http://blog.mlive.com/flintjournal/its_ ... _stuc.htmlRodney Stuckey averaged 7.6 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game in the regular season and raised his scoring and assist averages in the playoffs to 8.2 points and 3.4 assists per game. Stuckey is among the top young players in the league and is expected to see a major spike in his minutes this season. He also was just the third rookie in Pistons history to start a playoff game, joining Joe Dumars and Tayshaun Prince. Stuckey was in Flint Sept. 18 as part of the Pistons Tip-Off Tour. I think I interrupted his attempt to get a game of pool going with Arron Afflalo, but he was still kind enough to answer a few questions.
First of all, you know, heading into this season is a little different than last season when you weren't as well known. Now a lot of sports outlets have you as one of the top young players in the league. How have you prepared going into this season vs. last?:"Just gonna still do what I do. Same stuff I did last year, that's what I'm gonna be doing this year. Nothing's gonna change, you know, I'm just going to prepare myself like I did last year."OK, for you as the third guard on the team, you split time being on the court with Billups sometimes and Hamilton sometimes. Do you adjust your game or play any differently depending on who you are on the court with?:"No, not really. I think when I'm in the game with Chauncey, coach wants to have the ball in Chauncey's hands more. When I'm in with Rip, he wants the ball in my hands more so Rip can come off screens and what not. Things are gonna be the same offensively with stuff like that, but I'll tell you one thing, our defense and defensive standpoint, things are going to be a lot different. We're gonna be picking up full court, trying to get back to our old ways of playing Bad Boys defense. That's something to look forward to this coming year."
Does that pressure defense suit your (individual) game better?:"Yeah, absolutely. I mean, that's what I did in high school and college, gettin' up full court, putting a little bit of pressure on the offense, you know, taking a little time off the shot clock, that's what we're trying to do. You know, we're gonna do a lot more trapping and stuff like that. That's my type of game. It leads to easy baskets for us."As a young player on a veteran team, how do you assert yourself more? There's only so many minutes to go around with four guys who are All-Star caliber players in that starting lineup.:"You know, M.C. (Michael Curry) will find ways to find my minutes, or anyone's minutes. Like I said, nothin's gonna change. My role might be a little bigger this year, but as far as going out and preparing to do something different, I'm just still going to be out there just playing hard."
