Stuck Yea!

There have been a lot of haters out there who think the Pistons have regressed, they are too old, Curry is an inexperienced, in-over-his-head coach, and that trading Chauncey was about as stupid of a move as drafting Darko "I coulda had Melo, Bosh, or Wade!' Milicic. I'm here to tell you that I am more excited about this team than I ever have been since they traded for Rasheed in the "thank you Danny Ainge!" trade of the century and went on to win the NBA finals in a 5 game sweep.

Seriously, I really am. The Stones are flying under the radar right now because they hit multiple speed bumps with integrating a "superstar" into their lineup after the season had already started. Every other NBA team had gone through a training camp with their respective rosters and had a game plan, a rotation, and a general knowledge of what was expected of them rolling into the season. The Pistons did too, until Joey pulled "the trade" and moved Chaunce "I have a Finals MVP trophy" Buh Buh Buh Buh Billups. Basically, the team was thrown back into training camp mode as they muddled through the next few dozen games and tried to define roles and playing time. Having two All-Star caliber shooting guards who can't really play other positions can do that to ya. . .

But Michael Curry tinkered with his lineups and went small, he went big, and he went young to try to figure out what the best combination of his young players and his veterans were. I really happen to enjoy Mr. Curry and how he's divvied out PT so far this season. Yes, you have interesting lineups and sometimes either AI or Hamilton have been on the bench during crunch time, but I don't mind. Curry has something that Rick Carlisle, Larry Brown, and Flip Saunders never had, the juevos to play the young guys and whoever is playing the best. And you can't say he's going strictly young, because my favorite Piston Jason Maxiell has seen his playing time dwindle during the first half of the season.

The Pistons surge as of late, in my mind, has come from the fact that Rip has been on the sidelines the last few weeks. Is this because he isn't a good player or our shooting guard of the future? Absolutely not. In fact he is our future banner carrier at the position, but the fact that we only have one bonafide two guard right now has solidified the team. Which is why I am so excited about the future of the Stones. When AI comes off the books next year (and he WILL come off, he will not be resigned even if they win a Title), our young starting backcourt will be of Rodney Stuckey and Richard Hamilton.

Having Stuckey and Hamilton in our backcourt and knowing Joe has the cash to redeem himself from the Darko Disaster by signing one of the players he should have drafted all those devastating years ago. . . 2003? Really? It was only that long ago Dumars went Tanya Harding on our Dynasty hopes? Anyway, knowing what this team can do with a set in stone starting backcourt, along with not having to play Tayshaun at the four spot and alot of cash in the biggest free agent sweepstakes pool in decades, makes me giddier than a 16 year old in a porn shop.

Let's put aside the amazing amount of cash that we have to go after the likes of Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, and *gasp* LeBron James. The biggest gamble of the deal was not whether or not we can sign one of these players, but whether or not Rodney Stuckey could truly fill the shoes of the venerable Finals MVP. He has passed this test with flying colors. He was named Eastern Conference player of the week while averaging 20 pts, 5 boards, 5 dimes, and 2 steals during that stretch. He dropped 40 on the Bulls, and is 13-3 overall during the course of the season when he has started the game. Rodney will be a staple in the All-Star game and the catalyst of the Detroit Pistons for the next 10 years.

And let's be completely honest with ourselves. Detroit was not going to the Finals with Billups in the backcourt. The definition of crazy is "doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results." We have run into a brick wall in the ECF for the past four years with our current roster, and as Dick Clark said, "we aren't getting younger." Has he said that? Or does he just really look old to me? . . . At least with the Iverson trade we have a unique piece of the puzzle, that if used correctly, could be harnessed into a possible Finals bid. And we all know a possible Finals bid is a better chance than we had with Buh Buh Buh Buh Old Guy.

I love Chaunce, I really do. He has given me one of the greatest sports memories I will ever have and I shall take it to my grave. I wish him nothing but the very best in Denver and I hope he has alot of success. But, on the other hand, we now have a younger, more dynamic point who will lead this team, and has his own NBA Finals MVP in his future. Put it in stone.