Pistons' Johnson may start against smaller lineups - Detroit Pistons Fan Community

lpgrl26 · #1 (**permalink**) 11-26-2008, 01:25 AM

Finally

Pistons' Johnson may start against smaller lineups - Detroit Pistons Basketball: News, Blogs, Photos, Audio, Schedule & Stats - MLive.com

Quote:

AUBURN HILLS -- There's a growing number of NBA coaches who love to use "small ball" lineups.

You might want to add Detroit forward Amir Johnson to the fan club as well.
Pistons coach Michael Curry plans to start Johnson against teams that employ a small frontcourt. There's a good possibility Detroit will see such a lineup tonight when it hosts the New York Knicks.

"Whenever my name is called, I'm just going to be ready, go in and play hard," said Johnson, who would replace current starter Kwame Brown.
Putting the 6-foot-11 Johnson back in the starting lineup means Rasheed Wallace would then slide over to center instead of playing power forward.
This move continues what has been a roller coaster ride of a season for the fourth-year forward.

A late second-round pick in the 2005 NBA draft, Johnson appeared in just 11 NBA games his first two seasons.

But last season, Johnson averaged 3.6 points and 3.8 rebounds in 12.3 minutes while appearing in a career-high 62 games. He began this season as a starter, but was replaced by Brown seven games into the season.

After averaging 18.3 minutes in those first seven games, Johnson has played less than 10 minutes in four of the last six. In Detroit's biggest win of the season, a 106-95 victory at the Los Angeles Lakers, Johnson did not play (coaches decision) at all.

"All you can do about that is stay positive and work hard everyday; just be ready whenever your name is called," Johnson said. "I never look down on myself. I always work hard when I get into the game."

Curry said he's not surprised at how well the 21-year-old has handled his fluctuating minutes.
"It shouldn't phase you when you're role has been defined," Curry said. "By defining roles in the preseason, whenever it's called upon, just go in and play your role. We're not asking you at no time, to do something that we don't expect you to do. What we do, we put you in the game, at whatever time, whether it's starting or coming off the bench, just go in and do what your role is on this team and you'll be fine."

This is why i can't fault Curry. If we fail it's not b/c of lack of trying and creativity.

brofmfa · #2 (**permalink**) 11-26-2008, 02:58 AM

Just the way the games were coached this season had made the team 50 times more interesting than past years. Go Pistons.

**dba** · #3 (**permalink**) 11-26-2008, 09:05 AM

I guess we'll see if the benching had any impact. This seems a pivotal point in AJ's development. If he can show that he has learned something since being sent to the bench, stays out of the paratrooper club (thank you Rick Barry), and stops reaching and fouling so much, then he probably has a future in the league.

If he picks up three dumb fouls in the first quarter, then the handwriting may be on the wall for the kid.

CloudWalker · #4 (**permalink**) 11-26-2008, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dba

I guess we'll see if the benching had any impact. This seems a pivotal point in AJ's development. If he can show that he has learned something since being sent to the bench, stays out of the paratrooper club (thank you Rick Barry), and stops reaching and fouling so much, then he probably has a future in the league.

If he picks up three dumb fouls in the first quarter, then the handwriting may be on the wall for the kid.

If I remember correctly, it wasn't even the fouls that resulted in the last straw with Coach Curry, it was Amir looking like a complete moron during the first offensive play out of a timeout.

That worries me a whole lot more than Amir not getting respect from the refs, because that could ultimately point to a poor work ethic and show that Amir isn't putting his time in off the court to learn the things that Michael Curry's going to expect him to know without too much handholding during games.

lpgrl26 · #5 (**permalink**) 11-26-2008, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CloudWalker

If I remember correctly, it wasn't even the fouls that resulted in the last straw with Coach Curry, it was Amir looking like a complete moron during the first offensive play out of a timeout.

That worries me a whole lot more than Amir not getting respect from the refs, because that could ultimately point to a poor work ethic and show that Amir isn't putting his time in off the court to learn the things that Michael Curry's going to expect him to know without too much handholding during games.

The play that i think ? you're talking about is in the GS state. Amir had already lost the starting job prior to that game.

professor · #6 (**permalink**) 11-26-2008, 10:41 AM

In the article, Curry is quoted as saying "it shouldn't phase you when you're role is defined." As the professor,

I just need to register my objection at the journalist who mistook "faze" for its homophone "phase." And then, in the same sentence mistook the possessive "your" for its homophone, the contraction "you're".

carry on

TaShawn · #7 (**permalink**) 11-26-2008, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by professor

In the article, Curry is quoted as saying "it shouldn't phase you when you're role is defined." As the professor,

I just need to register my objection at the journalist who mistook "faze" for its homophone "phase." And then, in the same sentence mistook the possessive "your" for its homophone, the contraction "you're".

carry on

That is pretty poor. Who wrote that?

professor · #8 (**permalink**) 11-26-2008, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TaShawn

That is pretty poor. Who wrote that?

Blakely i think

linwood · #9 (**permalink**) 11-26-2008, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by professor

In the article, Curry is quoted as saying "it shouldn't phase you when you're role is defined." As the professor,

I just need to register my objection at the journalist who mistook "faze" for its homophone "phase." And then, in the same sentence mistook the possessive "your" for its homophone, the contraction "you're".

carry on

You're a homophone!

Thanks folks, I'll be here all week.

roscoe36 · #10 (**permalink**) 11-26-2008, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by linwood

You're a homophone!

Thanks folks, I'll be here all week.

That's actually pretty funny. I hope it's not offensive in some way I don't understand.

I just thought how funny it would be if someone tried to talk intellectual smack to KG.

KG: I'm gunna whup your momma, and I'm gunna destroy you!

Roscoe: You sir, are behaving like a cad and a scoundrel. I must ask you to desist, or I will be forced to windmill tomahawk jam on your nasty self.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Pistons 2005/6 Recap Part 2: The Playoffs	dba	Pistons and Basketball Articles	4	06-23-2006 09:37 PM
Pistons Payroll 2006 : Part 2	roscoe36	Pistons and Basketball Articles	22	06-22-2006 03:33 AM
May 2006 Pistons articles Frequent Updates	LanierFan	Pistons Archive	164	05-31-2006 02:24 PM
January 2005 Pistons articles	Zoso	Pistons Archive	69	01-31-2006 08:04 AM
December 2005 Pistons Articles	Zoso	Pistons Archive	73	12-31-2005 11:40 AM