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| Friday, September 14 Updated: September 17, 3:25 PM ET Users: Stackhouse, Pistons are lottery bound ESPN.com |
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We assumed we'd get about a 50-50 split on Jerry Stackhouse and his chances of leading the Detroit Pistons back to the playoffs this season. However, the majority of the e-mails said that Stackhouse had little hope, that he needed more help around him, that he wasn't a leader and that the franchise had made a mess.
Your Pistons Feedback I think that Jerry Stackhouse and the Pistons are going to benefit most from the acquisition of Clifford Robinson. Robinson should fit in well because he plays his best when he can shoot open jumpers created by other players (Stackhouse). Cliff should gel much better than Grant Hill did with Stack because their styles complement each other better. I'd say if those two can combine to contribute 40-45 points a night, we'll see the Pistons return to the playoffs.
Ken Carluto
Stackhouse could easily lead the Pistons into the playoffs: the '93 Pistons. This Pistons team is still awful, just in a different way from last year. Now scoring, which was never their problem, is being made easier while Ben Wallace is still all alone in playing defense. Congratulations to the Pistons management, who managed to fix what wasn't broke while ignoring their team's troubles.
David Dittell
I like some of the moves that are being made by the Pistons, but as you point out they are not enough. Stack put up numbers last year, as you correctly point out he put up even more shots. I don't see them making much of a move. The one thing that troubles me is the often repeated references to what Grant Hill didn't do in Detroit. Grant didn't have much support either, maybe even less than Stack, but they always made the playoffs. If Stack is a star let him back that up. Hill is coming off of two injured years, where his ankle just did not heal properly. If he is healthy in Orlando this year, Piston fans will really get to appreciate what they lost. When it happens I hope the writers and fans represent as much about the return of class, as they have the past two years, about his apparent softness.
J.A. Young
Stackhouse is capable of many things, but I don't think a young MJ is capable of leading this team to the playoffs. This team has not improved much at all. You switch Jerome Williams for Corliss Williamson and add Clifford Robinson and Jon Barry to the mix, but you get no threat other than that. Rodney White will have to be a superstar in order for Detroit to be legit. Its a bad organization that made only one good move all summer; they got rid of those stupid jerseys. Good luck, Stack, you'll need it.
James Collins
There is no way that Stackhouse has the capability of leading the Pistons to the playoffs. He is talented, but that is pushing it. He needs another leader on the floor with him, and the Pistons do not have one, and probably won't get one. I don't think you can count on Stackhouse to lead a team anyway. What has he proven? That he can score tons of points on a not so good team? Big deal. They need someone that is a proven winner on that team and Stackhouse is not that guy.
Trent Arkema
Unfortunately, I don't think so. Personally, I'm not convinced that Stackhouse can be a leader on the court. It's clear that he can put up big numbers without a supporting cast, but every star player needs a little help. I don't believe that the players that surround him now are ready to help this team back into the playoffs. I tip my hat to Jerry Stackhouse and for what he's tried to accomplish in Detroit, but I think he and the fans are in for another long season. Good luck, Jerry.
Anthony Jelcic
The Pistons look a lot better this year because of the key acquisition of Clifford Robinson. He will help Wallace defensively in the front since the East is weak in the 4 and 5 spots. He can score, too, with a nice outside shot he and Jon Barry will be critical in the zone defense, and alleviate some of the scoring responsibilities of Stackhouse. However, they are at best an eighth seed in the playoffs.
Samuel Ensenat
As a youngster, I loved the Pistons. I was really into watching basketball during the whole Bad Boy era and I thought it couldn't get any better than this. Well, it got worse. I refuse to watch the Pistons now, even if they're playing another team I love. Stackhouse cannot lead the Pistons to the playoffs because the Pistons keep wasting their money on these old has-beens. Players that couldn't lead their previous teams to championships. Dana Barros?? Please, even when he was in his prime in Boston, they still stunk. Cliff Robinson?? He would have been a good addition ... when the Pistons were playing Portland in the early-'90s. It's now 2001, how old is he? The team is filled with has-beens and nobodys. The only good addition I see this year is Jon Barry, but he's old, too. I was very excited when Joe Dumars was given the position of president. But now I'm not so sure.
Stephanie
Absolutely. Stack was the ONLY player on the roster last year capable of creating his own shot on a consistent basis. His turnover total was horrible, but that was a product of having to handle the ball so much. A void at the 1 and 3 spots left Stack with the ball in his hands far too much. Michael Curry is a decent role player, not an NBA starter at small forward. The same can be said for Chucky Atkins. Rodney White should help ease the burden on Stack. I would expect White to average 15 a game by Christmas. In the weak East the Pistons can slip into one of the last two spots in the East. If they could get a decent PG they might be able to sneak into the 6th spot.
Robert Fisher
Don't get me wrong. I think Stackhouse is a tremendous player, but in order for the Pistons to reach the playoffs they are going to have to have leadership from him in addition to scoring. I'm not so sure he has that type of mentality. The fact that he has a high number of turnovers shows that he is unable to control a team. To be a playoff contender those mistakes cannot be made, especially by someone who handles the ball as much as he does. If they are to have a chance the Pistons have to acquire a legitimate playmaker and floor general.
Martin Bellamy
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