Wouldn't "to play it safe" be to start Drum over Max? Everybody but Frank and Max thinks Drum should start and Frank will receive a huge amount of criticism if he plays a undersized second rate veteran over the future of the team while not winning. "To play it safe" would be to exchange the worst piece in the starting lineup that didn't make the playoffs. Sticking with the same lineup just because it played .500 ball vs a bunch of tanking teams over a stretch of 20 games while limiting the minutes for the only player who could make a difference and hoping to make the playoffs is what I'd call "to take a longshot".
I'll start this rotation with the 2nd unit. Stuckey at point. Daye at shooting guard. Tay at small forward. JMAX at power forward. Kravtsov at center. Starters: Knight, English, JJ, Monroe, Drummond. Basically, since we released Williams (right?), I put Daye as backup shooting guard this time.
Start Knight, Daye, Tay, Monroe, Drummond 2nd unit: Stuckey, Singler, Middleton, JMAX, Kravtsov JJ and English for depth players.
Ok, after my comment about starting lineup changes in the Orlando thread, I decided to check back on last season. At the 12 game point: Last season: 3-9 in 19 days, 6 road games, 3 different starting lineups (both changes forced by injury - BG for one game, Stuckey for 5) This season: 2-10 in 22 days, 8 road games, 1 different starting lineups (forced by a player) As much as the inactivity of Frank in changing is annoying me, he has been consitent with last season and not making knee-jerk reactions. Results look about even, but still, this year he has had a full pre-season, extra time into the two main rookies and arguable better talent to work with off the bench (albiet raw).
Just a few stats on our SG position. LeBron James is getting 1.31 points per shot this year with an adj FG% of .559 Kyle Singler is getting 1.31 points per shot this year with an adj FG% of .560. The kid has played out of his mind so far. Hopefully this is the real him. Kim English in limited minutes is also shooting at the same level, but with what looks like superior defense to match. 1.21 pps and .563 adj FG%. Its surprising that he is out of the rotation and not the sole backup at SG.
English was a temporary fill-in with Maggette injured. It's ashamed we couldn't have gotten a longer look at him. His numbers are off the charts, irregardless of rookie status.
Some interesting stuff here: Pistons' Lawrence Frank waiting for right chance to play big man Slava Kravtsov | Detroit Pistons | Detroit Free Press | freep.com
I don't see how his time would come eventually given the statements that Frank made. Sounds like there would need to be about 3 injuries for it to be an option. The interesting thing to me is that CV and Daye don't seem to be in the dog house, but are "talented" players that he just can't quite find the time to squeeze into the game.
I have loved that Frank has only played BoT and Daye limited minutes, But to continue to dress them after seeing what they have done in those limited minutes over giving Slava a chance in the same GT is frustrating. In the minutes Ive seen BoT played, he has hit probably 2/10.
A lineup thought from the Toronto thread: Drummond, Monroe, JJ, Singler, BK When all playing well, that is a BIG, but fast and hustling lineup. Slava, Monroe/Max, Prince, English, Stuckey off the bench. I have left Monroe on there as I would like to see him playing closer to 40 than 30mins nowadays
I like those line-ups, but I am going to go out on a limb here and keep Prince in the line-up and put JJ on the second unit. Our major issue, in my eyes, is the leaky ship on defense, particularly the second unit. I like JJ on D, he makes good rotations and he works hard. Prince can still be an effective perimeter defender, especially with someone like Drummond behind him so he can gamble. Without a big paint presence, he won't be a versatile.
30-40 minutes for Monroe, are you insane? You're going to tire the poor guy out. Just because it's his 3rd year doesn't mean he can't get overwhelmed still.
I would start by benching JJ and Stuckey. Replace JJ with CV, I know thats not very popular but CV can score and thats what we need more of now. Give Singular real starter type mins and bring in more of Maggette. Something like Knight, Singular, Prince, Monroe, Max starting. Bench - Maggette, Drummond, Bynum, CV, and some mins for English
You got your wish today in wanting CV for JJ. Stuckey only got 13 minutes, although he did go minus 12 in that time with 2 points and 3 turnovers.
Just a thought - they should probably shorten the rotation. This team doesn't have enough talent to go more than 8 deep and none of the spare parts even really work well together (none that will get any PT anytime soon anyway).
It depends on the organizational goals for the season. Shortening the rotation MIGHT get you another win or two. It won't ever give you a chance, though, to see guys like English, Middleton, Kravtsov, etc.
