Yea, Joe has to fix things by FIRE FLIP!!!

Thanks for the recaps folks. I mssed this one attending the Auto Show and some how or another my DVR didn't tape it. Looks like that 5-1 start was fools gold and we need to teach these guys how to play some defense or get some replacements. How did we allow all five teams on this west coast trip to score over 100 points after holding first five back east to under 100? Did the red uniforms suck the defense out of them?? If so please dump those red unis over the rockies on the way home.

Look at the 8 minutes Amir played with the starters in the first quarter. We were about plus 10 there. A lot of that was Amir running the floor, getting under the basket, and forcing Sacramento to address him thru the whole possesion.

As for Amir not shooting. You got to remember, if any of these young guys shoot the ball, it will make the coach mad, and he will yank their minutes. Saunders barely tolerates that they even get playing time.

Perhaps the Pistons have come down with Defensive Mono.

Infectious Mononucleosis-Topic Overview

Blue text added for emphasis.

I had mono once. It sucked.

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They are the archetype for dominance. They are the gatekeepers of the conference. They are the Detroit Pistons.

The team seems to be polarized right now. We have 5 amazing vets, Billups, Rip, Tay, Sheed, and Dyess and we have 5 highly talented, but inexperienced younger players, Stuckey, Afflalo, JMax, Amir, and Samb. We have the trade bait, Nazr, Dupree, and Flip, and a player who should retire, Hunter.

Hayes is sort of the only in-between player. He's young, but experienced. Sort of a hired gun for this season only.

So I guess the more I think about it, the more I think we need to create 2 different lines with a mixture of old and new. The "best starting five" in bball seems to have trouble motivating. The new breed doesn't know how to do it on their own yet. When you add Murray or Nazr in with them, it makes it even worse.

It is tough to ask a guy like Rip to come off the bench. It would take some leadership by Saunders to implement a plan like this.

But I guess I would like to see the old and new mixed.

Billups
Afflalo
Prince
Johnson
Sheed

Stuckey
Hamilton
Hayes
JMax
Dyess

Flip, Samb, and Nazr could be inserted as needed.


Then have the usual starting 5 finish the games.

I know it will not happen, but I think that someone like Popovich would consider it.

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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.

OK first of all, get off of Flip M. Beno lit us up in the 3rd qtr, Chuancey's qtr. Flip did not even play in the 3rd qtr. Flip played in the 4th and was the only Piston who was even trying to get into the lane. The moment Billups returned we tanked. I played the Point from 1st grade until sophmore year of college, so I watch that position like a hawk, last night this team was better with Flip on the floor. There was alot of bad stuff going on last night but don't gimme none of that Flip M bailout BS, dude played a solid game off the bench in the 2nd half as he deferred to Hayes in the 1st half stint.

Now....This will be my rant all year long...."Bench Rip for AA" not as a demotion, but because the team is better when everyone is involved. We have stars taking on role player roles and that is not good. Rip and Chauncey are starting to play 2 on 5, and every now and then they let Sheed in on the game. Tay has to get his by luck and not design, while Dyess is lucky to touch the ball every 5th time down court. Rip and Chauncey are starting to remind me alot of Mobley and Francis back in the day.

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Play hard, Play smart, Play together, share the ball, have fun....Play the right way!!!!!!

By the way, if we are planning on trading Flip Murray, then we are doing a great job showcasing him right now. His trade value must be higher than it was over the summer because of his recent play.

I don't want to see an extended benching period before we decide to move him.

I'm also cool with keeping him, cause he is more valuable than Dupree, Hunter, and Nazr to us.

I think we should start showcasing Flip M. in this forum so that all those web-saavy GM's and scouts will want to trade their best players to us for him. Here goes:

Did you see Ronald play last night? Boy, was he on the ball! SURE HOPE JOE DOESN'T TRADE THIS GUY! HE'S THE KIND OF PLAYER WHO WILL WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS!!

How was that?

We can't let Flip Jr. go until Stuckey is healthy and integrated in the rotation. If something happens with Chauncey, we have only Tay left to run the point. I don't think he can handle it for the extended period.