Why the World Champion Blues?
1 Comments Published by Ian MacLean on Wednesday, March 30, 2005 at 12:24 AM.
The Detroit Pistons are still the world champions of basketball, but no one would be expected to conclude that based on their play as of late. The Pistons have lost four of their last five games, including a 23-point loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. The question that begs answering then must be: what's wrong with the Pistons?
The quick answer would be, quite simply, a lot. However, the play of Detroit's bench, namely Antonio McDyess, Lindsey Hunter, Carlos Arroyo, and recent returnee Carlos Delfino, has ranged from barely mediocre to incredibly embarrassing. In Monday's loss to Dallas, the entire bench was held to 2 points, those being scored by Darvin Ham. In the past five games, the bench has contributed an average of only 15 percent of team's total points. In the team's only win, an overtime struggle against the Boston Celtics (38-32), the starters had to play 87% of the total minutes. That's an unhealthy practice for any team, especially heading into the stretch.
Antonio McDyess - To his credit, Dice has been the most dependable player off the bench this year, averaging 9.5 point and 6.3 rebounds. Over the past five games, those averages have dropped to 4.4 and 4.6 respectively. He has reached double figures only once in nine games. "It was just one of those things," said McDyess, "It seems like every time I touch the ball lately I haven't been able to get an easy shot. Some of it is getting into a rhythm. It seems like I'm thinking a lot when I get out on the court." Antonio has earned a little leeway, in my opinion, with his great help to the team this year. If he can reestablish his rhythm, he can prove a valuable option in relief of starters Ben Wallace and Rasheed Wallace down the stretch and into the playoffs.
Lindsey Hunter - Hunter has missed 17 of his last 18 shots from the field. He is averaging 0.8 points, 0.4 assists, and 0.2 steals over the past five games. The numbers must see improvement, as Hunter proved a valuable weapon, particularly on defense, in the playoffs. For the Pistons to succeed, the backup guards must do just that - back up the exceptionally talented starting duo.
Carlos Arroyo - Carlos has not scored a point in two games, but is still maintaining a 4.2 points and 2.6 assists average in the last five games. Carlos is a valuable scoring, but more importantly, a ball handling/passing option off the bench. Arroyo must simply run the team and stop trying to make scoring plays, particularly on the pick and roll. He must return to the level of play he achieved when he first arrived in Detroit. Essentially the replacement for Mike James, he must also enhance his performance on the defensive end. He allowed rookie Devin Harris to dribble from one end to the other and score a three-pointer in the final 3.6 seconds of the third quarter of Monday's game. That is unquestionably intolerable.
Carlos Delfino - Upon just recently returning from a surgery repairing his right knee, Carlos is averaging 3.1 points since his return. Delfino hasn't been himself since his December surgery. If he could return to his previous self and stop worrying about his knee, he could earn precious minutes behind starters Tayshaun Prince and Richard Hamilton. If he cannot, we may see an Arroyo-Hunter backcourt off the bench. The use of such a backcourt over Delfino would, in actuality, make Carlos a disappointment.
Any great team has a great bench. When the Pistons have done well this year, they have had success from the bench as well as the starters. If there is to be a repeat champion in this team, or even a successful playoff run, the bench will need provide a reliable presence both offensively and defensively. The bench needs to be a benefit, not a burden. "We fought back into the game and then you put the bench in and hope they can hold it close," acting head coach Gar Heard said. "That didn't happen." That is a problem. Thirteen games from the playoffs, it's a problem that needs to be resolved.
The quick answer would be, quite simply, a lot. However, the play of Detroit's bench, namely Antonio McDyess, Lindsey Hunter, Carlos Arroyo, and recent returnee Carlos Delfino, has ranged from barely mediocre to incredibly embarrassing. In Monday's loss to Dallas, the entire bench was held to 2 points, those being scored by Darvin Ham. In the past five games, the bench has contributed an average of only 15 percent of team's total points. In the team's only win, an overtime struggle against the Boston Celtics (38-32), the starters had to play 87% of the total minutes. That's an unhealthy practice for any team, especially heading into the stretch.
Antonio McDyess - To his credit, Dice has been the most dependable player off the bench this year, averaging 9.5 point and 6.3 rebounds. Over the past five games, those averages have dropped to 4.4 and 4.6 respectively. He has reached double figures only once in nine games. "It was just one of those things," said McDyess, "It seems like every time I touch the ball lately I haven't been able to get an easy shot. Some of it is getting into a rhythm. It seems like I'm thinking a lot when I get out on the court." Antonio has earned a little leeway, in my opinion, with his great help to the team this year. If he can reestablish his rhythm, he can prove a valuable option in relief of starters Ben Wallace and Rasheed Wallace down the stretch and into the playoffs.
Lindsey Hunter - Hunter has missed 17 of his last 18 shots from the field. He is averaging 0.8 points, 0.4 assists, and 0.2 steals over the past five games. The numbers must see improvement, as Hunter proved a valuable weapon, particularly on defense, in the playoffs. For the Pistons to succeed, the backup guards must do just that - back up the exceptionally talented starting duo.
Carlos Arroyo - Carlos has not scored a point in two games, but is still maintaining a 4.2 points and 2.6 assists average in the last five games. Carlos is a valuable scoring, but more importantly, a ball handling/passing option off the bench. Arroyo must simply run the team and stop trying to make scoring plays, particularly on the pick and roll. He must return to the level of play he achieved when he first arrived in Detroit. Essentially the replacement for Mike James, he must also enhance his performance on the defensive end. He allowed rookie Devin Harris to dribble from one end to the other and score a three-pointer in the final 3.6 seconds of the third quarter of Monday's game. That is unquestionably intolerable.
Carlos Delfino - Upon just recently returning from a surgery repairing his right knee, Carlos is averaging 3.1 points since his return. Delfino hasn't been himself since his December surgery. If he could return to his previous self and stop worrying about his knee, he could earn precious minutes behind starters Tayshaun Prince and Richard Hamilton. If he cannot, we may see an Arroyo-Hunter backcourt off the bench. The use of such a backcourt over Delfino would, in actuality, make Carlos a disappointment.
Any great team has a great bench. When the Pistons have done well this year, they have had success from the bench as well as the starters. If there is to be a repeat champion in this team, or even a successful playoff run, the bench will need provide a reliable presence both offensively and defensively. The bench needs to be a benefit, not a burden. "We fought back into the game and then you put the bench in and hope they can hold it close," acting head coach Gar Heard said. "That didn't happen." That is a problem. Thirteen games from the playoffs, it's a problem that needs to be resolved.
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