Amir Johnson to start?
Posted by pistonsnationAs BDD posted this morning, it’s not going to take training camp to determine that Antonio McDyess won’t be the starting power forward for the Pistons this season. Dice will help anchor the second unit which he’s made no secret is where he’s more comfortable and productive.
Among the other subjects he touched on, he confirmed what we’ve been suggesting for the past month – that Antonio McDyess will go back to the bench to give more scoring punch to the second unit and better utilize McDyess’ talents. – via: True Blue Pistons
Even though I believe Antonio was the best option for the starting PF slot it was pretty much by default. I’m also big on “comfort zones” and if Dice believes he’s a better utilized as a 6th man then that’s what he should be.
It’ll be addition by subtraction. Dice is a greater addition to the second unit then he is a loss to the starting five. Antonio and Stuck will make a very formidable second wave tandem.
So who will be starting at the four? Well, if you checked out the Detroit News this morning Chris McCosky is saying the Amir Johnson era is getting a push:
He (Curry) hopes to use a five-man frontcourt rotation. Amir Johnson, it appears, is going to get every opportunity to win the starting spot alongside Wallace. McDyess will be the first big man off the bench, with Brown and Jason Maxiell getting regular minutes — Brown getting more minutes against bigger teams and Maxiell against smaller, more athletic teams.
Like Matt over at DBB I’m figuring if it’s not Dice, It’s Maxiell. Nope. Looks like Amir is going to be baptized. So it makes even more sense when Curry says for the team’s sake Sheed needs to be in shape and on the blocks. If he’s going to roam it’s going to leave Amir exposed down low.
That’s a pretty intriguing second unit of Stuckey & Afflalo in the backcourt, Maxy and Dice up front and Kwame in the middle. Not bad.
This entry was posted on Friday, September 19th, 2008 at 11:18 am and is filed under Amir Johnson, Antonio McDyess, Jason Maxiell, Kwame Brown, Michael Curry. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.
I have always advocated for Amir to get more minutes. He is apart of the future and should be treated as such.
You mention he wasnt ready because of the end of the season.
Who is really ready to guard Garnett?
Sheed? No
Dice? No
Amir? Heck No. We should not hold that against him. He is a baby and just needs time on the court.
Amir has alot more potential than Maxiell and he’s alot younger.
Believe in him and he will believe in himself.
John W. Davis
September 20th, 2008 at 2:47 pmhttp://www.pistonscast.com
John,
Thanks for taking time out to comment. I hope you’re right. There’s a lot of us pulling for Amir. It’s just that this is year #4 and you usually aren’t talking about a guy’s raw potential 4 years in.
Like coach Cowens says, “This guy does a lot of things you can’t coach. But he doesn’t do a lot of things, you can coach.”
We’ll see if he gets that starter’s nod and if that’ll get the ball rolling.
You do if he is 21 and has still played 73 regular season games.
His 1st 3 seasons doesnt even equal Afflalo’s rookie season because Arron played 75 games.
You talk about that potential forever.
September 22nd, 2008 at 4:12 pm