Austin Daye started again at the PF spot last night in the Pistons' win against the Wizards. Daye didn't have a particularly great game (10pts, 4reb), but it's clear he's Kuester's first choice.
The only question now is whether Kuester will get cold feet and start a more traditional PF in the season opener, like, say, Jason Maxiell. Of course, Maxiell is dreadfully undersized, but the other option, Charlie V, is neither physical nor a post-presence. I suppose the best option, at least on paper, would be Greg Monroe. With a scant 3 pts, 2 reb, and 3 fouls last night, Monroe is not quite ready. He'll be eased into the NBA.
So it's looking like Daye. And this is good news from a fan perspective. The fans are dying to see what the Pistons have for the future. Daye possesses that super-smooth release and can create his own shot - two qualities that make him unique on this roster. Last year, I compared his game to Danny Granger, and I hold tight to that comparison. If Daye gets meaningful, consistent minutes, he may just live up to that comparison. If he languishes on the bench, we'll never know.
Also of note from yesterday's game is Rodney Stuckey and his 34 points. He took over the game and missed just 5 shots. It's just a preseason game, but he was matched up against two decent guards - Kirk Hinrich and John Wall. Stuckey showed he can indeed elevate his game. He showed flashes of brilliance two years ago, but last year was a massive disappointment. The dude just couldn't finish, and that's why his 13-18 shooting last night is heartening. If he could keep up a 45-50% shooting percentage, he'd average 18+ per night. Maybe over 20 if he got to the line more often. And, if the Pistons hope to have any success going forward, Stuckey is the key. They put all their eggs in the Stuckey basket when they traded Billups. So far, he's disappointed... but there's still time.
One last note... Ben Gordon. He was 1-5 last night. I totally respect the dude's skills, but I still don't think Kuester's found a role for him. Dumars created this problem by signing too many guards. I'd give Gordon a few games to settle in, and, if he's still struggling, he's got to go. There has to be a team out there looking for his talent. Based on the outrageous salaries offered FAs last summer, Gordon's salary ain't that bad. I'm convinced Joe D could find a taker.
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