Do you really believe the Pistons playoff success this year will center on AA and AJ? - Page 3 - Detroit Pistons Fan Community

mikhail1973 · #21 (**permalink**) 03-18-2008, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TaShawn

Would it maybe have been worth trying this strategy out earlier in the season to see if it worked?

11 steals, 7 turnovers, and 22 fouls with 29% shooting so far. Is there really a role for this kind of player?

Last year in the Playoffs, Lindsey had 6 steals and 22 fouls to go along with 23 points. 1 point scored for every foul delivered? He's a gambler on defense and it doesn't pay off.

I'm 90% sure that Affalo can fill this role better.

So there is that 10% doubt still lingering somewhere out there?

Delfino Delivers · #22 (**permalink**) 03-18-2008, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dumars4Ever

That's far more important than who comes off the bench. Remember who the MVP of the Finals was against the Lakers? If CB can produce at the level he needs to reach--which he didn't do in the playoff losses the last two years--then the Pistons will be in good shape in the playoffs. If not, they won't.

As for AA and Amir, I'd like them to play when they can, but I also think there's a pretty clear difference between the two vets who have come in and cut back on their minutes so far. Dixon is pretty bad and probably shouldn't be taking anyone else's minutes, but Ratliff has done a really nice job. Against the Spurs, Ratliff produced more off the bench by himself in 13 minutes than the entire Pistons bench combined produced in the most recent loss at Boston! So while I understand the frustration when a non-producer like Dixon comes in and takes minutes away from a young guy who's shown some signs of being a decent contributor, it also seems to me that everyone's 3-year-long crush on Amir (and don't get me wrong, I really like him too) is resulting in some too-quick dismissal of what Ratliff is doing.

And just to tie the AJ/AA thing together with what I said about CB: since I believe that CB's productivity level in the playoffs will be the most important thing from the starters, I'd argue that Stuckey's ability to contribute is clearly more important than whatever minutes AA or AJ might get. So while we're gnashing and wailing about Flip not getting enough minutes for the young players, let's not forget that Stuckey really has gotten the minutes he needs to develop, and that CB's MPG this season has been a full two minutes less than in any of the last 4 years. Not that I'm saying Stuckey is guaranteed to light it up in the playoffs--I'm still concerned that he might end up being in over his head--but if he doesn't get it done, I don't see how anyone will be able to blame Flip for not having played him enough in the regular season.

I think all the sides have been covered and I think that D4E shares my thoughts. It is not a matter of AA and AJ saving us IN the playoffs. It is a matter of Dixon and Arvis NOT shooting us OUT of the play offs. Unfortunately Herman did not get a fair shot to see what he could do with Arvis's minutes but we have seen what Dixon can do; NO HELP.

Our biggest problem is going to be Tay's minutes. Delfino would have fit in nicely this year but...

I appreciate what Rattler brings to the table. He has a hunger and size we need. AA needs to get in there and take those minutes from Dixon. AJ may be useful in certain scenarios but he has not gotten enough consistent playing time to be comfortable.

In my opinion; somehow keeping Tay under 40 minutes will determine our fate. If keeping him under 40 means extra minutes for Dixon; we are done!!

Dumars4Ever · #23 (**permalink**) 03-18-2008, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TaShawn

Would it maybe have been worth trying this strategy out earlier in the season to see if it worked?

11 steals, 7 turnovers, and 22 fouls with 29% shooting so far. Is there really a role for this kind of player?

Last year in the Playoffs, Lindsey had 6 steals and 22 fouls to go along with 23 points. 1 point scored for every foul delivered? He's a gambler on defense and it doesn't pay off.

I'm 90% sure that Affalo can fill this role better.

I'm also kind of surprised that it's taken this long for them to bring Lindsey back to the active roster. But he did have very good games in two of the Pistons' most significant road wins thus far: at Boston and at San Antonio.

TaShawn · #24 (**permalink**) 03-18-2008, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dumars4Ever

But he did have very good games in two of the Pistons' most significant road wins thus far: at Boston and at San Antonio.

That's where my 10% confidence in him came from.

Lee356 · #25 (**permalink**) 03-18-2008, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by max

Off hand I would say no. Going back to Dumars original vision for this season. It was to develop a bench so the starters can be fresh for the post-season. So when the post season starts guess what? The starters are going to play more mins and whoever is the top 3 or 4 reserve guys at the last game of the season will spot them. At least thats the way I interperated it. They can help but the Pistons fate rests on the starters.

Onto the guys. In the future I see Afflalo as nothing more than another Eric Snow type of player. Solid D but offensivly challenged at times. He will be a solid bench addition to any contending team and can double as a starter on teams who are guard challenged.

Amir I see great things for but at 6'9" he is not our answer at the Center spot. His future job on this team is going to be McDyess's starting PF spot. Right now is Amir better than Dyess? Is he going to help up more than McDyess right now?

Afflalo is not in any way offensively challenged. Some may perceive this, not understanding basketball well enough to know that you got to let a guy shoot the ball before you can judge him. When Afflalo gets shots to take on a regular basis (which has been extremely rare this season), he hits his shots. When any player, with a tiny few exceptions, does not get to shoot very often, he does not shoot well. Afflalo can also drive in, and use all that height of his to score the ball.

On defense, I see Afflalo as every bit as talented as Snow, but having the height to also guard a lot of small forwards, giving him more versatility than Snow. Not to mention, it is of course a lot harder to shoot over the 6-5 Afflalo vs. the barely 6 foot tall Snow.

There are some players we can use Dyess to guard, but for the most part, Amir can do the job while also providing some spectacular help out defense that Dyess can't. Amir also provides transition D completely lacking from Dyess. If anyone wants to know if starting Amir right now in this year's playoffs, instead of Dyess, would help us the answer is absolutely. No doubt. Not even close. Amir will make us a better team if he starts instead of Dyess. Note, Sheed would be the center, and Amir the power forward.

Starting Amir would help our transition D and interior defense to start games. You would go from our current situation, starting 4 good defenders who are not quite good enough to overcome how slow Dyess is at the start of games, to having 5 good defenders. We would be starting out games with major defensive based runs, vs. as it stands now, starting out games giving up big leads.

dba · #26 (**permalink**) 03-18-2008, 04:51 PM

I was a voting weenie and opted for not sure. And I'm not.

The Pistons lost in the playoffs because the starters didn't play up to the level they had shown during the season - and you need to raise that in the playoffs anyway. Maybe this was because they were just worn out. Certainly looking at how much they played over several seasons would suggest this.

Maybe it was something else. Someone (sorry, can't remember who or where) described it well the other day when he or she was talking about the Pistons getting offended because someone was playing them hard defensively. They do seem to take it as an insult and go into a funk when someone has the audacity to play hard against them.

Well, if two years of failure doesn't convince the team that they haven't done anything yet, nothing will. And everybody is probably as rested as an NBA team can be at this time of year (other than the Spurs who don't play anyone who isn't a vet).

So, if the vets play they way they played the past two post-seasons, no amount of Max, Johnson, or Affalo will save them. Neither will Dixon or Hunter. If they play like a hungry team that hasn't earned anything, then those young guys will feed off of that and play well. Billups, Sheed, Rip, Prince, and Dyess set the tone and if they bring the half-hearted game to the playoffs they brought in years past look for an early exit. If they don't, then look for the young guys to get some time and to play well.

BillLaimbeer · #27 (**permalink**) 03-18-2008, 04:55 PM

Here was an evaluation of Afflalo's weakness from last February:

"Afflalo is a decent athlete but not a great one capable of dominating defenders with his explosiveness … Lacks the first step to gain full separation from his defender … There are times where he becomes too perimeter oriented offensively … Would benefit more if he attacked the basket where he can put pressure on the defense … Ball handling is okay but could stand to be refined as he isn’t comfortable when pressure is applied … Some have questioned if Afflalo has the ability to create scoring opportunities for himself … Due to his athleticism, he is closer to reaching the ceiling … Can go through periods where his jumper is inconsistent … May struggle in an up-tempo offense where quickness is a bigger factor than a half court set … Doesn’t always look to dominate opponents, has a habit of being too passive although he is improved … Despite being a solid free throw shooter Afflalo’s style of play rarely allows for him too draw fouls, and get to the free throw line … lack of lift limits his ability to finish on the break and shoot over athletic defenders ..."

NBADraft.net - Arron Afflalo

TaShawn · #28 (**permalink**) 03-18-2008, 04:57 PM

The problem is that with no real help, our core's A-game probably won't be enough. Odds are that some other team will be peaking when we play them. We need an extra gear. Our amp only goes to 10 right now.

We're no Tiger Woods. We're more like Ernie Els. Can he win? sure. Will he? probably not.

BillLaimbeer · #29 (**permalink**) 03-18-2008, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TaShawn

The problem is that with no real help, our core's A-game probably won't be enough. Odds are that some other team will be peaking when we play them. We need an extra gear. Our amp only goes to 10 right now.

We're no Tiger Woods. We're more like Ernie Els. Can he win? sure. Will he? probably not.

Could this unit come off the bench to provide some defense?

Lindsey, Afflalo, Maxiel, Amir, Ratliff

FreshPrince22 · #30 (**permalink**) 03-18-2008, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillLaimbeer

Could this unit come off the bench to provide some defense?

Lindsey, Afflalo, Maxiel, Amir, Ratliff

Quite possibly the worst offensive team ever assembled in the history of western civilization.

When Maxiell's your best offensive player, you know you've got issues.

View Poll Results: Afflalo and Amir getting increased playing time will........
Ensure a long post season for Detroit	14	36.84%
Not make a difference	8	21.05%
Not sure what it will do	16	42.11%
Voters: 38. You may not vote on this poll