Friday, February 26, 2010

Is Figure Skating a sport?

sport [spawrt, spohrt] - noun
1. an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature, as racing, baseball, tennis, golf, bowling, wrestling, boxing, hunting, fishing, etc.

By definition, what I watched last night was indeed a sport. Yes, those young ladies twirling around on their skates required incredible skill and physical prowess. Plus, the event was certainly competitive. Yet, it's the nature of the competition that raises some questions.

How do the athletes actually compete? With Olympic Figure Skating, the contestants perform their routines, and each routine receives a score. The highest score wins. Seems simple enough. Unfortunately, it's not an objective machine doling out scores. It's a collection of human beings, fallible and impressionable.

I admit I'm a sucker for the Olympics. I'll watch the snowboard cross, alpine, figure skating, speed skating, heck... even curling. The athletes are often extraordinary. Who isn't moved by the amazing spectacle of the aerials:


While it's not targeted toward a macho dude demo, figure skating is no less impressive. The men and women thrust themselves into the air, spinning at breakneck speeds, often landing flat on their butts in front of billions of viewers. Unlike aerials, they're not putting their life on the line every jump, but the skaters do shoulder much more pressure. Take Kim Yu-Na of Korea. During her performance yesterday, the Korean stock market took a break to watch. When she finished her sublime performance, she erupted in tears. She had a puzzled look, perhaps unsure why she was crying during such a triumphant moment. They were not tears of joy. They were tears of relief - no longer must she carry her country's mantle. She won gold and can retire to a life of Kia and Samsung promotional campaigns.

Following Kim's skate was her main rival, Japan's Mao Asada. Mao actually performed a more difficult routine, but two small slips ultimately cost her a shot at gold. It didn't take a judge to see that Kim Yu-Na was the best and Mao Asada next in line. It was the battle for third place where things got cloudy.

Canadian skater Joannie Rochette lost her mother earlier this week. It was a tragic and sudden heart attack. When she took to the ice last night, the entire viewing public felt her pain. She performed a solid routine with a slight hitch on a landing. After her final spin, the crowd erupted and the judges rewarded her with 3rd place. Only one skater remained, 16 year old American (and newcomer) Mirai Nagasu. Young Nagasu skated flawlessly. I didn't have a scoresheet in front of me, but it doesn't take a trained eye to see she hit every jump, twist, and turn without a single hiccup. It was awesome. Not quite the class and finesse of Kim, but amazing nonetheless. Surely, Nagasu should place 3rd.

It was not to be. Not only did she score less than Rochette, she wasn't even close. It didn't make sense. Rochette muffed a landing. Shouldn't that factor somehow? Evidently not. Scanning the judges' scoresheets, Rochette "outscored" Nagasu on these components:

  • Choreography/Composition
  • Transitions/Linking Footwork
  • Interpretation
  • Performance
  • Execution
  • Skating Skills

Yes, you read that correct. They grant points for both Interpretation AND Performance. This is where the question of subjectivity enters the fray. I know now that figure skating isn't always about who is best. It often comes down to who is most popular. I suppose this has always been the case, and skating judges are occasionally called out. Nagasu's coach clearly knew this going in:

(Kim and Mao are) both world champions, and Joannie is a world [silver] medalist. Mirai is 16 years old. She's not going to jump in right away and knock them off the podium.

In other words, ya gotta pay your dues. Sorta like the NBA. Maybe figure skating truly is a sport...

Thursday, February 25, 2010

How to build a team

The ghost of Matt Millen looms over Ford Field. In a recent interview, Millen's former XO (and current Lion GM), Martin Mayhew said:

"We want to look for the best players we can find without regard to what side of the ball that they play."


Mayhew manages a team that finished last in total defense the past three seasons. For a league built for parity, that's an amazing accomplishment. Yet, according to Mayhew:

"Philosophically, our position hasn't changed."

Was the 0-16 season not enough? Is Mayhew living in a large enough cocoon that he actually believes he's doing something right? Perhaps the stats don't speak loud enough. Hey, Mayhew,

YOU HAVE THE WORST DEFENSE OF ALL TIME.

Normally, a sane person could infer the main point from that statement, but you can't assume any person in the Lions organization is sane. So, I'll spell it out:

DRAFT A FRIGGIN' DEFENSE!

Sorry for the shouting. Pigheaded, macho stubborness gets to me. So does idiocy. Combine them all and you get the Lions management. To make matters worse, this draft has two players who - by all accounts - are the perfect fit for the Lions. At the top of everyone's board are defensive tackles Ndamukong Suh and Gerald McCoy. With the number two pick, the Lions obviously have the opportunity to grab one of them. Not even the Lions can screw that up, right?

You'd be wrong. Why would the Lions take a talented player when they could trade down and draft a less-talented one? Hey, that strategy worked so well with Gosder Cherilus, right? To refresh your memory, the Lions had the 15th pick in the '08 draft. They traded down two spots (receiving a 3rd rounder as compensation). The player taken with the 16th pick was Pro Bowl cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. If the Lions opted for offensive tackle, they could've landed Branden Albert who went 15th to the Chiefs. No All-star, Albert at least is a bona-fide NFL starter, something that continues to elude Cherilus. And who did the Lions land with that 3rd round pick? RB Kevin Smith - soon to be waived.

I'm no draft expert. Heck, I'm hardly a fan of the NFL. Yet, it pains me to see inept folks drive this football franchise further into obscurity. These are the dark days for the City of Detroit. The people need a diversion, but the Lions are just one more reminder of how the city is failure.

For the love of all that is good, Martin Mayhew, draft Suh or McCoy. And then keep drafting defense until the final bell rings. You can't draft for talent, because your "talent scouts" clearly suck at identifying who actually has talent. Draft for position. Do the opposite of what your instincts tell you. Follow fellow loser George Costanza's advice. Order your chicken salad on rye, Mayhew!

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

2 wins in a row

The Pistons blew out the Kings last night in Sacramento. It was a rare sight. Not only was it the Pistons second win in a row, but it was also just their second win in the last eleven tries on the Kings home court.

Rip Hamilton - one of the alleged "25 worst contracts in the NBA" (more on that later) - tore up the Kings for 30 points on 12/20 shooting. Rip also hit 5 more freebies to run his free throw streak to 51. Prince, clearly recovered from his back injury, scored 22 on 11/17. For the game, the Pistons shot a blistering 58%. Not too shabby.

The one red flag from this game was the 2nd unit. Since the team returned to health a few weeks ago, I've noticed an alarming trend - the starters will stake the Pistons to a lead, and then the subs will enter the game late in the 1st quarter and lose it. I took a look at the +/- for the starters and subs as a whole. This is how the average starter compares to the average sub for the past five games:




The starters outplayed the subs in every game but the loss to Orlando. In most cases, the point differential is staggering. The subs flat-out cost the Pistons the game against Milwaukee, and they forced a Piston rally against Sacramento and Minnesota. Why the disparity? It can't be just be familiarity.

Prince, Hamilton, and Big Ben have years of experience playing together. That does give them an advantage. Yet, fellow starters Stuckey and Jerebko are new to the mix. On the 2nd unit, Bynum and Maxiell have two years experience together, though they've had little time to work in Ben Gordon and Charlie V. I refuse, though, to believe that experience is the sole reason. What about talent? Are the starters simply better players?

Based on their salaries, no. The starters take up a combined $25million in payroll. The 2nd unit - $23million. Of course, salaries don't tell the whole story. The players' payroll is largely determined by past performance. For every single player on the 2nd unit, this season has been a massive disappointment statistically (and, no doubt, emotionally). Ben Gordon should be worth $10million, but his 14.9 ppg and 42% FG% hardly warrant it. And Charlie V - so maddeningly inconsistent - is averaging a shockingly low 5.4 this month. Hardly worth a $7million payout.

We have seen flashes from Gordon and Villanueva this season, and, when he was a Bull, Gordon could light up the scoreboard. I was happy Joe D signed this guy. Same with Villanueva. They both have extraordinary potential and offensive talent. So why aren't they producing? I will admit the chemistry issue is at play. Kuester found a working formula with the starting unit. The players know their roles. Kuester's had less time to tinker with the subs. Bynum, so dynamic earlier this season, seems a shadow of himself. Mrs. Nofrownmotown noted, "As soon as he got the name Bynumite, he stopped being Bynumite." The subs also lack defensive intensity. They step on the court desperately wanting to prove their worth to the coach, fans, and teammates, but they forget about the simple things like boxing out and weak-side defense. Guys like Beno Udrih, John Salmons, and Kevin Love just tear them up.

It's possible that time will work in their favor. Chemistry may eventually develop between the subs. They may find their roles. Ben Gordon at least showed signs of life the past few games. Bynum appears healthy, and Jason Maxiell has downright delivered this month. So, there's light at the end of the tunnel.

As for those contracts... according to Bill Simmons of ESPN, the Pistons possess 4 of the 25 worst contracts in the NBA - Hamilton, Gordon, Villanueva, and Maxiell. Based on their performance this season, it's hard for me to argue about Gordon and Villanueva. But Hamilton? The dude earns a little less than $11million/year. He's one of the most consistent scorers in the NBA, and has only once missed significant time due to injury (2009). By comparison, Ray Allen - $19million, Vince Carter - $16million, Stojakovic - $14million, Larry Hughes (just released) - $13million. Perhaps Bill Simmons thinks Rip's contract makes him un-tradeable since the contract runs for 3 more seasons. If Rip continues his current form, Joe D will find many suitors. I personally hope he stays.

As for Maxiell, he makes $5million. That's a few hundred grand below the league average. Maxiell is a decent NBA power forward that occassionally dominates. Is he above average? Probably not. He's a middle-of-the-road role player and his salary speaks to that. The fact that he's listed on the Top 25 Worst contract, for a measly (by NBA standards) $5million shows Bill Simmons anti-Piston bias. The dude grew up a Celtics fan. Where's the objectivity, Bill?

Monday, February 22, 2010

Game for the Ages

... and, no, I'm not talking about the Pistons impressive OT win over the Spurs. I'm talking USA hockey - USA vs Canada. The game was true "event" television, though NBC opted to send the game to MSNBC (more on that later).

I heard folks talking about last night's game as early as Thursday. For hockey, that's like Super Bowl-level fervor. Even in Detroit, hockey rarely gets airtime on the radio. If it's not Lions Talk, it's the Tigers (or, specifically, Johnny Damon). If it's not the Tigers, it's Crappy Economy Talk - where folks call in and bitch about the job search. For those outside the D, it really is that depressing. With the craptastic seasons of the Pistons and Wings, Olympic hockey proved a welcome distraction.

These Olympic hockey games are what All-star games should be. Other than the Olympic bottom feeders (Latvia, Germany, Norway), the teams are chock-full of talent. Sweden can field a line of Alfredsson, Franzen, and Forsberg, and then trot out the Sedins and Zetterberg. The Russians have Ovechkin, Malkin, Datsyuk, Kovalchuk, plus blast-from-the-past Fedorov. Canada is a who's-who of NHL stardom, and the teams play with the passion of World Cup soccer.

As for the US team, they have fewer "names" than Russia and Canada, but every player is a top-tier NHLer. As Americans, they're promoted significantly less than their Canadian counterparts. For my money, a dude like Patrick Kane has all the skill and panache of Sidney Crosby but gets a fraction of the pub. And I must be honest, with Crosby on the Canadian team, I have an immediate rooting interest - any team facing Canada. It's my God-given right as a Detroiter to hate the dude and all the NHL cronies that crowned him King of the NHL, despite not even being the best player on his own friggin' team.

Due to hype/promotion/Canadian-cronyism, Canada was a heavy favorite entering the game last night. I was a bit surprised that most announcers felt Canada had any significant advantage. These guys all play in the same league and often on the same team and lines. Two-thirds of the Ducks top line plays for Canada (Getzlaf, Perry), while one-third plays for the US (Bobby Ryan). Yet, when the US won 5-3, ESPN called it a "stunner" and said it was the biggest Olympic hockey upset since the Miracle on Ice. Huh? Did they forget the Czechs incredible run in 1998, besting Canada in the medal round and then Russia for the gold? That run made the Dominator a household name and earned him a Mastercard endorsement!


Bottom line is that I wasn't surprised the US won, nor should any other fan of the league. Honestly, how much better is Canadian Chris Pronger than American Ryan Suter (Predators)? Or Iginla versus Langenbrunner (Devils)? Crosby versus Kane (Blackhawks)? Besides, hockey is ultimately a team sport, and the US played an organized game and had a helluva goaltending performance by Ryan Miller (Buffalo).

The US jumped out to an early lead thanks to a goal by red-hot Brian Rafalski. After Canada tied it, ol' Rafalski powered home another. Another Canadian superstar Dany Heatley tied it 2-2. That score lasted most of the 2nd period, until scrappy Chris Drury (Rangers) put the US ahead again 3-2 after a flurry of activity outside Brodeur's crease.

Entering the 3rd period down a goal, the Canadians felt the mounting pressure. The stadium - a sea of red Canada jerseys - waited anxiously for something special. Yet, Canada's comeback was put on hold as the team took three straight penalties, including a high-sticking by Crosby. The US made them pay on the third penalty, as Rafalski almost tallied his third of the night. His shot ricocheted off Langenbrunner's toe for a 4-2 lead.

Canada pulled out all the stops, trying desperately to come back in front of the home fans. They peppered Ryan Miller with shot-after-shot. It was a blistering display of offense. The US took two penalties, and Sidney Crosby made them pay on the 2nd. He pulled Canada back to within one goal with just over 3 minutes remaining. Canada continued to pressure. Even though they were even-strength, the final minutes looked like a power-play as Canada kept the puck deep in the US zone.

Crosby had a chance to be a hero as he had an open shot near the left circle. He opted to pass to Rick Nash on the opposite side. Nash's angle was too sharp, and his shot flew across the goal line and hit the sprawling Ryan Miller. Miller was diving back into the net and almost inadvertantly pushed the puck into the goal. Yet, yankee d-man, Jack Johnson (LA Kings) somehow cleared the puck from the crease while he was falling on his face!

Canada pulled Brodeur in the final minute. The US cleared the puck, and American Ryan Kesler (who ironically plays for the Canucks) raced down the ice. Kesler somehow beat his man by diving to the puck and pushing it toward the goal. Kesler had no leverage on the sharp-angle shot but somehow scored the empty-netter. The US team erupted and piled on Kesler in front of the now-drunk Canadian fans.

It was a sight to behold.

The most exciting hockey game I'd seen in years, and only one Red Wing was on the ice. The US/Canada game no doubt earned massive ratings for MSNBC. Yet, why wasn't it on NBC? It was the showcase piece of the night, and NBC strangely booted it to their cable affiliate. Heck, it wasn't even on the USA channel!

Is ice dancing really that much more popular? Of course not. The reasons have to be financial. With ice dancing and (tape delay) skiing, NBC can stuff as many commercials as they want into the broadcast. Hockey has fewer breaks in the action. Also, the NHL is NBC's bitch. The league's weak commander-in-chief has allowed NBC to push him around like George McFly. It was less than a year ago that the Stanley Cup playoffs were pushed from evening to an afternoon game to make room for a horse racing pre-race show. Ouch.

This game was yet another missed opportunity. The popularity of Miracle on Ice proves that Americans do care about hockey, at least in the Olympics. This game was incredibly entertaining, and the US won. Americans love winning more than anything. The game could've been an incredible commercial for the NHL. Alas, MSNBC is not typical Sunday night viewing.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Ripple Effect

UPDATE:
Many Piston fans were secretly hoping that Tom Wilson's departure meant that he might be making a bid for team ownership. When asked about that question, Tom made no comment. He did admit that he's already been approached by "half a dozen" potential owners. As President of the Palace, Tom can't be part of a bidding group. So his only recourse to purchase the team would be to resign.

Now, this "Tom Wilson buys Pistons" story is completely wishful thinking at this point. Nevertheless, there is some logic to it. And it's a glimmer of hope.
___

This was big news locally, but I doubt it had much traction nationally. Yesterday, Tom Wilson resigned as President of the Pistons.

Tom Wilson was a key cog in the Piston machine for my entire lifetime. While Mr. Davidson had the vision to build the Palace, Tom Wilson created the famous Palace party atmosphere.

Happier Times

As my Dad said after his first game at the Palace, "It wasn't a game - it was an event." From genius marketing promotions (free pizza, bobbleheads, posters) to every-break-in-play entertainment (DOT RACES!), Tom Wilson kept the Palace packed. The Palace is a dinosaur now - it's the oldest NBA venue - but it ushered in the new era of basketball-specific arenas. It truly set the standard. The Palace and the Pistons are as intertwined as the Red Sox and Fenway.

Now Tom Wilson is gone. No doubt this is a direct result of Mr. D's passing. Recently, news leaked that Mrs. Davidson was hoping to sell the team. The Pistons, once a pillar of NBA stability, became Oklahoma City Thunder overnight. Not only was the team losing, but Pittsburgh columnists mused about stealing the Pistons. In a one year span, the Detroit economy collapsed, Mr. Davidson died, the playoff streak ended, and Tom Wilson resigned.

According to Forbes, the Pistons placed 4th on the NBA Team Valuation list. That value will likely decline significantly with the massive drop in ticket sales this season. Dumars did what he thought was best to keep interest high by signing Ben Gordon, Charlie Villanueva, and Ben Wallace, but, of the three, only Big Ben delivered. Gordon and Villanueva, both infinitely more expensive, must be considered massive disappointments. Not only did they not spur fan interest, but they failed to deliver any wins. Piston fans will attend the games if they believe there is hope. All the empty seats prove the fans see no hope. And can you blame them? The game I saw live in December was perhaps the worst loss I've ever witnessed (in person or on TV). Why would someone pay money for that? Why would someone attend for free?

To the Pistons credit, they've turned their season around to a certain degree. They no longer lose every game, but that does not mean there's any hope. The resignation of Tom Wilson exposes more cracks in the foundation. Is Joe D far behind?

Today is the trade deadline. By 3pm, Joe Dumars will peddle Hamilton, Prince, Villanueva, and Gordon, but he won't find any takers. No team will take on extended contracts for any Piston. It's possible Prince, who has just one year remaining, might entice a suitor, but I doubt Dumars will get fair value in return. The only Piston likely to attract any interest, believe it or not, is Kwame Brown. His $4million come off the books this season. Expiring contracts - that's all teams want now.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Who were those guys?

It was an effort reminiscent of the season opener. The Pistons crushed the T-Wolves 108-85.

Early in the 1st quarter, Rodney Stuckey had the ball near the 3 pt line. Stuckey took his man off the dribble and beat the defense baseline. Stuckey rose up over Al Jefferson and hammered home an impressive dunk. That play set the tone for an inspired first quarter. Jerebko made impressive cuts to the basket, and the starters found him every time. The dude had 13 points in the first quarter alone!

Fortunes changed, though, with the introduction of the 2nd unit. When Bynum, Gordon, and Charlie V came on, the T-Wolves - specifically, Kevin Love - turned it up. The Pistons lead evaporated, and they suddenly found themselves down 6. Yet, the Pistons responded with a flurry of fast-break points to tie the game at the half.

After the half, the starters did not give the 2nd unit any chance to lose their lead again. The Pistons opened up with 4 straight dunks, while Minny didn't score a single hoop. The lead continued to grow, as Minnesota scored just one basket before the 5:41 mark of the 3rd, but by that time it was 70-54.

Two things stood out in that third quarter - the passing and the hustle. The Pistons continued to beat the T-Wolves down the court for easy fast-break points (a whopping 26 for the game). In the half-court set, Stuckey, Hamilton, and Prince regularly found Jerebko and Big Ben for dunks and layups. It was a clinic.

Bynum continued the assist-barrage. The little dude finished with a career-high 14 assists, as the Pistons blew it open late in the 3rd, taking a 22 point lead.

In the 4th quarter, even Kwame Brown and Chris Wilcox got some burn, with both earning dunks, courtesy of Bynum. Austin Daye saw some action, hitting 4 of 7 for 9 points.

With the trade deadline just one day away, it was incredible watching these players (notably the starters) raise their game a few notches. Tayshaun, in particular, was an astounding +34. Patrick Hayes offers some interesting perspective on the Tayshaun/Jerebko on-court relationship here. Now the T-Wolves are the 2nd worst team in the league, so the Pistons shouldn't be throwing any parties. Yet, last week the Pistons struggled to beat the lowly Nets, so we Piston fans will take these rare blow-out wins while we can.

Big Al vs Amare
Dumars needs a post presence. Everyone knows it. Big Ben ain't getting any younger, and Jerebko is more a 3 than a 4. On display last night was one of the few big men on the market, Al Jefferson. Big Al is only 25 years old and was a hot commodity just two seasons ago after averaging an impressive 21 points and 11 boards per game. An injury limited him to just 50 games last year, but he still averaged 23 point and 10 boards. His injury created an opportunity for rookie Kevin Love. The nephew of the Beach Boys' Mike Love, Kevin quickly established himself as a viable (and significantly cheaper) alternative to Big Al.

Kevin Love is under contract for one more year at $3 million, while Big Al is in the 2nd year of a five year, $65 million deal. So Minnesota wants to deal. From a statistic standpoint, Al Jefferson is exactly what the Pistons need. Yet, his faults were on display last night. Against a sub-par Pistons front court, Big Al scored 14 with 5 boards and finished with a -22 on the night. A player with a $65 million contract should tear up the Pistons. Big Al struggled to get position on Ben Wallace, and, despite a massive height advantage, Big Al fared poorly against Jason Maxiell.
Kevin Love, for the record, finished with 22 points, 15 boards, and a -7.

The other notable big man on the market is Amare Stoudemire. I have no doubt Amare would've put in 30 on the Pistons defense last night, but the knock on Amare is defense. That porous defense was on display a few nights ago against Sacramento, when a backup Donte Green scored 31 against him. For the record, Green only put 6 up on the Pistons just before the All-star break.

Both Amare and Big Al will likely be with different teams soon, but the Pistons are not front-runners. Perhaps Dumars is wise to stand pat. Statistically, both those big men would be exactly what the Pistons need, but would they actually help the team win? Would either complement the chemistry, which is already lacking?

Dumars would take either player in a heartbeat if it didn't require him parting with a 1st round pick. But, if I were Phoenix or Minnesota, that pick (likely a #5) would be the only thing I'd want.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

The 5th starter? What about 3 and 4?!

There was an article on mLive with the headline Selecting a fifth starter biggest decision for Tigers' Jim Leyland to make at spring training. Did the Tigers suddenly become the talent-rich Red Sox?

Steve Kornacki wrote that piece, and it's clear that Kornacki is no Patrick Hayes or Justin Rogers. The Piston writers have an honest understanding of the teams strengths and weaknesses. With Kornacki, I feel like the words are bought and paid-for by Little Caesars.

We're to believe, according to the article, that the Tigers' pitching staff is set with four starters. I concede Verlander and Porcello as the clear #1 and #2. That statement alone is a bit of a stretch considering Porcello has only one season under his belt. Nevertheless, he showed enough last year to prove he's mentally tough and has All-star potential. So, I'll give him the #2 spot without much concern. New acquisition Max Scherzer is supposed to be #3. He's pitched a grand total of 56 more innings than 21 year-old Porcello. Only 16 of Scherzer's career 226 innings pitched were against American League competition. With that said, I do like Scherzer's potential, but locking him as the #3 is a bit of a stretch.

An even bigger gamble, though, is the supposed #4 starter - Jeremy Bonderman. Bondo last pitched a competent baseball game on June 1, 2008. That's over 18 months ago. To be honest, I've more faith in the 5th starter hopefuls - Armando Galarraga, Eddie Bonine, Alfredo Figaro and Nate Robertson. All four of those pitchers at the very least displayed a respectable arm at some point last season.

My prediction is that Bonderman will spend more time on the DL. Galarraga will slot into the #4 spot, and Bonine will beat the remainder of the competition for the 5th spot. Despite his hefty salary, the Tigers will have no recourse but to release Robertson. Figaro will spend another year in the minors.

Like last season, the Tigers enter spring training with a ton of question marks. Starting pitching is the tip of the iceberg. They have no center fielder, no left fielder, and no second baseman. On the offensive end, they lost their #1 and #2 batters. 5th starter the biggest decision? Puh-lease.

Monday, February 15, 2010

The 2 teams

Red Wings
The Wings rewarded my praise after the loss to the Sharks by thoroughly dominating the surging Ottawa Senators. For the second game in a row, the Red Wings played up to their potential. The Sens are 3rd in the East, but that didn't matter. For long stretches, the Wings controlled the game, peppering 40 shots on net.

The bad news is that Holmstrom left the game as his ailing knee started bothering him again. Franzen was chosen as Homer's replacement for the Swedish Olympic team.

The Olympic break comes at a good time for the Wings, as the young guns will get some much needed rest. The team's MVP to this point, Jimmy Howard, played almost every game since his ascension to the #1. Ailing players like Jason Williams, Maltby, and Andreas Lilja get some extended rehab time. And Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Filppula and the rest that were called to represent their country will learn that hockey can be fun again.

Datsyuk, by the way, was a man on fire Saturday night. It was one of the games where he was a danger to score every shift. Ottawa had no answer for his shifty moves - it was vintage '09 Datsyuk. He left a glimmer of hope that the rejuvenated Datsyuk will return after the Olympics. The team desperately needs him to keep it up. The Wings remain in the 10th spot in the West, and others are still gaining on them. It will no doubt come down to the wire.

Pistons
I watched a bit of the Rookie/Sophomore game on Friday night. Jerebko fared well, though he still needs to anticipate those alley-oops. They must never alley-oop in Europe, because I've seen Jerebko completely botch them three times this season. Jerebko and teammate X will rush down the court in a 2-on-1. Teammate X will pull up for a "jumper" to draw in the defender and then lob the alley-oop to Jerebko. Every time, Jerebko is in perfect position for the offensive board... which means the lob flies over his head and out of bounds.


No doubt Jerebko earned the respect of his teammates with his killer work-rate and confidence (check out Max to the left). With a little North American polish, he'll be ready for prime time.

For the record, the Rookies won the game for the first time in 8 years. I was fairly surprised since the Sophomores extra year of seasoning usually makes up for any lack of talent. Not this year.
Also worth noting is that the game featured three second round picks (Jerebko, Dejuan Blair - the MVP, Marc Gasol), two late first-rounders (Taj Gibson, Omri Casspi), and one undrafted player (Anthony Morrow). This lends credence to the belief that early draft picks no longer equal talent. The NBA draft is getting deeper, folks.

Earlier this season, mLive's Patrick Hayes wrote a superb piece on the benefits of early draft picks. All those fans that want to (continue to) tank this season for a higher draft position may want to rethink that strategy. The damage that continued losing does to a team's psyche may not be worth the higher pick. My belief is that winning begets winning. Shoot for the playoffs and worry about the draft on draft day. Last year, the Pistons unearthed Will Bynum in the playoff push. You never know what could happen.

Friday, February 12, 2010

When is a loss a win?

The Red Wings finally got their groove back last night. Something about the Sharks brings out the best in them. They outskated, outchanced, and significanly outshot the Sharks, but still fell in the shootout. It was their 4th loss in a row, and their seventh overtime loss in eight tries.

The Sharks are the top team in the West and perhaps the NHL. Yet, they were completely dominated the Wings. The Wings possessed the puck and, in general, controlled the entire game with pinpoint passing. It was vintage Red Wings for the first time in months. They did lose a point at the end, but the game left this fan feeling somewhat optimistic. The return of Homer and Franzen definitely boosted the power-play, despite blowing the 4-on-3 opportunity in overtime. The Wings don't have much of a 2nd power-play unit, but the first with Z, Pavel, Homer, and Nick should provide some power.

They sit one point out of the playoffs, with 22 games remaining. Provided they don't lose players to injury in the Olympics, the Red Wings will have every opportunity to make a late push. I had little hope in this team prior to last night's game. It was like the light finally went on.

With that said, one game (especially a loss) does not guarantee a turnaround. Their pattern of play this season illustrates a severe scoring shortage and inconsistent defense. That will have to change. Lilja and Kronwall should be back after the break, which means fewer minutes for Meech and Lebda. Meech, for all his faults earlier this year, earned some minutes on the power play recently. He's improved but should still be the odd-man-out. The bottom feeders for plus/minus are:

  • Meech (-12)
  • Stuart (-14)
  • Ericsson (-16)
Stuart's, as I mentioned before, is a bit of an aberration. He's played well until recently. The stats for Meech and Ericsson, though, are cause for alarm. Again last night, Ericsson was responsible for a Shark goal. Yet, I'm convinced Ericsson has a big upside. He showed his mettle last year in the playoffs. There were bound to be problems this year, as he's basically a rookie. We just had such high hopes. We wanted another Lidstrom. Sigh. Ericsson still needs minutes, though, so sit Meech. Sorry kid.


It'll be one or the other

The Wings host Ottawa on Saturday before the two-week Olympic break. The Wings have lost four straight. My prediction: 4-2 Wings. And I'm never the optimist!

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Unclutch

Up by one point with only six minutes remaining, the Piston's final possessions looked like this:
  • Turnover
  • Turnover
  • Missed shot (blocked)
  • 2 points!
  • Turnover
  • 2 points!
  • Missed shot (blocked)
  • Missed jumper
  • Missed jumper
  • 2 points!
  • Missed jumper
  • Missed layup
  • Turnover
  • Missed jumper
That's fourteen possessions, and they scored only 6 points. Sacramento scored 15 in that span and won easily.

I suppose I should be happy the Pistons didn't get blown out, like they normally do after a win. They did play well during long stretches tonight. Late in the 3rd, they even threatened to pull away. Up by 7, the Pistons appeared to get another stop, but the ball caromed to Omri Casspi who drained a 3... and then stared down the entire Piston bench.

That was a turning point as Sacramento quickly erased the deficit and took control in the 4th. For the game, Sacramento shot 51%, while the Pistons shot 40%. As yet another team scorches the Pistons with a high shooting percentage, it's time for the team to take a long hard look in the mirror. Their opponents just can't be getting *hot* only against them. The Pistons poor defense must be a factor.

Tonight, the 2nd unit couldn't stop my Aunt Judy. It's downright painful watching Charlie V try to D-up other power forwards. If Charlie isn't lighting up the scoreboard, he brings nothing to the table. He's a super-nice dude, but I'm starting to cringe every time he walks to the scorer's table. Ben Gordon - so effective Tuesday - was 0-8. Yep. He didn't hit a single shot.

And Stuckey... 5 turnovers and 4-13 shooting. Ouch. To his credit, he did manage 9 assists and 4 steals. He finished with a -1 rating. As for Jason Maxiell, who was so great that he got his own picture on the blog yesterday, he finished with a -11. But that plus/minus is a tad misleading as Maxiell did pull down an impressive 6 boards in 18 minutes. His teammates let him down on the defensive end.

The team heads into the All-star break with an embarrassing 18-33 record. They're destined for the lottery and more empty Palace seats.

At least the Red Wings got the day off today.

Mad Max

Something happened to Jason Maxiell.

This guy is back.

The past four games, Maxiell is averaging 10pts (on 62% shooting) and 8 boards in just 25 minutes per night. The dude, in a word, was dominant. Despite giving up seven inches on Andrew Bogut, Maxiell skied over the dude to pull down 6 offensive boards last night. And he was the hero in the clutch against New Jersey. His clunky jumper actually fell at an impressive clip. This is a guy who barely averaged over 5 pts per game coming into February. He was a forgotten man.

Not anymore. Against the Bucks, Maxiell posted an astonishing +21 rating. The night didn't go nearly as well for players facing their old teams. Villanueva scored a total of 0 points in 19 minutes for a -7 rating. Carlos Delfino - a reborn man since landing in Milwaukee - scored 9 on 3/11 shooting for a -15 rating.

As for Stuckey, he was a star last night - 1 turnover, 7 assists, 18 points, 5 boards. But the stats don't tell the whole story. He hit some star-worthy shots, including a clutch jumper with Charlie Bell draped all over him. The Pistons were in control much of the game, but the Bucks did take a 4 point lead late in the 3rd. The Pistons then turned up the pressure, ultimately holding the Bucks to 36% shooting. With Ben Gordon, Max, and Stuckey carrying the offense, the Pistons went on a late 17-6 run to pummel the Bucks into submission. Honestly, it was a win reminiscent of the Billups Era. Save for a few offensive bursts from the Bucks, the Pistons were in control, and, during crunch time, they played their best.

Despite my optimism, I know that type of performance was an abberation. They're still an 18-32 team, but it was great to see for just one night. And it was also great to see Ben Gordon playing like the All-star I know he can be. It's taken a few games, but he's back.

Now that I've spent the past few paragraphs praising the Pistons, I fully expect them to lay an egg tonight against Sac town.

Wings
I wish the news were as positive for the Wings. They lost yet another one last night in overtime. I honestly don't know why they even participate after regulation. When the final horn blows, Babcock and Company should hop on the plane and beat the traffic. Why risk injury? They're absolutely dreadful in overtime. In fact, that's the only thing this team has in common with last year's Wings.

I will, however, give the Wings credit for mounting a 2-goal comeback. Despite falling behind 3-1, the Wings rallied for the tie. They pounded home three of the ugliest goals in the history of man, showing a bit of heart. The Blues, though, were the better team throughout. That's quite a sad statement, considering the Blues are a handful of points behind the Wings. The playoffs continue to elude this team as their opponents seem fresher, hungrier, and, honestly, better.

Other than the overachieving Howard, I count five current Wings playing to their potential right now - Lidstrom, Rafalski, Bertuzzi, Helm, and Draper. Despite their age, Lidstrom and Rafalski continue to be the best Red Wing blue liners. They're not dominant, but they remain the absolute best at puck-possession hockey. Bertuzzi, despite coughing up the puck to Kariya on the Blues' 2nd goal, is on pace for 21 goals. He's already got 15, which is 5 more than I expected. And Helm and Draper... well, they sorely miss Eaves... but they're still the Wings' best line.

The rest of the team suffers from maddening inconsistency. Last night, the Blues turned it over to Dats deep in their own end (multiple times), but Pav did not take advantage. In one stretch, they literally passed the puck right to Datsyuk's stick. He tried to deke a defenseman and lost the puck. I had to rewind to make sure that I was watching the 2009's best hockey player in the world.

And what about Zetterberg? Cleary? Filppula? Stuart? They've had flashes of brilliance, but rarely at the same time. The team just doesn't have "it". They need a heart-to-heart, like that scene from Rocky III when Adrian confronts Rocky at the beach:

(Wish I had the specific scene, but this was the best I could find... skip forward to 4:10)


Where's Adrian when you need her?

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Hard to defend

With ten days until the trade deadline, Piston trade rumors are at fever pitch. They're a team on the decline, and the contenders wait patiently in the shadows to poach the remaining talent.

Scanning the Piston roster, who would they really want?

Coming in to the season, I was certain Joe D would trade Rip Hamilton, since Dumars signed fellow shooting guard Ben Gordon to a $50million contract. It was a no-brainer. Yet, the Pistons are now 50 games into the season, and both players remain. Joe D is spending $21million on the shooting guard position this year. That number will continue to increase for the next four years!

For $21million, Joe D should be getting a Kobe-level talent. At least a Monta Ellis-level (Ellis, by the way, makes $11million). Nope. Instead, Joe got 56 missed games between them. To make matters worse, the Stones played their best ball with Stuckey at the 2. Ouch. Can't say I'm terribly surprised, though. Joe D attacked last offseason with the passion of Mark Cuban but the foresight of Matt Millen. He landed the best scorer of the bunch (Gordon), as well as the best offensive big man (Charlie V). Yet, neither player can crack the starting lineup on a 17-32 team.

Part of the problem is chemistry. With a team chock full 'o shooting guards, who couldn't see that coming? From my count, the Pistons' backcourt consists of three shooting guards (Hamilton, Stuckey, Gordon) and a point guard whose top talent is to shoot (Bynum). Dumars drafted three small forwards (Daye, Jerebko, and Summers) to back-up Tayshaun, though Jerebko currently mans the power forward position. The front court consists of two defensively-challenged finesse players (Villanueva and Wilcox), a 6'5 power forward (Maxiell), and Big Ben. It's not a recipe for success. Joe D likely hoped the competition for playing time would bring out the best in his players, but instead it brought a rash of injuries.

With the pared-down rotation, the Pistons showed potential. There was balance. It's likely that Joe D noticed this too. My hope is that he'll focus on adding some complementary pieces. That may be a rotation player (Udonis Haslem) or a true Center (Al Jefferson).

If it doesn't happen at the trade deadline, he'll for sure make some waves this summer, right? Right?!

Monday, February 8, 2010

Adieu, Leino

We hardly knew ya.

In perhaps the least significant trade of all time, the Red Wings sent Ville Leino to the Flyers for a 5th round pick and defenseman Ole-Kristian Tollefsen. If he clears waivers, Tollefsen will spend the rest of the year in the minors.

Since the entire league knew the Wings needed to part with Leino due to Franzen's return, I'm surprised Holland found anybody willing to part with a draft pick. A fifth rounder might not mean much, but the Wings European scouts tend to find steals in the late rounds.

As for Leino, he fell swiftly from grace. After such a promising surge late last season, Leino's output dropped significantly. He actually scored more goals (5) in just 13 games last season than his 42 games this year (4). Somehow, he managed only 3 assists to boot. I would've expected his plus/minus to be lower than the -10 with that dreadful offensive production, so maybe his defense improved. Either way, the dude is gone. Fare well in Philly, Leino.

Speaking of plus/minus, Stuart and Ericsson now sport a -15 and -16, respectively. Stuart is a -6 the last two games alone. For some reason, Stuart's play improves dramatically when paired with Kronwall. Ericsson is best paired with Lidstrom or Lilja. Together, though, Stuart and Ericsson lose 3-goal leads, as was on display this weekend.

In a stark example of effectiveness, Stuart and Ericsson were a combined -6 for the game, while Lidstrom and Rafalski were a +6. I've watched the Wings all season, and I can honestly say the disparity in talent is not nearly so severe. There's just something with that pairing that does not work, and Babcock should split them up.

Lilja spent the past two games with the Griffins, and his return to the big league is imminent. Lilja used to be a favorite whipping-boy of Red Wing fans, now they can't wait to get him back (see the comments). He was usually good for a bone-headed turnover each game. Yet, we discovered that the bone-headed turnovers continued despite Lilja's absence. I have no doubt that when he returns he will step right into a top-6 role. No healthy scratches for Lilja. Assuming a healthy Kronwall, we're looking at Lidstrom/Rafalski, Kronwall/Stuart, Lilja/Ericsson from this point out.

I still believe the playoffs are a long-shot, but it's possible the Olympics may give this team a shot in the arm. It will be rest for the grinders, and a surge of adrenaline for the stars.

Super Bowl Ads
I'm not a huge fan of the Super Bowl, but I do love the ads. This was my favorite from last night (I'm a softie... and the music was perfect):



And for Golden Girls fans... I'm looking at you Mrs. Nofrownmotown... this one's for you:

Saturday, February 6, 2010

FanPulse

Folks,

As you all know, I've never advertised on this blog. It's not a hardened rule, but I simply want this place to be an honest exchange of ideas. On this rare occasion, I'm going to break from my rule because there's a new iPhone app that may appeal specifically to fans of this blog.

The app is FanPulse. What sets FanPulse apart from other real-time sports update apps is that it also allows user interaction and will even link to nofrownmotown.com.

Here's the FanPulse pitch:

• Get scores and breaking news sent straight to your iPhone
• Check-in to games to chat and trash-talk with friends who are also watching
• An app that delivers not just scores, but unique commentary from nofrownmotown

Many nofrownmotown readers are former metro-Detroiters who now live all around the world. So the appeal of real-time updates is key. When I travel around, I try to keep up with scores with my rinky-dink LG piece-o-crap, and it sucks. Mobile-web is a joke. And you can forget about commentary, but FanPulse changes that.

As a startup, FanPulse is wisely offering promotions for the first folks to download it. The first 2,000 downloads will be entered into a raffle to win one of twenty $50 iTunes gift cards.

That's it, promotion over, and I promise not to shove products down your throat.

Now back to our regularly schedule winter of discontent.

Lionized

For the second time in a week, the Pacers routed the Pistons. Make no mistake, the Pacers are a lottery-bound team, with barely a better record. Yet, the Pistons make them look like the Lakers.

The Pistons stayed competitive for all of 8 minutes last night. In fact, they looked quite good initially. The starters forced a handful of turnovers, and Big Ben was a monster on the boards. After falling behind 12-7, Indiana called a timeout, and they heated up from 3pt range. They finished the half up 15, while shooting 50%. The Pistons shot a dreadful 35%. The rout continued in the decisive 3rd quarter, and Indiana continued their hot shooting, and the Pistons essentially threw in the towel.

I can blame the Piston's 2nd unit for getting clobbered in the 2nd quarter, but the starters were listless in the 3rd. This deep in the season, the Pistons seem to cave when the opponents catch fire. They put up a bit of a fight then give in - just like the Lions. On the bench, there was little passion or anger... just 13 guys accepting another loss. They've been Lionized.

Coach Kuester should shoulder some of the blame. His players were not ready. It's not his fault that Rip, Tay, Gordon, and Bynum were out most of the year. And he should receive some credit for unearthing the talents of Jonas Jerebko. Yet, Kuester seemingly has no control over this squad. The head coach needs to find a way to motivate the players, and this squad was as motivated as a Harvard-bound senior with a week left of high school.

I'd hate for the Pistons to fire yet another coach, but Dumars needs to at least consider it. Are there any superior candidates available? Is there some psychologist/tactician hybrid that can motivate these clowns?

No doubt the old guard are a proud bunch. Prince, Hamilton, and Big Ben won't enjoy the embarrassment of these blow-outs. Yet, they shoulder much of the responsibility. Roy Hibbert was a shocking +29 against Big Ben. Hamilton and Stuckey - after dishing out 16 combined assists against the Nets - combined for all of ZERO against the Pacers. And it couldn't have been swarming defense. It was a combination of missed shots (39% shooting for the team) and poor movement.

This team is playing out the string, but they still charge fans to go to the games, so play with a little heart, okay? Give us some hope for the future. The only positive out of last night's game was another DNP-CD for Chris Wilcox. Despite the rout, Austin Daye still only managed 13 minutes. Shouldn't he be one of the first off the bench, especially with Charlie V unavailable? These are the little things that will bring the fans back.

Sigh. They take the court again tonight against the Nets. Should be a ratings monster!

Friday, February 5, 2010

The $80million man

How much is Verlander worth? Most people understand the economics of modern sports. In an economically-depressed town like Detroit, an $80million contract will still raise some eyebrows. This is a town with a 30% unemployment rate! So, when an athlete inks a multi-million, unfathomable deal, the disparity of the haves vs have-nots hits home.

When they announced Verlander's deal, there were a lot of bitter callers. It's only natural - people venting their frustrations and calling out a society that would pay $80million to a guy for throwing a baseball. Yet, that's not the whole story. Baseball is Verlander's profession, and he happens to be in the top 0.01% of that profession. If any of us are the top 0.01% - regardless of our profession - we're likely to be millionaires. We could be the top writer, the top IT guy, or the top scientist. Even the top nurses make six figures. So, it's about being elite. Verlander is elite, and now he's paid appropriately.

From a fan perspective, the signing of Verlander was crucial. After a summer of ditching popular talent, Dombrowski made a firm commitment to the team's best player. It's small consolation, but, to put things in perspective, consider fans of the Cleveland Indians. They had to watch the team sell off Cy Young winners CC Sabathia and Cliff Lee over the past two years. How would a fan believe that team had any desire to challenge for a title? At the very least, Dombrowski wants to stay competitive. Gone is Curtis Granderson. Gone is Edwin Jackson. But the top pitcher and hitter (Cabrera) remain. They also replaced Jackson with a comparable righty in Scherzer, and they inked a competent closer in Valverde, so the pitching may not miss a beat. The loss of Lyon does sting, but perhaps the heterochromic eyes of Scherzer may put American League batters off balance! Pretty funky, isn't it?

As for Cabrera, I haven't brought him up since the end of the season, and for good reason. The young man wisely stepped out of the limelight. After his very-public arrest and poor showing in the weekend series against the White Sox, Cabrera did deliver some clutch hits in the one-game playoff. That eased some of the tensions, but the announcement that he spent the offseason in alcohol counseling demonstrated his sincerity to change. He did not make a big show of it (like some big name golfer) nor did he draw any attention at all. He simply made the change.

Personally, I don't care if the guy stays on or off the wagon. I just hope he has it under control. He's only 25, and, with the fan base behind him, he could rip the cover off the ball this year.

So, all is not lost in Tigerville. The Curtis Granderson trade will sting for years to come, but the recent signings show a continued commitment to at least remain relevant. And, hey, if they ink Johnny Damon, they might find the fans buying season tickets once again.

When I look back now, the pennant race of 2009 was quite a thrill. The Tigers were a maddening team, but they produced their fair share of incredible moments. For a glimpse of summer, check out this cell phone-shot video of a Clete Thomas walk-off hit. The roar of the crowd is palpable.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Brett Fav-ruh

Brett Favre is a controversial figure. Even in Detroit - where he would normally be viewed as a hated enemy - Favre has countless supporters. I never understood it.

For 18 straight seasons, the guy has killed the Lions. He's peppered the Lion defense for a whopping 57 touchdowns and 8,700 yards - his highest total against any team. That doesn't include playoff games where my lasting image is watching Favre launch a 40-yard bomb to an in explicably wide open Sterling Sharpe in the final minute. For a trip down nightmare lane, enjoy:



Despite the pain, many Detroiters still love the dude. Lions fans need to latch onto a winner, I suppose. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em? Yet, what about the fans of the Vikings. Favre was as much a thorn in their side. Somehow the Viking fans embraced the hated rival. Does winning cure all ills? I posed the Favre question to my good friend in Minnesota. He gave me permission to print his response. So, without any further adieu, guest blogger, Stulio, aka "S7J4":

I just had a sudden, new appreciation for Brett Favre. What, you say?! The season's over, he's non-committal again, and you've got new appreciation? Well, let me explain.

I just got up out of my chair and had sudden shots of pain throughout my body. It's winter in Minnesota, and, with the cold and ice, comes the challenges of exercizing in the elements. Warm and clean streets are nowhere to be found, and, in their place, we get strained muscles from slipping and bruises from falling. What does Favre have to do with any of that? The guy is 40, gets beat to hell, and still manages to get us within one play of the Super Bowl. He's got five years on me, not to mention 300 pound lineman body slamming him, and he keeps getting up and making great plays. I can't tell you the last time we had a QB in Minnesota with those qualities.

You can find his toying with the media distasteful, his inability to make up his mind annoying, and even his random bursts of "what was he thinking" plays frustrating, but dammit, the guy just plays. And plays well. Wait -- he doesn't just play well, he's one of the best.

Look, I'm of the school that finds the decline of player loyalty saddening. I'm tired of the "it's a business" excuse, er line. But Favre didn't end up in Minnesota because he was seeking the best deal. If Green Bay felt he was the one, he would have gotten his. But, that's not the way it worked out.

So, I for one am happy Favre's a Viking. I hope he comes back next year. I'm willing to put up with his baggage. Because not only is he a perfect fit for this team, but I don't have to look at any of the stiffs that have lined up under center for the past 10 years. (Save your Culpepper arguments... good, not great.) I want the Vikings to win more than I care if he played for the Packers or if he toys with people. And anyway, is it really that bad? How is he worse than the prima donna wide recievers? Or Bryant McKinney? Or the muscle heads in baseball...I'm looking at you Big Mac...liar.

Bring 'em back I say.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Holy Crap, They Won!

Even when the Pistons were only down 3 points to the worst team in the league, I had no faith. It was quite sad. Mrs. Nofrownmotown didn't understand. She said, "It's still a one possession game." I responded, "They never recover, not even from a 3 point deficit."

I was wrong. In many ways, it was like watching a Lions game, except the Nets were the Lions. The Nets found a way to lose. Despite having the best player (Devin Harris - Harris is, ahem, doing the "defending" in that pic) and the best big man with the grizzliest beard (Brook Lopez), the Pistons made all the right plays in the clutch. Down four at the 2:22 mark, the Pistons scored the next eight points, with an awesome alley--oop to Prince to cap off the barrage. For a few fleeting moments the Larry Brown-era Pistons resurfaced.

I feel odd putting up highlights for a game between two teams with a combined .210 win percentage, but, in case you're a diehard like me, highlights are here.

I missed much of the first half, actually forgetting the game was on. I was also distracted by my alma mater's thorough dismantling of the University of Michigan basketball team. Sorry UM fans... I like John Bielin, but it doesn't seem like the team has it this year. So as I watched Drew Crawford nail yet another baseline three, Mrs. Nofrownmotown shouted from the other room, "Do you know the Pistons are on?" Uh... whoops. When I flipped to the Pistons, they were down seven. That's exactly when the tide turned.

The Pistons quickly turned the deficit into a four point lead, and it was neck-and-neck the rest of the way. The most effective lineup featured Stuckey, Hamilton, Prince, Maxiell, and Wallace. That same lineup (with the exception of Jerebko for Maxiell) fared well against the Magic the previous game, so perhaps Kuester may have found a winning combination. It shouldn't be a major surprise considering those players have years of experience playing together.

It was a joy to watch Hamilton explode for 20 points in the 2nd half, hitting shot-after-shot from midrange. Prince chipped in with 15 and 8 boards. And little Will Bynum - finally healthy after an eternity on the sidelines - hit his first 5 shots! Gordon and Villanueva played limited minutes as they recover from lingering injuries.

Patrick Hayes pointed on mLive that the Stuckey/Hamilton backcourt combined for 15 assists and only one turnover. That's a significant development. As I mentioned many times before, the Pistons backcourt of Stuckey, Hamilton, Bynum, and Gordon should be an advantage, not a detriment. It appears they're finally clicking, albeit against inferior competition, but I'll take it.

Kuester, like Carlisle, LB, Flip, and Curry before him, is relying more and more on the veterans. Austin Daye - at best the future of the franchise, at worst a decent NBA shooter - received a DNP-CD. So did Chris Wilcox, so I guess it wasn't all bad. Once Prince shakes all the rust (and he's close), Kuester will have to find some minutes for Daye. Put the kid in the 2nd quarter for a ten minute stint. He'll only improve with NBA game experience. Ideally, Daye would get regular minutes that would lead to on-court chemistry with the second-unit teammates. Now that Bynum is back, Daye should be playing with a Bynum/Gordon backcourt. That's some decent offensive firepower.

So the win against the Nets proves that the Pistons are not the worst in the league. In the past few games, the Pistons exhibited some pride. When they play hard, they're fun to watch. With Wilcox out of the rotation, perhaps they'll at least compete every night (yes, I'm pinning it all on Wilcox and his matador defense). Next up is Indiana - who thoroughly dominated the Pistons last time. Should be interesting to see if the Pistons have actually turned a corner.

Monday, February 1, 2010

The Chemistry Issue

As the Pistons lost their fifth in a row last night (19th of 23), I couldn't help but think it was a minor victory. They didn't get blown out. How far has this team fallen that their fan base is content to see them simply stay within 10 points of the opposition?

There was a stretch last night when the Bad Boys resurfaced. In the 3rd quarter, with Stuckey, Rip, Tay, Jerebko, and Big Ben on the court, the Pistons dominated the Magic, turning a 3pt deficit into a 7pt lead. And it wasn't like they did it with red-hot shooting. In fact, they shot quite poorly, but they crashed the boards, getting second-chance points, and they played such great defense that Orlando rarely got a shot. I'm convinced that, if Kuester let that group finish the game, the Pistons win. Unfortunately, he had to sub in Gordon, Atkins, and Maxiell, and it all went to hell. The subs killed the momentum, and it again brings up the issue of chemistry.

We all saw how much the Iverson trade ruined chemistry last season. This season, chemistry further came into question as the Pistons seemingly played their best hoops when Hamilton and Prince were sidelined with injuries. Shouldn't those two talented, experienced players be the unquestioned leaders of the team? Why has the lingering injury to Will Bynum hurt them infinitely more? (Healthy Bynum: .454 win percentage, Injured Bynum: .285 win percentage)

It all comes down to chemistry and coaching. Let's compare this squad to the 01-02 squad.

In 2001, the Pistons were coming off a 32-win season, with a new, untested coach, Rick Carlisle. With Cliff Robinson, Jerry Stackhouse and a squad of cast-offs, the Pistons won 50 games. Let's compare the rosters:

Point guard - Chucky Atkins vs Rodney Stuckey
Defensively, there's not much comparison. Stuckey's superior size allows him the freedom to cover the best point guards in the league. Yet, offensively, Chucky had a respectable season in 01-02. He shot a significantly better percentage (46% vs 40%), and he turned it over less. Yet, Stuckey commands so much more attention from the opposition's defense. He's usually matched up with the best defender and is the focal point of the Pistons offense. He also has higher numbers for rebounds, assists, and free-throw attempts.
Advantage: 09-10 Pistons (Stuckey)

Shooting guard - Jerry Stackhouse vs Rip Hamilton
This is an interesting one considering they were traded for each other. For their careers, I'd have to take Hamilton. He can't create his shot like Stack, but he's one of the most consistent scorers I've ever seen. He'll rarely put up 30, but he'll give you 20 pts on close to 50% shooting every single night. This season, unfortunately, the injuries really cut into his production, while Stackhouse in 01-02 was at the peak of his game. Stack shot a low percentage, but he was the sole offensive threat and averaged over 21 pts and 5 assists per game. I predict, though, that Hamilton's numbers will improve as he returns to full health.
Advantage: Push

Small forward - Michael Curry vs Tayshaun Prince/Jerebko
Not much of a comparison here. Michael Curry was in the starting lineup as a defensive specialist, and he was fairly effective at not embarrassing himself. Statistically, he didn't fare well, averaging less than a steal per game and a shockingly low 2.0 boards/game. Tayshaun, meanwhile, for all his injuries and poor play, is still much more effective than Curry. Jerebko, who spent most of the season as the starting SF, also brings much more to the table. This one isn't even close.
Advantage: Big edge to 09-10 (Prince/Jerebko)

Power forward - Cliff Robinson vs Chris Wilcox/Jerebko/Maxiell
Not much debate about this one. Cliff Robinson was a former All-star who excelled at one-thing - winning. The dude spent his first 13 seasons in the NBA without missing the playoffs. He came to Detroit and partnered well with Big Ben as defensive stoppers. Uncle Cliffy didn't clear many rebounds or shoot a high percentage, but he seemed to make the right plays in the clutch. The current roster has nobody that comes close to Uncle Cliffy.
Advantage: Big edge to 01-02 (Robinson)

Center - Big Ben vs Big Ben
Ben is still a force in the middle, and he's re-won the hearts of every Detroiter. Unfortunately, he's eight years older. The numbers aren't quite what they once were.
Advantage: 01-02 (Big Ben)

Bench - Corliss, Jon Barry, Rebraca vs Ben Gordon, Charlie V, Will Bynum, Maxiell, Daye
From a talent perspective, the current Pistons absolutely destroy the 01-02 bench. Nobody on that old squad could match the shot-making ability of BG and CV. And a healthy Will Bynum is the spark plug that every team would want. Yet, in terms of effectiveness, the 09-10 version falls short. Whether it's injuries or inconsistent minutes or passion, the 09-10 bench rarely gets the job done. Every 6th game, Charlie V will light up the scoreboard. But Corliss brought it every night and earned the 6th Man of the Year award. Jon Barry drained 3s at a 47% clip and was second on the team in steals. (For comparison sake, the best 3pt percentage on the current roster is Austin Daye at 31%. Ouch.) Rebraca provided key depth on the front-court and could put up 15/8 per game as a starter.
Advantage: 01-02

Coach - Carlisle vs Kuester
Carlisle instilled a defensive-first mindset, unleashing the unique skills of Ben Wallace. Kuester tried to do the same but failed. Perhaps the injuries derailed his season, but injuries can't explain his bizarre rotation decisions. Chris Wilcox began the year as the 13th man, then somehow became a starter. Kwame started the year as a starter, now he's the 13th man. Jerebko has been one of the only consistent contributors to the team but was banished to the bench when Tayshaun returned. Now Jerebko is back. Austin Daye, an offensively-talented rookie on an offensively-challenged team, somehow has no role. The coach's job is to put players in a position to succeed. Carlisle defined each player's role, based on their strengths. They all delivered. Kuester seems to be unsure what each player's strengths are. The result? Chaos on the court and one of the worst records in the league.
Advantage: 01-02 (Carlisle)

Conclusion: The starters were relatively evenly matched, and this year's bench has the talent to match 01-02. Yet, the coaching made all the difference. Stackhouse was the scorer, Ben was the enforcer, Chucky was the ball-handler, and Corliss got the ball in the waning minutes. The current players could all succeed on other teams in other systems. Together, though, they're a mess. Stuckey should be the scorer, but he butts heads with Rip and (now) Ben Gordon. Ben is still effective as an enforcer, but nobody other than Jerebko has any interest defending the post. With such a bizarre, ever-changing rotation, the players have no set role on offense. As a result, their 2nd worst in the league in scoring. Defined roles, accentuating strengths - those were the trademarks to Carlisle's success. Kuester should take note. Or he'll join the long list of coaching casualties.