Post by and1 on Dec 22, 2005 20:24:14 GMT -5
AUBURN HILLS-- He never shows it, but on some level it has to be exasperating for Pistons coach Flip Saunders.
His team is 20-3, yet invariably after each game he has to answer two negative questions -- is he concerned about the bench, and what about the disparity in points in the lane.
"We can always get better," Saunders said, wearily. "We haven't even reached the tip of the iceberg in terms of where we are and where we can be."
The reserve unit was a bit disappointing Tuesday. The Pistons had won a double-overtime game in Memphis the night before, and the starters played heavy minutes. Saunders would have liked to lean on the bench more against Portland, but for various reasons, no reserve played more than 13 minutes.
"The bench overall has done fairly well," he said. "Portland used different lineups and forced us to use Tayshaun Prince more because of his length."
That partly explains why Carlos Delfino played only six minutes. Another reason for that was Delfino was feeling a little under the weather from the cold temperatures and all the travel.
"Chauncey Billups is going to play 35 minutes a night, that's just the way it is," Saunders said, explaining Carlos Arroyo's 12-minute effort.
Maurice Evans struggled, which is why he played only 12 minutes. He missed both his shots and picked up two quick fouls.
Rasheed Wallace played 40 minutes, and Ben Wallace, who played 56 minutes Monday, played 41, largely because Antonio McDyess was in early foul trouble and played only 12 minutes.
Darko Milicic, who was in the rotation earlier this season, has been temporarily bumped. He is in the position of having to earn back his playing time in practice, and because of the heavy game schedule (five games in seven nights), there hasn't been any practice time.
"I am not concerned," Saunders said. "Our bench has given us what we need for the most part."
Even though the numbers were skewed this week because of the overtime game, no Piston starter is averaging more than 37 minutes. Only Prince (36:48) is playing more this season than he was a year ago at this time.
Those post numbers …
The numbers would indicate a deeper problem than actually exists.
In the last two games, the Pistons were outscored in the lane, 99-46. They've been outscored in the lane in eight of the last 10 games, and 15 out of the 23 games this season.
"We don't score a lot of points in the paint, that's just how we've been," Saunders said. "Our leading scorers are our three perimeter players right now. They will be fine. There will be times we score in the paint."
Here's why the points in the lane numbers can be misleading. Yes, the Pistons were outscored in the lane by 53 the last two games. But, they went to the free-throw line 64 times in those games, making 60 of them, for a 29-point edge.
It's not as if the Pistons are only standing around the perimeter, shooting. They are attacking the basket.
Another factor is the overall efficiency of the offense. The Pistons are shooting 46 percent as a team, and have the best assist-to-turnover ratio in the league. Often, they are scoring off their first or second option in each set, and not having to use the third or fourth options, which are usually the post options.
"You have to play to your strengths," Saunders said. "Right now, the guys getting the most of the shots are our perimeter guys."
That's not to suggest the Pistons can't be and won't be more post-conscious.
Rasheed Wallace is the one the Pistons count on most to provide post points. They also rely on him to stretch defenses with his ability to score from the perimeter. Recently, he has had most of his success from the outside. But, as has been documented, he has been a reliable low-post threat in the fourth quarter.
Prince, too, is becoming a more consistent scorer in the lane. He has been a force on straight post-up plays, and when he faces his defender and takes him into the lane off the dribble.
Ben Wallace has gotten the Pistons off to fast starts with his post presence. He scored six quick points early against the Bulls and eight points in the first against Portland.
In the bonus
Billups saw his streak of 29 free throws end with a miss in the fourth quarter Tuesday. He is shooting 92.3 percent from the line.
You can reach Chris McCosky at (313) 222-1489 or chris.mccosky@detnews.com.
His team is 20-3, yet invariably after each game he has to answer two negative questions -- is he concerned about the bench, and what about the disparity in points in the lane.
"We can always get better," Saunders said, wearily. "We haven't even reached the tip of the iceberg in terms of where we are and where we can be."
The reserve unit was a bit disappointing Tuesday. The Pistons had won a double-overtime game in Memphis the night before, and the starters played heavy minutes. Saunders would have liked to lean on the bench more against Portland, but for various reasons, no reserve played more than 13 minutes.
"The bench overall has done fairly well," he said. "Portland used different lineups and forced us to use Tayshaun Prince more because of his length."
That partly explains why Carlos Delfino played only six minutes. Another reason for that was Delfino was feeling a little under the weather from the cold temperatures and all the travel.
"Chauncey Billups is going to play 35 minutes a night, that's just the way it is," Saunders said, explaining Carlos Arroyo's 12-minute effort.
Maurice Evans struggled, which is why he played only 12 minutes. He missed both his shots and picked up two quick fouls.
Rasheed Wallace played 40 minutes, and Ben Wallace, who played 56 minutes Monday, played 41, largely because Antonio McDyess was in early foul trouble and played only 12 minutes.
Darko Milicic, who was in the rotation earlier this season, has been temporarily bumped. He is in the position of having to earn back his playing time in practice, and because of the heavy game schedule (five games in seven nights), there hasn't been any practice time.
"I am not concerned," Saunders said. "Our bench has given us what we need for the most part."
Even though the numbers were skewed this week because of the overtime game, no Piston starter is averaging more than 37 minutes. Only Prince (36:48) is playing more this season than he was a year ago at this time.
Those post numbers …
The numbers would indicate a deeper problem than actually exists.
In the last two games, the Pistons were outscored in the lane, 99-46. They've been outscored in the lane in eight of the last 10 games, and 15 out of the 23 games this season.
"We don't score a lot of points in the paint, that's just how we've been," Saunders said. "Our leading scorers are our three perimeter players right now. They will be fine. There will be times we score in the paint."
Here's why the points in the lane numbers can be misleading. Yes, the Pistons were outscored in the lane by 53 the last two games. But, they went to the free-throw line 64 times in those games, making 60 of them, for a 29-point edge.
It's not as if the Pistons are only standing around the perimeter, shooting. They are attacking the basket.
Another factor is the overall efficiency of the offense. The Pistons are shooting 46 percent as a team, and have the best assist-to-turnover ratio in the league. Often, they are scoring off their first or second option in each set, and not having to use the third or fourth options, which are usually the post options.
"You have to play to your strengths," Saunders said. "Right now, the guys getting the most of the shots are our perimeter guys."
That's not to suggest the Pistons can't be and won't be more post-conscious.
Rasheed Wallace is the one the Pistons count on most to provide post points. They also rely on him to stretch defenses with his ability to score from the perimeter. Recently, he has had most of his success from the outside. But, as has been documented, he has been a reliable low-post threat in the fourth quarter.
Prince, too, is becoming a more consistent scorer in the lane. He has been a force on straight post-up plays, and when he faces his defender and takes him into the lane off the dribble.
Ben Wallace has gotten the Pistons off to fast starts with his post presence. He scored six quick points early against the Bulls and eight points in the first against Portland.
In the bonus
Billups saw his streak of 29 free throws end with a miss in the fourth quarter Tuesday. He is shooting 92.3 percent from the line.
You can reach Chris McCosky at (313) 222-1489 or chris.mccosky@detnews.com.
