AUBURN HILLS -- Antonio McDyess has had slow starts, plenty of them, and he has always fought his way out.
McDyess has never shot lower than 46 percent in a season, and that was in 1996-97, his second season in the NBA.
"I am not going to panic," he said, following a scoreless 0-for-5 shooting night in Dallas.
Panic, no, but worry? You bet.
The fact that he is the lone misfiring Piston in a rejuvenated offense that is averaging 97.7 points is driving McDyess to the point of distraction.
"It's just frustrating," he said. "I've never missed this many shots in my life, especially this many good shots. I've shot in the high 40s (percentage) and low 50s my whole career. And now I can't knock down a shot."
After nine games, McDyess is shooting 31 percent and averaging 3.8 points, well below his career averages of 49 percent and 15.7 points.
"I am not worried about his offense," coach Flip Saunders said. "I think he's been very effective in other areas, defensively and rebounding. He'll get himself turned around. His biggest thing is, he hasn't really had a chance to get his legs into it yet. His shot has been a little flat because his legs aren't there. That will come."
McDyess said he thinks the problem might be more in his head than in his legs.
"I've just been dwelling on it so much," he said. "It's like, I miss a shot and then I start thinking, 'OK, I've got to make the next one.' That's kind of a rookie move, you know? Coming from a guy who's in his 11th year in the league, it shouldn't be that way.
"I am just trying to do other things like play defense to try and get myself into a rhythm. It seems like I don't have any rhythm out there. I am all out of whack."
Adding to the frustration is the quality of shots McDyess has gotten. In Saunders' offense, he has been getting one open mid-range jumper after another.
"Great looks," McDyess said, shaking his head.
"Don't get me wrong, I love our offense. I wish sometimes I would get a couple of touches in the post to try and get my rhythm on the inside and then work my way outside. But I can't complain with the shots I've gotten."
Official Jumpman23 Club: Now signing members via PM or through personal forum.
Manager: casebeck22
Assistant Managers: kamego & 23AirJordan
Members: SHEED! - Charlotte - Pnack - Porn Player - DWade 273 - Natedagreat12 - #15DENVER#6NUGGETS#23
Its not his shot that worries me, his shot will come. Its the rest of his game. His rebounding and defense have been next to non existant.
I thought the same thing.
Perhaps someone should point this out to Flip (he sounds either clueless or in denial in that piece). If he honestly believes that what McDyess has been doing (low post man to man - ok/ defensive redounding - good/ help side and pick and roll - ridiculous) is good defense then he really has no clue what defense means in regards to that teams standard.
McDyess not along for the ride
to that.
Linear Mode
