Pistons Choosing Between Billups, Stuckey As Starting SG

[Warspite]

We hae 82 games to figure out the playoff rotation. No need to get upset after 1 preseason game. Billups can still start and play 10mpg. KCP can still come off the bench and play 30mpg.

I prefer KCP start from the bottom and work his way up. I like to see him dominate in garbage time and playing against the weak 2nd and 3rd stringers.


We dont know what Joe will do yet anyway. I was guessing Suckey would get a ton a run to showcase him and get him traded. Once he is gone and Billups tires KCP will emerge.

[Notanoob]

I hope that Stuckey is on the bench. In the starting lineup he'll be a disaster, since there will be litterly no spacing. On the bench, he can play PG with KCP, or switch to SG if Chauncy wants to run the bench unit. Either way, the bench unit will certainly have more shooting on it, so Stuckey will have some room to operate.

[tbennett5438]

Hopefully KCP doesn't turn into a Darko, and works hard

[DetroitPistons]

The problem with this being a "fluid" situation is that it will cause even more chemistry problems. Billups should definitely be the backup PG for several reasons. First, he is much better with the ball in his hands as the primary PG. Second, he is older and should fit nicely as the backup PG with limited minutes rather than a starter. Lastly, he is going to struggle guarding SGs which means we will have crappy defensive backcourt which is a very huge problem despite how good some people think our frontcourt can be defensively. If Cheeks doesn't trust KCP right now then fine, COMMIT to Stuckey now and build chemistry until KCP is definitively better than him. Barring injury, the only change at SG I want to see this season is KCP eventually taking Stuckeys job. However, I think it will be a huge mistake if we are constantly shuffling between Billups, KCP, and Stuckey. Chemistry is one of this teams biggest obstacles and pulling a Kuester by constantly switching up starters and rotations is a chemistry killer.

[easiestplayfts]

Neither...... Pistons need a real 2 guard

[imagump1313]

If Stuckey is playing 30+ minutes a night, this team will be lucky to win 40 games in spite of him. 8th playoff seed and raped by the Heat. I guess it's an improvement but.......meh. The other options they have at SG aren't much better.
I just wish Stuckey would disappear....

[Billl]

Most rookies don't start, and aren't ready to start, right out of the gate. The ones who do are usually top picks on horrible teams. The pistons obviously want to get off to a good start, so they will go with the vets.

Billups isn't going to play big minutes all year. He just doesn't have that in him. There will be plenty of minutes available for KCP to prove himself. And chances are, Billups will miss more than his fair share of games completely.

Stuckey is a wildcard. He's obviously not a starting pg, but he's got talent. If he commits himself to the defensive end, he could earn a spot in any team's rotation. He's big, physical, and quick. Perimeter pressure + great shotblocking = a solid defensive recipe for this team. His shooting is always going to keep him from being a great player, but he could be a solid rotation guy if his head is on right. Given that this is a contract year, I would think we'll see the best he has to offer.

[zeebneeb]

Most rookies don't start, and aren't ready to start, right out of the gate. The ones who do are usually top picks on horrible teams. The pistons obviously want to get off to a good start, so they will go with the vets.

Billups isn't going to play big minutes all year. He just doesn't have that in him. There will be plenty of minutes available for KCP to prove himself. And chances are, Billups will miss more than his fair share of games completely.

Stuckey is a wildcard. He's obviously not a starting pg, but he's got talent. If he commits himself to the defensive end, he could earn a spot in any team's rotation. He's big, physical, and quick. Perimeter pressure + great shotblocking = a solid defensive recipe for this team. His shooting is always going to keep him from being a great player, but he could be a solid rotation guy if his head is on right. Given that this is a contract year, I would think we'll see the best he has to offer.

See that's the thing. The Pistons were a horrible team, thus Pope should be starting.

You don't draft that high, and pick a SG and not start him when you were a horrible team, and all you other SG's are junk.

Pope should start, let him make mistakes(and fix his jumper which looked horrific the other night. Clunky, and weird like he was trying to hard)and let him grow into the position.

If the Pistons even had a marginal SG, and had won 45games, yeah bring him off the bench perhaps. Not this team. You have to know what you have, and with everyone else, we already know.

Its going to be some stupid as hell lineup though, I already know it so im just pissing in the wind.

[Billl]

"See that's the thing. The Pistons were a horrible team, thus Pope should be starting. "

You seem to be confusing "were" with "are". The pistons were horrible. The pistons are not currently horrible. They are legitimately trying to make the playoffs. Is there any playoff team starting a rookie?

[Joe Berry]

Worst case scenario: KCP gets eliminated from the backcourt rotation early in the season
Best case scenario: Stuckey DNP from day one

[BadMofoPimp]

Stuckey is an expiring this year. I expect him to have a good season by his standards. Also, as long as CB is healthy, I expect him to get minutes and close out games being he can hit the 3 effectively. Lastly, Singler has length and experience at the 2. Thus, I truly expect KCP to ride the bench all year long unless he is just too good to keep on the bench, which I don't think is likely. He seems like a project and situational defensive player matchup to me. More like Afflalo in his first year or two. Next year I would think KCP may make that jump. This year, bench fodder.

Yet, this thread reminds me of the Darko thread back in 2003 with everyone making Darko out to be the next Wilt with the Center position guaranteed for the next decade or two.

[DetroitDon15]

I wanted KCP starting but since he clearly isn't ready Billups is my second option. I just want a guy on the court who can hit open shots. I am very scared that he won't be able to handle quicker SGs though.

[Brapman]

Facts:

We've played 1 semi-exhibition game.

We've heard KCP's been impressive in camp.

KCP's a rookie.

Stuckey and Billups are both talented yet still flawed players for reasons we've discussed.

We've played 1 semi-exhibition game.

End of Facts.

Conclusions:

Relax

Too soon for conclusions.

[BadMofoPimp]

This is so much better problem than what I jsut read on the Bobcats board:

Near the end of the game Tues, the whole squad was psyched because they had a chance to win. They all huddled around Clifford, excited. Gordon wandered off to the side by himself, warmup jacket zipped to his chin, towel wrapped around his neck, hood tied tight on his head. I was like, who is that? He looked like some aloof aged former actress at the nursing home. He's a sour dude who doesn't fit the youthful zest of this current team. Who wants a guy like that on this team? Cmon $13 mln not enough to cheer you up, dude?

[InsidersExec]

Stuckey doesn't even deserve to play, let alone start.

I agree clearly! When Stuckey was a rookie they through him out there and he has not proven much & has yet to reach the playoffs!

[InsidersExec]

Stuckey is an expiring this year. I expect him to have a good season by his standards. Also, as long as CB is healthy, I expect him to get minutes and close out games being he can hit the 3 effectively. Lastly, Singler has length and experience at the 2. Thus, I truly expect KCP to ride the bench all year long unless he is just too good to keep on the bench, which I don't think is likely. He seems like a project and situational defensive player matchup to me. More like Afflalo in his first year or two. Next year I would think KCP may make that jump. This year, bench fodder.

Yet, this thread reminds me of the Darko thread back in 2003 with everyone making Darko out to be the next Wilt with the Center position guaranteed for the next decade or two.

Guaranteed like Stuckey and CV's contracts!

[chrbal]

Billups will be the starter at SG (he'll take games off and such throughout the season (can't honestly imagine we'll need him for long against "teams <otherwise known as "what we have left>" like Boston). Stuckey will be the alternate and KCP will have to earn a role. This could all change at the deadline or before.

[easiestplayfts]

Pistons need a SG....how about Richard Hamilton?

[srt4b]

Jennings(34)/Bynum(12)
Billups(24)/Stuckey(24)

KCP will be the human victory cigar for the first 40 games. Even if there is an injury, Bynum & Stuckey have a ton of minutes they can increase. It's not ideal because all these guys are PGs for the most part but it is what it is.

Our depth chart by actual position is weak at the 2-3

Jennings/Billups/Stuckey/Bynum/Siva
Caldwell-Pope
Singler/Mitchell/Datome
Smith/Villanueva/Jerebko/Harrellson
Monroe/Drummond