Stewart elite defense

[FloridaMan78]

I disagree with Stewart, Hayes not so much. Stewart has shown flashes.

I’ve seen Stewart take it to the rim from the three point line. I’ve seen him make reads in the short roll and after being run off the line. I’ve seen Stewart make improvements to his game by shooting threes more and more. I’ve seen him take a dribble pull up jumper.

I'm struggling to remember an example of Stewart attacking from the perimeter last season. He attempted 11 driving layups, of which he made four and was blocked on five. He attempted four pull-up jumpers in the interior and made none of them. He rarely made passes out of the short roll either. When he was asked to serve as a roll man, his chief procedure was to set a pick and then clog the paint. That's the result of his physical limitations, though his poor hands were not helpful either.

The fact that he may have attempted these things doesn't mean that he has the skill to pull them off at a worthwhile level.

Getting Duren and Bagley on the team has opened Stewart’s eyes. You see it in his interviews. He acknowledges what he needs to do in order to stay on this team. He has to change his game and he’s putting in the work in order to do it. It’s not just shooting and he knows that. Quickness, handle, and shooting. He’s totally focusing on that.

Stewart can't simply focus on quickness---his poor running mobility is what it is, and I don't doubt that he's done what he can---and it's not common for a player with so poor a handle to substantively improve it. The shooting may come around, but it's not enough to make him more than a limited quantity on offense at his chief position.

Our offense doesn't have to have multi-tool players at every position. Cade and Ivey can both be high level creators, Bey has a developing toolkit, no reason Beefstew couldn't be a significant offensive contributor just by being able to hit open shots.

It's not so simple as just not needing complete offensive players at every position. A perimeter player who offers nothing but the ability to hit open, standstill jumpers and has a poor handle, minimal ability as a passer, and no further versatility is not a good contributor and will be standing in at the position for a player who could offer much more.

If we're talking center, Stewart's physical limitations would mean one of two things: him needing to be on the floor with a teammate who can provide the roll presence, vertical spacing, and interior finishing that the team needs, or the offense being without any player who has those qualities. The pre-Bagley period of last season gave an ample window into the problems with the latter situation.

The article is linked on the original post on the first page. Stewart is an elite rim protector according to advanced stats. Not just blocks.

Stewart is always in the right place at the right time and is very physical and effects peoples shots. I don’t think rebounding is reflected. And Grant was an awful rebounding PF.

But Stewart fouled so much he couldn’t stay on the floor and only averaged 25 mins a game. Besides him we had Trey freaking lyles playing C. So thats 23 mins of no rim protection at all.

Stewart is a strong, smart, and hardworking defender. He's a very good rim protector, a high-level paint protector, and excellent on switches. He does take a bit of a hit to his rim protection in that due to his lack of explosiveness and leaping ability, he cannot defend the rim from the weak side.

That said, all of these defensive qualities are chiefly found at center. Playing him at power forwards would force him away from these and emphasize his weaknesses.

He does have his issues with fouling.

hopefully stewarts shooting can be antonio mcdyess-esc which would help this team alot.

McDyess attempted a total of only five threes in his five regular seasons with the Pistons. He added three more attempts in his five postseasons with the team. He wasn't a shooter, and by the time he arrived in Detroit, a severe knee injury had sapped away the explosiveness that had made him such a dangerous player in his first even seasons.

Stewart is collecting all of the tools to become a legitimate big in the modern NBA. The more you watch him, the more you want to raise his ceiling. The shooting would put him in a different tier. It feels like it’s coming.

I feel like I'm arguing with a wall here. Stewart does not have the physical assets to be an effective interior scorer. No offense, but I don't understand your denial of that reality.

Playing Stewart at the 4 is a weird fit because the 5 will need to be someone like KO that is more flexible and can do it all. Then is Stewart really the 4?

I think he'd more need to be on the floor with a guy can provide the roll presence, vertical spacing, and interior finishing that most any offense needs. The limitation remains the same.

But if you try Stewart and Duren, then Stewart has to sit in the corner and shoot 3s because he is not good at any part of a modern NBA offense. Yeah he might be able to hit 3s at league average from the corner but unless he took a HUGE jump, he cant dribble, pass, drive, etc. He's going to be Brook Lopez, hopefully. Hitting a few 3s and being a 5. Hoping for Tobias Harris or Collins skills at the 4 from Stewart is ridiculous. The guy can barely dribble.

Well said. And what makes it okay for Lopez to just hang out at the perimeter is the fact that his job on offense is pretty much just to space the floor for Giannis, who needs four shooters around him to optimize his game.

Watch on YouTube

He was hitting his three this game. There’s two instances where he’s run off the three point line and drives it in for the the score.

His whole life he’s been gearing up to be a huge C. I could see him changing his body and slimming down 10-20 lbs to be quicker.

[Crymson]

He was hitting his three this game. There’s two instances where he’s run off the three point line and drives it in for the the score.

One instance, and that against Vucevic, who is half-decent in the interior but is slow-footed enough that he has no realistic hope of closing out on a player while also maintaining the chance of recovering, and with the drive into the paint against a Bulls team that was 16 points ahead with two points remaining and provided nothing but a tepid contest by Zach Lavine, himself a bad defensive player. The other opportunity was a short drive that effectively converted into a post-up against Vucevic.

His whole life he’s been gearing up to be a huge C. I could see him changing his body and slimming down 10-20 lbs to be quicker.

Isaiah pretty much just has a very poor first step and poor dashing speed. These aren't likely to change, particularly in the context of the NBA's standards.

@crymson
You quoted my post where I clearly stated at the top im copy pasting a James Edwards article and even linked the article. Your reply to the Edwards quote that you thought was me said:

"I feel like I'm arguing with a wall here. Stewart does not have the physical assets to be an effective interior scorer. No offense, but I don't understand your denial of that reality."

You are correct. I looked to the end of the post and assumed that the article was over and the words were yours, given your responses to me earlier in the thread.

I know when you're angry and busy typing replys to every comment in a thread reading comprehension can be tough but again that was James Edwards from the athletic "denying reality" this time not me!

I'd say you're rather flattering yourself a bit much by assuming that discussing basketball with you makes me angry.

As for James himself, this sort of positive tone routinely characterizes his articles about players. That isn't unusual for sportswriters. I strongly doubt that he would deny the realities of Isaiah's limitations in the interior if asked.

[FloridaMan78]

He was hitting his three this game. There’s two instances where he’s run off the three point line and drives it in for the the score.

One instance, and that against Vucevic, who is half-decent in the interior but is slow-footed enough that he has no realistic hope of closing out on a player while also maintaining the chance of recovering, and with the drive into the paint against a Bulls team that was 16 points ahead with two points remaining and provided nothing but a tepid contest by Zach Lavine, himself a bad defensive player. The other opportunity was a short drive that effectively converted into a post-up against Vucevic.

His whole life he’s been gearing up to be a huge C. I could see him changing his body and slimming down 10-20 lbs to be quicker.

Isaiah pretty much just has a very poor first step and poor dashing speed. These aren't likely to change, particularly in the context of the NBA's standards.

@crymson
You quoted my post where I clearly stated at the top im copy pasting a James Edwards article and even linked the article. Your reply to the Edwards quote that you thought was me said:

"I feel like I'm arguing with a wall here. Stewart does not have the physical assets to be an effective interior scorer. No offense, but I don't understand your denial of that reality."

You are correct. I looked to the end of the post and assumed that the article was over and the words were yours, given your responses to me earlier in the thread.

I know when you're angry and busy typing replys to every comment in a thread reading comprehension can be tough but again that was James Edwards from the athletic "denying reality" this time not me!

I'd say you're rather flattering yourself a bit much by assuming that discussing basketball with you makes me angry.

As for James himself, this sort of positive tone routinely characterizes his articles about players. That isn't unusual for sportswriters. I strongly doubt that he would deny the realities of Isaiah's limitations in the interior if asked.

I think he can reach speeds of a 36 yr old Horford and that’s all that’s really needed. And although it wasn’t the best competition, he still has done it on a few occasions and has the potential to do it more. Especially since it hasn’t been a priority of his. Now it is.

I think in two years he has a decent chance to do these things on a regular basis near as good as Horford or Grant Williams does now.

[buzzkilloton]

He was hitting his three this game. There’s two instances where he’s run off the three point line and drives it in for the the score.

One instance, and that against Vucevic, who is half-decent in the interior but is slow-footed enough that he has no realistic hope of closing out on a player while also maintaining the chance of recovering, and with the drive into the paint against a Bulls team that was 16 points ahead with two points remaining and provided nothing but a tepid contest by Zach Lavine, himself a bad defensive player. The other opportunity was a short drive that effectively converted into a post-up against Vucevic.

His whole life he’s been gearing up to be a huge C. I could see him changing his body and slimming down 10-20 lbs to be quicker.

Isaiah pretty much just has a very poor first step and poor dashing speed. These aren't likely to change, particularly in the context of the NBA's standards.

@crymson
You quoted my post where I clearly stated at the top im copy pasting a James Edwards article and even linked the article. Your reply to the Edwards quote that you thought was me said:

"I feel like I'm arguing with a wall here. Stewa I don't understand your denial of thatrt does not have the physical assets to be an effective interior scorer. No offense, but I don't understand your denial of that reality."

You are correct. I looked to the end of the post and assumed that the article was over and the words were yours, given your responses to me earlier in the thread.

I know when you're angry and busy typing replys to every comment in a thread reading comprehension can be tough but again that was James Edwards from the athletic "denying reality" this time not me!

I'd say you're rather flattering yourself a bit much by assuming that discussing basketball with you makes me angry.

As for James himself, this sort of positive tone routinely characterizes his articles about players. That isn't unusual for sportswriters. I strongly doubt that he would deny the realities of Isaiah's limitations in the interior if asked.

100% angry You're literally spam quoting every comment and anyone who agrees with you is getting a cookie from you while the others are getting told their wrong. If someone disagrees you comment things like "you're denying reality" or repeat the same negative things you've stated multiple times in this thread.

Ofc you will say that about Edwards as it disagree with you. He just had a article talking negative about Hayes a few weeks ago fwiw. I listen to all his podcast and can assure you hes not bullish on every player we have.

[Crymson]

I think he can reach speeds of a 36 yr old Horford and that’s all that’s really needed.

I think in two years he has a decent chance to do these things on a regular basis near as good as Horford or Grant Williams does now.

36-year-old Horford has a much better handle, better footspeed, and better verticality than Stewart. I don't think that Stewart is likely to match 36-year-old Horford in the latter two categories, and I think it's very unlikely that he'll come anywhere close in terms of the first. Horford has a good handle. Stewart's is bad. Horford has an excellent ability to judge where best to attack off of closeouts. Stewart does not. Horford can be counted upon to make the right pass. Stewart cannot. And so on. Horford is an exceptionally intelligent NBA player.

Stewart just isn't really comparable to Horford on offense at all outside of the fact that neither one is particularly spry. But Horford outpaces him in terms of mobility even at 15 years older.

And although it wasn’t the best competition, he still has done it on a few occasions and has the potential to do it more. Especially since it hasn’t been a priority of his. Now it is.

He's done it on rare occasions. Across his two seasons, he's attempted 15 driving layups, made six, been blocked on six, and missed the other three. I don't doubt that he's able to drive into an open lane if it remains open---but he's not often going to have an open lane. his poor footspeed means that lanes will be likely to close well before he gets to the basket, and it's unclear if he's got the court vision and passing ability to make the right pass when that happens. Data to date suggests that he does not. His touch is also not so great, and the fact that he cannot elevate at the rim is also an impediment.

[tradez401]

I disagree with Stewart, Hayes not so much. Stewart has shown flashes.

I’ve seen Stewart take it to the rim from the three point line. I’ve seen him make reads in the short roll and after being run off the line. I’ve seen Stewart make improvements to his game by shooting threes more and more. I’ve seen him take a dribble pull up jumper.

I'm struggling to remember an example of Stewart attacking from the perimeter last season. He attempted 11 driving layups, of which he made four and was blocked on five. He attempted four pull-up jumpers in the interior and made none of them. He rarely made passes out of the short roll either. When he was asked to serve as a roll man, his chief procedure was to set a pick and then clog the paint. That's the result of his physical limitations, though his poor hands were not helpful either.

The fact that he may have attempted these things doesn't mean that he has the skill to pull them off at a worthwhile level.

Getting Duren and Bagley on the team has opened Stewart’s eyes. You see it in his interviews. He acknowledges what he needs to do in order to stay on this team. He has to change his game and he’s putting in the work in order to do it. It’s not just shooting and he knows that. Quickness, handle, and shooting. He’s totally focusing on that.

Stewart can't simply focus on quickness---his poor running mobility is what it is, and I don't doubt that he's done what he can---and it's not common for a player with so poor a handle to substantively improve it. The shooting may come around, but it's not enough to make him more than a limited quantity on offense at his chief position.

Our offense doesn't have to have multi-tool players at every position. Cade and Ivey can both be high level creators, Bey has a developing toolkit, no reason Beefstew couldn't be a significant offensive contributor just by being able to hit open shots.

It's not so simple as just not needing complete offensive players at every position. A perimeter player who offers nothing but the ability to hit open, standstill jumpers and has a poor handle, minimal ability as a passer, and no further versatility is not a good contributor and will be standing in at the position for a player who could offer much more.

If we're talking center, Stewart's physical limitations would mean one of two things: him needing to be on the floor with a teammate who can provide the roll presence, vertical spacing, and interior finishing that the team needs, or the offense being without any player who has those qualities. The pre-Bagley period of last season gave an ample window into the problems with the latter situation.

The article is linked on the original post on the first page. Stewart is an elite rim protector according to advanced stats. Not just blocks.

Stewart is always in the right place at the right time and is very physical and effects peoples shots. I don’t think rebounding is reflected. And Grant was an awful rebounding PF.

But Stewart fouled so much he couldn’t stay on the floor and only averaged 25 mins a game. Besides him we had Trey freaking lyles playing C. So thats 23 mins of no rim protection at all.

Stewart is a strong, smart, and hardworking defender. He's a very good rim protector, a high-level paint protector, and excellent on switches. He does take a bit of a hit to his rim protection in that due to his lack of explosiveness and leaping ability, he cannot defend the rim from the weak side.

That said, all of these defensive qualities are chiefly found at center. Playing him at power forwards would force him away from these and emphasize his weaknesses.

He does have his issues with fouling.

hopefully stewarts shooting can be antonio mcdyess-esc which would help this team alot.

McDyess attempted a total of only five threes in his five regular seasons with the Pistons. He added three more attempts in his five postseasons with the team. He wasn't a shooter, and by the time he arrived in Detroit, a severe knee injury had sapped away the explosiveness that had made him such a dangerous player in his first even seasons.

Stewart is collecting all of the tools to become a legitimate big in the modern NBA. The more you watch him, the more you want to raise his ceiling. The shooting would put him in a different tier. It feels like it’s coming.

I feel like I'm arguing with a wall here. Stewart does not have the physical assets to be an effective interior scorer. No offense, but I don't understand your denial of that reality.

Playing Stewart at the 4 is a weird fit because the 5 will need to be someone like KO that is more flexible and can do it all. Then is Stewart really the 4?

I think he'd more need to be on the floor with a guy can provide the roll presence, vertical spacing, and interior finishing that most any offense needs. The limitation remains the same.

But if you try Stewart and Duren, then Stewart has to sit in the corner and shoot 3s because he is not good at any part of a modern NBA offense. Yeah he might be able to hit 3s at league average from the corner but unless he took a HUGE jump, he cant dribble, pass, drive, etc. He's going to be Brook Lopez, hopefully. Hitting a few 3s and being a 5. Hoping for Tobias Harris or Collins skills at the 4 from Stewart is ridiculous. The guy can barely dribble.

Well said. And what makes it okay for Lopez to just hang out at the perimeter is the fact that his job on offense is pretty much just to space the floor for Giannis, who needs four shooters around him to optimize his game.

antonio mcdyess probably a bad example he was lethal from midrange though. maybe stewart could hit consistent 3s like anthony tolliver.

[tmorgan]

I love me some Stew, but he definitely has physical limitations. And some strengths, too.

If he becomes a reasonably good three point shooter, his hard screens will be super useful on the pick and pop. If Duren develops as we hope he does, they’ll be solid if not perfect pairing. Duren brings a lot of the stuff Stew does not,

[Kalamazoo317]

I would agree that Stewart is likely never going to become the ideal offensive player on this team, but I don't think you need an ideal player at every position to win. If he's a significantly plus defender and can at least space the floor, I think he can be the 5th offensive option in the starting line up on a championship contender. The hope would be that the offensive drawbacks would result in a financial discount for the team.

[bstein14]

In Stewart's rookie season, guys that shot at least 32% from 3, grabbed at least 6 rebounds per game, and blocked at least 1 shot per game (min 40 games played).
20-21 Season
1. Myles Turner
2. Chris Boucher
3. Joel Embiid
4. Porzingas
5. Beef Stew (21 MPG, least minutes needed to make these stats in the NBA)
6. PJ Washington
7. Robert Covington
8. Christian Wood
9. Serge Ibaka
10. Karl Anthony Towns
11. John Collins

21-22 Season Same metrics
1. Myles Turner
2. Mo Bomba
3. Joel Embiid
4. Al Horford
5. Karl Anthony Towns
6. Beef Stew (25.6 MPG, least minutes needed to make these stats in the NBA)
7. LeBron James
8. John Collins
9. Christian Wood

Players that made the list back-to-back years.
Turner, Embiid, Stewart, Christian Wood, Karl Anthony Towns, John Collins
Very small select group of players that can shoot 3s, rebound, and block shots.

[buzzkilloton]

In Stewart's rookie season, guys that shot at least 32% from 3, grabbed at least 6 rebounds per game, and blocked at least 1 shot per game (min 40 games played).
20-21 Season
1. Myles Turner
2. Chris Boucher
3. Joel Embiid
4. Porzingas
5. Beef Stew (21 MPG, least minutes needed to make these stats in the NBA)
6. PJ Washington
7. Robert Covington
8. Christian Wood
9. Serge Ibaka
10. Karl Anthony Towns
11. John Collins

21-22 Season Same metrics
1. Myles Turner
2. Mo Bomba
3. Joel Embiid
4. Al Horford
5. Karl Anthony Towns
6. Beef Stew (25.6 MPG, least minutes needed to make these stats in the NBA)
7. LeBron James
8. John Collins
9. Christian Wood

Players that made the list back-to-back years.
Turner, Embiid, Stewart, Christian Wood, Karl Anthony Towns, John Collins
Very small select group of players that can shoot 3s, rebound, and block shots.

Not only did Stewart do it with the least minutes he also is 3 years younger then everyone else on the list.

[bstein14]

In Stewart's rookie season, guys that shot at least 32% from 3, grabbed at least 6 rebounds per game, and blocked at least 1 shot per game (min 40 games played).
20-21 Season
1. Myles Turner
2. Chris Boucher
3. Joel Embiid
4. Porzingas
5. Beef Stew (21 MPG, least minutes needed to make these stats in the NBA)
6. PJ Washington
7. Robert Covington
8. Christian Wood
9. Serge Ibaka
10. Karl Anthony Towns
11. John Collins

21-22 Season Same metrics
1. Myles Turner
2. Mo Bomba
3. Joel Embiid
4. Al Horford
5. Karl Anthony Towns
6. Beef Stew (25.6 MPG, least minutes needed to make these stats in the NBA)
7. LeBron James
8. John Collins
9. Christian Wood

Players that made the list back-to-back years.
Turner, Embiid, Stewart, Christian Wood, Karl Anthony Towns, John Collins
Very small select group of players that can shoot 3s, rebound, and block shots.

Not only did Stewart do it with the least minutes he also is 3 years younger then everyone else on the list.

Yup, Stewart just turned 21. Cade and Stewart will both play all of next season as 21 year olds. Stewart is just a few months older than Cade. Once he gets closer to 30 MPG he could/should be an effective 12 & 10 guy who can spread the floor on offense, defend the paint, switch onto smaller guards/wings on the perimeter and hold his own.

[whitehops]

In Stewart's rookie season, guys that shot at least 32% from 3, grabbed at least 6 rebounds per game, and blocked at least 1 shot per game (min 40 games played).

21-22 Season Same metrics
1. Myles Turner
2. Mo Bomba
3. Joel Embiid
4. Al Horford
5. Karl Anthony Towns
6. Beef Stew (25.6 MPG, least minutes needed to make these stats in the NBA)
7. LeBron James
8. John Collins
9. Christian Wood

Players that made the list back-to-back years.
Turner, Embiid, Stewart, Christian Wood, Karl Anthony Towns, John Collins
Very small select group of players that can shoot 3s, rebound, and block shots.

1. Myles Turner - 33.3% on 4.4 attempts
2. Mo Bomba - 38.1% on 4.0 attempts
3. Joel Embiid - 37.1% on 3.7 attempts
4. Al Horford - 33.6% on 3.8 attempts
5. Karl Anthony Towns - 41% on 4.9 attempts
6. Beef Stew - 32.6% on 0.6 attempts
7. LeBron James - 35.9% on 8.0 attempts
8. John Collins - 36.4% on 3.3 attempts
9. Christian Wood - 39% on 4.9 attempts

i hope you made these lists to show what group stewart COULD be a part of with an added three point shot. i think it'd be a little disingenuous to consider him a part of that group currently. i think stewart would have to shoot at least 3 attempts a game at at least a 33% clip to truly join the club.

[bstein14]

In Stewart's rookie season, guys that shot at least 32% from 3, grabbed at least 6 rebounds per game, and blocked at least 1 shot per game (min 40 games played).

21-22 Season Same metrics
1. Myles Turner
2. Mo Bomba
3. Joel Embiid
4. Al Horford
5. Karl Anthony Towns
6. Beef Stew (25.6 MPG, least minutes needed to make these stats in the NBA)
7. LeBron James
8. John Collins
9. Christian Wood

Players that made the list back-to-back years.
Turner, Embiid, Stewart, Christian Wood, Karl Anthony Towns, John Collins
Very small select group of players that can shoot 3s, rebound, and block shots.

1. Myles Turner - 33.3% on 4.4 attempts
2. Mo Bomba - 38.1% on 4.0 attempts
3. Joel Embiid - 37.1% on 3.7 attempts
4. Al Horford - 33.6% on 3.8 attempts
5. Karl Anthony Towns - 41% on 4.9 attempts
6. Beef Stew - 32.6% on 0.6 attempts
7. LeBron James - 35.9% on 8.0 attempts
8. John Collins - 36.4% on 3.3 attempts
9. Christian Wood - 39% on 4.9 attempts

i hope you made these lists to show what group stewart COULD be a part of with an added three point shot. i think it'd be a little disingenuous to consider him a part of that group currently. i think stewart would have to shoot at least 3 attempts a game at at least a 33% clip to truly join the club.

Hopefully this year he lets them fly.

[whitehops]

Hopefully this year he lets them fly.

definitely. i'm genuinely curious to see how many 3s he'll take per game.

EDIT: in the last 8 games down the stretch when casey told him to let it fly (excluding the OKC game) he shot 2.6 3s a game which is probably be the most i think he'd average this season? that would be in the range of how many cojo and hayes shot last season.

[bstein14]

Hopefully this year he lets them fly.

definitely. i'm genuinely curious to see how many 3s he'll take per game.

EDIT: in the last 8 games down the stretch when casey told him to let it fly (excluding the OKC game) he shot 2.6 3s a game which is probably be the most i think he'd average this season? that would be in the range of how many cojo and hayes shot last season.

It's for sure an important thing for him to develop and get comfortable with out there. The last 30+ games of the year last season he shot 50% from deep at just under 1 attempt per game. I think he most likely averages between 2 and 3 attempts per game this year. He is going to shoot most of them after setting the screen.

Once he becomes known for setting the screen and hitting the open 3, defenses will try to take it away from him... but that should open the door for Cade/Ivey to better attack the rim. Having Livers and Bey in the corners should also help keep the floor spaced and either Cade/Ivey punish them at the rim, or someone is knocking down an open 3.

[buzzkilloton]

Hopefully this year he lets them fly.

definitely. i'm genuinely curious to see how many 3s he'll take per game.

EDIT: in the last 8 games down the stretch when casey told him to let it fly (excluding the OKC game) he shot 2.6 3s a game which is probably be the most i think he'd average this season? that would be in the range of how many cojo and hayes shot last season.

2.6 3s those last 8 and he shot 5 for 9 in summer league. With our lack of shooting if hes hitting them at a ok clip I think he easily goes over 3+.

Ofc 10 games is a small sample size so we cant be 100% its the real deal. That said with all the media talk going back to last year, coach speak, and most importantly the eye test it sure seems legit.

[buzzkilloton]

https://theathletic.com/3408840/2022/07/08/pistons-summer-league-jaden-ivey/

Stewart started the game playing power forward, which is something I think will be a constant once the regular season starts. Stewart said after the game that he never played the four at any point in his playing career, and that’s a big reason why he wanted to participate in summer league despite being overqualified.

When discussing a potential move to power forward, I asked Stewart if he’s studied Boston’s Al Horford — who can float between both frontcourt spots and has expanded his perimeter game over the years —as someone he can model his game after as the Pistons push toward a two-big system similar to the Celtics.

“I see that same path for us,” Stewart. “I’ve watched a lot more film on Al. I feel like that’s a great guy to watch, in terms of someone you want to pattern your game after. He can shoot, stretch the floor, defense and all of those kinds of things.”

[Canadafan]

Just thought I'd put this here as it was the most relevant thread to our amazing previous defense

[tmorgan]

Stew’s just a REALLY interesting player. Fun to watch. I don’t mind his lack of standing vert or relative slowness, those are understandable. I just wish his hands were better. He needs specific drills for just him every practice. Catch and shoot threes. Rotation pssses on the perimeter. Movement drills (he has quick feet, but he’s pretty big, he could always get better).

Changing positions is, I assume, pretty hard. Especially to a different spot on the floor, with different responsibilities. I went through the same thing, but in low level (middle school, high school) basketball. I was 6’4” before I turned 15 and spent all my time on the court down low. I thought I could be a legit 6’10” and get to play college ball. I could shoot a little, pass, and defend, and I was even fast, but ballhandling was something I could never get good at.

Well, I never grew another inch. Went from middle school center to freshman forward to sophomore incompetent guard and quit basketball to run track instead. It suuuuuucked.