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**kamego** · 10-08-2005, 11:25 AM

http://www.nba.com/pistons/news/tcnotes_051007.html

Quote:

Arroyo Steps Up
With the absence of point guard Lindsey Hunter from training camp due to ankle surgery, Carlos Arroyo is getting a chance to prove himself. Hunter, who underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on Wednesday, isn’t expected to return before the end of training camp giving Arroyo the chance to run point behind Billups.

“There is no question this is a good opportunity for (Carlos),” Saunders stated. “He’s coming into a situation where he’s starting from square one, not having to play catch-up in the system. That’s going to help him.”

After arriving in Detroit last January from Utah, Arroyo never seemed able to get into his element under the demanding supervision of former Piston head coach Larry Brown.

“Larry used to change every play every day, so it was tough for me to focus on what we were doing.” Arroyo said Wednesday afternoon. “I got here in midseason and they had so many plays, so I didn’t know what to do at times.”

This season, Arroyo is able to learn the plays from the get go. In addition, the present situation with Hunter allows the 6-2 Puerto Rican guard more exposure during practices, scrimmages, and soon preseason games.

“Carlos is extremely aggressive with the ball, and I like my point guards to be aggressive,” Saunders explained. “It’s just a matter of him pushing it and making those good decisions, which he’ll do.”

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The New Darko
An off-season of playing for the Serbia-Montenegro National Team seems to have made quite an impact on 20-year-old Darko Milicic. Coach Saunders seems to be quite impressed with the third year center who was drafted second overall in the 2003 NBA Draft.

“He’s better than I thought he would be,” Saunders stated. “And I thought he’d be pretty good.”

Saunders, who likes to mix up his lineups during practice, has been putting Milicic in with the main guys and doesn’t feel that he lacks any confidence. “He’s got guys banging on him and he’s calling for the ball and making some moves in there. He had a couple of great moves today.”

Two years of NBA and European experience seems to be helping him mentally as well. “He’s a lot more intelligent basketball-wise than I anticipated coming in,” Saunders explained. “If you show him a play he remembers it. He also remembers what some of the other people are going to do.”

Quote:

The 'Dyess is Rolling
Antonio McDyess seems to be fitting in well with Flip Saunders’ new offensive sets. After a couple of fiercely battled scrimmages, it is evident that McDyess is getting better space in the block, freeing up room for a turnaround jumper. Under Saunders, the new play systems allow the frontcourt more freedom to move around between different spots on the floor.

“Dyess, even though he was hurt, still has good feet.” Saunders stated on Friday. “He has the ability to set people up, use screens, come off screens, get open and be able to play off that.”

casebeck22 · 10-08-2005, 11:27 AM

Keep calling for the ball Darko, keep calling for the ball...

**kamego** · 10-08-2005, 11:35 AM

If Arroyo and Darko both become solid off the bench we would be one heck of a deep team.

casebeck22 · 10-08-2005, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kamego

If Arroyo and Darko both become solid off the bench we would be one heck of a deep team.

We need someone to step up, I think that was a big hurt for us last season. We will be deeper this year.

**kamego** · 10-08-2005, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by casebeck22

We need someone to step up, I think that was a big hurt for us last season. We will be deeper this year.

As long as Dice stays healthy we will be deeper. Having a solid rookie class never hurts

casebeck22 · 10-08-2005, 01:56 PM

I deffinitly like this years training camp roster better than last years.

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