MLive’s A. Sherrod Blakely gives us some insight into what capacity we can expect to see rookies Rodney Stuckey and Arron Afflalo. A couple things stuck out to me that I thought we could look at it a little closer.
Stuckey will get first crack at being the backup to point guard Chauncey Billups, who turned 31 years old on Tuesday. The 6-foot-5 Stuckey will have to beat out Lindsey Hunter and Flip Murray for the job. That shouldn’t be too difficult considering Hunter has agreed to a reduced role as a player (and will spend more time helping coach the team’s young players like Stuckey); while Murray is likely to be traded.
I’m really all for this. People are talking about Stuckey being the steal of the draft, and he really excited a lot of people with his summer league performance. He’s fortunate to be playing behind Chauncey because they’re games are pretty similar, especially Chauncey Billup’s early days. Stuckey already knows how to get to the rack, now he’ll find out how to use that to set up his teammates. Lindsey Hunter can sharpen up his on-ball defense, which I’m sure he wasn’t called on too much for at Eastern Washington.
Trading Murray is the best thing. He’s shown throughout his career that he’s only effective when given starter minutes and with Mr. Big Shot re-upping with the team and drafting Stuckey those minutes just aren’t going to be there for him.
Afflalo, a four-year standout at UCLA, brings a similar mindset to the court.
During the summer months in Los Angeles, the Compton, Calif. native recalls pick-up games with NBA players such as Billups and fellow Compton, Calif. native, Tayshaun Prince.
“Those guys are extremely great players, and great competitors,” said Afflalo, who is expected to play behind Prince and Richard Hamilton.
Ehhh, no mention of Jarvis Hayes? I know he’s not a rookie and that’s the foucus of the piece but I think the Pistons will be looking to give Hayes the minutes Carlos Delfino usually got.
After bouncing in and out of the rotation a year ago, third-year forward Jason Maxiell is expected to get consistent minutes this season. He’s expected to come off the bench, but there’s a chance the 6-foot-7 forward might be in the starting lineup.
Myself, I like him as the 6th man. Instant energy off the bench spelling our veteren big men. I like Flip’s idea to move Dice to starter and sliding Sheed over to the pivot.
>> Check out the rest of the article for mentions of Cheick Samb, Amir Johnson, & Sammy Mejia.
On this day in 1976, Chauncey Ray Billups was born in Denver, Colorado. Happy birthday Mr. Big shot!
