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Report: Pistons guard Rodney Stuckey not likely to play in next two games
Freep.com is reporting that Detroit Pistons guard Rodney Stuckey is unlikely to play in either of his team's next two games.
The Pistons play at Boston on Monday before returning home Tuesday to host the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Stuckey has yet to go through a complete practice since collapsing during a game on March 5 in Cleveland. The next time the Pistons will hold a practice is Thursday.
About Last Night: At least the Detroit Pistons held Mario West scoreless
If an opposing team shoots 63 percent from the field, you're gonna lose. As I said in the game thread, the Hawks are a team of streaky shooters, with Al Horford down low to clean up the glass. They are a terrible matchup for the Pistons both physically and athletically at basically every position, but the Pistons' (like most teams) best chance to beat them heading in was the fact that usually, every explosive Hawks scorer doesn't have it going at the same time.
Saturday, they all had it going at the same time. Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, Al Horford and Jamal Crawford combined to miss just 12 of 45 shots. Horford and Smith were scoring in the paint. Three-point shots were falling. There was simply nothing Detroit could do with any Atlanta scorer.
Give the Pistons some credit. They made the game semi-respectable in the second half after giving up 69 points in the first half and trailing by 28 at halftime. They played hard after the break, they just weren't nearly good enough in any facet of the game to compete.
I'm going to nit-pick Jason Maxiell: Maxiell played really well, getting 19 points on 6-of-9 shooting with 12 rebounds. That being said, something I'd like to see eliminated from his game: the 15-footer.
Sure, he can hit it sometimes, but how many times throughout his career has he taken that shot, which he has a slow release on, and barely grazed iron?
If he's going to have staying power in the league as a journeyman third or fourth big, he'll have to learn to hit it more consistently at some point when he can't rely on strength or athleticism so much. For now though? Just stay in the paint. Maxiell is so much more effective that way. He scored 19 points on nine shots, incredible efficiency. It could've been eight shots had he elected to not take that one hideous 15-footer. Maxiell's play has drastically improved from earlier in the season, and I don't mean to suggest otherwise. But he's just so much better when he stays close to the basket.
No time for Daye/Summers: I know I've been the guy who's constantly made the case that it's not good strategy to simply play rookies because the team has no shot at the playoffs. I still think it's not a great strategy -- whether your team is good or not, rookies shouldn't play until they've proven in practice on a day-to-day basis that they are ready mentally and physically to contribute consistently in a role better than the person in front of them occupying that role.
But in a blowout? In a game where several starters clearly, clearly didn't play with any energy early (they scored 12 points in the first quarter)? This is the time that is made for rookies to play. Go in. Try and get a spark. Try and wake up a veteran.
Gordon/Villanueva continue to be forgotten: Ben Gordon's minutes were up (26) and so were his turnovers (6). He didn't play well and just simply didn't look comfortable.
Charlie Villanueva scored nine points on 4-of-7 shooting. He only played 15 minutes. I would think Villanueva shooting well could've helped the team close the gap at some point. Maybe not, but his minutes aren't even fluctuating based on performance right now -- he seems to be getting no more than 20 whether his shot is falling or not, which is weird since the Pistons are down a big with Ben Wallace out.
Neither player can be happy. I just don't predict that frustration saying buried for long. They are both decent offensive players, both signed here to play bigger roles. I understand why they're not -- they haven't played well. But I also think highly paid players used to getting minutes don't keep their feelings silent for long.
The Hawks can surprise a team in the playoffs: The Hawks have question marks -- Mike Woodson has always seemed like he could either be fired or win coach of the year in any given season, Josh Smith sometimes spends a week or so launching threes at a 25 percent clip instead of attacking the basket and Joe Johnson, while good, along with Mike Bibby, forms an aging backcourt.
Still, and granted, the Pistons poor defense helped some, but if the Hawks put together a stretch where they are playing that kind of offensive basketball, isn't it conceivable that they could upset Orlando or Boston in a playoff series and sneak into the conference finals?
The Celtics are aging in dog years. The Magic are a perimeter-oriented team that can be as hot and cold as Atlanta. Even against Cleveland, if you were going to pick a primary defender to have to try and slow down LeBron James for seven games or so, wouldn't you pick someone with the tools of Josh Smith? Plus, they can throw Marvin Williams, also a pretty decent defensive player, at James for a different look. The Hawks have it, and can really mess things up in the Eastern Conference if they continue to play this well.
What the blogs are saying:
Detroit Bad Boys: "Oh, and Will Bynum continued to make the case that maybe he should start at the point with 16 points and 7 assists. But if Stuckey's a sixth man, what does that make Ben Gordon."
Hawks Blog: "To me, the most impressive thing was the second quarter. After jumping out early, I figured the Hawks would let Detroit back in the game, but they turned it up a notch, which, as you know better than I do, has not always been the case. One play that stands out is Jamal Crawford D’ing up Ben Gordon out beyond the 3-point line, poking the ball away and cruising in for a dunk."
Cleaves joins Fox Sports Detroit
Mateen Cleaves has joined the Pistons broadcast team. Cleaves will be a studio analyst for certain games remaining on the schedule. His next appearance will be the Cleveland game later this month, March 21.
Pistons' Rodney Stuckey unlikely to play next two games
Detroit Pistons guard Rodney Stuckey said after Saturday night’s loss to the Hawks that he will miss his fifth straight game Monday night at Boston.
He also said that he would like to practice before returning, so that would make it unlikely that he will play Tuesday against the Cavaliers. The Pistons' next practice is Thursday.Stuckey hasn’t played since collapsing during a loss at Cleveland on March 5. He has started taking part in shooting drills and worked up a sweat during pregame drills Saturday night.
The team is calling Stuckey day-to-day, but it appears that whenever Stuckey feels comfortable returning to the floor, he will be allowed to. Stuckey said before Wednesday night’s loss to the Jazz that he plans to return before the end of the season.
Mateen Cleaves joins FSD as Pistons analyst
Former Michigan State basketball star Mateen Cleaves is joining Fox Sports Detroit as a Pistons studio analyst for select games. His next assignment is Sunday, when Detroit faces Cleveland.
Cleaves, who played for the Pistons in 2000-01, will appear on pregame and postgame editions of "Pistons Live" and provide halftime analysis. “We all know how Mateen’s personality and enthusiasm came through on the basketball court," FSD executive producer John Tuohey said in a released statement. "We believe viewers will find his studio presence to be just as energetic and insightful. As a lifelong Pistons fan and a former Piston himself, Mateen feels what both fans and players go though, takes it to heart, and expresses with passion his love for the game and the home team.”
Cleaves, a three-time captain at MSU, led the Spartans to the 2000 national championship.
Video in the link above^.Atlanta over Detroit
Final Score Pistons 99 Hawks 112
Game Highlights via NBA.com
Since many of us didn’t get to see this one, the highlight will just have to do. Although if you’re a Pistons fan I doubt if you would consider them high-lights.
One thing that stood out for me in the box score, the Pistons allowed the Hawks a season high 63% shooting percentage. Another telling sign as to what Ben Wallace has been to the team all season long.
Every Piston, besides DaJuan Summers who played just 1 minute, were in the minus on there +/- stat.
Go Jason, Maxiell scored 11 of his team high 19 in the second half.
After building a 28 point lead at halftime, the Hawks watched the Pistons pull to within nine points early in the fourth quarter.