Posts tagged ‘Mike Bauman’

Hey guys-or should I say, ‘What’s goin’ on D?!’. Seriously fellas, you should patent that phrase, make some t-shirts and take ‘em to games around the D lol. It’s been awhile since I’ve gotten in touch with ya, but I still listen to every show and stay up to date on the website.

Anywho, as for the Pistons? I think there’s a few All-Star caliber players on the roster this year. I look for Charlie V to have an immediate impact, and Gordon should dominate off the bench. It’s so hard to get guards in the game because guys like Wade, Pierce, Allen, Carter, and even Devin Harris and Derrick Rose now will still have immense popularity among the fans, not to mention that those guys get a lot of prime-time shine the Pistons don’t.

With that said, I’d say Gordon has a real shot at making it based on how well he played in prime-time last year. If he can bring his clutch scoring ability to the D and be a 21st Century version of Vinnie “The Microwave” Johnson, then he should have a legitimate shot at making the All-Star roster in Dallas. I also think that if Stuckey can be more consistent this year, he’ll turn some heads, too.

The one guy I really want to see make it is Tay. He certainly deserves it, and still is the most underrated player in the League by far. If he was a little more flamboyant like Shawn Marion or Paul Pierce, he’d definitely be there already, which is sad. I like that he’s quiet and just plays his game. Tayshaun is just a nostalgic, old school guy who leads by example. I think if he can be that quiet leader who plays hard for four quarters, he might be able to do enough damage to get some more votes.

Previous Mike B article:

2009 Champs… Tayshaun Prince Needs To Be The Focal Point

Honestly, though, I don’t think too many guys on this year’s team are worried about the All-Star game as much as they are focused on getting the respect they deserve. Right now, everybody is talking about Orlando, Boston, and Cleveland. I’ll break it down like this:

Carter is a good acquisition, but he’s on the downside of 30 and has yet to be on a team where he wasn’t the Man. I’m as big a VC fan as anybody, but Orlando also gave up Courtney Lee and Rafer “Skip to my Lou” Alston to get him, and those guys played real well for them in the playoffs last year.

Sheed will be a good fit for Boston, especially since he’ll be coming off the bench and not have to play big minutes to have an impact, something I think he’ll actually enjoy at this stage of his career. However, the Celtics are collectively getting older, and I still think our bench can handle their bench any day of the week if need be. People will see that come playoff time.

Bron-Bron is on the cusp of winning the title, and adding Shaq, Moon, Parker, and Powe certainly improves their roster depth. However, the Cavs still don’t have a true point guard, something they desperately need. Everybody brings up the fact that they didn’t have a big man who could contain Howard and that that’s why they lost to the Magic. How about the fact that Cleveland has three players in Mo Williams, DeLonte West and Daniel Gibson who all are essentially the same player? Neither guy is over 6′3 on a good day, and they are above-average scores with good range who get the looks they do in large part because of the attention given to LeBron. None of those guys is a true point guard, either. Cleveland lost that series not just because of Howard, but because Turkoglu, Pietrus, Lewis, Redick and Alston all had range and all of them (minus Alston) were bigger than the Cavs prime-time guards. Moon and Parker will help, but there is no substitute for experience, something Detroit and Boston have as an edge in that department when it comes to postseason basketball.

Shaq is the most dominant player of my generation-maybe ever. However, I’ve always felt LeBron would be better suited with a big who could run the floor like a Samuel Dalembert or Amar’e Stoudemire. The Diesel still has game, but it doesn’t involve much running, which is something LeBron and Co. like to do out in the open floor. I’m just not real sold on him being the key to a championship in Cleveland.

Detroit has a young roster, but they still have great veteran leadership in Big Ben, Tay, and Rip. Those guys know what it takes to win it all, and enough young teams have made deep playoff pushes in the past that I think we’ll have a legitimate shot to go the distance and get a chance to be in the Finals. Some people think that sounds crazy, but so did saying that Toledo would beat Michigan in the Big House last year and guess what-it happened.

Basketball is a game of matchups, and our guards can out-hustle any backcourt any day of the week. I can’t name one backcourt in the NBA right now that has the combination of firepower and experience that ours does. I’m glad Joe D didn’t trade Rip. That just would have taken out part of the dynamic that will make us tough in the playoffs. And I have to believe after AI that there was no way Joe would ever had signed Gordon to that contract if he thought he would just be another problem like Iverson, something a few basketball writers out there are saying he’ll be. Gordon knows his role will be as a monster off the bench, so I don’t see there being any attitude problem. We also have enough bodies in the frontcourt that barring any serious injuries, we should be able to match up well against the East.

Previous Mike B article:

There’s Still Hope For The Struggling Pistons

We’re sleepers again this year, but I think the guys like it like that. This team has that hunger back again, and I think we’ll be a top-four team in the East with a legitimate shot at the title if we stay together and stay healthy.

Thanks for reading and I’ll talk to you guys soon.

P.S. My Rockets face the Buckeyes Saturday at Cleveland Browns Stadium. I’m not gonna pull a guaranSheed by any means, but just remember what I said about that Michigan game last year. Anything is possible.

Mike B.
Erie, Michigan
www.pistonscast.com

Got a question for Pistonscast.com? Send it to John W. Davis. And for Pistonscast news and updates follow John on Twitter.

Previous Mike B articles:

2009 Champs… Tayshaun Prince Needs To Be The Focal Point

There’s Still Hope For The Struggling Pistons

Last weekend, the Detroit Pistons exited the NBA Playoffs before reaching the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since the 2001-02 season. After getting swept by King James and Co., it’s likely that the series officially marked the end of a remarkable era in Pistons’ basketball.

Since Joe Dumars brought Chauncey Billups and Rip Hamilton to Motown in the 2002-03 season, the Pistons won at least 50 games a year, made it to six-straight Eastern Conference Finals, appeared in the NBA Finals in back-to-back seasons (including a championship in 2004) and led the league in attendance five times, selling out every regular-season home game from the 2004-05 season through the 2007-08 season.

For years, the Pistons would pride themselves on playing great team basketball. Without a true superstar on the roster, Detroit remained an elite team year after year by playing gritty defense and attacking teams with a multitude of scorers on a nightly basis, with Billups as their even-tempered leader at the point. He earned the nickname “Mr. Big Shot” for his ability to come through in the clutch for the team, including a 2004 NBA Finals MVP award after the Pistons dismantled the heavily favored, star-studded Lakers in five games.

All of that changed this season, in large part due to the trade Dumars made in November when he dealt Billups to the Denver Nuggets for perennial scorer Allen Iverson, one of the best individual talents to ever grace the hardwood. The key word here is individual.

Trying to fit Iverson into the Pistons’ lineup is like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. It just doesn’t work. Detroit never regrouped after their captain was traded, stumbling to a 39-43 regular-season record, their first losing season since 2000, when none of the current Pistons were even on the roster.

That record was good enough for Detroit to make the playoffs as the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference; however, they were stopped dead in their tracks by the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers. The Pistons entered the postseason without Iverson, who had been suffering from back problems since late February and saw limited minutes once he returned to the court in late March. The lack of playing time and sixth-man duties prompted Iverson to declare he would “rather retire” before coming off the bench again.

Despite the disappointment this past season has brought to Detroit, the future is bright for the Pistons. Although many have condemned the trade for Iverson, it was actually a win-win situation for both parties. Denver got their hometown hero to provide leadership on a young and talented roster. Detroit received one of the best scorers in the history of the game to possibly help lead them back to the Finals. If Iverson didn’t gel with the team, which he hasn’t, they can let him and his expiring contract walk at the end of the season.

According to USA Today, Iverson made almost $21 million this year. Rasheed Wallace, who came to the Pistons in a trade that helped them win the 2004 title, will also be a free agent this summer. Wallace, the second-highest paid Piston this season, had an annual salary of almost $13.7 million Past his prime and in decline at the age of 34, Dumars will likely let him go as well.

With over $34.5 million coming off the books from those two players alone, you can bet that Dumars will continue to tweak his roster this summer, either through trades or free agency to help get Detroit back to elite status throughout the NBA. Even though Detroit fans miss Billups, the bottom-line is that Mr. Big Shot has three years remaining on a five-year, $60 million contract that he signed with the Pistons back in 2007, including a guaranteed $46 million over four years with a team option for the fifth year, when Billups will be 35 years old.

Trading Billups while he was in his prime allowed the Pistons the flexibility they needed to grow in the future. With the emergence of guard Rodney Stuckey last season, just imagine where the Pistons would be two or three years from now with a budding star and an aging veteran in Billups playing at the same position. Putting him on the bench would only cause problems in the locker room, as it did this season.

Instead, Dumars pulled the trigger and traded Billups back to his hometown, in his prime. Now, Detroit has the money to go after the likes of Carlos Boozer, Chris Bosh and several other big names that would love to play in a city with dedicated fans on a team that is one or two pieces away from a championship. Trust me. In the next few years, you don’t want to sleep on the D.

— Mike Bauman is the Assistant Sports Editor of The Independent Collegian and a junior at University of Toledo majoring in communication.

Got a question for Pistonscast.com? Send it to John W. Davis. And for Pistonscast news and updates follow John on Twitter.

Hey Deven and John,

I read something from Keith Langlois recently on True Blue Pistons, and he had an interesting take on the Billups for Iverson deal. He said that even though Chauncey is not a Piston anymore, he’s still helping us stay elite because the shedding of his contract allows the Pistons more flexibility, not to mention that they still certainly have the talent to compete for the championship.

I thought this was both an interesting and positive take on a decision that many people have basically condemned since November. Even though the Pistons will most certainly have a worse record this year compared to last year, the future is bright. We still have Stuckey, Maxiell, Amir, Afflalo, Rip, Rasheed, Antonio, and Tay. If Rasheed and A.I. decide to leave after this season, it gives Detroit a lot of options for the future.

Which brings me to my next thought. I really hope we don’t sacrifice any of that talent to get a big name player at the trading deadline. Lots of rumors have circulated around Amar’e Stoudemire. I don’t think that would be a good deal at all. Porter is a former Pistons assistant who believes that you win with defense. Stoudemire is not a good defensive player primarily because he focuses on the other end of the floor. He mentioned earlier this year that he wanted to be the focal point on offense for the Suns.

He’s a great player and a star, but the Pistons don’t need that type of attitude on the team. The Pistons’ struggles this season are a result of the adjustment to a new style of play coupled with a lack of focus on the defensive end. Pound for pound, Detroit can compete with anybody on any given night. They just need to put four good quarters of basketball together on a consistent basis.

If they trade for Amar’e, they will only continue to be in the same spot they’re in now. We don’t need a guy who wants to be the man. The Pistons collectively as a team need to work hard for four quarters and just play basketball together. We already have enough scorers, so adding another one wouldn’t make sense.

I still have my doubts about the trade for Iverson, but at the end of the day I felt like it could give us a chance to get to the Finals again. When the offense breaks down in the playoffs because of tough defense, Iverson can create off the dribble and make something happen. Couple that with the surrounding talent Detroit has, and there’s no reason why Pistons fans should be cashing in their hopes until 2010. This team can still get it done.

Sincerely,

Mike B.

Erie, Mi

www.pistonscast.com

SHOULD TAYSHAUN BE THE FOCAL POINT?

Hey, John and Deven!

I’ve quickly become a fan of Pistonscast and I like the show.  I’ve been listening the past couple of months now, and it’s nice to have True Blue fans who know the game discussing the team I love.  Great job and keep up the good work.  Anywho, I’ll get to the juicy stuff.

I, too, tuned in to what turned out to be a disappointing loss to the defending champion Boston Celtics last Sunday evening.  The game started out great, both teams looked to be pretty even, and we know how it ended.  I just got done reading John’s post, and I do agree with a lot of what he said.  There is one thing I would like to point out about the Pistons, though, and that point (I believe) should become the Pistons’ focal point now that Mr. Big Shot has departed.  Tayshaun Prince.

That’s right, fellas.  There’s a number of things about this player that I have come to enjoy over the past few years.  I’m a die-hard fan. I’ve gone to a game every year since 2001 except for last season, so trust me when I say I know the transformation and strides this team has made throughout the last few years.  A big part of that is Tay.

He is BY FAR the most underrated player in the NBA.  In a league that markets superstars, it’s understandable with the fan voting why he has not been an All-Star, even though he deserves it.  He’s a quiet guy who goes about his business in a professional manner and lets his game speak, devoid of the attractive personality characteristics present in NBA stars like Kobe, Shaq, KG, DWade, Dwight Howard and LeBron.  It’s not understandable why the Pistons don’t use him more frequently in their well-documented offensive lapses.

In Sunday’s game, he had 23 points on 9-16 shooting (2-2 from behind the arc) to go with his 8 rebounds and 2 assists.  He also had a big game against Toronto.  Since Chauncey’s departure, he has stepped up big-time.

I know, as most Pistons fans know, that Detroit doesn’t need a go-to guy.  That’s not their style, and even as they adjust to A.I.’s game it still won’t be their style.  What bothers me during these offensive lapses, though, is that Detroit goes from a team that has a lot of scoring options to a team that doesn’t know who they want to score.  Even before Iverson’s arrival they had this problem.

Just look at all the Eastern Conference Finals post 2005.  They don’t know who they want to score and play hot potato with the ball until somebody settles for either a bad or highly contested shot.

So, that being said, I’m going to make a declaration that both the mainstream media and Pistons fans alike, for whatever reason, seem to lose in the shuffle: In order for Detroit to be successful, Tay needs to be the focal point.

History will help me in this thesis.

Who locked up T-MAC in his prime back in ‘03 after riding the bench all season and helped the Pistons erase a 3-1 deficit to beat the Magic? Tay.

Who didn’t give up on a Reggie Miller streak down the court in ‘04 and came out of nowhere to block the future Hall of Famer’s shot to swing the momentum in Detroit’s favor against the Pacers that ultimately helped them win the championship? Tay.

Who has not missed a single game in his NBA career and won an Olympic Gold Medal? Tay.

This guy is the unsung hero and the glue that holds together this team.  Other than A.I., he’s the only Piston who can score in a multitude of ways.

Rasheed usually can score when he wants to and is a good 3-point shooter, but he’s more effective for the Pistons when he’s on the block.  He gets to the line more down there, and his versatility for his size makes him more valuable to the Pistons when he’s in the post.

Rip is great off screens and a great shooter, but is much better and more effective that way than when he creates off the dribble.

Stuckey is a great all-around scorer, but is at his best when he gets to the basket off the dribble and gets in the paint.  He’s a good finisher and a good passer, so he’s more of a threat when he gets in the lane as opposed to shooting the J because he’s either going to the line or dishing it to somebody who’s open.

Tayshaun played the point in college, so he’s confident enough and skilled enough to handle the ball when he needs to.  He can hit 3’s.  He’s got a quick first step for his height and can take people off the dribble.  He’s unselfish and finds the open man when he doesn’t have a good look.  He’s got a nice baby hook.  He’s got a good mid-range game.  He’s a threat in transition.  He can dunk in traffic and is usually a consistent free throw shooter.  He’s a lefty.

Tayshaun is modest, and I love him for that.  I don’t want him to change his personality, nor does he need to in order for the Pistons to succeed.  However, the Pistons need to recognize in these offensive lapses, at least until A.I. gets acclimated, that this guy needs the ball.  Tay won’t demand it because it’s not his style, but this team has been playing together long enough to know that he’s the most viable option in those breakdowns.

Does Detroit need him to score 23 a game like he’s capable of?  No.  They just need to recognize that he’s the one who can create in those situations.

Even though they lost to the Celtics Sunday, the Big 3 only combined for 32 points, 17 of which came from Ray Allen.  Pierce was held in check by Tay and only got 7 on 3-10 shooting.  This further supports my point that he needs to be the guy on offense because Pierce is a good defensive player and Tay sizzled him for 23 while shooting 56 percent.

With the trade, all the focus has been on A.I. both in the media and on the show.  In the last show, concerns were brought up about him trying to take over.  That won’t happen.  He knows where he’s at in his career and he wants to win the big one.  I don’t think he’s concerned about averaging 30 anymore.  He didn’t come here to do that.  He came here to win.

The mainstream media seems to think this trade benefits Denver more, and a lot of casual fans also believe this.  I disagree not just because I’m a Pistons fan, but because Detroit needed another all-around offensive threat when things go stagnet, and they got it in A.I.  It will pay great dividends come Playoff time.

However, Pistons fans have also got lost in the A.I. hype.  We don’t need him to be the savior or the focal point.  Detroit never needed a savior.  They needed another offensive assassin, and they got one.

Which brings me full circle.  Tay gets lost in the shuffle every year, both by fans and the media.  Yes, he’s a respected player in the League, the media, and certainly by the Piston faithful.

But we forget how important this guy is to this team.  His teammates know how good he is, yet they look like a bunch of guys in a pick-up game when the clock runs down and don’t know who to give the ball to.

Give it to Tay.  He’s been the most consistent Piston since he came to the franchise in ‘02.  His character, attitude, and talent have never been questioned, but they have never been highlighted, either.

This is the year his skills need to be maxed out for the Pistons to win it all.

Not Rasheed’s, or Stuckey’s, or Rip’s, or Amir’s, or A.I.’s, but Tay’s.

Experience usually trumps athleticism in sports, especially in basketball, as history has shown.

Remember the aging Spurs against young LeBron and the Cavs in ‘07?  Experience won.

The Bulls teams of the ’90s and Bill Russell’s Celtics back in the day?  Experience won.

The Pistons’ consistency every year in the postseason?  Experience won (at least until the Conference Finals).

That’s why you go to Tay.  Stuckey is a great player and will be for a long time, but he’s only played in one Eastern Conference Finals.

A.I. is a proven scorer and still pound-for-pound the toughest player in the game at 33, maybe the toughest ever.  But he’s only been on one really good team in his career, and even then he needed to score a lot for the 01-02 Sixers to compete.  He has never been on a team this good and this deep, and although I’m glad he’s a Piston and think he’s the missing piece we need, he’s not the focal point.

With an aging Rasheed, a young Amir and Stuckey, a well-conditioned Rip who will continue to do what he does best and a new face in Iverson, Detroit needs to let Tay know that they want him to unleash the abilities that all of us have only been able to catch glimpses of in his great career.

Tay’s in his prime, and letting him blossom as a scorer now will give him the confidence to get it done in crunch time come Spring.  With A.I. continuing to adjust, it only makes sense for Detroit to rely on Tay in these lapses.

John and Deven, this has got to be the year the Pistons break out Tay.  Another Detroit championship depends on it.

Thanks for reading and God bless.  Keep up the good work on the show!

Sincerely,

Mike B.

Erie, Mi

www.pistonscast.com