Detroit Pistons starting shooting guard, Richard Hamilton returned from a nagging injury this week their game on Wednesday against the Indiana Pacers. He had a sub-par game, going 4/13 in thirty minutes, ending up with 9 points. It's a good thing starting shooting guard for the Detroit Pistons; Allen Iverson started and scored 23 on 19 shots.
See anything wrong with that?
The Pistons started Rasheed Wallace at center, putting Tayshaun Prince and Rip Hamilton at forwards and Rodney Stuckey and AI in the backcourt. The Pacers are no powerhouse, but a front court of Danny Granger, Troy Murphy and Jeff Foster outrebounded and outscored the Detroit Pistons trio.
With such a small line up, coach Michael Curry will be writing his own ending as the Detroit Pistons head coach, as it will prove to be the decline of the Detroit Pistons. He has a choice to make... he has to decide whether to bring Rip or AI off the bench.
*I'd love to hear your comments on this*
Curry has already said that one of them will come off the bench when Hamilton returned from injury, but for a rookie coach dealing with two veteran, All-Star caliber players, easier said than done.
Both Hamilton and Iverson have stressed that they don't want to come off the bench, and with good reason. Both have been starters for their whole career, and have been go-to guys on their teams. So what does Curry do?
Or better yet, who is the better player off the bench?
Statistically, Iverson is the team's leading scorer with 18.0 points per game. Iverson grabs 3.4 rebounds per game, 5.6 dimes, and nearly 2 steals a game.
Hamilton, on the other hand is dropping 16.7 points per game, the team's second leading scorer. Similarly, he gets 3.3 rebounds per game, but only 3 assists per game.
I believe you can't start the both of them and bring Rodney Stuckey off the bench. Stuckey is too good of a growing point guard, and has a good dynamic for this older, more experienced Detroit team. For what it's worth, in tonight's loss, Stuckey led the team in scoring with 30 points (12/20), had 9 rebounds, 6 assists, and only 1 turnover in 46 minutes.
Stuckey is the new floor leader of the team. Who the initial go-to option at the 2-spot remains to be seen.
Do you go with the automatic-scoring-option-whenever-he feels-like getting-to-the-hole option or the set-the-down-screen-pass-me-the-ball option? Both have proven to be very valuable assets for the Pistons. Iverson can still get past anybody in the league, score with the scorers of the league and get the ball to his teammates when needed. Hamilton can still get his smooth jumpshot off whenever he needs to, and still stands tall as one of the top conditioned athletes in the NBA.
Personally, I think you need to start Hamilton. He has been the heart and soul of this Detroit Pistons team since their run together when they won the NBA Finals in 2003 with a 5-game-sweep of the Lakers. Since then, he and Chauncey Billups have been the pinnacle of this team. He has spent all his energy being a top guard in the NBA for the Pistons, and has never let up in being the go-to guy for this team.
I'm an avid AI fan, and think to this day, he's one of the most unstoppable offensive weapons in the NBA. But is having that option as your 6th man really so bad? He can get his run in whenever he wants. And yes, AI has always been the guy who would play 47-48 minutes a night every single night in Philly under Larry Brown, but he doesn't need to do that anymore. He doesn't have Eric Snow, Aaron Mckie and Matt Geiger anymore. He has Rasheed Wallace, Tayshaun Prince and Rip Hamilton.
Just because he is coming off the bench, doesn't mean he won't be on the floor at the end of the game, or that he won't get the minutes he deserves.
And yes, I know. Every competitor should want to start, and be on the floor at every minute, but at the end of the day, every competitor is playing to win.
But what's the winning formula?
Hamilton off the bench? Iverson off the bench? Going small and starting both of them?
I'd have to go with bringing Iverson off the bench. The dude's heart and passion for winning is nearly supernatural. And I think that will help boost the bench and give the Pistons an instant surge of energy off the bench.
But Iverson does have a strong personality, and a rookie coach just might not be able to win over the vote of Iverson himself.
I'd love to hear your thoughts...
RIP is on the downside. I honestly think they should just blow up the roster. They can't beat Celtics or Cavs
AI is playing better than RIP. He should swollow his pride and go to the bench
I think Rip should come off the bench. With the style he plays he would seem a better fit with the Pistons bench, who as a whole has been disappointing.
i say AI...Rip is used to playing a certain kind of ball which is why when shit is changed all of sudden his stats have gone down and I think it will stay this way if Rip comes off the bench..AI can adjust to being a 6th man better imo
How dare this question be posed?? Your soul shall be sold for 30 sheckles of gold Rob!! lol
AI of course, simply because he's more talented and better. That screen play IS RIP HAMILTON
I don't know what they'll do.. but I do know the minute they don't start AI, is the minute the season will be shot because i don't think he'd except it.
So RIp needs to come off the bench, if for nothing else... for team chemistry and to avoid drama
Eh Ehm... CORRECTION... Amir your soul shall be sold for 30 sheckles of gold
CJjIkI
CJjIkI