There's plenty of positive stuff in this thread. It's just easier to debate and analyze the flaws and negative stuff. Tons of people talked about how much they like Stuckey, but what can you really say about that.

"I like Stuckey"

"Me too"

"He dribbles good"

"Yup"

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To all of my friends, comrades and companions at PF.com

Thank you for another great season!

I like that phase "personal protest against success". Excellent read.
Sometimes we forget that players have personal lives. I remember reading in december that max has a relative that is sick. You never know, but I do not think it is amir's success.

It must have been when he was at LSU, because the most rebounds he has gotten in a game while with the meanie greenies is 9 vs the Kings on Dec 12th of last year.

Unless you are thinking of Dale Davis or Antonio Davis?

see links

Glen Davis - Boston Celtics - Split Statistics - NBA - Yahoo! Sports

NBA - Sacramento Kings/Boston Celtics Box Score Wednesday December 12, 2007 - Yahoo! Sports

True, very true.

But he needs to learn to walk and get away with it, like Kobe, Lebron, Carmello, D. Wade, etc. LOL

well he does seem to step and hop sometimes, but on both feet rather than the wade shuffle, so maybe he's getting there

HQ, glad you liked my previous post...hehe. as for the game, i knew we were in trouble from the start. if it weren't for sheed in the 1st quarter we'd have been down 10 after 1 - rip being sick and chauncey being passive did not help at all. that guy has carried us in several games this year where we did not have energy.

afflalo had a decent game, but i think he's feeling a little left out of the 'zoo crew' because his game isn't based on strictly offense. he forced a couple times yesterday, and while one layup worked on the fast break, josh smith welcomed him to the NBA on the other - and he should've gotten the ball to the middle of the floor since Tay was ahead of him. he's been pretty poor on his FTs as of late too.

stuckey continues to look amazing. he's finishing strong *and* doing it over big men and great shot blockers. the ability to use his body to draw contact and then double-pump so his shot doesn't get blocked is awesome. his jumper is also looking better, and if he develops that...look out. i thought he made a mistake on the one play where he drove the basket and got blocked, because he could've dished to max, but hey he was feeling it so that one can slide.

amir continues to do the dirty work and contribute - 4 rebounds (3 offensive), and assist, and 3/4 shooting for 6 points...in only 6 minutes?? that's great. he is a big reason why the bench if scoring a lot and maintaining/increasing leads in the 2nd quarter, because even when our jumpers aren't falling we are getting a LOT of extra possessions. again flip said in the postgame that he's disappointed he didn't use amir in the 2nd half, but hey, it's going to take a little time to trust him and he's making the most of his minutes in the 2nd quarter. he's producing every time, which is going to keep him on the floor.

max isn't having as many spectacular plays as he used to, but that still doesn't mean he's doing a bad job. he grabbed some boards, got a block and steal, and made that crazy shot, along with some solid defense. you can see his rebounding limitations though...his size makes it difficult against some players like horford who is taller, or smith who can just leap out of the gym.

this game got close, but chauncey still only played 29 minutes, rip was under 36, tay under 34...i'll take it. you see how much better chauncey plays when he has rest, and he even said in his postgame interview with blaha that it really helped out. stuckey is getting better and better, and has the potential to be a very special player.

KGREG, please stop using "logic" and "rationality" in your posts.

I hate to say it, but I think playing 10 guys is the bare minimum for this team. They should get to 11-12 deep per game. I was interested to see what happened after Sheed's hot start. He has been coming out somewhere around the 4:30 to 4 minute mark. Flip left him out there this game. That isn't the end of the world except that he left the rest of the frontcourt out there as well. The end of the first was the first crack in DET's play.

Flip is reluctant (at best) to play certain combos together. He could probably break the ten man barrier (or at worst move the minutes from good to great) if he played Max and AJ together for just a few minutes at the end of the 1st. Provided the world doesn't end, Sheed could come back in for Max with 8 to go in the quarter as he has been. Dyess comes back in with 6 to go or so. (I do hate to see Dyess' 18 minute stretches end though.)

Flip had the same phobia about playing AA and Stuckey together and it limited the minutes they could play. That hasn't been an issue since. (I haven't noticed Flip twitching lately either. Is he saving that for CLE?)

While I like the overall minute distribution, I am not a big fan of guys sitting out entire quarters. It doesn't seem sustainable during the playoffs. I would much rather see the 13 minute CB runs end.

sorry, but those minute-based analysis are 20/20 hindsights: we already know what happpened and therefore is extremly easy to say "but this players should..." or "but coach should instead of this..." . C'mon, both players and coaches do not own a crystal ball... Game flows as it flows and I'm against of something like that "I must to put this boy in regardless of what 'cuz he needs to play 5 min in 1st Q".

No need to panick of every played minute (or minut distribution) and no need to overanalyze one or two moves.

Hockey mentality. I like it.

Here is something that I've been thinking to myself. Why does the short bursts of energy with shifts of players cycling in the game every few minutes work in hockey, but not basketball? I always hear the argument that hockey is one of the most tiring sports, but wouldn't bball be just as tiring if you put in similar effort?

I guess I like the 10+ man rotation for a team like the Pistons because it seems like our guys are capable of playing extreme pressure D when they expend their full energy.

Afflalo, Rip, and Maxiell are all approaching that maximum effort right now. The other players seem to pace themselves a bit. Amir is in a different category. He may be trying really hard, but he just looks effortless.

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"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.

Warthog,

Being in the A, I have gone to many Hawks games I can say Briana is something special. The team only brings out the A-squad dancers for certain games - Lakers, Heat, NY, etc. that bring the best crowds. Brianna is the unofficial leader, and probably only dances in 25% of the games. Its crazy to since shes the cover girl for the calendar.