the Final Exam. Again, I think the team took on Flip's persona over time. It took half of the regular season to happen, but the transformation DID happen. The Pistons spent the whole entire year working on a knockout punch, just to forget that bobbing, weaving, guarding, and throwing combinations (**cough**, bench!) are just as important to winning a fight. Bad training, Bad coach, Bad Ending!

Throughout the entire season all we heard from the players was that they had their fire back and they felt they had something to prove. Motivation was not a cause of concern for the majority of the season. It only became a point of commentary when we needed an excuse to justify playing so poorly. Rubbish.

Superior coaching, one dimensional/predictable play, and a lack of identity were the causes. Uninspired play was merely a symptom. It's what was left from a team that had no answers and were mentally defeated 10 mins into a battle against a hungrier, more focused opponent. Flip taught our boys how to lose a fight, and they followed the gameplan to a tee. So now you can add an additonal action item to Flip's list of objectives.

Flip needs to convince our players that they can ultimately win with "Flip Ball" when he has had nothing but modest success with it in the playoffs.

__________________
"Great coach, this team wins the title. Average coach, they get to the ECF repeatedly and fail. Crap coach, this season happens" - The Low

Well, we will have to agree to disagree. I think accountability is an individual trait. The Pistons managed to beat up the Bucks good but fell apart when the opponent got tougher. The failure IMO is on two counts Flips coaching and the players eagerness to finger point and not execute basic stuff.

I think both can happen Bill and Motown. I'll be happy if we develop the youth even if we have a 40 win season. come playoff time though the goal is a championship. I really think it is and if these young guys can help in the playoffs than yeah they should play if not so be it.

We will lose more than we have in the past, but we could make an amazing run if some guys who didn't step up the last couple years step up or if Joe makes a move.