Joe D Post-Draft Press Conference - Detroit Pistons Fan Community

jammertime · #1 (**permalink**) 06-29-2007, 01:33 AM

You can hear the full audio here:
MLive.com: Everything Michigan

Here's a bit of a recap:

On taking Stuckey:

Quote:

"It really wasn't that hard a decision. We wanted versatility. We wanted talent, athleticism and versatility and the fact that he can play both positions really made it an easy choice to take him."

Quote:

"He's not simply a 2 guard that's masquerading as a point guard. This kid can really pass, can really see. Has great vision and can deliver the ball. The fact that he has the versatility to slide from the 1 to the 2, slide between those positions, made it a situation where we could not pass up on him."

On Afflalo:

Quote:

The thing I like about his versatility is that he can guard ones, twos and threes. He's a flat out tough guy. He's a warrior. He's a good time scorer. He can score the ball.

Quote:

I like the fact that he's been on that big stage and knows what it's like. He's not going to be intimidated. He's one of the guys that Chauncey and Prince and the guys have played a lot with this summer out in L.A. So they know him very well. Beyond at UCLA.

Quote:

I like his versatility. The fact that we can put him on the floor and we feel like he's going to develop into a big time defender and a guy that can score for you when he gets in the game.

On his draft philosophy:

Quote:

I want tough guys. I want fighters man. I want guys who compete. And if they have athleticism and can compete then they appeal to me. If they're not the high flyers and can compete and they're winners than they appeal to me.

Quote:

It's about how these guys compete. That's what I like about Stuckey and that's what I like about Afflalo. These guys are going to compete man. They aren't going to come in here and be in awe of anything.

On if after taking a guard at 15, that another guard wasn't necessarily his first option at 27:

Quote:

No, I was going to take another perimeter guy. I was going to take another perimeter guy.

On drafting two guards in the first round:

Quote:

"To be quite honest with you. When we've gotten hurt or struggled in the playoffs it's been on the perimeter. Its been from the standpoint of not being able to score buckets from the perimeter - make shots, or not being able to defend on the perimeter like we should."

On his view of the team's needs going into the draft:

Quote:

"I've never thought that we've really been dominated in the paint in the playoffs. We're going to compete. We have enough big guys that we're going to compete in the paint. I thought we needed to address the perimeter offensively and defensively and that's what I was setting out to do here tonight."

mikhail1973 · #2 (**permalink**) 06-29-2007, 01:37 AM

Looks like players do have some input. Tay and CB must have seen something in Afflalo to make him attractive to Pistons.
Or maybe they wanted to bring on a bum that won't be able to compete with them.

**max** · #3 (**permalink**) 06-29-2007, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikhail1973

Looks like players do have some input. Tay and CB must have seen something in Afflalo to make him attractive to Pistons.
Or maybe they wanted to bring on a bum that won't be able to compete with them.

Hard to believe they would be that insecure. I would imagine they want a better bench to rely on like the rest of us.

mikhail1973 · #4 (**permalink**) 06-29-2007, 01:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by max

Hard to believe they would be that insecure. I would imagine they want a better bench to rely on like the rest of us.

I want to believe that too. But from what Joe was saying, there maybe some players on the team that don't want competition or someone who will push them and fight for playing time.

Darth Tater · #5 (**permalink**) 06-29-2007, 01:44 AM

Well, I really haven't had time to let all of this soak in, and I have mixed feelings. However, my initial reaction is that I'm kind of disappointed we didn't go with any "sexy" picks, but I think our first two picks are solid choices.

Sounds like Joe has a plan and I've got to assume he knows more than anyone else inside or outside of this forum what his teams needs are.

I just hope we actually give these guys the opportunity to show what they can do.

jammertime · #6 (**permalink**) 06-29-2007, 01:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darth Tater

Well, I really haven't had time to let all of this soak in, and I have mixed feelings. However, my initial reaction is that I'm kind of disappointed we didn't go with any "sexy" picks, but I think our first two picks are solid choices.

Yeah, unlike Matt "sexy WR" Millen. The less Joe is like Millen, the more I like him.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darth Tater

Sounds like Joe has a plan and I've got to assume he knows more than anyone else inside or outside of this forum what his teams needs are.

As long as Joe has a plan, I'm cool with the picks. Unlike the Nazr signing which felt more like a desperation move.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darth Tater

I just hope we actually give these guys the opportunity to show what they can do.

So do I.

lapiston · #7 (**permalink**) 06-29-2007, 02:21 AM

We desperately needed perimeter defense. This draft should help to address that and Stuckey, if he is anything like the film, can be a big threat off the bench. Joe went out and did what he had to do.

Now, we need to address the center position. We have to face Shak, Z and Curry (Knicks will be tough).

We still need to add an established scorer.

NTC · #8 (**permalink**) 06-29-2007, 03:11 AM

Hmmmm... well I feel a little bit better after reading over this, like mentioned countless times before, got nothing against the guys as players, I just feel as though they wernt really what we needed.

himat · #9 (**permalink**) 06-29-2007, 03:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NTC187

Hmmmm... well I feel a little bit better after reading over this, like mentioned countless times before, got nothing against the guys as players, I just feel as though they wernt really what we needed.

We needed 1 guard. Either to replace Chauncey or to provide him a solid backup. That pick was Stuckey

The other 2 were not needed. C's and SF's were needed. I can understand drafting the best guy no matter what position but Afflalo and espcially Mejia were not the best players at their spots.

NTC · #10 (**permalink**) 06-29-2007, 03:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by himat

We needed 1 guard. Either to replace Chauncey or to provide him a solid backup. That pick was Stuckey

I agree, we needed a backup PG, and Crittenton should've been the logical choice, but we went with a combo guard instead.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
AI press conference and jersey display time	aurora	Detroit Pistons General Discussion	50	11-04-2008 10:21 PM
Joe D's Draft Record	buddahfan	Detroit Pistons General Discussion	34	04-11-2007 06:05 PM
Take Matters Into Our Own Hands	MainManJoeD	Detroit Pistons General Discussion	30	07-06-2006 01:31 PM
Joe D.'s Draft Picks	buddahfan	Detroit Pistons General Discussion	16	01-11-2006 02:45 AM
Another Draft Day Mistake by Joe D?	buddahfan	Detroit Pistons General Discussion	13	11-21-2005 08:50 PM