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Pistons coach Lawrence Frank immediately declared that Calderon will become his starter after working out some kinks with the player’s work visa, which kept Calderon in street clothes Friday against the Cleveland Cavaliers, and perhaps a couple of quick practices.
“It’s no different than in football when you’ve got a quarterback,” Frank said. “It’s no knock on anything that you’ve got now. It’s just that Jose is really elite at it. He understands how to get guys the ball in the right place at the right time. Plus, he loves doing it. That’s his instinct. His instinct is to give. His instinct is to get everyone involved.”
Calderon has ranked in the top three in NBA assist-to-turnover ratio for three consecutive years. His 4.44 ratio ranks fourth in the league this season.
“He’s a giver,” Frank said. “He makes other people feel real good about their games.”
Calderon was acquired Wednesday in a three-team trade, in which the Pistons sent Tayshaun Prince and Austin Daye to the Memphis Grizzlies.
Frank said having Calderon and Brandon Knight in the starting backcourt, and Will Bynum and Rodney Stuckey on the reserves — all of whom have extensive point-guard experience — gives the Pistons “four guards that can all come with a basket-thrust mentality.”
— Reported by David Mayo of Michigan Live
