Pistons Mid-Season Report

We’ve now arrived at the All Star break – the unofficial midway point of the NBA season. The 2010 Detroit Pistons have had a tumultuous season to this point, marred by numerous injuries to key starters. The Pistons have been disappointing on the whole this year, but there have been a few bright spots. Here are the grades (highest to lowest).

Ben Wallace

Midseason Grade: B+

Summary: Big Ben has given Detroit more than anyone could have imagined this year. Signed to the veteran’s minimum, Wallace was expected to fill the role of a 4^th-5^th big man off the bench, but he’s done so much more than that. Ben leads the Pistons in rebounds per game (9.0), while his 1.3 steals per game rank second on the team. No one will mistake him for the player that won 4 DPOY awards from 2002-2006, but he has more than filled his role this year and he’s done something few Pistons have this year… consistent energy and effort.

Jonas Jerebko

Midseason Grade: B

Summary: Jonas Jerebko, taken in the middle of the 2^nd round, has proven to be one of the steals of the 2009 NBA draft. Jerebko got his chance at playing time due to so many Pistons’ injuries, but he has more than earned his playing time, providing youthful energy and passion that has otherwise eluded the team. Jerebko is far from a polished product (shooting just 28% on threes and 68% at the line), but he certainly appears to be a long-term fixture in the Pistons future.

Rodney Stuckey

Midseason Grade: B-

Summary: At times, he’s played spectacularly, carrying the Pistons to unlikely wins against Denver and Boston. But he’s also been maddeningly inconsistent; shooting above 40% in just one month so far this year (December) and his decision making is also questionable at times. But he’s been the Pistons’ best player this year (leading the team in PPG, APG and PER) and he’s also taken more of a leadership role. His assists have been climbing lately (7.2 this month) and his turnovers have been going down. If Stuckey can continue to make the right decisions, while improving his shooting efficiency outside and finishing around the rim, I think the Pistons and Piston fans alike will be happy with the progress he’s made this year.

Even though Rodney has been the Pistons bet player this year, his inconsistencies prevent me from giving him a higher grade.

Ben Gordon

Midseason Grade: C-

Summary: Gordon started the year playing well, but he has been a pretty big disappointment on the whole. Gordon has not been immune to the Pistons’ injury bug either, missing 19 games. Gordon is averaging a career low in points (15.7) and three point percentage (32%)… two things he was supposed to bring to the Pistons. He’s had injuries though and he’s played in a crowded backcourt, so I’m not willing to say this was a complete failure of a free agent signing… yet.

Richard Hamilton

Midseason Grade: D+

Summary: After the first game of the year, Hamilton missed 27 consecutive games with a severe ankle sprain. Since returning, his play has been very inconsistent and he’s posted the worst numbers since his rookie year (career low 38.9% FG%, 2^nd lowest PER, 2^nd lowest Off. Rating). I’m not a huge Hamilton fan, but his days as a Piston could be numbered, so I won’t lay it on too thick. He’s had the added responsibility of a lot more playmaking than at any point in his Pistons career and that’s certainly hurt his numbers.

Charlie Villanueva

Midseason Grade: D

Summary: Charlie V has been the poster boy for inconsistency. One night, he’ll look great and get you 25 points/8 rebounds on efficient shooting. The next, he’ll give you 8 points on sub 40% shooting, he won’t box out and he certainly doesn’t defend under any circumstances (though he does give a better effort on that end when he’s involved in the offense). Villanueva shows some nice creativity and touch in the post area, but he simply doesn’t play in that area of the floor enough (sound familiar?). When his jump shot isn’t falling, Villanueva is essentially useless on the floor.

Tayshaun Prince

Midseason Grade: F

Summary: It’s been a rough season for Prince, sustaining his first serious injury (ruptured disk in back) which forced him to miss over 20 games. Prince is averaging career lows in points, field goal %, rebounds and in most efficiency metrics. His shot has improved of late, but that’s about the only thing he can do now. He has no lateral quickness anymore and is actually a defensive liability. Like Hamilton, Prince’s name has been in many trade rumors and his days as a Piston could be nearing an end.

Coach John Kuester

Midseason Grade: C-

Summary: I almost considered giving Kuester an Incomplete, given all the lineup juggling he’s been forced to do with all of the injuries to his key players. Kuester was supposed to bring an innovative offense to the table and we certainly haven’t seen much of that (Pistons rank 29^th in PPG and 25^th in Offensive Rating), besides a nice out of bounds play here and there. I think Kuester has done a fine job of coaching Stuckey and not only singing his praises when he plays well, but constructively criticizing him when he plays poorly.

My biggest beef with Kuester is his inability to get Daye and Summers more playing time. I think a lot of it has to do with the Pistons showcasing Prince and Hamilton for potential trades.

If Prince and Hamilton are still getting 30-36 minutes a game after the trade deadline (and not getting Daye and Summers into the lineup) then I will have a BIG problem with it.

Team

Midseason Grade: F

Summary: Yes, this team has had a ton of injuries. But most people (myself included) had this team being, at the very least, a fringe playoff team. But they will fall well short of that. Looking back on it, I’m not sure why I had felt they had improved as a team. You can’t win in this league without a front court and the Pistons front court, if not the worst in the league, is one of the worst.

But, when it’s all said and done, I don’t think having a down year is the worst thing for this franchise. Being really bad for a year and getting a top 5 draft pick is a lot better than being mediocre and getting bounced in the first round. So, not all is bad in Piston Nation.