Coaches have absolutely no reason to hold somebody back, it is not their work. Do not take Amir's progress so self-evidently, I mean like he got PT and voila!, it's a result of hard work in practices.

As I have stated repeatedly, I do not believe in "faster development" theory. Every coach would use it happily with their draftees instead of (over)paying in free market for vets.

What would be considered a REASONABLE playoff contribution from Amir this year?

Just be able to give some rest to dice, that's why learning D is top priority for him.

One blocked shot and two easy baskets as a result of his hustle in about 6 minutes- anything else is gravey.

I'd be happy with 5 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 blocks in 12 mpg with a handful of energy plays that don't show up in the stats. Basically, I want him to keep doing what he's doing.

In Amir's last 10 games, he is +56 in 114 minutes. This + 0.49 per minute easily leads the Pistons team (+23.6 per 48 minutes). The next closest is Rasheed at +0.28.

Just one other note. Amir leads the team for the entire season on the road with +0.27/minute.

I think that there is more to it than that as I have posted numerous times, but I do think that it is a valid point that they are concerned, I wouldn't quite say paranoid", about giving him more pressure than he can handle.

I was actually thinking about this morning during my morning walk. In some ways it is to our advantage to be under the radar regarding the national media. This is allowing AJ, Hot Rod, Stuckey and Maxey to develop their games more naturally without having to feel the pressure of being in the national media spotlight, while they are looking to learn to handle the pressure of being put into more and more responsible game time and situations positions.

Don't forget this is a 20 year old multi-millionaire living on his own for the first time in his life in a city that is a couple of thousand miles from his home and where his family and long time friends live.

It was a little eye opening the way that he mentioned that fact that he doesn't live with his mom as proof that he is grown up. It is so easy for one to forget how immature one was at that age. Even if he is more mature than 90% of 20 year olds, he still has a long ways to go. That article just made me appreciate that Flip and Joe are worried about more than his on court performance.

Friday against the Trail Blazers, Amir Johnson had a career-high 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting. (Clarence Tabb Jr./The Detroit News)






SEASON HIGH, amateurs.






Johnson's progress lauded







Uhh no, was that milwaukee game a couple years ago a preseason game?









Season Highs/Career Highs
Points10 vs. Portland 02/08/0820 @ Boston 04/18/07
NBA.com : Amir Johnson Career Stats Page

Actually his career high is around 20 points in the last game of last year against the meanie greenies

When Amir was initially drafted by the Pistons, his mom moved to Detroit and lived with him in his new apartment. She still cooked, cleaned, did laundry, etc. to help Amir get his NBA career off to a good start.