How are we going to fix the weak front court? Or, are we going to make any changes at all?We haveG: Chauncey Billups and Lindsey HunterSG: Rip Hamilton and Carlos DelfinoSF: Tayshaun Prince and Jason Maxiel<u>PF: Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyessC: Nazr Mohammed and Dale Davis</u>+Amir Johnson, Alex Acker, Kelvin Cato, Tony Delk, and Will Blalock.I've heard that we might play small, with Prince at Power Forward, but I am not a fan of the three guard offense. Plus, who would be the third guard? Lindsey? Delfino? Possibly Flip Murray, b/c Joe Dumars is interested. Makes you wish Mo Evans was still a Piston.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Fabolous @ Jul 10 2006, 01:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Kelvin Cato can always step in and play.</div>I don't think the Pistons plan to re-sign Cato but I think w/ Big Ben gone I think Joe D should really consider getting him back. I think the Pistons should trade Dale Davis and his 3.5 mil 1 year contract and if Cato is our only choice re-sign him for a year or two. HoLLa baCk
JMax better get some playing time. I heard he is doing good in Vegas, very aggressive at least. He good provide some toughness, hustle down low we lost with the departure of b.wallace, but he can score at the offensive end too. So don't discount the use of him this season. I don't see Cato coming backAlso I agree with ReppinTheD Delfino is better than Mo and I won't miss him-besides he wanted to leave. Samb who we got for Mo I think if he could bulk up over this NBA season, next year he could be on the team. I kind of like the idea of going with three guards and Tay at PF, Amir(assuming he makes the active roster) could also play PF if we are going for more of an up tempo game.
I don't know, I always like Mo more than Delfino. Maybe it's because we have a lot of shooters, (Rip, Billups, Tay, Sheed, Hunter), but we don't really have any great athletic guards or dynamic dunkers. Now they are not necessary to a team, but I thought he brought a lot to the team, more than what Darvin Ham brought.But if Mo didn't want to stay, I think we could have gotten more for him than Cheick Samb.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SunnyD @ Jul 11 2006, 01:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>But if Mo didn't want to stay, I think we could have gotten more for him than Cheick Samb.</div>
It's not too bad. Rasheed and McDyess is above average at PF. MmDyess is the tough inside player and rebounder, who can also shoot a 12 footer. Sheed is one of the best big man, man to man defenders in the league. Also, your situation at Center isnt too bad either. Ben Wallace wanted to leave, there was nothing you could have done. I guess he didnt want to play in Detroit anymore. Nazr is a better offensive player then Wallace anyway. And Cato is a serviceable backup.Obviously, your defense will go down. Ben Wallace was the floor leader on defense. He helped everyone out when they needed help, and basically helped referee the defense. Without him, their inside defense will take a major hit imo.You guys will still probably get the 5th seed at the worst, 2nd at the best. It depends how Chicago and Cleveland play..
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CB4AllStar @ Jul 11 2006, 08:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>It's not too bad. Rasheed and McDyess is above average at PF. MmDyess is the tough inside player and rebounder, who can also shoot a 12 footer. Sheed is one of the best big man, man to man defenders in the league. Also, your situation at Center isnt too bad either. Ben Wallace wanted to leave, there was nothing you could have done. I guess he didnt want to play in Detroit anymore. Nazr is a better offensive player then Wallace anyway. And Cato is a serviceable backup.Obviously, your defense will go down. Ben Wallace was the floor leader on defense. He helped everyone out when they needed help, and basically helped referee the defense. Without him, their inside defense will take a major hit imo.You guys will still probably get the 5th seed at the worst, 2nd at the best. It depends how Chicago and Cleveland play..</div>Cato is a FA and so far no attempt to re-sign has been made, atleast to my knowledge. I don't think he is gonna be there.
Honestly i think Maxiell is the same type of player as ben wallace is!! He is undersized can block shots and is a defensive guru!! with work he could be the next ben wallace
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Wallace leaves Maxiell with Words of WisdomMaxiell, who played in 26 games last season, has a legitimate chance to be the fourth big man in coach Flip Saunders' frontcourt rotation. Maxiell has cut 15 pounds off his 6-foot-7 frame and, with his ability to score off the dribble and with his post-up game, he could help shore up one of the Pistons' primary deficiencies -- points in the lane....Maxiell has displayed plenty of defensive muscle, though. Against the Wizards, second-year forward Andray Blatche scored 10 quick points against Amir Johnson before Maxiell switched on to him. Blatche only scored six points in a bit more than two quarters against Maxiell.</div>Just two parts from the article it was a little long to post.Well this is just summer league but the coaching staff seems to be pushing him hard to do well. I think if he works hard, he will help the frontcourt. He is only like 6'5"-6'7" but he has a 7'3?" wingspan, which is a plus.
I never saw any sort of offensive game from J Max. I saw alot of nice dunks, but no moves in the post or anything like that to impress me. I love his game though and would like to see him get consistant minutes.
It's not going to be fixed overnight; Ben Wallace is not in this free agent class or waiting on someone's roster for Joe Dumars to work his magic. It's going to take some time for the Pistons to compensate for Ben Wallace's departure. We went through this when Grant Hill left (until we found Tayshaun), when Isiah retired (until we found Chauncey), and Dennis Rodman fought his way out (until we found Ben Wallace). My only problem with the current rotation of bigs is how much and for how long Nazr Mohammed is being paid. Rasheed Wallace comes off the books after the 2008-09 season, and is very reasonably priced for his years in the league and his talent. Dale Davis has an expiring contract, and Amir Johnson / Jason Maxiell are on rookie contracts. Mohammed is 29-years-old, so we have probably seen all the facets of his game. He'll be inconsistent, worthy of five points and five rebounds a game. But at 30 million dollars? Is that really worth it? He's not being ridiculously overpaid this season to only find he's ridiculously underpaid the rest of the deal, the way Ben Wallace's contract was perceived around this time six years ago. There's no "up-side" left to cover - these are Mohammed's prime years. His up-and-down stay in San Antonio, despite having played for Larry Brown in Philadelphia for two seasons, makes me wonder. When Spurs fans tell me about his careless turnovers, I think about how that hasn't been a concern the past six years with Ben Wallace, but we have a similar problem in Antonio McDyess already. The next Ben Wallace is not around the corner. I'm willing to accept that. But spending 30 million dollars in a vain effort while the other needs of the team before Wallace's departure go unchecked, makes this a bad move.
