Pacers @ Pistons 7 PM (preseason game 3)

[Pharaoh]

How much is "that much"

If Kennard and Henry are playing approx 15 mins per game against bench units then that's not a bad thing IMO.

We need them to play and develop - can only develop so much by watching or in practice

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[afroxnas]

I would say one of the biggest weaknesses of this team for a long time has been the struggles on the offensive end of things. Even last year, we weren't horrible defensively....but when he got stops, we couldn't score. Teams are just too good offensively to think you're going to shut them down to 90ppg....you have to be able to score. We have Jackson and Harris that can go get buckets, no one else.

I guess when he was a rookie coming in, I thought he would be better offensively at this point. He doesn't need to be a 20ppg scorer but he needs to be able to give what either KCP or Morris brought offensively last year and I think he's miles and miles away from that. Just in a game like this with Bradley, Harris, and Drummond out I would've liked to see him more aggressive offensively. He can't be a liability, which is what I can easily see him being on that side of the floor.

Hope I'm wrong though. And to be fair, as I've said I haven't paid much attention at all to the preseason.....just boxscore watching.

Part of him not being aggressive offensively would come from ASVG and the choker chain he's had wrapped around SJs throat the last 2 years.

Other part would be him just playing his role where he's not a top option offensively and is looking to fit in.

I don't want guys playing outside their role in pre-season then adjusting to "normal" in season - know your role, perfect your role then expand it.

Dre - Tobias - SJ - AB - RJ: SJs role is a defender & link between the scoring 4

With the bench unit it shouldn't change since in theory you'd have Kennard & Henry that can shoot it so SJ should be looking to get them the ball in the right spot

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1) I realistically don't see either Kennard or Henry playing that much

2) We're in trouble if we're depending on them to play that much

Something just tells me, its gonna be another long season...

Seriously what would the Pistons have to gain from playing Tolliver or Galloway ahead of Ellison and Kennard? What are AT and LG good for? At a stretch 1-2 more wins this season?
They pistons are a small market team in cap hell, paying big bucks to two guys that are basically untradable:a PG that does not make anyone better and plays like he never heard the word defense his whole career, and a center that is unplayable in crunch time.
The ONLY path to improvement is to develop the current young talent, SJ, LK and HE,and make them into proper NBA players. The only one. Playing AT and LG ahead of them will just guarantee this team a few more years in mediocrity limbo

[Uncle Mxy]

I was at the game. Some random thoughts... probably more later:

- Quit ragging on Boban so much. He was the most dependable scorer. I'd like to see a lineup of him and Moreland.

- With 5 seconds left, at the opposite end of the court, Ish goes up the court, and fails to score rather than find an open man

- Not that there was great D overall, but there were good defensive efforts where the Pacers just made tough shots

- LCA seemed a lot more crowded in the concourse than in the actual arena. Pretty dead vibe the first half.

- No free chili! Not a lot of freebies compared to a typical game at the Palace.

- Stanley Johnson needs to learn to take it to the rack and score.

- Luke Kennard still has a punchable face.

- The mega-TV is distracting. I was bopping and weaving between "Portals" (LCA's groups of sections) and couldn't find a place where it wasn't downright looming

- Reggie's still got some rust to shake off. He's bitching about the floor being too cold with the block of ice underneath, but with his tendency to overheat, I don't think that's a bad thing.

- Galloway seems pretty useless... a waste of space. By contrast, Reggie Bullock is not a waste of space.

[hoophabit]

A cobbled up roster on both teams. It seemed they stuck to their game plan and toughed it out. Not hyped or down on any player based on this game, although I think Ellenson deserves credit for stepping up near the finish. I'm impressed with the steady professionalism I'm seeing from SJ. Stay within yourself and stay solid. He was the impatient kid last year, but it appears he understands the current situation. Hope so, I like Stanley's spark.

[MotownMadness]

Watch on YouTube

Here's a full 9 minute highlight of the game for anyone that couldn't watch