Jennings as PG on Pistons?

[nurseryc]

Are you happy with Jennings as your starting PG moving forward?

[vic]

Nope...

I would rather have drafted Ray McCallum last year instead of going for the big name no defense Jennings. He's burning up his opportunity righ now.

(I also wanted Isaiah Thomas over Brandon Knight).

Looks like the Kings are way better at picking pgs than Joe Dumars. They've got two that are better than anybody the Pistons have had the past 5 years.

Cut your losses, get Marcus Smart or Dante Exum.... I'd even have Kyle Anderson run pg or run halfcourt offense as a point forward.

[vic]

I'd even take Deonte Burton... freak athlete, smart player, good defender.

Key is to get a coach that cares more about winnning than big names

[imagump1313]

Sometimes this forum is worse than the media asking the same question 100 different ways...

[ImHeisenberg]

Are you happy with Jennings as your starting PG moving forward?

A couple people like him. The majority of us feel like Milwaukee did last summer, we can't wait until he's finally gone. He has too much free reign to do what he wants in Detroit, and adding Smith to that equation only expounds the problems.

I would happily see him traded away for a second round pick in the 2095 draft and a bag of doritos.

[Clarity]

Sometimes this forum is worse than the media asking the same question 100 different ways...

Amen

[chrbal]

Wish we never signed Josh Smith, wish we never traded for Brandon Jennings. MIddleton at SF, Knight still driving us crazy at PG, a resigned Calderon actually pushing Knight. We would be worse, but it would make sense why we were worse.

But then...Dumars wouldn't be on his way out. Yay Jennings??!?!

I'd rather the Pistons didn't have him, I like Jennings slightly more then Smith...but that's not really a compliment.

[theBigLip]

I thought Jennings would be good this year with Cheeks as our coach and Billups on the roster. But we know how that turned out.

Jennings is very athletic, but that isn't the most important attribute at PG. If he were coached properly, he could be a top 10 PG. But I don't see that happening. The good thing is his contract really isn't that bad - only 2 more years left. It will be hard to trade but possible.

[ducler]

Poor defender GTFO

[Spider156]

I'm ok with him. He was playing well under Cheeks and dropped hard after he was fired. He's definitely not the biggest problem we have as he was producing. The Smith/Monroe problem is a bigger deal and things change significantly if one of them is traded and we get another shooter on the floor.

I think Jennings's biggest flaw is not being able to finish at the rim and what's worst is not making the decision to drive and score because he can't finish at the rim. I really do believe if he gets better at that aspect of the game, his offense will balance out. He'll take less mid-range fade-aways. His shot is unorthodox and will never be any better just like how Iverson's shot was. It goes against the fundamentals of shooting. The third flaw of his is in pick and roll situations. He just doesn't know how to play it and I think it's because he doesn't drive. That takes away an option at which point he would either pass it or shoot. Because NBA players know that he won't drive in, they'll be focused on the pass at which point he would either shoot it or pass it to the side and end the pick and roll. I think if he works on his finishing, his offensive game will balance out. In the end, he's a good passer and a decent shooter. The rest of his flaws fall on his decision making which if we have the right coach, he won't be taking as many stupid jumpers. He's definitely a talent and can be fixed. But eventually we'll definitely get rid of him. He's a loser.

He doesn't play defense. He just goes for steals.

All in all, I'm not a fan of Jennings and we can definitely have a better PG. However, he's actually the best PG we've had the past 5 years and he's definitely not the biggest problem we have on the team. His contract is reasonable. But I don't think that matters as he's cancer without the stardom.

Smith, on the other hand,

Here's the problem with Smith, he's dumb. Simple as that. He's dumber than Jennings. He's like a really good role player that has to start. But he's getting paid like a star and given the role of the star on the team. I do believe that Smith is fixable with the right coach. But he needs a PROVEN strong minded coach. Maybe Hollins, but I'm thinking Thibidau type. His contract is almost toxic. I do believe he plays for 80% of it. He definitely helps with numbers on the stats sheet but definitely not on the winnings column.

As for defense, Smith was once considered as a candidate to be the defensive player of the year. So let's say he was once one of the Top 10 defensive players in the league and that's great. This is the part that separates him from Monroe! This is what I look at. Offense is easy in the NBA. You can score with the right plays. It's just X's and O's. But defense is very difficult to get!

So let's talk about Monroe. Only flaw I see in him on offense is his shot and it's big because we have a monster that can't shoot called Andre Drummond. I just don't see it getting any better after 4 years of playing in the League. I think it's a mental thing over a capability which is what separates an NBA shooter and a plain shooter. I'm not asking him to be Bosh or KG shooting that mid range. But I think he needs to shoot like Cousins or Jefferson. That's crazy to say because they're actually really good mid range shooters. Monroe won't get a max contract and I wouldn't match it if he does. You don't give a big man that type of money when he can't shoot the mid range jumper. He's NOT Drummond!

On defense, no effort! This is what separates him from Smith. Monroe will get a Jefferson type of contract before he went to the Bobcats. I believe he'll get around 12 mill a year and he doesn't deserve any more. He's very overrated and I don't believe he'll get a bigger contract. The new GM would be stupid to match anything more. He's not worth it.

With that said, based on the talent and contracts, with a 2 mill difference projection, I would definitely pick Smith over Monroe. Why? He plays defense. Yes we haven't seen him play defense very well here in Detroit but he's definitely proven it and that's enough for me to keep him. Not because I want to but because we're choosing between the two players. Also, although Smith is a very bad shooter, he can actually make a damn shot and has the confidence to take a 10 footer and beyond. That goes against Smith but it doesn't clog up the paint for Drummond because, after all, who are we building around? Drummond of course! Another reason of why I pick Smith over Monroe is because we can get SO much for an overrated talent like Monroe. We can easily trade him for Barnes and I'd be happy with that. Maybe we can even get Gallinari, that's huge. You never know what'll happen. We don't know what we're getting at the Draft. We might get super lucky and get the Top 3 and get Parker or Wiggins. I like to dream. Or we can get a PG like Smart or Exum. We can trade Monroe for a SF or a PG along with Jennings depending on how the draft goes.

I think this team is very fixable in one offseason and it all starts out with the Draft. Let's hope we stay within the Top 8 and get our pick back because I do believe if we lose the pick that it won't break us but it'll push us back a year. If we get lucky and go into the Top 3, we could be moving forward with two players having potential of stardom and who wouldn't want to coach that. Bottom line, our pick this year is very important to have and could actually make us something great.

[dVs33]

For me, smith is more of a problem than jennings.

Right now, he's still young and we don't have another option.
If it's possible to trade him and sign a guy like Lowry, then you have to do it, but if that isn't available it isn't the end of the world.

[DetroitSho]

Nope...

I would rather have drafted Ray McCallum last year instead of going for the big name no defense Jennings. He's burning up his opportunity righ now.

(I also wanted Isaiah Thomas over Brandon Knight).

Looks like the Kings are way better at picking pgs than Joe Dumars. They've got two that are better than anybody the Pistons have had the past 5 years.

Cut your losses, get Marcus Smart or Dante Exum.... I'd even have Kyle Anderson run pg or run halfcourt offense as a point forward.

You do realize McCallum got drafted before the Pistons pick in the 2nd round right?

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[DETermination]

Jennings is not a leader he needs to go in the off season along with smith.

[Manocad]

Both Jennings and Smith turned out to be exactly what anyone with half a brain expected them to be...exactly what they had been.

[The Penguin]

Both Jennings and Smith turned out to be exactly what anyone with half a brain expected them to be...exactly what they had been.

Exactly


Neither has been in a real winning atmosphere or with a coach who they'll really listen to. I think Jennings had bought in with Cheeks and that's why his firing bothered him so much. Jennings' game reverted back to Milwaukee style after Cheeks was let go. Absent being taught that higher level of what it takes to win and a coach he'll listen to, he doesn't have any reason to not do what got him to the league. I'm ok with another year of Jennings, the talent is clearly there, he's clearly a starting pg in the league, and we aren't likely to find a better option, he just needs someone in his ear who won't let up. After next year if he doesn't show that he's getting it or the necessary growth he's on an expiring deal.

I think Drummond, Monroe, Jennings etc are all in the same camp. They don't want to be laughed at any more and they desperately want to win, they just don't have vets around to show them the way and don't have a strong coach who won't let them get away with things. The vets Dumars has surrounded them have all been "cash that check" guys or guys like Tay who don't want any part of leadership.

I don't think Josh gives a ****. He knows he's awful from outside, there's proof from the one season in Atlanta when he didn't shoot from outside at all. I think he is exactly like Stuckey, CV31 and Ben Gordon before him. He got paid, I'm sure he'd prefer to win but at the end of the day as long as he took his shots and the check hits the bank it's all gravy. Look at Stuckey, it's not a coincidence he's better this year when he knows his deal is expiring than in the last few years.

Getting Smith, CV31 and Stuckey away from Drummond/Monroe/KCP/Jennings its what needs to be done and it can't happen soon enough.

[Q00]

Sometimes this forum is worse than the media asking the same question 100 different ways...

[theBigLip]

I think in a single offseason, much, much can be fixed.

1. We get a smart GM - spare no expense
2. We get a solid, experienced coach that has full backing of the GM.
3. Get rid of either Monroe or Smith. There are pros/cons of each, but Smith at SF is not an answer.
4. Get a couple of wing players that can shoot and play team D.
5. Either coach up Jennings to pass to players in #4 and play team D, or get rid of him as well.

Done.

[Neptune]

Are you happy with Jennings as your starting PG moving forward?

Definitely! I would really like to see him improve his FG%, but everything else I'm happy with. His defense could use some help too

[Clarity]

Wish we never signed Josh Smith, wish we never traded for Brandon Jennings. MIddleton at SF, Knight still driving us crazy at PG, a resigned Calderon actually pushing Knight. We would be worse, but it would make sense why we were worse.

We wouldnt be worse, last years team was better than this dumpster fire.

However if this nightmare year results in major changes from Joe to the two dummies somehow, it was all worth it.

Both Jennings and Smith turned out to be exactly what anyone with half a brain expected them to be...exactly what they had been.

Bingo

Pull up the threads from last Summer, its transparent.

Getting Smith, CV31 and Stuckey away from Drummond/Monroe/KCP/Jennings its what needs to be done and it can't happen soon enough.

This should be the #1 priority. Those guys are so awful that its addition by subtraction.

Except Stuckey is fine as a 6th man but his role has to be consistent, if there was a better option off the bench (hes 3rd in scoring off the bench & has been very good this year) we should definitely listen though because Stuck doesnt know how to win yet.

Add Jennings to that Smith/CV crew though, he is what he is.

[mercury]

Are you happy with Jennings as your starting PG moving forward?

Definitely! I would really like to see him improve his FG%, but everything else I'm happy with. His defense could use some help too

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