The only thing harder to get than a rookie 7 footer with an all around game is a rookie point guard who can lead the team in the playoffs.

Given that it took Billups 5+ years to develop after being the #3 pick, I think that Stuckey is working out pretty nicely. In addition, he brings a different style to the game and gives us more penetration and doesn't look to shoot the 3.

Stuckey makes up for Darko. Especially when you conside that we have two other bigs for cheap in Maxiell and Amir.

Also consider this- our alternatives would have been Carmello, Wade, or Bosh. All of those guys would want a starting spot and would have probably either resulted in some major unhappiness when they didn't get it, or a trade of one of our core players. Under either case, we'd be a worse team right now.

__________________
"I’ll just say this: We’re not talking to teams about their second- or third-best players." Joe Dumars talking about his plan to get other teams' 4th best players.

Yep, but Stuckey is being asked to do less, not walk in and save a crap team without Bird walking through that door.

And Stuckey has much better physical tools than Chauncey does/did. Obviously isn't even close to the shooter Billups is, but he may be close to what Billups was as a rook.

That's not true. Not the "did" part.

height, quickness, explosion, speed, strength, vert, etc...

What am I missing?

C$ has a WAAAAAAAY better handle and shot.


Maybe 1 impressive dunk.

Maybe YouTube - YOUNG BILLUPS


Or not. YouTube - Stuckey Dunk!!!!!


Very similar players, Stuck just seems to have way better stop and go, he gets around guys at will and can just STOP and let them fly by.

Stuckey's 2nd jump springs and offensive rebounding are just off the freaking charts. He's giving you a mini-moses malone with getting his own missed shots.

Stuckey reminds me of when Lindsay first came to the Pistons. Isiah was getting older and it was hoped that Lindsay would gradually take over. Lindsay was a shooter at the time but never was the type of player to take over a team. He transformed into a defensive specialist to stay in the league.
If Stuckey only has average improvement over time he should be able to have that type of career. If he is one of those players that is really able to improve his game each year (shooting consistency and defence) he could be an All Star and team leader of the future.

besides height, your claim that Stuckey has "much better" "quickness, explosion, speed, strength, vert, etc..."

is something I strongly question the validity of.

I have seen nothing from Rodney that makes me think that any of those aforementioned attributes are much better in him than in a young Billups, whom I also have seen in the same context.

Personally, I would wager by your statement that before Chauncey was a Piston you hadn't seen much of him at all.

Thats what you're missing.

Just because Chaunceys best stuff doesn't happen to be on YouTube doesn't mean both of your links are the equivalent of the Pepsi challenge.

Did I claim that was the end all and be all?

Yep, C$ was so dynamic that there aren't videos of it.

All I'm saying is Billups is a better player, Stuckey is more of a specimen.

Stuckey can go off 1 or 2 feet, Billups almost always goes off two.

Chauncey is stronger now, by far, but Stuckey is put together like a brick house for a underclassmen rook.


Chauncey was an ancient 26 when he came here and Stuck is 22 right now.




Nevermind...

Apparently he was a gifted athlete.

Don't get all twisted up with the meaningless stuff.

By your lack of response I would have to assume that fact #1 being established here is that you didn't personally see much of Chauncey before he was a Piston.

That alone sort of disqualifies you from making the comparison of a current Rodney to a young Chauncey that you didn't see play.

There's alot of good stuff from the early and mid 90's that isn't on YouTube. It's a far cry from today when everything hits the net. I don't see any point being made there, except possibly a solidification of fact#1.

actually, what you said was


which, after I questioned the "much better" and the "did" part, you then defined as


So in light of what originally transpired I don't feel that this

Was really all you were saying

If you want to back off of the "much better" stuff, then fine. But don't change the story. It's all on the same page for petes sake.

I look at it this way. RS is being raised in an extremely unselfish environment and a winning team-first culture. In the long run, he'll be able to lead a team and will be much more succussful than more talented Marbury-like guards who have the flash, but lack the proper mindset.

I mean, Stuckey has already lead our team in a playoff game. 3 turnovers for the team when he was the starting PG? 3-point shooting can be developed. I personally like that it is not an option for him right now, b/c it constantly motivates him to drive, which is what we need.

__________________
"I’ll just say this: We’re not talking to teams about their second- or third-best players." Joe Dumars talking about his plan to get other teams' 4th best players.

Because it all seems much better to me. Not even close. You know what, I will back off to the point of he's just Better in some of those instances and not Much Better. He appears to be so much more fluid in the air and have much better body control. It's like getting Joe D's size and Isiah's ability to get to the rack and hit tough shots.

Billups could never hold a candle in terms of explosiveness to Wade, and Stuck at times appears to be a legit poor mans Wade.

Would you be mad if I said Maxiell was much more athletic than Rick Mahorn? It's not much farther apart than that.

Doesn't mean he is or will be better, just that he has more raw tools to work with.