If the Pistons could have just scraped enough minutes together to keep Darko remotely happy, he surely would have had plenty this past season and as many as he could handle next season and beyond. Things just do not work out sometimes
I AM bummed that darko isn't here but the problem is not our weak C position. its a systemic problem stemming from our 4 above average guys who all play the mid - outside game.
I was watching the Spurs vs. Pistons 2005 Finals Game 5 on ESPN classic today and boy what a different team we were in that series. We had a much better INSIDE game instead of settling for jump shots. Chauncy Billups was a penetrating guard who took an outside shot when he was wide open. Billups against the Cavs ONLY took outside shots and never once tried to get to the basket. Now part of this might have to do with tired feet and old age. This is why we need to draft some young guns who are quick and can penetrate to get some easy layups so we don't go on a 2-3 minute scoring drought like we always mange to do
If we did want Darko back then make him the best offer and a guaranteed starting spot. I believe he would accept and everyone would forgive and forget. Is that what you really want to see happen?
our current make up would benefit with a low post scorer since sheed is only there as a part-timer. I think Darko would rock as a high post threat on O but without a penetrator, we are just a big donut waiting to be eaten in the post season.
Thats why in the Draft, I hope we draft Javaris Crittenton and Sean Williams, Javaris isnt afraid to take it to the rim and he becomes our PG of the future under the wing of Chauncey Billups, and Sean Williams gives us a solid interior defender and a quality specialist center, take the risk on his off court troubles I say.
You're so true- I agree 100% I hope that this stupid routine stops after the dropout against the Cavs- time to change the system. I can't stand it any longer. At least for the regular season, there is absolutely no reason not to play an 8-10 men rotation. Especially in the weak Eastern conference. And after this post- season, every one should know how little the regular season means as long as you reach the playoffs.
max. yes !!!!! If the Magic forums are any judge, a lot of posters would not want to see DMC overpaid. They are so star-struck with Dwight that there is no room for anyone else, in some minds. They cannot accept that Darko is already better than Dwight in some things although Dwight is a better overall player. I think that if DMC and D-12 got equal touches, DMC would show much better than they think and even Dwight would get more touches because of DMC's team attitude and passing ability. But noone down there even accepts the possibilty that DMC is better than Dwight in some things. There were even people down there who insist that it was the right decision to continue starting Battie. And that is just plain crazy. If that is the general concensus among the brass, the Pistons could get him back with a good offer, which they could afford figuring that the center spot is very week. If that is indeed their thought, they would not match a good offer, like in the $8-9 range for more than three years. I like JMax but I do not see him ever becoming a strong starting center in the NBA. He seems like a good backup and could slide over to the 4 when Sheed's minutes decline, or he leaves. I lived near Cincinnati for most of my life and I have an appreciation of the UC's program. He is well-schooled.
I also watched the replay of the `05 Finals, CB could still be the same CB he was in 2004-2005. The difference is Flip Saunders. LB would go off if CB did some of the things he has been doing the last couple of years. All he gets from Flip is a pat on his ass and a nod of approval. CB was a handful for Ginobili & Parker. "The Glove' was utterly embarrased by Billups the championship year.
I'm not sure you can blame Chauncey's performance solely on Flip. That being said, there is a big difference between penetrate-and-pass and take-the-first-open-shot. Chauncey was a backup under Flip in Minny, and in my opinion, he has shown flashes of Backup since Saunders has been here.
i'd buy season tickets if we resigned darko. jmax and amir's game would explode playing next to darko. we would go from old and slow on the front line to young and quick.
God forbid. I am saying that the difference in the offense employed by LB and Flip produced a style of PG play that either made Chauncey effective or just ok. LB made sure CB attacked the basket (consitently) moved the ball, got to the FT line..etc......Flip, well sometimes I wonder if he just let`s CB do whatever he wants. My point is, CB was a better PG under LB`s system, and you are right, CB and Flip shares the blame for his poor performance.
And just to sweeten the pot a little bit, I'll even let you buy ME season tickets if we resign Darko.
This is my final word on Chauncey Billups and the playoffs. CB was + 7 in the 6 games against Cleveland, even though we were outscored by 22 points in the series. PLUS SEVEN!!! It wasn't his fault people. If every Piston was like him, we would have swept the series. LeBron was only +6 and he is the savior of the NBA. So, while Chauncey was on the court, he did more for the Detroit Pistons than Lebron James did for the Cavs. I just can't let this popular misconception of CB's demise go without pointing out the facts.
Fair enough TaShawn. The numbers look pretty good for BupBup, but when I watched the Cleveland games, he seemed to turn the ball over alot, get trapped, and have very few assists and points. Where is the descrepency? Was I not looking for the right things? Was Hunter REALLY bad, making Chauncey look good?
The only conclusion I can draw from these numbers and facts is that the Pistons are better when Chauncey is on the court and accomplishing nothing, as opposed to when Hunter is on the court trying to accomplish ANYTHING.
I think that the missing information is that Cleveland actually played solid defense. They made the Pistons look bad. They made Chauncey look bad at times, which we are not used to. But we tend to forget that Chauncey did a lot of things very well, like get to the line, play good defense, etc. and Lebron did a lot of things wrong, like turn the ball over, miss jump shots, and so on. All in all, CB was one of our best players. And yes, Lindsey was absolutely ridiculously horrible. He was minus 31 in only 57 total minutes. It is difficult to truly comprehend how bad that is. Talk about a hole in the ship. LH was the iceburg that ripped a whole through 3 sections. I would go so far as to say that if Will fricken Blalock would have played Lindsey's minutes, we would have probably forced a game 7. The only player worse than Lindsey was Delfino with a -38 in the series... although I'm sure a lot of it can be blamed on correlation with being in the game while LH was running the offense. R E T I R E please.
I don`t care what Chauncey`s +/- 3`s were, he was God awful for the most part. I am not saying it was only his fault though. If Cb diddn`t committ a few TO`s, made a timley basket here and there, or aggresively attacked the basket consistently, Detroit could have perhaps won the series, or at worst made it even closer than it was. If all the Pistons would have been like CB; How many TO`s would the Pistons have committed? Having said all that, Hunter was worse!
