[Brian]

Originally Posted by kamego

I believe he will be used at the 3 spot a great deal with the pistons when we use a big lineup but I am sure someone will jump on here and till me he will be a great backup 4 in the league.

I certainly hope so I think one of the last things the pistons needed was an interior defender. I realize at there spot in the draft you pick based more on talent then needs but I was still hoping for a wing defender.

[mavsman]

Originally Posted by froggyvk

I hated the pick of Maxiell that high at the time, but after reading so much about him and seeing him do so well in the summer league, the pick has grown on me - a lot. I'm not ready to declare it a good pick just yet, because it's going to take more than a few good games against NBA hopefuls in the summer league for me to do that. I sure as hell hope he keeps playing well, and I hope I'll have to admit that I was dead wrong about him later on in the season.

I saw Maxiel on many Mock draft boards going mid to early 2nd round and I was really hoping the Mavericks would try to get a 2nd round pick and get him. I was surprised to see the Pistons take him at 26 but not because I didn't think he was a great pick there. I absolutely do. I didn't think the Pistons would be looking for a PF type guy with thier current roster.

I think it is was a great pick. I wish the Mavs had more players like him. I would like to see his rebounding numbers a little higher but we are only a few games into summer league. Looking forward to seeing him play when the Pistons are shown on NBA TV this coming week.

[kamego]

Originally Posted by Brian

I certainly hope so I think one of the last things the pistons needed was an interior defender. I realize at there spot in the draft you pick based more on talent then needs but I was still hoping for a wing defender.

If Corliss could play the 3 for extended minutes so nights, Maxiell should be able to no problem.

[kamego]

Originally Posted by mavsman

I saw Maxiel on many Mock draft boards going mid to early 2nd round and I was really hoping the Mavericks would try to get a 2nd round pick and get him. I was surprised to see the Pistons take him at 26 but not because I didn't think he was a great pick there. I absolutely do. I didn't think the Pistons would be looking for a PF type guy with thier current roster.

I think it is was a great pick. I wish the Mavs had more players like him. I would like to see his rebounding numbers a little higher but we are only a few games into summer league. Looking forward to seeing him play when the Pistons are shown on NBA TV this coming week.

Very nice post! Nice to hear an outsider have a fair judgement on a player. Dallas did pick up a very nice Detroit guy in Rawle Marshall though He is a Dallas type of player and hopefully he makes the roster.

[The Enigma]

Originally Posted by kamego

If Corliss could play the 3 for extended minutes so nights, Maxiell should be able to no problem.

I don’t think it works that way.

Corliss has played extensive minutes at SF on just about every team he has played for in the NBA. He is a very poor defensive rebounder and he hurts his team when you have to play him extensive minutes at PF (which Larry loved to do). If I had to slot Williamson into a position I would say that Corliss is a SF (a low post SF) like Harrington.

Whether Maxiell can do that has yet to be seen. Does he possess the first step, ball handling or deceptive lateral quickness that Corliss has (allowing him to make a career for himself as a SF/PF in the NBA)?

Note: Keep in mind that Corliss is/ was also able to defend smaller SF’s on the perimeter successfully (particularly during the early years of his career). He is not (and has never been) a “good” or above average defensive player but he is/ was not a liability either.

Whether Maxiell will be able to stay in front of NBA SF’s will be the determining factor as to whether he can play minutes there (IMO).

----------

There are handfuls of tweener forwards who have never been able to succeed for long stretches at SF in the NBA the way Williamson or Harrington has.

Can Maxiell join those ranks (Playing a small PF at SF is not the same thing as having a small PF capable of thriving or at least sustaining at SF)?

[DetBNyce]

Originally Posted by The Enigma

I don’t think it works that way.

Corliss has played extensive minutes at SF on just about every team he has played for in the NBA. He is a very poor defensive rebounder and he hurts his team when you have to play him extensive minutes at PF (which Larry loved to do). If I had to slot Williamson into a position I would say that Corliss is a SF (a low post SF) like Harrington.

Whether Maxiell can do that has yet to be seen. Does he possess the first step, ball handling or deceptive lateral quickness that Corliss has (allowing him to make a career for himself as a SF/PF in the NBA)?

Note: Keep in mind that Corliss is/ was also able to defend smaller SF’s on the perimeter successfully (particularly during the early years of his career). He is not (and has never been) a “good” or above average defensive player but he is/ was not a liability either.

Whether Maxiell will be able to stay in front of NBA SF’s will be the determining factor as to whether he can play minutes there (IMO).

----------

There are handfuls of tweener forwards who have never been able to succeed for long stretches at SF in the NBA the way Williamson or Harrington has.

Can Maxiell join those ranks (Playing a small PF at SF is not the same thing as having a small PF capable of thriving or at least sustaining at SF)?

I don't think people understand or simply look the other way when considering how good of a player Corliss was in college or in the early point of his career. At one point he averaged 17.7 ppg, Sacramento went 27-55, but we don't know if Maxiell is even capable of approaching those numbers. With that said Maxiell doesn't have to be as good as Corliss, and scouting reports and early indications have him as a guy who plays hard and a guy who has the potential to create a mismatch for the opponent, which I don't mind at all.

[DetBNyce]

Originally Posted by Mike luvs KG

Carlos Delfino - Out of shape and out of tune. Did nothing in the first.

Word in the gym is that Delfino has had enough in Detroit and is actively seeking a new team for himself in Europe. The problem is that the Pistons aren’t having any of it.

I had decided to give Delfino a second chance, but we still hear about him possibly seeking other teams or his desire to go back to Europe even during the Summer League. Not that me disliking him means anything, but how did his babyish ways slip by the Pistons or how well did he cover them up.

[mavsman]

Originally Posted by CJ

I don't think people understand or simply look the other way when considering how good of a player Corliss was in college or in the early point of his career. At one point he averaged 17.7 ppg, Sacramento went 27-55, but we don't know if Maxiell is even capable of approaching those numbers. With that said Maxiell doesn't have to be as good as Corliss, and scouting reports and early indications have him as a guy who plays hard and a guy who has the potential to create a mismatch for the opponent, which I don't mind at all.

Corliss was a great college player but he was never anywhere close to as athletic as Maxiell. Whether Maxiell's athleticism translates into success in the NBA remains to be seen. I think Maxiell will be a better pro than Corliss because he has more tools to work with. I don't think Corliss ever had the wingspan or reach of Maxiell and he certainly didn't have the leaping ability. The main similarity is that they are both 6'6"-6'7" and very strong. Maybe it's just because I like the guy but I see him closer to Barkley type player than I do to Corliss Williamson. Of course Maxiell is not going to be given the chance to put up big numbers in Detroit. Thier frontline is already stacked.

[P33r~]

For anyone who wants to know, Darko put up 7 points on 3-10 shooting with 4 rebounds, 2 blocks and 6 fouls. The analysts were right, he did get murdered by Kaman. Harrington and Maxiel had the best games scoring 16 and 18.

[DetBNyce]

Originally Posted by mavsman

Corliss was a great college player but he was never anywhere close to as athletic as Maxiell. Whether Maxiell's athleticism translates into success in the NBA remains to be seen. I think Maxiell will be a better pro than Corliss because he has more tools to work with. I don't think Corliss ever had the wingspan or reach of Maxiell and he certainly didn't have the leaping ability. The main similarity is that they are both 6'6"-6'7" and very strong. Maybe it's just because I like the guy but I see him closer to Barkley type player than I do to Corliss Williamson. Of course Maxiell is not going to be given the chance to put up big numbers in Detroit. Thier frontline is already stacked.

Give me production over athletic abilities any day of the weak. I'm not saying Maxiell won't be good or that he will be be bad, but I am saying it's a little too premature to be calling him the next Corliss without seeing how his game translates against real NBA players.

[ian]

I really don't trust the draftexpress guy. In the latest recap he said Darko was being dominated by Lampe on both ends of the court, and that Darko was fouling him everytime. I go to the box score and Lampe shot 4-11 with 4 free throw attempts and 0 blocks, and Darko was 5-13 with 8 rebounds and 4 fouls in 32 minutes. Amir Johnson gets a lot of praise and no mention of fouls even though he put up 7 fouls in 26 minutes.

[DetBNyce]

From today's Free Press

[i]Reserve Amir Johnson scored 18 points and Alex Acker scored 15 as the Pistons defeated New Orleans, 87-73, in Las Vegas on Thursday in a summer league game.


Johnson, a forward from Westchester High in Los Angeles, shot 8-of-9 from the field and grabbed eight rebounds.


The Pistons' Darko Milicic had seven rebounds and 14 points, the most he has scored in four summer games. Milicic was 5-of-13 from the field.


J.R. Smith led New Orleans with 23 points.


The Pistons (2-2) conclude summer play today against Boston.
[/quote]

[kamego]

Jon G said it was one of Darko's worest games yet the Free Press says it was his highest scoring game without mention of him playing bad. I am starting to think they need to play these games on TV so we can honestly know if it's going well or not. Any time the kid gets 14 points I find it hard to believe he played that bad.