2025-26 NBA Thread: Chris Paul retires after having to play with Clippers again (6 Viewers)

[msudaisy26]

Pistons - need a legit number two behind Cade. Should be able to make a run to the conference finals as is.

Jalen Duren sure looks like he can be that guy. He's playing All-Star level ball right now. And now he's showing ball handling and shooting prowess. If he makes that mid ranger jumper and taking guys off the dribble a part of his regular game, he will be an All NBA player.

Maybe, all nba is kind of unrealistic right now, but he will get exposed in the playoffs. Really good teams with just pack the lane against the Pistons because they aren't a great 3 point shooting team. Less driving lanes for Cade, and less room for Duren to work.

The pick and roll worked for the Mavs a few years ago because they had shooters to go with Gafford and Lively and a secondary ball handler that could create shots. The Pistons don't... yet

 

[Master of Subservience]

Kings beat the Nuggets in Denver (with no load management or other funky business going on). Feels like you can't believe in anything anymore.

 

[Master of Subservience]

Kings beat the Nuggets in Denver (with no load management or other funky business going on). Feels like you can't believe in anything anymore.

I forgot they played the Rockets only yesterday, but still. Russell Westbrook (-13) was clowning them at the end. Good lord

 

[Zeppelin]

It's finally fun to be a Pistons fan but we had one of the worst announcers I've ever heard doing the game locally last night.

 

[msudaisy26]

Pistons - need a legit number two behind Cade. Should be able to make a run to the conference finals as is.

Jalen Duren sure looks like he can be that guy. He's playing All-Star level ball right now. And now he's showing ball handling and shooting prowess. If he makes that mid ranger jumper and taking guys off the dribble a part of his regular game, he will be an All NBA player.

I wanted to add a couple thoughts to my first reply.

I have been very stubborn about the Pistons not being able to win a title with Duren, Stewart and Thompson playing heavy minutes together and two out of the three had to go. I would like to amend that little.

Duren has absolutely without a doubt made it clear he is the one that should stay and be paid.

I am willing to let Thompson play out his rookie deal and develop his shooting, but he has to be at least a low 30's percent shooter to earn a new deal with this team. If he does that he could be this teams Andre Igoudala when he was with the Warriors. Beef Stew has to go unless he is willing to be the 4th big and take a pay cut and be around the the mid level exception when his contract runs out.

Exciting time to be a Piston fan. Fun fact the Pistons have made the conference finals every season they have had a 11 game win streak or higher. Let's keep that going.

 

[Ilov80s]

Maybe, all nba is kind of unrealistic right now, but he will get exposed in the playoffs. Really good teams with just pack the lane against the Pistons because they aren't a great 3 point shooting team. Less driving lanes for Cade, and less room for Duren to work.

Yeah I did prefeace it with saying if he regularly can be scoring off the dribble and making jump shots. We have seen flashes of it but it's not a go part of his game yet, If it is, that will hurt teams attempts at packing the lane and force defenders to stick with him well outside the paint. His passing is devleoping too. For a 22 year old, his game is more refined right now than I would have ever imagined 2 years ago.

 

[Ilov80s]

I am willing to let Thompson play out his rookie deal and develop his shooting, but he has to be at least a low 30's percent shooter to earn a new deal with this team. If he does that he could be this teams Andre Igoudala when he was with the Warriors. Beef Stew has to go unless he is willing to be the 4th big and take a pay cut and be around the the mid level exception when his contract runs out.

I get what you are saying about his shooting but I personally have a hard time thinking we want to move on from a 22 year old who is one of the 5 best athletes in the league and is putting himself in DPOTY conversation.

 

[msudaisy26]

I am willing to let Thompson play out his rookie deal and develop his shooting, but he has to be at least a low 30's percent shooter to earn a new deal with this team. If he does that he could be this teams Andre Igoudala when he was with the Warriors. Beef Stew has to go unless he is willing to be the 4th big and take a pay cut and be around the the mid level exception when his contract runs out.

I get what you are saying about his shooting but I personally have a hard time thinking we want to move on from a 22 year old who is one of the 5 best athletes in the league and is putting himself in DPOTY conversation.

Yeah, but what do the TWolves or Jazz win win with Gobert? In today's NBA you can't have two starters that can't space the floor and win anything and the Pistons have 5 regulars that just can't shoot. Some of them have to go. Plus do you think Thompson is going to want to sign here long term and come off the bench? Being a good athlete doesn't make you a great basketball player.

Edit: look at guys like Tony Allen, Ben Simmons, etc. Teams would literally leave them wide open and play 5 on 4. You just can't win that way.