I guess what I am saying is that I don't see Tayshaun as a superior ball handler or playmaker. On the break, he's typically the finisher, not the initiator.

Tay can handle the ball, but in my opinion, not particularly better than anyone else. Rip gets crap for creating turnovers, but he also makes a lot of big plays. He's aggressive where CB and Tay seem more likely to hold it for a shot or make an incredibly safe pass.

Safe passes are fine when guys are open, but as we saw in last year's playoffs, once teams practice for the pick and pop, and start really hammering Rip on his screen sequences, those safe passes aren't there anymore and the ball handler has to create opportunities by being aggressive passing or off the dribble (something neither Tay nor CB are particularly great at).

I really thought that the Pistons were a better passing team at the end of the 2005 season than in the Flip era. Chauncey's TOs dropped when the ball got shared for a better shot. It seems that our offense is much more stagnant now than it was during those two years. As (I believe) ahb mentioned recently, our pace is way down. We're far from high octane. More like that fuel grade between premium and unleaded.

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Nov 13 LW Milan Lucic had an active night. He scored his first goal in eight games since his Oct. 25 hat trick and also pounded Michael Komisarek in a third-period fight. Lucic cut his hand in a fight with Michael Komisarek. "I'll be fine," he said. "(X-rays are) negative, but there's so many broken bones in there from before you can't really tell."

It's also hard to ignore the loss of Ben Wallace as a passer. With Ben, the option to pass in and get it back out was always there. I don't think we make any use of Nazr Mohammed in this regard, and Dice only makes passes with 0.5 seconds on the clock.

Sheed being on the block also opened up opportunities to pass from double teams. I rarely see Sheed doubled on the block anymore, and remember Matt Watson from DetroitBadBoys writing last season that at home, when the crowd starts chanting SHEEEEEEED, he always seems to take the shot.

I'm not blaming Flip per se, I really think that our personnel is a bit of a mish-mash and we don't play with a lot of tempo because the only way they can play the way they want to play is to be deliberate and from my point of view, stagnant.

Delfino's been able to do enough to stay on the court, and that has been really good for us. He comes from the international style of play where you take your shots within the flow of the offense and no one player dominates the ball unless he is able to consistently make shots or establish scoring position. Our "flow' has been really good with Blalock and Delfino on the floor because both are happy to provide touches to their teammates on the break and in the set offense.

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Nov 13 LW Milan Lucic had an active night. He scored his first goal in eight games since his Oct. 25 hat trick and also pounded Michael Komisarek in a third-period fight. Lucic cut his hand in a fight with Michael Komisarek. "I'll be fine," he said. "(X-rays are) negative, but there's so many broken bones in there from before you can't really tell."

I remember Anthony Mason playing kind of point forward, but it was merely an experiment that failed since Mason was too slow. I still don't know why the media referred to him as a point forward with his huge frame and all that.

Grant Hill was a good point forward.

What kills me is that I think we have a unit that can up the tempo and really put teams away and Flip doesn't put them on the floor together. You know that I am talking about the Maxiell, Davis, Blalock and Delfino. Rebounds, shot blocks, intimidations, steals. Everything you need to start the break, two guys that like to push the ball and distribute, add Tay or Rip for another finisher.

The Pistons build a lead, the other team gets back on their heels a little bit and you put this unit out on the floor. My bet is that more often than not these guys will bury the other team.

I know that Flip is a highly skilled, intelligent basketball coach and I am just a fan that never played the game (busy playing hockey in the winter), but what am I missing?

Good post.

This is one of the severe down-sides if JD makes any moves before the trade deadline. A whole different style of play with 2 (possible 3 starters leaving) might have to be developed next year. Delfino (if JD can make the right moves) might be a very valuable key for this new style.

I say this knowing that JD does not have the organizational talent behind him to make this type of move a reality. The easiest scenario is to sign CB, but then what? Notice that tonight, SA, Suns and Dallas all have aggressive flows on the floor, especially the Suns.

The point forward approach was successful in the Paul Pressey and Scottie Pippen era for several reasons.

It presented huge mismatches for defenses. When someone 6-7 has the handle, passing abilty, and can create his own shot like a 6-2...6-4 guard, what is a defense to do.

IMO, Magic was a point forward!!

In Todays NBA with zone defenses a point forward`s options would be llimited if not totally eliminated.

LeBron James's options don't seem too limited.

I know, Stern is making sure of that!!!