"I think just the fact that myself and Josh were the two biggest signings, the hype and expectations were on both of us," Jennings said. "But Josh plays a certain way and I play a certain way, so I think that was the most unfair part of it.
"He has a certain way they want him to play and I have a certain way I'm supposed to play. We came over here together but we're two different players."When Smith was released on Dec. 22, most believed Jennings was next on the chopping block, that he wasn't Van Gundy's type of player. And whether he is or isn't, only Van Gundy's actions will determine, but Jennings is clearly the most dynamic point guard Van Gundy has coached — and assuredly, Van Gundy's biggest surprise through this surprising streak.
Jennings has rated his time in Italy as positive, even if the basketball aspect wasn't as successful as many wanted it to be. The criticism didn't leave him hardened, but considering he's naturally more observant than trusting, he went further into his shell."People don't know that I'm into basketball," Jennings said. "I think people think I just play the game to just play. I watch a lot of basketball, a lot of old basketball. I really embrace the players who came before us."He also stays in contact with former Piston assistants Henry Bibby and Rasheed Wallace."I'm sure you'll have people who'll probably be like, why are you hanging around Rasheed Wallace?" Jennings said. "But he's also won in this league and if you pick his brain about basketball, he knows what he's talking about."
Jennings now takes teammates out to dinner on the road — and to what he calls "doing what's only right" — he picks up the tab as the team's highest-paid player.He credits his girlfriend, actress La'Shontae Heckard, with his maturity off the court and on, as Heckard is 10 years Jennings' senior and lives with Jennings in Metro Detroit — the first time, Jennings said, he's ever lived with a woman."That's different, for sure. It makes you grow up and think of someone other than yourself," Jennings said. "I've had relationships before but I've had to open up and trust more."That has translated to the floor, where a talk with Van Gundy about playing time led to him inserting Jennings back in the game before halftime — which has led to his devastating and often game-saving third quarters, like Monday in Toronto, where he brought the Pistons back with a 14-point output before they closed it out late
Now i know it'll only take 1 bad game from jennings and this board will want to trade him, or call him a chucker, or question his heart and love for the game. HOWEVER his play in January is not something to blow off. He very well maybe the best PG in the league in the month of January. I recall seeing BJ turn the corner last year just as Cheeks was fired, i am glad he's back to this point. Its nice to have a PG who knows what he's doing, last one i recall having was Billups.
http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports ... /21723263/
