Shaquille O’Neal is now a Boston Celtic. I can not think of anything more pathetic. Shaq is clearly on the downside of his career and has been the last 3-4 years and I’m sure his ego is eating him alive that Kobe Bryant has more rings than him. As a result, he keeps chasing after other superstar players, going from team to team to chase that coveted fifth championship ring. At the veteran’s minimum, it is a good value pick up for the Boston Celtics. Despite how mediocre he is right now, Shaq does bolster the Celtics’ inside presence and will allow Boston to strongly contend for the Eastern Conference Championship again this upcoming season. He will provide a big body inside that can alter shots in the paint which is something they will need against a Miami Heat team that I suspect will make their living in the paint. We will see how this experiment works out as the season progresses.
NFL
The Brett Favre Saga part three or four or whatever number it happens to be is in full effect. I used to love Brett Favre as he was one of my favorite quarterbacks ever but this crap that he seems to pull annually was getting tired after he left Green Bay and the media gives it a ridiculous amount of attention. I’ll end the speculation right now. He is coming back, it is a foregone conclusion. He pulls this nonsense every year so he can avoid training camp without overtly saying “I don’t want to practice in the summer.” He would much rather stick to his own workout regimen which is to pop Vicodin, workout on his Bowflex machine, do Wrangler commercials and play pickup football with his family members in Mississippi. Well we all know he is coming back but I strongly doubt he will able to repeat the type of season he had last year which happened to be statistically the best season he has ever had. Yes, he is an iron man and will not miss a start but at his age it is inevitable that he will wear down at season’s end going into the playoffs and throw that costly interception at the end of the game that ultimately ends his team’s championship hopes. Well good luck Brett, you will get your 500 touchdown passes, 70,000 passing yards and you will add to your everlasting interceptions record, but you will not win a championship. Do us all a favor, do not comeback after the end of this season!
MLB
First off, I would like to congratulate Alex Rodriguez for hitting his 600th home run yesterday even though he used steroids for three years. Despite the steroids use, hitting 600 home runs is a rare feat, as only seven players have accomplished it. Well now that I have gotten that out of the way, the AL East race is heating up at the right time. The New York Yankees have stood alone by themselves at the top of the AL for quite some time this season and that all changed when the Tampa Bay Rays and Toronto Blue Jays were each able take two out of three games against the Bronx Bombers in consecutive series. With Tampa losing last night and New York winning, they both are tied at the top of the standings. Enter the Boston Red Sox, who sit 6.5 games back behind the Rays and Yanks. They enter a pivotal four game series on Friday in the Bronx and if Boston has any chance of making the playoffs they better perform well. The Yanks will have Javier Vazquez lined up against Clay Buchholz. Vazquez is getting into form at the right time as the Yankees prepare to enter the playoffs and Buchholz who has been Boston’s best starter all season. The Yankees have their work cut out for them against Buchholz as he enters the game with a 2.59 ERA. If Vazquez wants to keep the Yankee faithful on his side after his disastrous start to the season he better show his mettle against Boston because if he has a bad start tonight he will be showered with boos.
It has been a while since I’ve written anything but I’m back hopefully for good!
With NBA free agency under full swing, fans and analysts alike are starting to formulate ideas of how teams are taking shape going into next season. Of course the headline that caught the most eyes was Lebron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh each signing with the Miami Heat. This move could conceivably shape the NBA Finals outlook for the next 4-5 years.When you have the second, third and sixth best players on the planet on one roster, its not much of a stretch to say that.
In case if you were wondering, I still have Kobe Bryant listed as the best player on the planet for now, but sometime next year I expect LeBron to lay claim to the undisputed best player on the planet. With that said, playing alongside Wade and Bosh will undoubtedly take some of Lebron’s individual shine away from him.
Of course this is where I hit you with the whammy, I do not think the Miami Heat will win the NBA Championship for the 2010-2011 season.
First off, the additions of Lebron James and Chris Bosh and the re-signing of Dwayne Wade looks more like a collection of great individual talent rather than team talent. I know that may sound short-sighted, let me explain. Each one of those players were the cornerstones of their respective franchises. Lebron won two MVP awards and has a Finals appearance under his belt, Wade has an NBA Finals MVP trophy and Bosh was an immensely talented player on a poor team. In essence they were each “The Man.” Now that Lebron and Bosh are added, the question begs: Who is the man now? It’s unreasonable to think that at some point in the season that egos will not clash. In Cleveland, the offense ran through Lebron and in Miami and Toronto the same situation applies for Wade and Bosh. Who will it run through now? I’m sure there are plenty of interesting answers to that but it remains to be seen how the offense will run. I am also aware of that these three guys have experience playing together internationally but that is not nearly the same as the NBA where money and image precede winning.
Secondly, let us take a look at the rest of the roster, they sorely lack the depth of a championship squad.
The Heat were smart in acquiring Zydrunas Ilgauskas. He was a solid player in Cleveland for a long time, but we are talking about a guy who has missed 42 games over the last three years and has seen his scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage decline each year in that span. At 35 years old, he’s clearly looking at retirement at the end of this season.It also remains to be seen if he can even remain healthy for a full season and based on his age and recent injury history, I would say it is doubtful.
Mike Miller was a solid acquisition because he represents the only legitimate spot-up shooter on the roster not to mention the only viable threat from downtown. He’s a good player and it is unclear whether or not Miami will use him the starting lineup or off the bench.
The rest of the role players, we already have an idea of what they bring to the table. Udonis Haslem is cagy veteran presence but is unspectacular in just about in every facet of his game and Mario Chalmers actually got worse from his rookie year to sophomore campaign. Haslem has a ring but are the other guys really championship caliber role players? It remains to be seen but as of now I say an emphatic “NO!”
A bigger question is how the offense is going to be run. Lebron and Wade have very similar playing styles in the sense that they are both explosive players to the basket but both have mediocre mid-range and perimeter games. However, they both can not clog the paint at the same time. The big advantage for both of those players is their uncanny court vision, so I expect their passing abilities will help alleviate this probleml but it is a concern going into training camp nonetheless. How Bosh will fit into this crowded paint area will be interesting because you’re going to have three exceptional players whose individual strengths lie in the paint. Floor spacing is going to be a big issue especially when you only have one good deep threat.
With the lack of depth, each of the superstars are going to be called on to play big minutes and throughout an 82 game season, fatigue could be a factor that works against them as they enter the playoffs. Playing in the notoriously weak Eastern Conference will be beneficial to this team. The lack of consistently tough competition will probably allow this team to work out its problems on its way to a high playoff seeding.
I expect this team will win a championship in the coming years, I just do not think it will happen this year. There are other teams in the hunt who are just as hungry and although may lack the individual talent have better overall team chemistry. I will address the other contenders in my next blog so stay tuned! Real Sports. Real Talk.
For the next installment in the Sportsdabbler’s NBA Off-season coverage, I take a look at the reigning NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers. I guess winning a championship is not enough for the ever improving Lakers. They just couldn’t stay content with what they already have. They had to go and pluck Ron Artest away from my beloved Houston Rockets. In the process they lost a rising star in Trevor Ariza but when you’re in ‘win-now’ mode, you really can’t wait for player development to take its course. However, in Los Angeles, the rich get richer.
Trust me, you don't want to mess with this guy! (Picture courtesy of NBA.com)
Everyone in the media loves to criticize Ron Artest, always citing his unpredictable behavior as a cause for concern. Since the incident in Detroit (which was about five years ago by the way) Artest has been a great teammate and player. He has caused no real trouble other than perhaps not knowing when to shut up. Last year, when he was acquired by the Rockets, the Houston media was acting as if the Rockets sunk all their money into sub-prime real estate. Every story they wrote seemed to make some mention about ‘risk’, ‘trouble’ or whatever. Hopefully that crap won’t resurface in Los Angeles because the Lakers got themselves a damn fine competitor.
It’s hard to nitpick the defending champions but if there was some things they needed to tighten up, I would say they needed to get better defensively and get tougher. Ron Artest will immediately address both of those issues. Ron Artest is still a premier perimeter defender in this league and his presence combined with Kobe Bryant will certainly improve a defense that ranked 13th in the league a year ago. Having two lockdown defenders is a luxury in the West not many can afford. There are so many teams that are stacked with good offensive players that one defensive-stopper is no longer enough. The Lakers will need as many good defenders as they can when they meet up with the revamped Spurs. The Lakers are already an elite offensive squad and if they become an elite defensive squad, I feel sorry for the rest of the league.
For all of the good that Ron Artest brings, he does bring some annoying qualities. His shot selection at times is utterly atrocious. In the many Rockets’ games I watched last year, there were numerous occasions where I would just yell “What the F**K!’ when looking at the most untimely off-balance jumpers he would take. Now, I don’t blame that all on Artest. He was a victim of circumstance, the Rockets were in desperate need of a bona fide second scorer and he stepped up and thrived in that role for the most part. He averaged 17.1 ppg but on a paltry 40% shooting. However, he did average a career high in 3-point FG percentage pretty much on par with his overall shooting percentage.
Despite that, the Lakers are in good shape with Artest in tow. I can say with confidence that the Lakers have a 99% chance for another deep playoff run. Even if they don’t re-sign Lamar Odom, this is still a 60 win ball club. Until further notice, they are the favorites to win the West and return to the NBA Finals. With that said, let’s take a look at their lineup.
Starting Lineup
PG-Derek Fisher: 2008-09 averages were 9.9 ppg, 3.2 apg and 1.2 spg
Derek Fisher is the consummate veteran player. He brings stability to an important position and certainly has a great comfort level with this team because of his previous championship stints. The playoffs is where Fisher has had his biggest impact with the Lakers. No one will forget that shot with 0.4 seconds left where Fisher essentially crushed the Spurs’ spirits in 2004. Back to the present, Fisher did not fare so well during the first three rounds if this year’s playoffs but he stepped his game up in the Finals, logging crucial minutes and shot significantly better from the field. This is position where the Lakers have relatively few worries.
SG-Kobe Bryant: 2008-09 averages were 26.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 4.9 apg and 1.5 spg
What else can I say about Kobe Bryant? I’ve already dedicated an article to him commemorating his greatness. He is the best player in the league hands down. The only way you would think otherwise was if you have the mentality of a 10 year old who gets amazed by Lebron’s dunking ability or Dwayne Wade’s ‘flash’. Kobe is the unquestioned leader of the Lakers and really proved it this postseason. He dominated throughout the playoffs culminating in a fantastic Finals’ performance earning Finals’ MVP. In the process, he proved to all of his critics that he can win a championship without Shaq. The Lakers are the favorite again next year because of this man right here.
SF-Ron Artest: 2008-09 averages were 17.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 3.3 apg, and 1.5 spg
I’m actually surprised that Ron Artest signed with the Lakers especially since he almost choked out Kobe during game 2 of the Western Conference semi-finals. Artest really wants to win a championship and with Yao Ming’s health in question he opted to sign with a sure thing. Ron Artest again re-established himself as one of the premier perimeter defenders in the league by garnering NBA Defensive Second Team honors this past season. He and Shane Battier combined to perform the best defensive duo in the league and now he and Kobe Bryant will get the opportunity to do the same. Aside from defense, Artest brings a tough, rugged offensive skill-set to the Lakers. He can bang inside because of his size and he can step out beyond the arc and drill the three. Even though the Lakers are confident they will re-sign Lamar Odom, Artest’s presence more than makes up for it if Odom opts to go elsewhere.
PF-Pau Gasol: 2008-09 averages were 18.9 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 3.5 apg and 1.0 bpg
Pau Gasol over his career has been one of the most underrated players in the entire NBA. Since he joined the Lakers, he’s finally gotten the recognition he deserves. He’s one of the most versatile big men in the game today. He can score, rebound, pass and play decent post defense too. Two years ago he got exposed for being soft in the series against the Celtics but this year he really changed that perception. He played tough against some very good big men including Yao, Nene and Dwight Howard. As long as the Lakers retain Pau, he and Kobe will form a deadly combination.
C-Andrew Bynum: 2008-09 averages were 14.3 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 1.4 apg and 1.8 bpg
Andrew Bynum is young rising star in this league, however he has really been bitten by the injury bug the last two years. His offensive game is ever-improving and his post defense is very solid. This past season he endured an MCL sprain and missed 32 games. He returned to the playoffs and did not look the same. He was frequently benched and seemed to fall out of Phil Jackson’s graces. I just think he wasn’t fully recovered from his injury and probably tried to rush back a little to soon. Leg injuries on big men usually take longer to heal because of the amount of weight they’re supporting. I have confidence that Bynum will return to his earlier season form as he continues to improve all facets of his game.
Key Reserves
G-Jordan Farmar: 2008-09 averages were 6.4 ppg, 1.8 rpg and 2.4 apg
Farmar really showed a lot of promise two years ago but seemed to take a step back this past season. Of course, I contribute that to the torn lateral meniscus he suffered earlier in the season. He really struggled with his shooting this year and I don’t expect that to be a trend. He is capable of logging important minutes behind Derek Fisher and the Lakers are confident that he can continue to improve.
G-Sasha Vujacic: 2008-09 averages were 5.8 ppg, 1.4 apg and 1.0 spg
Here is another one of the Lakers’ players who’s overall game has declined from two years ago. Two years ago, Vujacic showed the Lakers that he can be a good offensive spark off the bench. This year he really struggled to maintain that success. His shooting percentage declined significantly and the fact that he already is a defensive liability doesn’t bode well for his playing time. If the Lakers re-sign Lamar Odom, his playing time could decrease even more.
F-Luke Walton: 2008-09 averages were 5.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg and 2.7 apg
Walton actually split time in the starting lineup with Lamar Odom but his game is more suited for him to come off the bench. He can provide a little offensive spark because he is aggressive around the painted area. He has decent passing skills and at times can be a feisty defender.
Overall the Lakers have a championship squad poised for another run at the title. They will have some competition in the West from the Spurs but in order to be the Champ you have to beat the Champ. One of the strongest suits of the Lakers was their deep and versatile bench headlined by Lamar Odom. With Lamar Odom testing free agent waters, the Lakers bench is not nearly as impressive. Though, even if Lamar Odom doesn’t re-sign with the Lakers, they will still be in good shape. The Lakers are already a gifted offensive squad and they went ahead and added one of the best defensive players in the league to bolster their play on the other side of the ball. This should be a scary prospect for teams around the league.
Before I say anything about sports, I wanted to let everyone know that I just saw Harry Potter 6 this past Friday. As a big Harry Potter fan, I was kind of disappointed. Within the first 5 minutes of the movie, they must have cut out about 60 pages of the book. Needless to say, the book had way more detail. Now let’s get back to the regular scheduled programming.
The Turkish Tiger
The next entry in the Sportsdabbler’s NBA offseason coverage involves another significant move in the Eastern Conference. The Toronto Raptors were successful in luring away Hedo Turkoglu from the Portland Trailblazers at the last minute. Turkoglu cited the cultural appeal as well as the proximity of Toronto to his native country of Turkey for the switch. We all know that is flat out bull sh*t. Are you really trying to tell me that the distance between Turkey and Portland as opposed to the distance from Toronto to Turkey is that much of a difference, relatively speaking? I’m sure the money had something to do with the sudden change of heart and apparently not competing for a championship seemed preferable. I kid the Toronto Raptors, if they can keep Chris Bosh long term and Andrea Bargnani continues to improve, this team can be very successful down the road. They already have a solid point guard in Jose Calderon. The slashing Spaniard is one of the young and bright international players in the NBA and really fits into Toronto’s ‘global’ roster.
The addition of Hedo Turkoglu gives Toronto a very versatile player, who, over the past two seasons with the Orlando Magic, has been a part of many clutch plays. Turkoglu really did a wonderful job this postseason of earning himself a new contract. He played spectacular throughout the playoffs and was a vital piece for the Orlando Magic as they made their way past the Cleveland Cavaliers onto the NBA Finals. Turkoglu brings a diverse skill set as a player. He can play that rare ‘Point Forward’ position similar to the one that Lebron James plays albeit not at that level. His above average ball-handling skills are a big reason why he is allowed to do so, combine that with a very good perimeter game and it shows why he is a load to handle. The only knock on Turkoglu would probably be his below-average defensive skills. I’m sure when motivated he can play some solid ‘D,’ but, on an average night, you’re certainly not going to be mistaking him for Ron Artest. Despite the defensive deficiencies, the Raptors got themselves a great player who has steadily been improving his game over the last few years. With that said, they also add a player that will allow them to apply many diverse offensive fronts for opponents.
The Toronto Raptors also shipped off Shawn Marion this offseason for some expiring contracts. Although the front court combination of Marion, Bosh and Bargnani was having success late last season, Marion did not figure to be in Toronto’s long term plans. Bryan Colangelo, the current Raptors GM and the son of Jerry Colangelo, was responsible for drafting Marion in Phoenix and made sure to find his dad’s former player a good team. The Dallas Mavericks acquired Marion for pretty much nothing except Jerry Stackhouse’s expiring contract, a future second round draft pick and cash considerations in a four-team trade also involving the Memphis Grizzlies and Orlando Magic.
Now that the Raptors have added a pretty valuable piece to their team, it will be interesting to see how their revamped roster performs against their conference counterparts. Several high profile teams in the Eastern Conference have made significant moves this off-season, almost to the point where it can be compared to an arms race. The addition of Turkoglu certainly improves the Raptors postseason chances, but losing Anthony Parker to the Cavs hurts them. He was a solid player with good defensive skills and the Raptors don’t really have a great two-guard to replace him on their roster. The Raptors finished six games back for a playoff spot this past season, and having Turkoglu is probably good for a ten-game improvement and would give them about 43 wins and perhaps the sixth or seventh seed in the East. If Turkoglu gels quickly with his new teammates it can lead to an even bigger improvement, but that depends on a lot of factors. With that said, lets take a look at the Raptors starting lineup; or, at least what I envision their starting lineup to look like.
Raptors’ Starting Lineup
PG-Jose Calderon: 2008-09 averages were 12.8 ppg, 8.9 apg and 1.1 spg
Taking a glance at his numbers, this guy has serious play-making abilities. Calderon is an excellent point guard for the Raptors. His youth, combined with his decent size at the one, excellent perimeter game, and slick passing spells all the makings of a future star. The addition of Turkoglu will take some of the ball handling duties out of his hands in certain offensive sets and will open up more offensive opportunities for Calderon.
SG-Jarrett Jack: 2008-09 averages were 13.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg and 4.1 apg
I know that some have Demar DeRozan here in the starting spot but I’m not ready to anoint a rookie over a proven commodity in the NBA. Jarret Jack was a restricted free agent of the Indiana Pacers and the Raptors signed him to an offer sheet and the Pacers didn’t match it. Jack brings the ability to play two positions, he could play backup point guard or shooting guard. Jack brings good scoring ability, a decent perimeter game and good ball distribution skills. This position probably will be decided during training camp.
SF-Hedo Turkoglu: 2008-09 averages were 16.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg and 4.9 apg
Losing Anthony Parker was a big mistake on the part of the Raptors especially to a conference rival but Hedo will would have taken a lot of shots away from him anyway. I already mentioned that he was a solid scorer and defensive player and he left a big void at the two-guard position. With that said, despite Turkoglu’s height, his skill set is more suited for the perimeter and his solid ball-handling skills will allow him to play the position very well. Even though his numbers saw a decline from the year before, Turkoglu showed up big in the postseason. He improved in every round and had a great Finals performance. Due to the fact that Toronto has no enforcer at Center, playing an overall tall lineup will cause matchup problems for a lot of teams. Having a 6’10” combo-guard is a luxury not many teams have. Not to mention, Turkoglu will be the bona fide second option that Toronto lacked last year. Unless the Raptors are able to bring back Carlos Delfino, I see Turkoglu flourishing at this position.
PF-Chris Bosh: 2008-09 averages were 22.7 ppg, 10.0 rpg and 1.0 bpg
Make no mistake about it, Chris Bosh is a star and will continue to be the star of Toronto’s lineup. Toronto better hope they have great success this year and encourage Bosh to sign a long term deal with them. With Marion and Bargnani flanking Bosh last year, Toronto enjoyed some late success, now being flanked by Turkoglu and Bargnani should lead to less double teams and perhaps some sustained success. Bosh brings a great post game, the ability to knock down the occasional perimeter-jumper, solid work on the glass and a good defense. Make no mistake, Bosh will be a highly coveted free agent next year.
C-Andrea Bargnani: 2008-09 averages were 15.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg and 1.2 bpg
Bargnani is not a true center but his size does allow him to play the position. He is pretty much Dirk Nowitzki with a less refined offensive game. However, Bargnani plays decent defense and is really coming into his own offensively. Toronto’s offense will be dependent on proper floor spacing to allow their perimeter players to get open looks and Bargnani’s size and offensive repertoire will give them a lot of options. He does need to get tougher on the boards; despite that, I’m actually excited to watch this kid develop. He may be a bit soft but he is very talented and the addition of Hedo Turkoglu will take pressure off of him and allow him to steadily progress.
Key Reserves
G-Demar DeRozan (R): 2008-09 averages were: N/A
The rookie G/F out of USC has good size for either position but his game is probably more suited for guard. What he lacks in a perimeter game, he more than makes up with the mid-range game. I’m not exactly sure how this one will work out for Toronto because they seem to have a squad that will shoot a lot of three pointers and DeRozan doesn’t really possess that skill set. However, DeRozan could add a dimension they really lack all whilst giving Toronto more athleticism.
F-Reggie Evans: 2008-09 averages were 3.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg and 0.1 bpg
Reggie Evans is a decent role player and adds much needed size to a team that lacks a true ‘banger’ in the post. He brings toughness inside and a solid presence on the glass. There’s really not much to say about this guy other than that he’ll give you some decent minutes, pull down a couple of rebounds, and maybe get a few put-backs.
SF-Devean George: 2008-09 averages were 3.4 ppg, 1.8 rpg and 0.3 apg
I honestly don’t know who will play small forward in Toronto’s lineup. I have a strong suspicion that multiple people will man this position throughout the year. Losing Marion leaves the position wide-open and I’m sure a starter will be found during training camp. I chose to place George in here because of his experience, size and skill set. The Raptors are obviously fielding a lineup predicated on perimeter success and George certainly brings that to the table. He played a key role on some of those championship Laker squads and has the ability to knock down wide-open three point shots. He should be able to get a lot of open looks with a lineup featuring Calderon, Turkoglu, and Bosh.
Overall with the addition of Hedo Turkoglu, Toronto will have a potent starting lineup, but they are severely lacking depth on their bench. They are one key injury from being right back where they started. However, if everyone stays healthy and they play up to their potential, we could be looking at a playoff team that can provide serious match-up problems for some of the East’s elite.
After a short break, I’m back on the grind. As I mentioned earlier in a previous article, the NBA offseason will be one of great intrigue. I predicted that there will be several high profile trades and free agency moves where certain teams will benefit from others that are aiming to cut costs due to the slouching economy. Just a day after the Richard Jefferson trade to the San Antonio Spurs, the Cleveland Cavaliers traded for Shaquille O’Neal and the reigning Eastern Conference champion, Orlando Magic, traded for the human highlight reel: Vince Carter.
On top of that, Uconn, –uh– I mean the Pistons signed Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva. Ron Artest and Trevor Ariza essentially switched places. Hedo Turkoglu shunned the Blazers for the Raptors and Rasheed Wallace signed with the Celtics. Each of these offseason moves has tremendous impact potential, some more than others and it definitely makes for an exciting upcoming season.
I have already broken down the importance of the Richard Jefferson trade so I will skip that one, but I will break down how each of these moves affect their respective teams’ chances of a deep playoff run. Let’s start with the Eastern Conference since that’s where most of the activity has been. Several Eastern Conference contenders made great strides in addressing areas of need.
I’ll begin with the Detroit Pistons; the Pistons are caught between rebuilding and reloading but a bit closer to rebuilding. This is evidenced by their shortest playoff run since 2002 when they were thoroughly embarrassed by King James and company. They made a colossal mistake in trading Chauncey Billups to Denver for Allen Iverson. We all know how that turned out for each team. You can’t really fault the Pistons though, they took a shot and it didn’t work out.
Right now it seems that the Pistons are trying to assemble the UConn All-Decade team by signing shooting guard Ben Gordon and power forward Charlie Villanueva in free agency. Add in Rip Hamilton and you have three of the finest players the University of Connecticut has ever produced. I like this move a lot actually; with the departure of Rasheed Wallace, the Pistons have infused their roster with a good deal of youth and athleticism. With the way the current roster is assembled, it looks a little like a younger version of their championship squad from 2004 with a bit more offensive pop. Of course, this is not to say that they will see the same results as with that squad but they definitely have some potential.
With the Pistons opting to sign former Cleveland Cavaliers assistant coach John Kuester instead of Avery Johnson, they must not be expecting to compete for a championship next season. The hire of Kuester is clearly a financial move since they owe Michael Curry an estimated $5 million over the next couple of years. The Pistons just weren’t ready to commit big dollars to Avery Johnson with a roster not ready for a championship run. In the short term, I expect the Pistons to improve significantly from last season but they are still a ‘big man’ away from being legitimate contenders. I give them about a 20-30 % chance of a playoff run, which is very generous considering what happened this past postseason. I am aware that it would require a lot of things to go their way and probably not feasible but apparently the NBA is where “Amazing Happens.” Ok I’m done with my NBA talking points. The Pistons proposed starting lineup should look something like this:
Stuckey was a great draft pick by the Pistons and the Pistons’ faith in him as a player is the reason they gambled and traded away Billups. He is steadily improving as a player and as a floor general. Along with the added weapons, teams will not be able to key in on him, thus giving him better scoring opportunities. If he improves his perimeter jumper he could be a force in this league. Stuckey upped his scoring in the playoffs this year averaging around 15 ppg but his shooting percentage saw a dip, probably because he was trying to do too much. Expect Stuckey to be an impact player in this league for years to come.
Rip Hamilton is a savvy veteran player that continues to put up solid numbers. Hamilton is a player that makes his bread and butter from the mid-range game. The addition of Gordon and Villanueva will only help the floor spacing and Hamilton will continue to exploit defenses with his quick jumper off of curl routes. If he can maintain his scoring average, the Pistons will definitely improve on their offensive numbers as a team.
Tayshaun Prince is a solid offensive player and an above average defender. Although he did not do well in the playoffs last year, I do not expect that trend to continue. He is too talented for that. Armed with a solid perimeter game, he should be able to get more looks thus increasing his scoring. Again this is contingent on the minutes distribution of the players. However, this is a good problem to have, too much depth is really never a bad thing.
Charlie Villanueva is really coming into his own; he increased his scoring average from the previous year, increased his shooting percentage, free throw percentage as well as his three point shooting. All of this whilst averaging 26 minutes per game: His numbers should increase with more playing time, provided that he stays out of foul trouble which is somewhat of a problem for him. He adds size, athleticism, and versatility; sort of like a younger version of Rasheed Wallace. This was an excellent pick up for the Pistons.
C-Kwame Brown: 2008-09 averages were 4.2 ppg, 5.0 rpg and 0.6 apg.
There is not much to say about the former number one overall draft pick. He is a bust and at this point of his career he’s nothing more than a mediocre role player. However, he does bring the ability to contribute on the defensive glass which is all you can really ask of him. Due to the lack of depth at this position, he currently is the Pistons’ only legitimate option at center. Expect the Pistons to utilize a smaller and quicker lineup the majority of the time where Villanueva lines up at the five.
Key Reserves
SG-Ben Gordon: 2008-09 averages were 20.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.4 apg
I know Gordon started the majority of the games he played in last year, but he is no stranger to the role of a sixth man. He’s thrived in that role as well. I expect him to be that offensive spark off the bench. Gordon had some great performances in the playoffs against the Celtics and earned himself a nice contract as a result. He can score from anywhere on the court and combined with Rip Hamilton and Rodney Stuckey, the Pistons will have one of the better backcourts in the Eastern Conference. As I mentioned earlier because of the lack of depth at center, I expect the Pistons to utilize a smaller lineup, essentially with three guards and two forwards. This lineup, although a defensive liability against bigger lineups, will allow them to score with just about anyone in the league.
PF-Jason Maxiell: 2008-09 averages were 5.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 0.3 apg
Maxiell is a high energy spark off the bench and can energize a crowd with a thunderous dunk or block. He should see his minutes increase with the departure of Wallace and will give the Pistons a little more front court size when called upon.
As one can tell the Pistons will have a new look this upcoming season and should only improve as Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva develop chemistry with their new teammates. Although they will likely not compete for a championship this season, the future is bright and with the addition of a talented big man, they could really take off.
Stay tuned for the next team preview on Sportsdabbler.com.
