Posts tagged Antoniomcdyess at FanHouse

One of the major complaints levied against Flip Saunders in Detroit, even through a season in which the aging starters played short minutes, was the lack of confidence in Amir Johnson. The wunderkind 21-year-old only got into 62 games and didn't hit 800 minutes on the season ... despite producing at a high level every chance he received.

New coach Michael Curry isn't making the same mistake. He told reporters this weekend Johnson will be the team's new starting power forward.

"Amir does things without having to have the ball," Curry said. "He's able to pick up baskets through his activity, by running the floor and playing off the other four guys. He does all the intangible things, and through that he's able to create offensive opportunities for himself."

That seems to be the key in fitting the Pistons pieces together. The other four incumbents can score and create offense. Historically, last year's starting four Antonio McDyess (who will be the first forward off the bench) has been a good creator and scorer. Johnson figures to block more shots, create more turnovers, and crash the offensive boards better than McDyess. That's where the Pistons need help in the starting lineup.

It doesn't hurt that McDyess will be joined by Rodney Stuckey -- a gutsy, explosive guard -- and rough as rocks Jason Maxiell off the bench. Barring injury, Detroit really seems to fit together well.

Yup. According to the Detroit News, Flip Saunders will most likely be back with the Pistons next season, despite what can only be classified as an unnerving series of disappointments that now stretches into its sixth year in the Conference Finals with only one championship, Detroit will not can their coach.

Opinions on Saunders tend to run the gamut, with some saying that he has failed to ever reach this team, and others arguing that he's been made into a scape goat for an under-performing squad that has still managed a great deal of success.

The knock on Saunders has nothing to do with his Xs and Os work. He does a good job adjusting to roster shifts as much as he can, knows how to trust his starters, and has helped develop a highly talented and effective bench unit filled with young players as well as getting maximum contributions from veterans like Antonio McDyess and Lindsey Hunter.

The problem is simply that this team is difficult to motivate. There are times when they simply don't execute like they need to, and in recent years, those lapses have occurred at the worst possible times. Like, say, the fourth quarter in an Conference Final elimination game.

Still, Saunders has done a lot with this team since taking over, and has probably deserves to at least make it through his contract before being evaluated or set free. With Joe Dumars' patented history of managing a highly talented roster within the salary cap and making smart decisions, it's likely he'll stick with Saunders for one more year.

Notes from a trip to the NBA Playoffs.

Antonio McDyess is both the oldest Pistons starter as well as the only one without a championship ring. Not surprisingly, he always seemed to have the greatest sense of urgency. After being eliminated by the Celtics last night, he sat in his locker and quietly answered every last question, including whether he thought Joe Dumars might make serious changes to the roster this summer.

"He probably will because there's no more excuses," said McDyess. "Ain't no excuse why we didn't go back to the Finals this year. And I'm pretty sure he sees that. ... He's not blind and the fans are not blind." He added, "What went on this year, I can just say we didn't give it all we got."

McDyess was brutally honest in criticizing his team's effort. "It's like, you get pumped up, the whole season we played as well as we do, and we go through the first round, the second round ... Get to the third round and we don't give it like we normally give it. It's like we step out there like zombies sometimes."

The Pistons are against the cliff, now. They're at home, but they no longer have the luxury of any more "off games." The switch has to be "on' from here on out. And with the Celtics smelling the Finals, pushing this back to Boston will be difficult. But if anybody has the experience to kick this brutal series back to seven, it's the Pistons. In another of our continuing series, here's our look at 5 things to keep an eye out for tonight in Pistons-Celtics, Game 6.

1. Pierced Lung: Paul Pierce provides the oxygen for this Celtics squad. When his stroke is in rhythm, it's all over but the shouting. In order for Boston to end this thing, Pierce has to get more into a scoring role and concentrate less on other areas. The Celtics can live with Tayshaun Prince going a little nova if they can counter with Pierce, a la Game 7 from the Cavaliers series. What can't happen for the Celts, and what the Pistons need is ...

2. You Don't Know Rip: Rip Hamilton and his offensive versatility is on display late in May. Again. And the Pistons' season hinges on his ability to carry them. Again. And he still won't get enough of the credit. Unfortunately, Rip's got an elbow issue and won't be close to 100%. With the elbow injury, Hamilton's post game is going to be limited with how much he uses his elbows to create space. The Pistons' season hangs on Hamilton and his elbow tonight.

In the latest in our continuing series, we look at five things to keep an eye on tonight in the Eastern Conference Finals Game 5 between the Detroit Pistons and the Boston Celtics.

1. Roll Of The McDyess: Antonio McDyess of all freaking people has proved pivotal in this series. The Celtics are supposed to dominate inside with Kevin Garnett and the Perkins/Powe/Davis trifecta, but it's been the Pistons who have been controlling the down low. McDyess is averaging close to 15 points and 11 rebounds, and has come up with huge shots when the Pistons have needed it. The Celtics have to have bigger contributions defensively from their young players to get McDyess back to average.

2. Dual-Sided Mismatch: Sam Cassell is too old to effectively contribute against the Pistons. Chauncey Billups is too injured to effectively contribute against the Celtics. Rajon Rondo is too young to take the reins for too long. Rodney Stuckey is too young to take the reins for too long. This matchup has been fascinating due to the subtle differences between the two point guard combos (as opposed to combo guards). Rondo has terrific defensive acumen but his youth causes him to overplay sometimes, picking up useless fouls and leaving the baseline vulnerable. Stuckey tends to force things offensively and doesn't always allow the system to flow through him like it does through Billups. Whoever takes control of this game tonight, and it's usually Rondo at home, will probably provide the cornerstone for a victory for his team.

Notes from a trip to the NBA Playoffs.

Antonio McDyess turned in a monster performance (21 points, 16 boards) for the Pistons, but after the game Flip Saunders praised his leadership as much as his statistics.

"I am so proud of him," he said. "Yesterday we had a film session. After the film session he was there talking with Chauncey [Billups] and with Juan [Dixon], and Juan was very emphatic, almost like a preacher, that we're okay, we're going to be okay, everything is all right. Dyess said, 'hey, we've been talking that everything is all right. We've got to make it happen. We can't talk about it; we've got to make it happen.' "

Added Saunders, "I've never seen him with the emotion he has. ... It's like he's got a new personality. He's definitely been hungry, I know that. He has just been huge for us and basically carrying us."

McDyess hasn't been so vocal in the past, but as he explained, disgust with how the last couple of seasons have ended prompted him to take on that role this year."Since I've been here, we kind of have had excuses why we haven't won another championship ... and I feel that if I don't say anything vocally that we would have an excuse this year. I don't want us to have an excuse," he said.

In the latest of our continuing series, we look at Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, as the Pistons try to even the score against Boston.

1. Comparing leashes. Flip Saunders told reporters Chauncey Billups will be on a shorter leash, which means Rodney Stuckey should see extra playing time. But Stuckey's a rookie, and while he's looked great so far, could a few youthful mistakes ping pong Saunders back to his hobbled vet? Meanwhile, Sam Cassell finally got some minutes (8) but spent them looking pissed off and trigger-happy (5 FGAs, 1 turnover). Paul Pierce seemingly took issue, and you wonder if Doc Rivers will tonight, either by benching the vet or keeping his minutes superlow. What a league, when two 30somethings will be on tight leashes in favor of a rookie and sophomore (Rajon Rondo).

2. Die by the three. Detroit made 1-of-13 threes on Saturday, pitiful by any standard, but especially for a team which shot a swell 37% on 16 attempts for the season. Rasheed Wallace and Rip Hamilton need to make their threes count, in particular, else Boston's Pierce-Allen-House barrage provide a decent cushion.

3. Shattered glass. Both teams have been traditionally able on the defensive glass, but neither team showed it on Saturday. Boston came away with 14 offensive rebounds in 32 opportunities, and Detroit had 10 in 40 chances. Antonio McDyess' got to seal off and handle his business, and there's no reason for Jason Maxiell to only record one rebound in 20 minutes when so many misfires were available.

Two more, after the jump.

Every now and again there are some stupendous, silly, stupid, or downright outlandish individual lines from around the L. Doing Lines lets you know which one tops the list.

Just when people started to wonder if their run was over, the Hornets stomped all over the Spurs to the tune of 101-79 on Tuesday night. Chris Paul (22 points, 14 assists) was his usually stellar self, but David West was simply awesome, scoring 38 (16-25 FG) with 14 boards, five blocks, five assists and a pair of steals.

West is often overshadowed by CP3's almost-nightly brilliance, but the Hornets wouldn't be where they are -- one win away from the franchise's first conference finals appearance -- without their other All-Star.

Also Receiving Votes:
Antonio McDyess' sdouble-double (17 points, 11 boards) may not look all that spectacular on paper, but when you consider the work he did down the stretch coming down with seemingly every loose ball in a close game, it's not hard to see why Rip Hamilton (31 points, 16-16 FT) called him the MVP of the game. Making it all the more impressive was the fact that McDyess played the game with a heavy heart, learning just hours before tip-off that his grandmother, who helped raise him, passed away Tuesday afternoon.

Dwight Howard: Rebounds are about effort, and effort never slumps, which is why Howard finished Tuesday's game with 17 boards. That said, his shot abandoned him in the most crucial game of the year: he shot just 6-15 from the free-throw line. Howard now has all summer to think about how he missed nine freebies in an elimination game which the Magic lost by five.

Tim Duncan: Sure, he was held to just 10 points, but 23 rebounds? That's just silly.

In another of our continuing series, five things to keep an eye out for tonight in the Pistons-Magic Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 3 this evening.

1. Hemming And Hawing About A Hammy: Will he play? Won't he? Is he okay? Is it fine? Lord, you tweak one hamstring and the whole world goes nuts. Such is the life of Chauncey Billups. Billups is doubtful for tomorrow's game, but has been improving steadily since the injury he sustained in Game 3. Chauncey is now officially the hinge on which this series rests. Without him on the floor, the Magic can create turnovers, open shots, spread the floor, and play their game. With him in, it's like the teacher's back in class. No more spitwads from Lewis, and Mr. Howard! Take that ridiculous cape off!

2. Hey, Where Did That $118 Million Guy Come From?: Rashard Lewis was not the primary focus for the Pistons coming into this series, but maybe he should have been. Lewis is hitting his groove in this series, averaging 24 points a game, including a career playoff high 33 points in Game 3. He's working it from the outside, driving the lane, getting rebounds, the whole nine yards. The Pistons probably assumed that they can accept Lewis' points as long as Turkoglu and Howard are kept down. But at some point, the Pistons need to get a clamp on him before he really gets going.

In another of our continuing series, five things to keep an eye out for tonight in the Magic-Pistons game tonight.

1. Superman Vs. The Automatons: Chris Webber said on Inside the NBA after the Magic eliminated the Raptors that the Pistons would not choose to double Dwight Howard. That's a matter of some debate in the Pistons camp, and it looks like they have decided to bring the double. The thinking here is pretty clear. We shut down Dwight Howard, and this team is without competent weaponry. Howard has to be on his game for every single game in this series. He needs to take advantage when he gets a step, an opening, or a mismatch. He needs to control the boards at both ends of the floor. But most importantly, he needs to make the pass to the open shooter on the perimeter. From there the question gets a little more dicey for the Magic ...

2. .Better Be Good: If the Magic perimeter shooters aren't on target in this series, it could get out of hand very fast. They are going to get open shots. The Pistons are willing to accept shots from Jameer Nelson, from Maurice Evans, from Keith Bogans. As long as it's not Howard dunking on them or Turkoglu slicing to the basket, they'll take their chances with their ability to closeout and put pressure on shooters. Keith Bogans was 12 of 14 against the Pistons this season, and he has to keep up that kind of accuracy to force the Pistons out of the double-team.