Game 44: Detroit Pistons (23-20) @ Denver Nuggets (16-27) - 9:30 PM ET

[Moses ShamMoses]

What if we swapped out Jennings for RJ and Stanley for Morris in the starting lineup? Does that balance things out at all? If it gives us the best chance to win, why not? For the record, i would be shocked if SVG had the balls to do something like this...even on a trial basis.

1st unit:
BJ
KCP
SJ
Illy
Drum

2nd unit:
RJ
Hillard/Meeks
Morris
Tolliver
Baynes

[Timmaytime]

What if we swapped out Jennings for RJ and Stanley for Morris in the starting lineup? Does that balance things out at all? If it gives us the best chance to win, why not? For the record, i would be shocked if SVG had the balls to do something like this...even on a trial basis.

1st unit:
BJ
KCP
SJ
Illy
Drum

2nd unit:
RJ
Hillard/Meeks
Morris
Tolliver
Baynes

Putting our most talented perimeter player on the bench? no thanks.

If Stanley continues to play well and Meeks comes back healthy I could see moving Illy to the bench and Marcus to the 4

[dVs33]

http://www.freep.com/videos/sports/nba/pistons/2016/01/24/79259902/

I don't know if you guys saw this, but I loved Stanles responses here.
this kid has the perfect attitude for a young guy. He can't hide his frustrations, but he still has the right answers.
He's going to develop into quite the player.

[DetroitPistons]

http://www.freep.com/videos/sports/nba/pistons/2016/01/24/79259902/

I don't know if you guys saw this, but I loved Stanles responses here.
this kid has the perfect attitude for a young guy. He can't hide his frustrations, but he still has the right answers.
He's going to develop into quite the player.

Wow that was really well said by Johnson. He was spot on. I have criticized our past coaches immensely in the past, and rightfully so because they have been awful for the most part, but I find myself not blaming SVG very often aside from a questionable coaching decision here and there. That isn't because I have some blinding bias for the guy, although I do love the guy, but because it simply is rarely ever his fault why we lose. This is why it's frustrating reading posts after a loss railing against SVG. SJ said it best, SVG is the most energetic and animated guy who is saying all of the right things but the players simply aren't taking it to heart. What more can the guy do!? The players simply need to just take their hunger and intensity to another level and do it every night for 48min. I'm sure that is mentally and physically exhausting but it can be done and it is what needs to be done if this team wants more than to just be battling for the 7th or 8th seed at the end of the season. I may be reading a bit much into this but at the end when he was talking about "our leaders being on the court" (insinuating that their isn't a leader in the lockerroom) it may have been a subtle way of him expressing his desire to take a leadership position since A. he almost always brings high energy and effort on the court and B. he can't become a lockerroom leader based on the fact that he is a rookie so he has to find another way to answer the recent call for a leader (doing it on the court). SJ is really a perfect prospect with his base skillset, work ethic, desire to be great, and speaking ability. He has all the tools to become a leader on and off the court and I wouldn't be shocked at all if he assumes that role in a couple of years.

[Todd3]

All I care about is winning and Dre gives Reggie a better chance to get a good shot and better chance at the rebound in that situation.

Your debating the point out of context. In this game , Dre was not the better option. There's also 3 other guys on the floor that were no where near that rim nor moving off ball

The point was Dre should've been on the court for the last play. What is that out of context from?

The play didn't work, so Baynes was not the better option. Reggie had to finish over 2 defenders, one of which would've been occupied by Drummond had he been in the game, or it would've left him in position for a pass-dunk or rebound.

[Todd3]

Dre was pouting hard last game. You could tell in his body language when he was subbed out for Baynes since he couldn't do anything against Jokic.

Any big with decent fundamentals will absolutely murder Dre. It's pretty much a given

Also alarming how terribly bad our interior defense has been.

Jokic had 17 pts. You're wildly exaggerating.

Opposing starting Center's avg 14 ppg against us. Drummond avg 17 ppg. Interior scoring at the Center position is not this teams problem. Dribble penetrating guards is the cause of our interior defensive issues.

[Todd3]

Because Drummond played too many minutes and because Reggie sucked

Drummond played 18 minutes. Pistons are 0-17 in their last 17 games when Drummond records single digit points and rebounds. We are 19-48 in Drummond's career when he plays 20 min or less or doesn't play at all. Playing him less is not this teams formula for success.

[pistontr]

Dre was pouting hard last game. You could tell in his body language when he was subbed out for Baynes since he couldn't do anything against Jokic.

Any big with decent fundamentals will absolutely murder Dre. It's pretty much a given

Also alarming how terribly bad our interior defense has been.

Jokic had 17 pts. You're wildly exaggerating.

Opposing starting Center's avg 14 ppg against us. Drummond avg 17 ppg. Interior scoring at the Center position is not this teams problem. Dribble penetrating guards is the cause of our interior defensive issues.

drummond is one of the worst in defending midrange game
http://stats.nba.com/league/player/defense/#!/gt15/?sort=PLUSMINUS&dir=1&CF=GP*GE*20|FGA_GT_15*GE*3&Season=2015-16&SeasonType=Regular%20Season

he is not good at defending rim neither
http://stats.nba.com/league/player/defense/#!/lt6/?sort=PLUSMINUS&dir=1&CF=GP*GE*20|FGA_LT_06*GE*5&Season=2015-16&SeasonType=Regular%20Season

[Todd3]

Dre was pouting hard last game. You could tell in his body language when he was subbed out for Baynes since he couldn't do anything against Jokic.

Any big with decent fundamentals will absolutely murder Dre. It's pretty much a given

Also alarming how terribly bad our interior defense has been.

Jokic had 17 pts. You're wildly exaggerating.

Opposing starting Center's avg 14 ppg against us. Drummond avg 17 ppg. Interior scoring at the Center position is not this teams problem. Dribble penetrating guards is the cause of our interior defensive issues.

drummond is one of the worst in defending midrange game
http://stats.nba.com/league/player/defense/#!/gt15/?sort=PLUSMINUS&dir=1&CF=GP*GE*20|FGA_GT_15*GE*3&Season=2015-16&SeasonType=Regular%20Season

he is not good at defending rim neither
http://stats.nba.com/league/player/defense/#!/lt6/?sort=PLUSMINUS&dir=1&CF=GP*GE*20|FGA_LT_06*GE*5&Season=2015-16&SeasonType=Regular%20Season

He can't be in 2 places at once. In a 1-4 system there is only 1 rim protector. If he's guarding midrange shooters at 15 ft, there is no one to protect the rim, and with the amount of dribble penetration our guards allow, I doubt you would prefer that. You have to factor dribble penetration into those rim protection rankings. Are those other teams guards allowing the same level of penetration as ours? 1 big can only be expected to protect so much and our perimeter defense off the dribble is awful around Drummond.

If it was better, Dre could guard jumpshooting C's closer. Right now we need him closer to the paint, because the fact is his man is only scoring 14 ppg so that isn't the problem, it's his teammates who need to do a better job guarding their man because we are 26th in opp points in the paint and it's mostly from guards. Stop blaming the help defender for not stopping someone else's man. He needs to help at times (no perimeter can guard their man all game), but the constant layup line our guards have been allowing lately is too much to ask of any rim protector.

All that said, we are top 10 in defense as a team, so defense really isn't this teams problem at any position. It is lately, but overall our defense has been way better this year. Only 3 players on the team shooting over 43% and 27th in assists is still our biggest problem overall.

[Blkbrd671]

All I care about is winning and Dre gives Reggie a better chance to get a good shot and better chance at the rebound in that situation.

Your debating the point out of context. In this game , Dre was not the better option. There's also 3 other guys on the floor that were no where near that rim nor moving off ball

The point was Dre should've been on the court for the last play. What is that out of context from?

The play didn't work, so Baynes was not the better option. Reggie had to finish over 2 defenders, one of which would've been occupied by Drummond had he been in the game, or it would've left him in position for a pass-dunk or rebound.

Dude watch the f* game. I know you didn't because if you watched , you'd understand dre wasn't even trying for rebounds nor getting back on d, yet you think all of a sudden he's going to wake up. He doesn't deserve it. Mentality like yours , rewarding a player for being lazy all game , is exactly the direction we don't need to go.

Furthermore, Dre gets a put attempt and misses or foul'd. Now we have a 35% FT at the line, don't 2......................either way you put it, your point makes no sense.

[Todd3]

Your debating the point out of context. In this game , Dre was not the better option. There's also 3 other guys on the floor that were no where near that rim nor moving off ball

The point was Dre should've been on the court for the last play. What is that out of context from?

The play didn't work, so Baynes was not the better option. Reggie had to finish over 2 defenders, one of which would've been occupied by Drummond had he been in the game, or it would've left him in position for a pass-dunk or rebound.

Dude watch the f* game. I know you didn't because if you watched , you'd understand dre wasn't even trying for rebounds nor getting back on d, yet you think all of a sudden he's going to wake up. He doesn't deserve it. Mentality like yours , rewarding a player for being lazy all game , is exactly the direction we don't need to go.

Furthermore, Dre gets a put attempt and misses or foul'd. Now we have a 35% FT at the line, don't 2......................either way you put it, your point makes no sense.

I watched the game. What he had done on defense up to that point is irrelevant when it comes to the last play on offense. I'll take Dre over Baynes when needing 1 offensive rebound to win a game. That's not rewarding a player, it's making use of the best offensive rebounder in the league to your advantage for the team's sake. If Dre got the rebound there and got fouled, I'd take my chances with him making 1 FT for OT vs having no chance at all, which was what happened. He had 8 rebs in 18 minutes up to that point and was rebounding 25% of all available rebs when in the game vs 20% for Baynes. There is no argument that Baynes gave us a better chance for an offensive rebound in that situation, not based on how they played this game or any game.

The only reason my point makes no sense to you is because you're not listening and too busy spazzing out.

[Blkbrd671]

The point was Dre should've been on the court for the last play. What is that out of context from?

The play didn't work, so Baynes was not the better option. Reggie had to finish over 2 defenders, one of which would've been occupied by Drummond had he been in the game, or it would've left him in position for a pass-dunk or rebound.

Dude watch the f* game. I know you didn't because if you watched , you'd understand dre wasn't even trying for rebounds nor getting back on d, yet you think all of a sudden he's going to wake up. He doesn't deserve it. Mentality like yours , rewarding a player for being lazy all game , is exactly the direction we don't need to go.

Furthermore, Dre gets a put attempt and misses or foul'd. Now we have a 35% FT at the line, don't 2......................either way you put it, your point makes no sense.

I watched the game. What he had done on defense up to that point is irrelevant when it comes to the last play on offense. I'll take Dre over Baynes when needing 1 offensive rebound to win a game. That's not rewarding a player, it's making use of the best offensive rebounder in the league to your advantage for the team's sake. If Dre got the rebound there and got fouled, I'd take my chances with him making 1 FT for OT vs having no chance at all, which was what happened. He had 8 rebs in 18 minutes up to that point and was rebounding 25% of all available rebs when in the game vs 20% for Baynes. There is no argument that Baynes gave us a better chance for an offensive rebound in that situation, not based on how they played this game or any game.

The only reason my point makes no sense to you is because you're not listening and too busy spazzing out.

We'll have to agree to disagree. There's simply no way any coach would have Dre in there after the performance he put out. What message are you sending to your team? And again, whether its baynes or dre, there's 3 other players on the court that were cemented at the 3 point line. That is more inexcusable.

Sorry for spazzing, got a mod trolling me in the Zach lowe thread. Carried over, my bad

[Todd3]

Dude watch the f* game. I know you didn't because if you watched , you'd understand dre wasn't even trying for rebounds nor getting back on d, yet you think all of a sudden he's going to wake up. He doesn't deserve it. Mentality like yours , rewarding a player for being lazy all game , is exactly the direction we don't need to go.

Furthermore, Dre gets a put attempt and misses or foul'd. Now we have a 35% FT at the line, don't 2......................either way you put it, your point makes no sense.

I watched the game. What he had done on defense up to that point is irrelevant when it comes to the last play on offense. I'll take Dre over Baynes when needing 1 offensive rebound to win a game. That's not rewarding a player, it's making use of the best offensive rebounder in the league to your advantage for the team's sake. If Dre got the rebound there and got fouled, I'd take my chances with him making 1 FT for OT vs having no chance at all, which was what happened. He had 8 rebs in 18 minutes up to that point and was rebounding 25% of all available rebs when in the game vs 20% for Baynes. There is no argument that Baynes gave us a better chance for an offensive rebound in that situation, not based on how they played this game or any game.

The only reason my point makes no sense to you is because you're not listening and too busy spazzing out.

We'll have to agree to disagree. There's simply no way any coach would have Dre in there after the performance he put out. What message are you sending to your team? And again, whether its baynes or dre, there's 3 other players on the court that were cemented at the 3 point line. That is more inexcusable.

Sorry for spazzing, got a mod trolling me in the Zach lowe thread. Carried over, my bad

No problem. I get your side, I just think for the last play of a game its best to have your best offensive rebounder in to maybe get an extra possession (even if not the best performance up til that). I think the team would've just been happy to win and not cared how it got done. We'll agree to disagree. Games over and no sense arguing about it.

[Blkbrd671]

I watched the game. What he had done on defense up to that point is irrelevant when it comes to the last play on offense. I'll take Dre over Baynes when needing 1 offensive rebound to win a game. That's not rewarding a player, it's making use of the best offensive rebounder in the league to your advantage for the team's sake. If Dre got the rebound there and got fouled, I'd take my chances with him making 1 FT for OT vs having no chance at all, which was what happened. He had 8 rebs in 18 minutes up to that point and was rebounding 25% of all available rebs when in the game vs 20% for Baynes. There is no argument that Baynes gave us a better chance for an offensive rebound in that situation, not based on how they played this game or any game.

The only reason my point makes no sense to you is because you're not listening and too busy spazzing out.

We'll have to agree to disagree. There's simply no way any coach would have Dre in there after the performance he put out. What message are you sending to your team? And again, whether its baynes or dre, there's 3 other players on the court that were cemented at the 3 point line. That is more inexcusable.

Sorry for spazzing, got a mod trolling me in the Zach lowe thread. Carried over, my bad

No problem. I get your side, I just think for the last play of a game its best to have your best offensive rebounder in to maybe get an extra possession (even if not the best performance up til that). I think the team would've just been happy to win and not cared how it got done. We'll agree to disagree. Games over and no sense arguing about it.

RJ had the game winner twice and choked at the rim. He can call foul all he want, he was past his defender he just didn't finish. B* a* moves calling out the refs. He doesn't get respect, but he sure hell ain't goign to get it b* about it

[El Chivo]

Gallo is amazing, talking about Nuggets.

[Todd3]

Gallo is amazing, talking about Nuggets.

He would fit perfect here in the Turkoglu/Rashard 3-4 hybrid role. He's like a souped up Ersan minus the pump fakes.