Stuckey: Vibe is Different

Shapecity · Sep 28, 2008

To say Rodney Stuckey is excited for the upcoming NBA season would be an understatement. To Stuckey, the sounds of bouncing basketballs and squeaking sneakers, which will come with the opening of Pistons training camp Tuesday, are music to his 22-year-old ears.

"Things are just different around the practice facility," said Stuckey, a second-year combo guard, during the team's recent media tour around the state. "Having a new coaching staff in here and spending more time around Michael Curry ... things are just a lot different.

"The vibe is different. It's been good, though. I think we're all ready to get started and get back to the grind."

Part of Stuckey's excitement does come from new coach Curry, who replaces Flip Saunders. But another part comes from Stuckey's potential.

He missed the first 25 games of his rookie season after suffering a broken left hand in the final exhibition game, but averaged 7.6 points and 2.8 assists during the regular season.

He really flashed his potential as a big 6-foot-5 guard in the playoffs. In Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Orlando Magic, he replaced an injured Chauncey Billups and led a Pistons' surge with 19 points, although the team dropped the game.

He followed with three double-figure scoring efforts out of six games in the Eastern Conference finals against the eventual NBA champion Boston Celtics. He upped his scoring average to 8.2 points per game during the playoffs.

His play impressed so much that he was picked to scrimmage against the Olympic team in Las Vegas just before the team departed for its date with a gold medal in Beijing.

Never one to lack confidence, Stuckey is filled with self-assurance about his abilities.

"I'm ready for any challenge that comes up," Stuckey said. "I'm always ready. You're always going to hear that from me. I know they are going to be expecting a lot more out of me, but it's a challenge."

Stuckey has a lot to be confident about. He has a sure shot and can get to the basket any time he feels like it. With backcourt starters Billups and Rip Hamilton, the Pistons could have a rotation similar to the Isiah Thomas-Joe Dumars-Vinnie Johnson unit of the Bad Boys era.

"At his size and his ability to shoot and get into the paint and his ability to defend at that size at the point guard position, he just has the ability to dominate whenever he feels like it," Pistons second-year guard Arron Afflalo said of Stuckey.

Curry has indicated that he likes the scoring Stuckey and veteran big man Antonio McDyess could bring from the bench.

"When you have both of those guys anchoring your second unit, it allows your other role players to play their roles and not play outside of themselves," Curry said.

Stuckey and Curry have formed a mutual admiration society -- Stuckey thinks the new coach will fully exploit the talents of the team; Curry has indicated he will emphasize more running and more pressure defense, stuff that Stuckey wants to hear.

"He's going to give us opportunity to showcase our talent, and when the young guys get out on the court, we are going to do what we do and go out there and play hard and play good defense and it's going to lead us to victories," Stuckey said.

"He brings everything a coach needs. He brings leadership. He's accountable. All those things you need, he has it. I'm excited about the season coming up and the future of the organization."
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Source: Detroit Free Press

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Stuckey: Vibe is Different

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