Hey Guys,

Good show, though you guys spend a little too much time fantasizing over who we will never get rather than on realistic prospects. AND you are way too hard on Chauncey. He gave us a lot playing with injuries, more than Sheed. Billups will never be Isaiah, but I’d like to see him around one more year to help Stuckey with the transition. Remember we took Boston to 6 games with a bad coach. Now we have a good one and Walter Sharpe to boot!

Now, more importantly, time for you guys to dig into those deep pockets and buy a pot! I recently updated my website. Take a look when you get a chance.

All the best,

John

www.johndix.com

I fly in to Mi. on Friday. Can’t wait.

Episode 58!

-Free Agency Update: James Jones from Portland or C.J. Miles from Utah

-Pistons Summer League Roster: What to expect from The Bench Babies?

-Top Listener Email: Richard from Howell, Michigan

I just wanted to share a video that our dear listener Richard edited and posted on Youtube.

The video is about Ben Wallace. On Episode 58, Richard emailed us and asked a simple but interesting question.

Hey guys,
what do you think about Ben Wallace? Do you think he will ever wear a Pistons uniform again?

I think if we traded Chauncey and Maxiell for him we could win another Championship with Stuckey running the point.

-Richard

Obviously we know how Richard feels especially after watching that Nostalgic video. Where did that Ben Wallace of old go?

If you want to know where Deven and I stand on this issue tune in to Episode 58!

Hi Pistonscast,

I thought you would find the following post to be a conversation starter. Yes, I think the numbers indicate that Flip Saunders is a better coach than people believe.

Maybe Flip Saunders is a Good Coach

Dave

P.S. And yes, Chauncey is still better than Isiah.

David J. Berri
Associate Professor of Economics
California State University-Bakersfield
dberri.wordpress.com

See this is a problem alot. Sheed not playing out of the post. He can dominate down there but he chooses not to do it. Tayshaun didn’t play well in Game 3 but I think Chauncey was worst. I think overall we played better without Chauncey on the floor. If he can’t be aggressive he is holding us back right now.

We were -25 when Chauncey was on the court. (We only lost by 14 points) He was tentative and scared so he doesn’t need to start right now.

We were +3 when Rodney Stuckey was on the floor. (We lost by 14 points) Also our defense is better with Stuckey on the floor!

Chauncey Billups has already said he wont be 100% for the playoffs. He doesnt even have full confidence in himself so why should we as Pistons fan. I don’t right now and you shouldn’t either. My only problem with the Pistons is when they don’t try. Game 1 we tried and we lost and thats fine. Game 2 we tried and won and thats great. Game 3 we played about half a game and lost by 14 and thats not ok.

I would rather start Rodney Stuckey, Lindsey Hunter, Rip Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince and Antonio McDyess right now because they try their best, game in and game out.

This wishy washy play is tiring and I’m out.

-John

I’ve been thinking about your whole Isiah Thomas / Chauncey Billups debate.  As much as I love Chauncey, you can’t say that he’s better than Zeke.  No way.  And I know D. Berri is gonna show us some stats that prove this and that.

But I was in Geography class the other day, and my teacher told us (I know Deven is gonna love this); ‘There are lies, damn lies and stats’.

To some extent I think it’s true, you can prove anything with stats.  However when Isiah twisted/snapped/dislocated his ankle or whatever.  He went out for 3 minutes and then came back in and took over the Lakers.  I’m not sure if there is a ‘Heart’ statistic, but Zeke would be the All-Time
Leader.  Period.

Some things just don’t show up in the stat columns.  Why is Michael Jordan the greatest player ever? Not because he has the highest Point Per Game average for a career.  Its because of those games in which he displayed heart! The Flu game.. because of those games he won. 

Players like Zeke and Mike carried their team when they needed it.  That’s why they’re great players.  They showed heart, hustle, pride and determination, not the Highest Assist to Turnover ratio or the best Wins produced stat.  Besides, there is only one stat that really matters; Winning.  And the truly great players do whatever it takes to win.

That’s just how i feel.

Conor Faulker

VERSUS

No way in heezzy is Chauncey Billups better than Isiah Thomas. “Mr. Big shot” doesn’t come close to “Mr. Piston”. Isiah displayed the heart, the mental, and physical toughness that has come to define what Detroit Piston basketball is all about. Chauncey Billups is indeed very talented. But if he played with the kind of determination and intestinal fortitude that my man Zeke played with, there would be way more banners to hang in the rafters at the Palce of Auburn Hills.

Deven

That’s the thing about any sport. You are bound to get hurt. You are bound to get nicked up. An injury is your bodies way of telling you I want to take a break. Your body is saying “I am going to hurt myself to force you to take that break”.

Tune into Episode 48, where we break down what the Pistons should do if Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince or Rasheed Wallace get injured. KNOCK ON WOOD!

Quick Summary:

-Chauncey Billups should be replaced by Rodney Stuckey and backed up by Lindsey Hunter and maybe even a little Juan Dixon. We also feel Tayshaun should get alot of the ball handling and play making duties.

-Richard Hamilton should be replaced by Arron Afflalo. We love his defensive and we believe in his jumper even if he doesn’t.

-Tayshaun Prince is a hard guy to replace. He does everything for the Pistons. We think that in general Jarvis Hayes should replace him but it all depends on the matchup. Sometimes Arron Afflalo should start to bring that defensive intensity. Even Walter Hermann should get a chance every once in a while.

-Rasheed Wallace we feel he should be replaced by Theo Ratliff. We love defense and so do you. So why shouldn’t one of the best shot blockers in NBA History start in place of Rasheed Wallace. If Sheed is out expect big minutes for Jason Maxiell, Antonio McDyess and even Amir Johnson the VALLEY BOY!!! You know we love you Amir.

We feel the Pistons can win with only 3 out of their Big 4. We even feel that any 2 of our top 4 players can hang with any tandem in the league.

What do you think? Hit us up on the comment section below!

DETROIT BASKETBALL!!!

-John

Now… now… now, I know Chauncey will come back soon. SO DON’T WORRY! But let’s imagine that his hammy was just a little too tender to return this season. Can Rodney Stuckey step up to the Plate? Could the young thunder cat accept the challenge and fill the shoes of the great “C-Billz” carving out his own niche with the Detroit Pistons? Or will his inexperience cause him to succumb to the pressure?

Those are some good questions, right?

Post your comments below and let us know what you think? Or give us a call at (313) 769-3287 and leave an audio comment!

Deven

Listen to how humble he is!  This interview was from towards the end of the season when Stuckey was the Player of the Game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

      Here is my  Rodney Stuckey Analysis.

The first document is the Pistons after 80 games.  As you can see, the team is led by Chauncey Billups.  He is easily their most productive player.  Average WP48 is 0.100, and so you can see that Billups gets quite a bit of help.  Prince, McDyess, Wallace, Hamilton, Maxiell, and Johnson are all above average (Amir is second to Billups in WP48).

The rookies, Stuckey and Afflalo, are each below average.  But not by much.

Relative to other guards, each rookie looks pretty good.  I compared Stuckey to both point guards and shooting guards.  Among point guards, only Conley has a higher Win Score per 48 minute (this is not the same as WP48).  Win Score does not take into account team defense, and when that is considered (as it is in calculating WP48), Stuckey is the more productive player (in other words, Stuckey has the highest WP48 among point guards).  I would add that Stuckey is also more productive than Billups was his rookie season.

Turning to shooting guards… Durant and Afflalo have higher Win Scores.  But the difference is small. If you wanted to argue that Stuckey is the most productive guard, I think you would have a case.  For comparison sake I also consider Rip Hamilton’s rookie numbers.  Again, Stuckey is much better.

Looking at the individual stats, Stuckey is able to rebound and get steals.  He also gets some assists and is not too bad with respect to turnovers.  Where he has problems is in the area of shooting efficiency.  When he gets his shots to fall more consistently, Stuckey will be an above average guard.

Evaluating the First Round Shooting Guards

Below Average Numbers in Red

Points-per-shot = [PTS-FTM]/FGA

Adjusted Field Goal Percentage = PPS/2

Net Possessions = Rebounds + Steals - Turnovers

Win Score = PTS + REB + STL + ½*BLK + ½*AST – FGA – ½*FTA – TO – ½*PF

season almost complete

If memory serves, Stuckey is who the Pistons got for Milicic.  So in the end, the Pistons did come out ahead on that transaction.  At least, Stuckey is likely to be a better pro than Milicic.  

Of course, had the Pistons taken Dwyane Wade (or Chris Bosh, Chris Kaman, etc…) they would also be better off.  

Best,

David J. Berri
Associate Professor of Economics
California State University-Bakersfield
www.csub.edu/~dberri
www.wagesofwins.com

www.dberri.wordpress.com