There have been more than a few standout players over the last week, and coming to a decision on who to select was no easy task. Initially, I had Toronto’s DeMar DeRozan after he led the league in scoring over the past 7 days, then I switched to Channing Frye because what he’s doing right now in Phoenix is phenomenal given what he’s been through (the Suns have scored 114.2 points per 100 possessions with Frye and Goran Dragic on the floor together, the second-highest mark among tandems that have logged at least 300 minutes together), then I fancied covering Anthony Davis for finally becoming the two-way threat the Hornets Pelicans hoped he would become when they took him at number one last year. However, I don’t feel any of the aforementioned really caught my eye like the play of Pistons combo guard Rodney Stuckey. Granted this may well be more because of how unexpected his performances have been, but still, give credit where credit’s due. He takes this week’s award.
The Pistons are 3-2 since November 24th with wins against the Nets, Bucks and 76ers intertwined with losses to the Bulls and Lakers. This puts them at 7-10 for the season, which is currently good enough for 8th spot in the not-so-competitive-Eastern Conference.
Big things were expected from the Motor City faithful heading into the season following the arrival of both Josh Smith and Brandon Jennings and the drafting of highly rated rookie Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. These additions to a roster that already included up-and-coming big men Andre Drummond and Greg Monroe led to many, myself included, anticipating a highly competitive Central Division. One player on the roster that didn’t really garner much of a mention though was Rodney Stuckey (unsurprisingly some would say given his subpar 2012-2013 season).
Now coming exclusively off the bench for Maurice Cheeks, Stuckey seems to have refound his touch and this week dropped scores of 27, 17, 25, 22, and 17 in a shade over 30 minutes a game. These stats make for even better viewing when you consider he’s done it shooting at 54.6% from the field.
The 27 he dropped against the reeling Nets was made up of 10-16 from the field and 17 in the 4th quarter alone which gave the Pistons a much needed win following back-to-back losses. With Brandon Jennings suffering from a self-diagnosed ‘lack of confidence’ and Caldwell-Pope stuck in a season long shooting slump, Stuckey stepped up and delivered when called upon. Playing like he had a point to prove with former coach Lawrence Frank (now an assistant coach with the Nets) sitting on the opposing bench, Stuckey continually got into the lane, and when Joe Johnson cut the Pistons lead from 15 to 5, Stuckey once again took over by dropping a sweet layup before finding Greg Monroe for a dunk on the next possession.
Seemingly happy with his role as the ‘energy guy’ off the bench, Stuckey’s week continued when he shot 7-11 against the Bucks and inspired the Piston’s first back-to-back wins of the season in a 113-94 rout. Two days later however, there was little he could do against the Bulls than prevent out and out embarrassment as they lost by twenty. Stuckey, though, dropped 25 on 9-16 shooting and had one monster dunk on Carlos Boozer.
The Lakers were the next team to swing by Auburn Hills and on Friday, come away with a 106-102 victory. Stuckey again did all that he could to keep the Pistons close, dropping 22 on another efficient 8-17 shooting night, but he could not quite grab them the W. Back-to-back losses left Detroit 1-2 on a 4-game home stand, all of which had been against teams under 0.500. This made Sunday’s matchup with the 76ers all the more important, and whilst it will probably be remembered more for Andre Drummond’s career night than anything Rodney Stuckey did, he again went about his business both efficiently and effectively, finishing with 17 points on 7-16 shooting.
There has never been any denying Stuckey’s raw ability, but his attitude has continually been called into question by the five, yes five, coaches that he has worked with in Detroit since being drafted back in 2007. If he continues to readily accept his role off the bench and continues to drop the numbers he is currently putting up, then there may even be 6th man of the year talk being branded about.
Whilst it is fairly clear that there’s going to be no catching the Pacers at the head of the Central Division, given the much-discussed injury to D-Rose and the impact that will have on the Bulls’ season, there is no reason that the Pistons can’t put together a challenge for second spot. Looking further at the East on the whole, outside of Indiana and Miami, there is a real lack of quality, and with a bit of luck along the way, there’s no reason the Pistons couldn’t find themselves hovering around the 5th-7th spot come April.
This week’s schedule: @Miami, @Milwaukee, @Chicago, Miami
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