At Indiana Jan 29 7PM - Detroit Pistons Fan Community

max · #1 (**permalink**) 01-27-2008, 02:23 PM

At Indiana Jan 29 7PM

tv: FSN

Jermain O'Neal will be out for at least another week at the time of this writing and the Pacers have been struggling. They have lost the last 3 and only have won 3 of their last 10.

Ozarkruffrider · #2 (**permalink**) 01-27-2008, 04:20 PM

Just bought the League Pass and looking forward to this one. Checked out the Hornets beating the Spurs (sweet!) and some other games from now on.

roscoe36 · #3 (**permalink**) 01-28-2008, 11:53 AM

We will expect detailed 6 page reports on every game you watch Oz.

Looking forward to beating up on the Hoosiers. Should be a good game for us to play the kids and find our legs again.

buddahfan · #4 (**permalink**) 01-29-2008, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Pistons: Notebook

Pacers present unusual obstacle for Pistons

Chris McCosky / The Detroit News

AUBURN HILLS -- Different night, completely different challenge for the Pistons.
After a long run of playing mostly traditional half-court-oriented teams, the Pistons will get to test their powers tonight against the dreaded small-ball style of Indiana.

"Without Jermaine O'Neal, Indiana has changed their style," coach Flip Saunders said Monday. "They put five perimeter players out there and play very open. They play like Phoenix and Golden State, just very open."

Once upon a time, the Pistons struggled mightily with small-ball teams. They never seemed sure how to attack them -- punish them with their size or downsize their own lineup

"We have to make them defend us in the half-court," Saunders said. "We still like to stay big, but with Amir (Johnson) emerging as our fourth big man, he's a guy who maybe can play against those guys because of his quickness and athleticism."

Saunders said he would resort to a smaller lineup only if necessary and said that going to a zone might be the preferable option to downsizing.

Between the last game and this statement, it sounds like Flipper might be back tracking on playing AJ. We will just have to wait and see.

Pacers present unusual obstacle for Pistons

BillLaimbeer · #5 (**permalink**) 01-29-2008, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buddahfan

Between the last game and this statement, it sounds like Flipper might be back tracking on playing AJ. We will just have to wait and see.

After reading Saunders quote, it sounded more like he was actually endorsing Amir, not back-tracking.

TaShawn · #6 (**permalink**) 01-29-2008, 10:51 AM

"...he's a guy who maybe can play against these guys because (they have a key deficiency that allows us to play inferior players)."

I can see how it could be read like that.

The thing is, it is clear to me that Flip just sort of rambles when he's being interviewed. He overpromises, underpromises, flip-flops, etc. I'm not really relying on anything besides his actions.

Warthog · #7 (**permalink**) 01-29-2008, 10:56 AM

yeah it sounded more like saunders was planning to use AJ because he would play well against that style, not the other way around.

TaShawn · #8 (**permalink**) 01-29-2008, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Warthog

yeah it sounded more like saunders was planning to use AJ because he would play well against that style, not the other way around.

But he made it sound like this was a special case and that is why AJ will play.

What if the Pistons bucked the system and got 2 coaches? Dumars could activate whichever coach would be most effective against each team. Tonight, he could put Flip in charge, because we are playing a team that we should beat. Maybe next game, Laimbeer could be activated for a change of pace. If a coach isn't doing well, he could be benched until he shows that he is able to communicate and earns his time back by consistently coaching well in practice.

I can't believe it hasn't been tried before.

buddahfan · #9 (**permalink**) 01-29-2008, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TaShawn

But he made it sound like this was a special case and that is why AJ will play.

What if the Pistons bucked the system and got 2 coaches? Dumars could activate whichever coach would be most effective against each team. Tonight, he could put Flip in charge, because we are playing a team that we should beat. Maybe next game, Laimbeer could be activated for a change of pace. If a coach isn't doing well, he could be benched until he shows that he is able to communicate and earns his time back by consistently coaching well in practice.

I can't believe it hasn't been tried before.

The players couldn't handle it, to say nothing about the coaches.

raxrets · #10 (**permalink**) 01-29-2008, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buddahfan

The players couldn't handle it, to say nothing about the coaches.

Closest to similar is situation where GM and coach try the both to do coaching. It has happened and always has ended with total mess. One Knicks is more than enough.