Game 6: Pistons @ Blazers 10PM EST

[menten]

no rookie should be handed the starting spot right from the start. let him earn it

[rmfc]

no rookie should be handed the starting spot right from the start. let him earn it

Earn it? How? Who does KCP need to beat out to get PT? Chuck machine Bynum? Or bulldozer Stuckey(SG who can't shoot)?

Seems like the same argument was made last season. "Drummond has to beat Jason (freaking) Maxiell."

[menten]

kcp hasnt show that he's consistently better than those guys. he also played like ass in preseason that didnt help for sure

he will get his chances and i think one of bynum billups or suckey will get traded or benched this season

[Piston Pete]

KCP hasn't been great offensively....

But Stuckey can't shoot form the outside, either. And Bynum/Billups can't play SG full-time.

Sooo, all things being equal (ie, all our SG options being flawed), KCP is our best defender.

[rmfc]

KCP needs to start getting PT and he needs to keep shooting the basketball. We need a Klay Thompson type outside shooter on this roster(and in the starting lineup). If not, we shouldn't be surprised if Pistons' Jennings becomes the Bucks' Jennings.

If KCP can't shoot consistently well from the outside, then we need to trade for a shooter/defender....like a Wes Mathews. Either that or hope that Stuckey suddenly learns how to shoot and make baskets even when he is outside of the paint. Which option seems more realistic?

[Uncle Mxy]

what's up with Andre and white stiffs, they're owning him so far, you know we got another one tomorrow in Bogut and Lee
really lackluster D from him this last couple games

Sheed's training.

[hoophabit]

what's up with Andre and white stiffs, they're owning him so far, you know we got another one tomorrow in Bogut and Lee
really lackluster D from him this last couple games

Sheed's training.

These are some words I never thought I'd use this year. We need to cut Drummond some slack here. I mean, you're kidding right? 42 minutes, 16 pts on 8-9, 16 rebs, 2 assists, 2 steals, a block, and 0 turns is getting owned? If we're unhappy about the rebounding issue we're mad at Smith. If we didn't like guys getting position in the paint, a lot of that goes to poor perimeter defense allowing penetration. At least he resisted the urge to take fouls and stayed in the game giving the production he did (should have used more than 1 though). The Pistons have a lot to sort out, but the 20 year old prodigy isn't part of the problem. I can't believe there's a "we need to trade Drummond thread." I should learn to keep my mouth shut.

[detroitKG]

what's up with Andre and white stiffs, they're owning him so far, you know we got another one tomorrow in Bogut and Lee
really lackluster D from him this last couple games

Sheed's training.

AMEN.

These are some words I never thought I'd use this year. We need to cut Drummond some slack here. I mean, you're kidding right? 42 minutes, 16 pts on 8-9, 16 rebs, 2 assists, 2 steals, a block, and 0 turns is getting owned? If we're unhappy about the rebounding issue we're mad at Smith. If we didn't like guys getting position in the paint, a lot of that goes to poor perimeter defense allowing penetration. At least he resisted the urge to take fouls and stayed in the game giving the production he did (should have used more than 1 though). The Pistons have a lot to sort out, but the 20 year old prodigy isn't part of the problem. I can't believe there's a "we need to trade Drummond thread." I should learn to keep my mouth shut.

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[Clarity]

Another good fight last night, we were a step late on defense the entire night & we have been very good on d up until last night. It didnt help that they couldnt miss from 3 & Robin Lopez had the best game of his damn career haha. Combine that with our points in the paint struggle. Yeah we scored 60 which is great but we took 55 shots in the paint, we missed a ton of bunnies. That wont happen most nights.

Monroe matched Aldridge (IMO the best skilled PF in the game) Monroe contested most of his shots defensively (the Sheed turnaround is un guardable) Im on cloud 9 with Monroe's play so far this season, he has stepped it up to a whole new level. Proud of Stuckey too, he has played very under control this year, hes earned these big mins.

Drummond with 16 & 16 without even knowing how to really play bball yet.

Im never ok with losing but when we fight & lose its an easier pill to swallow. Our schedule has been a nightmare but we have been in every game til the end for the most part. GS will be very very tough tonight but I want to see the same fight.

[Clarity]

Just watched the game. Fun game to watch a from a neutral perspective. It's one that I think we probably should have won but Portland got really hot from 3 point land.

While still early in the season, this is already a recurring issue. If a team can start knocking down their 3's, they can win. And, teams are doing that to us. Bad perimeter defense, and bad 3-point shooting is sinking this team and neutralizing the front court's advantage.

Bottom line: KCP needs to become Jennings' full time running mate. Or, a trade needs the happen.

I think last nights game is good film moving fwd though because Port moves the ball along the perimeter about as well as you can & we were a step late the entire night. Dont get me wrong, they couldnt miss from 3 all night but our d being a step late all night definitely helped.

[ducler]

Bad rotations again = another loss

[DNice68]

KCP needs to start getting PT and he needs to keep shooting the basketball. We need a Klay Thompson type outside shooter on this roster(and in the starting lineup). If not, we shouldn't be surprised if Pistons' Jennings becomes the Bucks' Jennings.

If KCP can't shoot consistently well from the outside, then we need to trade for a shooter/defender....like a Wes Mathews. Either that or hope that Stuckey suddenly learns how to shoot and make baskets even when he is outside of the paint. Which option seems more realistic?

Plus the fact that KCP can actually drive to the hoop and finish is intriguing as well!

[DetroitPistons]

Another good fight last night, we were a step late on defense the entire night & we have been very good on d up until last night. It didnt help that they couldnt miss from 3 & Robin Lopez had the best game of his damn career haha. Combine that with our points in the paint struggle. Yeah we scored 60 which is great but we took 55 shots in the paint, we missed a ton of bunnies. That wont happen most nights.

Monroe matched Aldridge (IMO the best skilled PF in the game) Monroe contested most of his shots defensively (the Sheed turnaround is un guardable) Im on cloud 9 with Monroe's play so far this season, he has stepped it up to a whole new level. Proud of Stuckey too, he has played very under control this year, hes earned these big mins.

Drummond with 16 & 16 without even knowing how to really play bball yet.

Im never ok with losing but when we fight & lose its an easier pill to swallow. Our schedule has been a nightmare but we have been in every game til the end for the most part. GS will be very very tough tonight but I want to see the same fight.

The problem is we are a step late on defense every single game. Their is constant confusion with rotations and you will notice this throughout the game when guys are not sure whether to switch or you will see two guys rotate to the ball, which leaves someone WIDE open. They look like they've never played defense in the NBA before. Also, it seems like Cheeks has instructed them to go for steals, which everyone who follows basketball knows is a stupid way to play defense. The rebounding is horrible too for a couple reasons. First, no one ever boxes out anymore on our team and second, the dribble penetration is non stop because of our crap defense, which forces guys over to help leaving their man open for an offensive rebound and put back. I mean seriously, this is basketball 101 type stuff here and this team is only getting worse (GSW was even worse than POR).

I agree that Monroe has played great for the most part and matched Aldridge. And yes, Aldridge and Mo Williams hit some ridiculous shots but we got blown out because we can't defend (WIDE open 3s all night) or rebound (Lopez destroying us with easy putbacks all night). We didn't "fight" at all though. Fighting means playing hard scrappy basketball and playing defense and rebounding. I think what you meant to say is we "chucked" and had a lucky run at the end to make Piston's fans feel better.

[DetroitPistons]

Just watched the game. Fun game to watch a from a neutral perspective. It's one that I think we probably should have won but Portland got really hot from 3 point land.

While still early in the season, this is already a recurring issue. If a team can start knocking down their 3's, they can win. And, teams are doing that to us. Bad perimeter defense, and bad 3-point shooting is sinking this team and neutralizing the front court's advantage.

Bottom line: KCP needs to become Jennings' full time running mate. Or, a trade needs the happen.

I think last nights game is good film moving fwd though because Port moves the ball along the perimeter about as well as you can & we were a step late the entire night. Dont get me wrong, they couldnt miss from 3 all night but our d being a step late all night definitely helped.

From what I saw, this team's struggles are too insurmountable. I don't see us all of sudden going from near last in the league in defense to top 5 like many people thought we could be. I put a ton of this on Cheeks because he clearly doesn't know how to coach defense (or anything else for that matter). It is completely unacceptable how bad we've played defensively for any point in the season. Our players have defensive potential, it just isn't being used and I'm not optimistic that it ever will be used at this point.

[Clarity]

The problem is we are a step late on defense every single game. Their is constant confusion with rotations and you will notice this throughout the game when guys are not sure whether to switch or you will see two guys rotate to the ball, which leaves someone WIDE open. They look like they've never played defense in the NBA before. Also, it seems like Cheeks has instructed them to go for steals, which everyone who follows basketball knows is a stupid way to play defense. The rebounding is horrible too for a couple reasons. First, no one ever boxes out anymore on our team and second, the dribble penetration is non stop because of our crap defense, which forces guys over to help leaving their man open for an offensive rebound and put back. I mean seriously, this is basketball 101 type stuff here and this team is only getting worse (GSW was even worse than POR).

I agree that Monroe has played great for the most part and matched Aldridge. And yes, Aldridge and Mo Williams hit some ridiculous shots but we got blown out because we can't defend (WIDE open 3s all night) or rebound (Lopez destroying us with easy putbacks all night). We didn't "fight" at all though. Fighting means playing hard scrappy basketball and playing defense and rebounding. I think what you meant to say is we "chucked" and had a lucky run at the end to make Piston's fans feel better.

I dont think Mo is telling them to go for steals, Josh & Brandon have always been the take a chance types. Them taking chances is nothing new.

I think we shouldnt panic completely after Por & GS because they are among the best perimeter shooting teams & are both exceptional ball clubs at ball movement along the perimeter. They both killed us, we were awful but there are maybe a small handful of teams that good on the perimeter.

Agree to disagree, we definitely fought. We even fought last night from the 2nd qtr on. Im with you on Jennings chucking, hes been Milwaukee Jennings so far with us, his body language sucks when he struggles. Its still early though & I am convinced Chauncey will make an impact on him.

[Clarity]

From what I saw, this team's struggles are too insurmountable. I don't see us all of sudden going from near last in the league in defense to top 5 like many people thought we could be. I put a ton of this on Cheeks because he clearly doesn't know how to coach defense (or anything else for that matter). It is completely unacceptable how bad we've played defensively for any point in the season. Our players have defensive potential, it just isn't being used and I'm not optimistic that it ever will be used at this point.

I understand & share some of your frustration but any coach who makes it to being an NBA coach isnt a moron.

I have faith we will get the issues improved.