Starter reliance. Yeah its nutty.

zeebneeb · Post #1 » by **zeebneeb** » Thu Nov 5, 2015 2:12 am

So I decided to do a little treasure hunt on just how much the Pistons use thier starters so here are some sortable crazy ass stats that show thru only 4 games we are using/relying on our starters way, way to much;

MINUTES PLAYED
(how many minutes a particular group plays for each team)

DETROIT #1-23.5mpg (The starters)
CLIPPERS #2-18.7mpg

FIELD GOALS ATTEMPTED
DETROIT #1-43.8
CLIPPERS #2-33.3

THREE POINTERS ATTEMPTED
DETROIT #1-11.3 (42.2%!)
LAKERS #2-9.8

REBOUNDING
DETROIT #1-26.8!
CLIPPERS #2-18.8

POINTS
DETROIT #1-48.5
CLIPPERS #2-46.8

These are the main ones and it shows without a shadow of a doubt this team needs help off the bench. Not just a little, but alot. Jennings will improve this massively (IF he returns to form. Fun huh?)

These numbers cannot continue for the whole season.

Todd3 · Post #2 » by **Todd3** » Thu Nov 5, 2015 6:54 am

yeah our starting lineup has been great, but might be time to stagger the lineups or rotation a little. A dominant starting 5 does you no good if the bench gives it right back.

The one thing I noticed that is both surprising and encouraging (and confusing) is why Reggie only plays 33 mpg? Most All Star caliber PGs are playing 36-38 mpg at his age. Last year he only played 32. Does he get tired or something? I wouldn't be surprised if that was it because of how much he handles the ball, but if not it seems like we could solve part of our PG dilemma by just playing him 5 min more per game. Dre, KCP, and Morris are all playing 38.

Spider156 · Post #3 » by **Spider156** » Thu Nov 5, 2015 9:18 am

I don't think it's too complicated. Sit Ily down and let Tolliver play or move Morris to PF and let Stanley play. Slowly bring in the bench while having Jackson play then switch guards when the offense is flowing. Either that or you give the ball to Stanley and let him grow with mistakes. He'll have to do it one way or another if he's going to handle the ball. Can't worse than what we went through with Stuckey. Stanley has got a great game in him but he's playing out of pace, trying to do too much. We need a ball handler. Either one of Dinwiddie or Blake step up or Stanley steps up or we wait for Jennings. One thing is for sure, if we have to wait for Jennings, we won't win many games at this pace. It's pretty bad. Meeks injury hurt us more than I thought. I personally think Stanley is the key to our second unit.

Pharaoh · Post #4 » by **Pharaoh** » Thu Nov 5, 2015 12:55 pm

SVG has stated (at Sloan) that people say Thibs is a great coach...he plays his starters huge minutes...One could infer that you're a smart coach if you play your best players - the starters - huge minutes.

OR

One could chalk up the huge minutes to the fact we have 2 new starters and SVG is trying to get them into a groove sooner rather than later & its better to play them heavy minutes early in the season while they're fresh as opposed to in February.

Too soon to tell much of anything really but appreciate the stats

Post #5 » by **Snakebites** » Thu Nov 5, 2015 1:19 pm

I'm in agreement.

We need Jennings back, we need Johnson to grow up a little faster than planned, and we probably need one more player. Not a great player, mind you, just someone who can be a part of a rotation.

Ilyasova and Morris would probably make great bench players, a perfect scenario has us acquiring someone who can start at forward, but we're short on assets that we'd be willing to deal away.

The Penguin · Post #6 » by **The Penguin** » Thu Nov 5, 2015 1:35 pm

It's a process.

Joe had constructed a complete mess of a team with bad fits and no depth. Stan had to clear out guys like Smith and Monroe just to get pieces that fit and could actually play a cohesive style of basketball. Considering he's acquired guys like Jackson, Morris and Ilyasova for little more than 2nd round picks, he's no a great track.

Going one step further, looking at teams like Golden State, Cleveland, or the Clippers, I'd argue we have a very good bench, it just happens they are starting and playing big minutes. Illy and Morris (though Morris has started great) would be bench pieces on a contender. I think we'll win our fair share of games because this team seems like they are going to bring it nightly and has talent that fits, but if/when we hit the playoffs it won't be our lack of bench that gets exposed, it will be our lack of top end talent.

Pharaoh · Post #7 » by **Pharaoh** » Thu Nov 5, 2015 9:22 pm

I don't think we'll get exposed so much as we'll get stifled.

Teams will work out that if they stay home on our shooters Dre & RJ won't be able to do enough to win 4 from 7.

I'm of the belief we need at least one other creator off the dribble, if not 2. BJ & SJ might be the 2 but not right now