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In Detroit, D still comes first; youth coming up fast
By Marc Stein
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Five observations from Pistons camp:
1. Not-So-Dark Days: Darko Milicic, blocking shots?
Darko should see more minutes and less time posting up.
Darko Milicic, scoring points in crunch time?
Darko Milicic, actually calling for the ball?
The Pistons have seen all of the above from the 2003 No. 2 overall pick in the first two weeks of the season. After two years of inactivity (and worse) under Larry Brown, Darko is finally getting a chance to contribute from Flip Saunders.
"Darko's looking really good," teammate Chauncey Billups said. "I'm proud of him."
No one in Detroit, mind you, is getting too carried away. Milicic remains No. 4 in the Pistons' power rotation behind Ben Wallace, Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess.
However …
Saunders has Darko facing the basket and playing out on the floor more, whereas Brown saw the long lefty as a post prospect only. The difference is noticeable already.
"His greatest asset is his feet -- he's got great quickness and athletic ability for a guy his size," Saunders said. "Why take a guy that has speed like that and just put him down there [in the post] where he can't use it? I look at it like boxing -- don't take a guy that's a boxer and try to make him a puncher. We want to try to make other people guard him.
"I was not anywhere close to aware of how talented Darko is. I had no idea that he could do a lot of things he can do. That's probably been my biggest surprise so far."
Said Billups: "He's able to be himself now. He's able to be who he is. He's not a five. He's a four man who can put it on the ground, who's a great passer, who can shoot that shot and make decisions out there."
In short, Milicic looks a lot more confident now than he did in the Vegas summer league against lesser competition. It appears that his Vegas experience was just the first step in rebuilding his beaten-down confidence, with progress made later in the summer as a member of the mostly nightmarish Serbian national team.
Now?
Milicic is carrying himself as though he deserves a nightly ration of 10-15 minutes off the bench, which sounds modest but would represent significant progress on a team with a frontcourt rotation as deep as Detroit's. He just might get it, too.
"I feel much better," Milicic said. "I feel very comfortable with Flip. He saw I'm a better player facing the basket. I think that's what my game is."
The Pistons have more muscle in rookie Jason Maxiell.
2. Next in line: I liked Jason Maxiell when I saw him overpower NBA wannabes in summer league. I liked him even more at practice earlier this week when I saw the 6-foot-5 bruiser (listed charitably at 6-7) take the ball right at Rasheed Wallace and any other veteran in his way.
Maxiell's problem, of course, is not like unlike Darko's original problem in Detroit: He was drafted by maybe the last team that has minutes to spare at the power positions.
But some guys just have a rebounding nose for the ball that can't be taught and Maxiell is one of those guys. It might not be soon and it might not be with the Pistons, but the No. 26 overall pick last June will be a decent player for someone someday.
3. Youth movement: Then again, maybe Maxiell's breakthrough will be in Detroit.
One of the rarely mentioned reasons why the Pistons had to make a coaching change is the promising posse of prospects club president Joe Dumars has managed to assemble while the veterans are competing for championships.
Brown had no patience to develop Darko and Carlos Delfino. Saunders will make those two and Maxiell part of the program, which isn't a bad idea with three of the five starters (plus top reserve Antonio McDyess) having already played between nine and 11 years in the league.
The Pistons' staying power can only be enhanced if the kiddies Dumars was fortunate enough to find become NBA players … or at least NBA trade assets.
4. More zip for Rip? They've played only two exhibition games and they're still learning the basics of Saunders' famously thick playbook. The Pistons have a lot to digest before they can claim to "know" the offense.
Yet for all the attention Billups and Saunders are getting, back together some three seasons after Billups left Minnesota, I'm just as curious to see what Richard Hamilton can do in a system that promises more screens and increased player and ball movement.
Shouldn't that eventually make Hamilton even more effective?
"I can see it," Hamilton said. "I can see it. I've seen it since the first day of practice."
We haven't seen it yet in exhibition play, but, again, it's early.
5. Defense never rests here: The Pistons don't deny that they have much to prove with an under-the-microscope new coach and little they can do before April that proves anything. As Lindsey Hunter said, "Championships are what we're judged on now."
One request, though.
Don't give any credence to suggestions that Detroit's defense is going to drop off now that Brown is in New York.
Saunders is indeed known as an offensive specialist, but let's face it: He couldn't stop the Pistons from playing defense if he wanted to.
Ben Wallace, Rasheed Wallace and Tayshaun Prince would play killer defense for any coach.
Wouldn't they?
"Their defensive personality is very well-established," Saunders said, "and they've established it themselves."
NBA Rumor Central: Reeling in Ratliff
WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY
Theo Ratliff
Trail Blazers
Knicks?
Reeling in Ratliff
Oct 14 - With no strong defensive presence on the team, the Knicks have intensified their full court press to pry Theo Ratliff from the Blazers, the New York Post reports.
WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY
Smush Parker
Lakers
Smush to start?
Oct 13 - The Lakers are still trying to figure out who their fifth starter will be, the Los Angeles Times reports. It could be Smush Parker, who started the Lakers' first exhibition game. Or it could be Aaron McKie, who started Wednesday's exhibition game. Neither has much experience in running the triangle offense.
Said coach Phil Jackson: "There's absolutely nothing that we can put our money on right now," Jackson said. "Obviously, Aaron is somebody with experience who has the ability to step into that position. ... We'll be watching that position and we'll be starting different people and putting different people with that unit the whole time."
WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY
Rodney White
Clippers
White the one?
Oct 12 - The Clippers have 13 players with guaranteed contracts and coach Mike Dunleavy indicated that the team will likely keep 14 players, meaning the seven free agents in camp are vying for one spot, the Long Beach Press-Telegram reports. The favorite appears to be Rodney White, who played 58 games with Denver and Golden State last season.
WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY
Tayshaun Prince
Pistons
Prince's pay
Oct 12 - According to MLive.com, Tayshaun Prince's contract extension with the Detroit Pistons is expected to be completed no later than this weekend. The deal is expected to be a five-year deal worth about $45 million.
), and are deep. It was a sure thing last year for the Pistons, or very close to it. Pacers took them six games last year, but they ultimately weren't going to beat them, and I don't remember anyone getting worried over it. Yes the Pistons have an improved bench, but it's not near as deep or balanced than the Heat/Cavs/Nets/Pacers. Cavs/Nets won't be easy to beat anymore. Hell, while they may not be at the level of the top 3-5, the Bulls/Wizards/Knicks/Bucks, they just add to the heightened competition and depth of the east. The latter two improving over past seasons.
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