State of the Pistons Address (Jan. 15)
I don't have TiVo or DVR, but if I did, there's no doubt what television spectacle I would record on Wednesday night: the Pistons versus the Jazz at the Palace. Luckily, I do have a VCR and some tape. Let's go.
Wednesday will be the sight of many returns at the Palace. First, and most importantly, there's the return of Mehmet Okur to the Palace. Memo is having a fine year with the Jazz, and the Pistons should probably be kicking themselves for not holding onto him after he helped them win a championship in 2004. But that's another story for another day.
The real important returns of Wednesday will be those of Chauncey Billups and Christopher Webber. Chaunce is back after missing eight games with a calf injury. C-Webb is back hooping for a Detroit team for the first time since 1993.
It will all be official after he signs tomorrow, and if he gets a practice in with the team, I wouldn't be surprised if Flip gives him a starting nod on Wednesday, the day the Pistons will dig themselves out of the hole in which they're currently writhing.
It's painfully clear that the Pistons are struggling, but what's odd is that their numbers aren't altogether horrendous.
In the eight games since Chauncey went down, they're 3-5. Some interesting stats:
-- They're scoring 92.5 ppg (down from 96.5 for the season).
-- They're giving up 92.5 ppg (down from 94.1 for the season).
-- They're dishing out 21.1 apg (up from 20.3 for the season).
-- They're turning it over 12.2 times per game (same as all season).
Flip Murray is averaging 12.4 points, 6.6 assists and 2 turnovers filling in for Chaunce. His season averages are 7 points, 2 assists and 1 turnover. So he hasn't done a bad job.
But there's something else Chauncey brings to the table other than his 18 points, 8 assists and just 2 turnovers each game. He brings a calm over the team. He gets Rip going while letting Tay and Sheed know they'll get their lifts, too. And he controls the tempo like a world-class maestro.
For as much as I dislike Flip's game in the Pistons' system, he has filled in valiantly. But he can't bring the familiarity Chaunce brings to the court, and it's clear that some of the players -- especially Sheed, who has made just 32 of his last 108 field goal attempts -- are less sure of themselves in Chaunce's absence.
Just as the general is back to make the Pistons recognizable again, though, there's another face to add to the team photo. C-Webb could initially take awhile to adjust to the Pistons' style, but once he gets comfortable, look out. I think he and Sheed will make a perfect high-low combination. If Flip can get the two to interchange frequently -- moving in and out and up and down -- the mere presence of C-Webb will encourage Sheed to post up more, something Pistons fans have been hoping for since Sheed came to Detroit in '04. C-Webb has an uncanny ability to dish the rock, and in that sense, he's a stark opposite to the two bigs that have flanked Sheed since his Motown arrival -- Big Ben and Nazr.
Whatever goes down Wednesday, it's an exciting time for Pistons fans, who now have added incentive to watch at a time of year when it's easy to let fandom go by the wayside. Excuse me while I go program my VCR.
Wednesday will be the sight of many returns at the Palace. First, and most importantly, there's the return of Mehmet Okur to the Palace. Memo is having a fine year with the Jazz, and the Pistons should probably be kicking themselves for not holding onto him after he helped them win a championship in 2004. But that's another story for another day.
The real important returns of Wednesday will be those of Chauncey Billups and Christopher Webber. Chaunce is back after missing eight games with a calf injury. C-Webb is back hooping for a Detroit team for the first time since 1993.
It will all be official after he signs tomorrow, and if he gets a practice in with the team, I wouldn't be surprised if Flip gives him a starting nod on Wednesday, the day the Pistons will dig themselves out of the hole in which they're currently writhing.
It's painfully clear that the Pistons are struggling, but what's odd is that their numbers aren't altogether horrendous.
In the eight games since Chauncey went down, they're 3-5. Some interesting stats:
-- They're scoring 92.5 ppg (down from 96.5 for the season).
-- They're giving up 92.5 ppg (down from 94.1 for the season).
-- They're dishing out 21.1 apg (up from 20.3 for the season).
-- They're turning it over 12.2 times per game (same as all season).
Flip Murray is averaging 12.4 points, 6.6 assists and 2 turnovers filling in for Chaunce. His season averages are 7 points, 2 assists and 1 turnover. So he hasn't done a bad job.
But there's something else Chauncey brings to the table other than his 18 points, 8 assists and just 2 turnovers each game. He brings a calm over the team. He gets Rip going while letting Tay and Sheed know they'll get their lifts, too. And he controls the tempo like a world-class maestro.
For as much as I dislike Flip's game in the Pistons' system, he has filled in valiantly. But he can't bring the familiarity Chaunce brings to the court, and it's clear that some of the players -- especially Sheed, who has made just 32 of his last 108 field goal attempts -- are less sure of themselves in Chaunce's absence.
Just as the general is back to make the Pistons recognizable again, though, there's another face to add to the team photo. C-Webb could initially take awhile to adjust to the Pistons' style, but once he gets comfortable, look out. I think he and Sheed will make a perfect high-low combination. If Flip can get the two to interchange frequently -- moving in and out and up and down -- the mere presence of C-Webb will encourage Sheed to post up more, something Pistons fans have been hoping for since Sheed came to Detroit in '04. C-Webb has an uncanny ability to dish the rock, and in that sense, he's a stark opposite to the two bigs that have flanked Sheed since his Motown arrival -- Big Ben and Nazr.
Whatever goes down Wednesday, it's an exciting time for Pistons fans, who now have added incentive to watch at a time of year when it's easy to let fandom go by the wayside. Excuse me while I go program my VCR.
posted by RGarfield @ 8:54 PM
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