In Play Magazine
Forward Helped The Pistons Win Back-to-Back NBA Championships
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – The Detroit Pistons announced today that the club will retire Dennis Rodman’s #10 jersey during a halftime ceremony on April 1, 2011 when the Pistons host the Chicago Bulls at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
“I’m pleased that we are honoring Dennis for his accomplishments as a player and his contributions to the success of the organization,” said Joe Dumars, President of Basketball Operations for the Pistons. “His jersey retirement is well deserved.”
Drafted 27th overall by the Pistons in the 1986 NBA Draft, Rodman was a key member of the Pistons ‘Bad Boys’ teams that led the franchise to back-to-back championships in 1989 and 1990. An elite defender and rebounder, he averaged 8.8 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists while shooting 54 percent from the field in 549 games as a Piston. Rodman led Detroit in rebounding four consecutive seasons (1989-1993) and was the league’s top rebounder from 1991-93 when he averaged 18.7 and 18.3 rebounds per game, respectively. He was a two-time NBA All-Star while playing for Detroit (1990, 1992) and was named to the All-NBA Third Team following the 1991-92 season. Rodman was named the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year in 1990 and 1991 and was also named to the NBA All-Defensive first team for five consecutive seasons (1989-93).
“Individual accomplishments have never been a big deal for me as a player, but to be honored for my contributions in this way by the Detroit Pistons organization is truly humbling,” Rodman said in a statement issued through his manager, Steven Simon of Prince Marketing Group. “This organization gave me a chance to blossom regardless of my size or what school I came from. My only regret is that the man that believed in me more than I did myself, Chuck Daly, is no longer with us. I’m sure he’ll be with us that evening in his own way.”
The 6-7, 210-pound forward, nicknamed “The Worm” during his playing days, ranks fourth among all-time franchise leaders in total rebounds (6,299) and still holds team records for most rebounds in a game [34, vs. Indiana (3/4/92)], most offensive rebounds in a game [18, vs. Indiana (3/4/92)], most defensive rebounds in a game [22, at Sacramento (3/14/92)] and most games with 25-plus rebounds (15). He also recorded 30 or more rebounds three times and holds the team record for highest field goal percentage in one season at 59.5 percent (1988-89).
Rodman was traded to the San Antonio Spurs on October 1, 1993 and also played with the Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks. He played a key role in the Bulls’ three consecutive championships from 1996-1998 and holds the NBA records for most consecutive seasons leading the league in rebounds [7, (1991-97)] and most seasons leading the league in defensive rebounds [3, (91-92, 93-94, 97-98)]. Rodman picked up two more NBA All-Defensive First Team honors after leaving Detroit (1995, 1996), a NBA Second-Team All-Defensive honor in 1994 and an All-NBA Third Team honor in 1995. Overall, he played in 911 career NBA games averaging 7.3 points, 13.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 31.7 minutes per game.
“We are excited to welcome Dennis Rodman back to The Palace and honor him with his jersey retirement,” said Alan Ostfield, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Pistons and Palace Sports and Entertainment. “We look forward to hosting an exciting evening for Dennis as well as our fans.”
Showing posts with label Pistons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pistons. Show all posts
Friday, February 11, 2011
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Rejuvenated McGrady Making a Difference
Rejuvenated McGrady Making a Difference
By Steve St-Pierre
Tracy McGrady signed a one-year contract with the Pistons this past summer after no other NBA team would offer him a guaranteed deal. After a slow start, T-Mac is beginning to round into form, working up the rotation all the way to the starting five.
A former NBA superstar, McGrady has suffered the past few seasons from various knee, back and shoulder injuries. As a result, nobody wanted to take a chance at signing him for fear that he’d get hurt once again. The Pistons, desperate for some type of splash during the offseason, were the only ones to step up to the plate.
The Pistons continue to struggle, as they did a season ago. Though they were ravaged by injuries last year, they’ve remained relatively healthy this season. Therefore, injuries cannot be used as an excuse. Because the team has struggled, John Kuester, Pistons Coach, has had to change his rotation on numerous occasions.
One of the few positives this season has been the play of McGrady. He’s stepped up as a vocal leader, something the Pistons have not had since trading away Chauncey Billups in 2008. McGrady has also been Detroit’s best ball-handler, so much so that he’s been inserted as the starting point guard.
“He’s had a big impact,” forward Austin Daye says of McGrady. “He’s a knowledgable guy at that position. He’s a playmaker. He’s not just a star player, he’s a playmaker. He can pass, he can score. It’s a great thing for the team.”
“That’s just my game, just having the ball and making plays,” McGrady says. “It opens a lot of stuff up (offensively) once that happens. I told coach, ‘I see a lot of things that can be helpful to our team as far as making cuts (to the basket.)
“I’m always confident when I’m on the court. It doesn’t matter if I’m a starter or coming off the bench.”
Kuester’s probably more grateful than anybody to have the veteran swingman on his roster. He’s had difficulty finding a combination of players to stick with as a rotation. In terms of the backcourt, Kuester had been using Rodney Stuckey as the starting point guard but hadn’t settled on a shooting guard between Rip Hamilton and Ben Gordon.
It appears that Stuckey will now shift guard positions with T-Mac, allowing Gordon to continue coming off the bench. Hamilton, reportedly close to being traded by the Pistons, has been taken out of the rotation entirely.
“This is one of the things that’s crazy about our game,” Kuester says. “And the reason I say ‘crazy’ is sometimes you can’t wait for people’s motors to get going.”
It isn’t just the backcourt that Kuester’s been waiting on. While Tayshaun Prince has held his own at small forward, the Pistons’ post players have struggled to stay consistent. Ben Wallace has been the starting center all season, but he’s clearly past his prime and unable to handle playing in the middle. At power forward, Kuester’s rotated several players in and out of the starting lineup, including Daye, Charlie Villanueva, Jason Maxiell, Greg Monroe and Chris Wilcox.
It’s proven difficult for the players on Detroit’s roster to stay patient and wait for their minutes to come. Players have openly complained about their inconsistent minutes and seem hopeful that a trade involving Hamilton could open up more playing time at least in the backcourt.
“It’s tough because I’m a player, and I definitely want to play,” says reserve Will Bynum. “But I’ve been through it before. It’s (about) just staying positive and just working hard. Everyday I’m getting up the same amount of shots…I’ll be ready whenever the opportunity comes.”
“It seems like when we’re undermanned, guys are a little bit more comfortable,” adds Gordon. “They know they’re going to be playing. They have time to get a rhythm. We’ve got to figure out something that works, that can get everybody going. I think when we do that, we play well.”
Clearly, the Pistons are much more relaxed when they don’t have to worry about looking over their shoulders when they’re out on the floor.
“When we’re having fun, things can come easier for us…” says Villanueva. “…That’s the way we should be playing.”
With a healthy McGrady, the ball’s been moving more on offense. As long as he can handle staying on the floor, T-Mac will likely remain a starter the rest of the season.
“I’m gradually just getting better game by game,” McGrady says. “Confidence-wise, I’m just feeling more comfortable on the basketball court. The last thing to overcome is getting over the mental part when you’re getting over a significant injury.”
It remains to be seen who will emerge as the full-time starter at shooting guard. Stuckey’s a restricted free agent at the end of the season, so with Hamilton’s days in Detroit likely coming to an end Gordon appears to have the best chance of winding up back in the starting lineup between now and the end of the season.
Up front, Prince will remain at small forward. Because he’s also a free agent at the end of the year, there’s a very good chance he, too, could wind up being traded. The long-rumored deal that would send him to the L.A. Clippers for veteran center and Michigan-native Chris Kaman could finally come to fruition.
In the meantime, expect Wallace’s minutes to decrease as Detroit gives extended minutes to Monroe at center. Unfortunately, power forward will likely continue to be a juggling act all season. Injured veteran Jonas Jerebko hopes to return sometime in February, so it’s possible he could wind up starting either at power forward – as he did a season ago – or at small forward if Prince is dealt.
“It’s a long season still…” Kuester says. “…The bottom line is we’ve got to regroup and understand that we hope that (players) learn valuable lessons in these things. If you want to be successful, period, you’ve got to approach your work with a tremendous amount of heart.
“When we’re playing hard, we can compete with anybody.”
By Steve St-Pierre
Tracy McGrady signed a one-year contract with the Pistons this past summer after no other NBA team would offer him a guaranteed deal. After a slow start, T-Mac is beginning to round into form, working up the rotation all the way to the starting five.A former NBA superstar, McGrady has suffered the past few seasons from various knee, back and shoulder injuries. As a result, nobody wanted to take a chance at signing him for fear that he’d get hurt once again. The Pistons, desperate for some type of splash during the offseason, were the only ones to step up to the plate.
The Pistons continue to struggle, as they did a season ago. Though they were ravaged by injuries last year, they’ve remained relatively healthy this season. Therefore, injuries cannot be used as an excuse. Because the team has struggled, John Kuester, Pistons Coach, has had to change his rotation on numerous occasions.
One of the few positives this season has been the play of McGrady. He’s stepped up as a vocal leader, something the Pistons have not had since trading away Chauncey Billups in 2008. McGrady has also been Detroit’s best ball-handler, so much so that he’s been inserted as the starting point guard.
“He’s had a big impact,” forward Austin Daye says of McGrady. “He’s a knowledgable guy at that position. He’s a playmaker. He’s not just a star player, he’s a playmaker. He can pass, he can score. It’s a great thing for the team.”
“That’s just my game, just having the ball and making plays,” McGrady says. “It opens a lot of stuff up (offensively) once that happens. I told coach, ‘I see a lot of things that can be helpful to our team as far as making cuts (to the basket.)
“I’m always confident when I’m on the court. It doesn’t matter if I’m a starter or coming off the bench.”
Kuester’s probably more grateful than anybody to have the veteran swingman on his roster. He’s had difficulty finding a combination of players to stick with as a rotation. In terms of the backcourt, Kuester had been using Rodney Stuckey as the starting point guard but hadn’t settled on a shooting guard between Rip Hamilton and Ben Gordon.
It appears that Stuckey will now shift guard positions with T-Mac, allowing Gordon to continue coming off the bench. Hamilton, reportedly close to being traded by the Pistons, has been taken out of the rotation entirely.
“This is one of the things that’s crazy about our game,” Kuester says. “And the reason I say ‘crazy’ is sometimes you can’t wait for people’s motors to get going.”
It isn’t just the backcourt that Kuester’s been waiting on. While Tayshaun Prince has held his own at small forward, the Pistons’ post players have struggled to stay consistent. Ben Wallace has been the starting center all season, but he’s clearly past his prime and unable to handle playing in the middle. At power forward, Kuester’s rotated several players in and out of the starting lineup, including Daye, Charlie Villanueva, Jason Maxiell, Greg Monroe and Chris Wilcox.
It’s proven difficult for the players on Detroit’s roster to stay patient and wait for their minutes to come. Players have openly complained about their inconsistent minutes and seem hopeful that a trade involving Hamilton could open up more playing time at least in the backcourt.
“It’s tough because I’m a player, and I definitely want to play,” says reserve Will Bynum. “But I’ve been through it before. It’s (about) just staying positive and just working hard. Everyday I’m getting up the same amount of shots…I’ll be ready whenever the opportunity comes.”
“It seems like when we’re undermanned, guys are a little bit more comfortable,” adds Gordon. “They know they’re going to be playing. They have time to get a rhythm. We’ve got to figure out something that works, that can get everybody going. I think when we do that, we play well.”
Clearly, the Pistons are much more relaxed when they don’t have to worry about looking over their shoulders when they’re out on the floor.
“When we’re having fun, things can come easier for us…” says Villanueva. “…That’s the way we should be playing.”
With a healthy McGrady, the ball’s been moving more on offense. As long as he can handle staying on the floor, T-Mac will likely remain a starter the rest of the season.
“I’m gradually just getting better game by game,” McGrady says. “Confidence-wise, I’m just feeling more comfortable on the basketball court. The last thing to overcome is getting over the mental part when you’re getting over a significant injury.”
It remains to be seen who will emerge as the full-time starter at shooting guard. Stuckey’s a restricted free agent at the end of the season, so with Hamilton’s days in Detroit likely coming to an end Gordon appears to have the best chance of winding up back in the starting lineup between now and the end of the season.
Up front, Prince will remain at small forward. Because he’s also a free agent at the end of the year, there’s a very good chance he, too, could wind up being traded. The long-rumored deal that would send him to the L.A. Clippers for veteran center and Michigan-native Chris Kaman could finally come to fruition.
In the meantime, expect Wallace’s minutes to decrease as Detroit gives extended minutes to Monroe at center. Unfortunately, power forward will likely continue to be a juggling act all season. Injured veteran Jonas Jerebko hopes to return sometime in February, so it’s possible he could wind up starting either at power forward – as he did a season ago – or at small forward if Prince is dealt.
“It’s a long season still…” Kuester says. “…The bottom line is we’ve got to regroup and understand that we hope that (players) learn valuable lessons in these things. If you want to be successful, period, you’ve got to approach your work with a tremendous amount of heart.
“When we’re playing hard, we can compete with anybody.”
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Pistons Alter Lineup Once Again
Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com
The Pistons have named a new starting lineup of Rodney Stuckey, Tracy McGrady, Tayshaun Prince, Chris Wilcox and rookie Greg Monroe, who is starting in place of injured center Ben Wallace.
McGrady will actually handle point guard duties on offense, with Stuckey sliding to shooting guard. Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva, who have both struggled in recent games, move back to the bench. Rip Hamilton will back up Prince at small forward for the time being but hopes to be traded shortly. Rumors surfaced Sunday of a trade that would send Hamilton to the New Jersey Nets, but nothing appears to be imminent.
It's anybody's guess who will remain in the lineup once Wallace returns. In all likelihood, Monroe will stay in the starting five after posting three straight double-doubles and showing the promise the Pistons envisioned when they drafted him this past summer.
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com
The Pistons have named a new starting lineup of Rodney Stuckey, Tracy McGrady, Tayshaun Prince, Chris Wilcox and rookie Greg Monroe, who is starting in place of injured center Ben Wallace.
McGrady will actually handle point guard duties on offense, with Stuckey sliding to shooting guard. Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva, who have both struggled in recent games, move back to the bench. Rip Hamilton will back up Prince at small forward for the time being but hopes to be traded shortly. Rumors surfaced Sunday of a trade that would send Hamilton to the New Jersey Nets, but nothing appears to be imminent.
It's anybody's guess who will remain in the lineup once Wallace returns. In all likelihood, Monroe will stay in the starting five after posting three straight double-doubles and showing the promise the Pistons envisioned when they drafted him this past summer.
Click on cover!
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Villanueva Rolling In Starting Lineup
Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com
Pistons veteran Charlie Villanueva worked hard this summer to bounce back from a miserable, injury-plagued season with hopes of being reinserted into the team's starting lineup. He's done just that, playing his best basketball since signing with Detroit in the summer of 2009 and has quietly been the Pistons' most consistent player this season.
Despite only being named the starting power forward just four games ago, Villanueva has been productive all season, averaging 14 points and over five rebounds per game. He's been a major scoring threat both inside and out, and his defense has improved, averaging close to a block a night.
Another factor that could have led to additional motivation for Villanueva came early in the season in a Nov. 2 game against Boston. Villanueva accused Celtics forward Kevin Garnett of calling him a "cancer patient." It created headlines across the country, and tonight the two will square off again at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
The Pistons are still without injured veteran Jonas Jerebko, who started over Villanueva last season at power forward. It's possible Jerebko, who doesn't plan on returning until mid-February at the earliest, will compete for the spot this season. As long as Villanueva continues to produce on a nightly basis, it's going to be difficult for John Kuester, Pistons Head Coach, to keep him off the floor.
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com
Pistons veteran Charlie Villanueva worked hard this summer to bounce back from a miserable, injury-plagued season with hopes of being reinserted into the team's starting lineup. He's done just that, playing his best basketball since signing with Detroit in the summer of 2009 and has quietly been the Pistons' most consistent player this season.
Despite only being named the starting power forward just four games ago, Villanueva has been productive all season, averaging 14 points and over five rebounds per game. He's been a major scoring threat both inside and out, and his defense has improved, averaging close to a block a night.
Another factor that could have led to additional motivation for Villanueva came early in the season in a Nov. 2 game against Boston. Villanueva accused Celtics forward Kevin Garnett of calling him a "cancer patient." It created headlines across the country, and tonight the two will square off again at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
The Pistons are still without injured veteran Jonas Jerebko, who started over Villanueva last season at power forward. It's possible Jerebko, who doesn't plan on returning until mid-February at the earliest, will compete for the spot this season. As long as Villanueva continues to produce on a nightly basis, it's going to be difficult for John Kuester, Pistons Head Coach, to keep him off the floor.
Click on cover!
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Hamilton Benched For Gordon
Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com
In yet another shakeup in their rotation, the Pistons intend on moving forward with Ben Gordon as their starting shooting guard. The team hopes former starter Rip Hamilton will cooperate in a reserve role, but according to reports, he does not accept the change.
It's likely the Pistons will look to trade Hamilton. The team remains desperate for a true center, but it could prove challenging to complete a deal as the franchise is still up for sale.
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com
In yet another shakeup in their rotation, the Pistons intend on moving forward with Ben Gordon as their starting shooting guard. The team hopes former starter Rip Hamilton will cooperate in a reserve role, but according to reports, he does not accept the change.
It's likely the Pistons will look to trade Hamilton. The team remains desperate for a true center, but it could prove challenging to complete a deal as the franchise is still up for sale.
Click on cover!
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Monroe Starting Over Maxiell
Steve St-Pierre
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com
The Pistons are now using rookie Greg Monroe as their starting power forward. He takes over for veteran Jason Maxiell, who could be completely out of the rotation. Little-used reserve Chris Wilcox has played well of late and could continue to see additional minutes off Detroit's bench.
John Kuester, Pistons Head Coach, continues to scramble trying to establish a set rotation. Injured veteran Jonas Jerebko hopes to return at some point this season, perhaps as early as February. It's likely Kuester would look to reinsert Jerebko into the starting lineup at power forward.
Of all the Pistons capable of manning the power forward spot, veteran Charlie Villanueva has played the most minutes and is quietly having an impressive second season in the Motor City. Yet, Kuester will continue to keep him in a reserve role to help balance out scoring on the second unit.
Sports Writer
In Play! Magazine
sstpierre@inplaymagazine.com
The Pistons are now using rookie Greg Monroe as their starting power forward. He takes over for veteran Jason Maxiell, who could be completely out of the rotation. Little-used reserve Chris Wilcox has played well of late and could continue to see additional minutes off Detroit's bench.
John Kuester, Pistons Head Coach, continues to scramble trying to establish a set rotation. Injured veteran Jonas Jerebko hopes to return at some point this season, perhaps as early as February. It's likely Kuester would look to reinsert Jerebko into the starting lineup at power forward.
Of all the Pistons capable of manning the power forward spot, veteran Charlie Villanueva has played the most minutes and is quietly having an impressive second season in the Motor City. Yet, Kuester will continue to keep him in a reserve role to help balance out scoring on the second unit.
Click on cover!
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