Jodie Meeks is Planning to Make His Pistons Debut Tomorrow, Can He Help?

[Rake2204]

http://detroitsportsnation.com/detroit-nba/jodie-meeks-plans-make-pistons-debut-friday/19360/

For the three other board members who currently care about the Pistons right now, can Jodie Meeks make ANY kind of discernible difference once he's fully back in the groove of things?

I figure, with Detroit being by far the worst shooting team in the league, with zero guards shooting over .375%, his singular ability to make a few shots at a good rate could actually be really important to these guys. I mean, maybe not "we're going to the playoffs" important, but perhaps maybe enough to skim above the "we're as bad as the Sixers!" talk.

[gts]

Haven't seen too much of the Pistons this year but the short answer is yes judging by what I've read about them...

he's not consistent, he's streaky on offense but the effort is always there on both ends of the floor.. he's a pretty athletic player so expect him to take some time to get up to speed coming off the back injury

[Brokenbeat]

He can help the Lakers land that top 5 if he gets Detroit out of the gutter. :banana:

[JimmyMcAdocious]

I'm interested to to see what he can do because I thought he was mostly a product of D'Antoni's system last season. Don't get me wrong, he can go out there and hit jumpers. Just curious if the rest carries over (eg, he was ridiculous finishing at the rim).

[ZMonkey11]

Yea I definitely think he can help. I also like the idea of having KCP come off the bench. He could be that energy guy.

[Rake2204]

Yea I definitely think he can help. I also like the idea of having KCP come off the bench. He could be that energy guy.I was wondering how that'd work. I still have hope for KCP (he's been sharp at times) but now that you've mentioned it - yeah, that could be a nice situation there.


I'm interested to to see what he can do because I thought he was mostly a product of D'Antoni's system last season. Don't get me wrong, he can go out there and hit jumpers. Just curious if the rest carries over (eg, he was ridiculous finishing at the rim).I hardly watched any Lakers games last year so excuse this question: you mean ridiculous as in bad, right? He's not good at the rim? I figured he wasn't great, but is it really bad?

[Eric Cartman]

I'm interested to to see what he can do because I thought he was mostly a product of D'Antoni's system last season. Don't get me wrong, he can go out there and hit jumpers. Just curious if the rest carries over (eg, he was ridiculous finishing at the rim).

Now that D'antoni isn't his coach, I'm sure he lost the ability to finish at the rim (his willingness to do so as well).

Without D'antoni, he will have a hard time even dribbling the basketball. Gonna be rough.

[daily]

Now that D'antoni isn't his coach, I'm sure he lost the ability to finish at the rim (his willingness to do so as well).

Without D'antoni, he will have a hard time even dribbling the basketball. Gonna be rough.:wtf:

[Akrazotile]

Hell yeah man, with Jodie back its championship or bust now for the Pisstons

[Rake2204]

Hell yeah man, with Jodie back its championship or bust now for the Pisstonshttp://img.pandawhale.com/80419-dwight-schrute-fist-pump-screa-CtKy.gif

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

I like Meeks. Yeah the kid is undersized, but he brings high energy and is actually a pretty good spot-up shooter.

[Rooster]

I'm not really particularly fond of Jodie Meeks even when he was putting numbers with the Lakers last year. He just can't guard anyone. His teammates have to rotate to his man because he just can't guard a lick and I watched them live twice last and it's even worst. His man can just get any shots he wanted and I am talking about the Alan Anderson of the world.

However he can help spread the floor and he's streaky. Just don't expect him to finished on fast breaks

[JimmyMcAdocious]

I hardly watched any Lakers games last year so excuse this question: you mean ridiculous as in bad, right? He's not good at the rim? I figured he wasn't great, but is it really bad?

As in great. He looked like freaking peak DWade on the fastbreak sometimes. It came out of no where. Not consistently, but often enough that I (and the annoying commentators) noticed.


Now that D'antoni isn't his coach, I'm sure he lost the ability to finish at the rim (his willingness to do so as well).

Without D'antoni, he will have a hard time even dribbling the basketball. Gonna be rough.

Right, except he didn't show any ability to do so before last season. Weird unexplainable shit happens in that system. Like Duhon goes from the worst player in the history of basketball to a capable player.

[Eric Cartman]

Right, except he didn't show any ability to do so before last season. Weird unexplainable shit happens in that system. Like Duhon goes from the worst player in the history of basketball to a capable player.

Can't see him regressing in that aspect.

Look at Jeremy Lin (another D'antoni product) even playing like garbage at the current moment he can finish at the rim remarkably well.

Too bad we are gonna see Josh Smith jack up more 3's than Jodie :facepalm

[hawksdogsbraves]

Help what exactly?

Help the Pistons get the 8th pick instead of the 4th pick?

[Jasper]

nope
/

[coin24]

Good 3 point shooter, hilariously bad on the break. Always misses layups or turns it over:lol

[Element]

Jodie legitimately improved a lot last year. His ball-handling tightened up a good bit; he can actually slash and draw fouls now. Effort and awareness on D have risen to a level where he's not a liability on that end anymore (he still can't guard post-ups to save his life, though). The shooting had always been there, and I think he'll give Detroit some much needed offensive punch and spacing.

During his first season in LA he was doing what many people have posted: missing uncontested layups, getting lit up by Alan Anderson, losing the ball, or running into a trap everytime he dribbled more than twice and generally sucking at fundamental things that aren't 3-ball related. He's fixed some of those issues, though, and is a pretty nice player now. I'd love to see him on the Thunder or Bulls. That'd be a perfect fit.

[Rake2204]

Help what exactly?

Help the Pistons get the 8th pick instead of the 4th pick?I think the playoffs are a long shot, but if there was ever a year where a 3-19 team still had a chance, it'd be in this year's Eastern Conference, right?

The sickening thing is, even with just 3 wins, the Pistons are only 6 games out of the 8th spot. If Meeks, once fully healthy, could end up providing anything beyond being a 37% shooter (like KCP currently is), and if one of the two big men (Drummond or Smith) are able to just slightly improve their inside finishing (for Smith that'd mean merely shooting 39% from the field instead of 37%), I think that could have made the difference in a few games this year.

Looking at the roster, it's like the land of misfit toys - the pieces are wacky and don't fit well in multiple places. But there's still some semblance of talent there. Theoretically, I don't think they should be as bad as the 76ers (yet, right now, they are).

[boozehound]

he sure can't hurt. Although KCP has been pretty decent in many games, having meeks (presumably off the bench) is a massive upgrade to playing martin or singler or dinwidie (sp) at the 2.

[chocolatethunder]

As a Sixer fan and someone who watched him a lot I can tell you what I think. If you're looking for Meeks to be a difference maker on a bad team, it will never happen. He could play a role of a scorer off the bench or someone to spread the floor on a good team in limited minutes. He's not a passer but he doesn't really turn the ball over (so that's a big plus). If Detroit were a playoff team, he could work well as a shooter off the bench. They are so bad that he could end up playing more minutes and maybe have better numbers like last year but he's less effective. On a bad team it doesn't really matter. He's not going to get you wins. He will help a little because their shooting is awful but that's what he was with the Sixers he was their only shooter and it didn't really help. Anyway, if/when they improve he'll probably have worse numbers but actually be more effective.

[hawksdogsbraves]

I think the playoffs are a long shot, but if there was ever a year where a 3-19 team still had a chance, it'd be in this year's Eastern Conference, right?

The sickening thing is, even with just 3 wins, the Pistons are only 6 games out of the 8th spot. If Meeks, once fully healthy, could end up providing anything beyond being a 37% shooter (like KCP currently is), and if one of the two big men (Drummond or Smith) are able to just slightly improve their inside finishing (for Smith that'd mean merely shooting 39% from the field instead of 37%), I think that could have made the difference in a few games this year.

Looking at the roster, it's like the land of misfit toys - the pieces are wacky and don't fit well in multiple places. But there's still some semblance of talent there. Theoretically, I don't think they should be as bad as the 76ers (yet, right now, they are).

Sure but the Pistons are really bad.

If somebody turns it around and makes a run at the 8 seed, I'd expect it to be the Hornets.

Jodie Meeks is ok, but he's not going to right any ships. He's a middling 6th man at best.

Maybe if you can convince Billy King to swap Josh Smith for Joe Johnson or something like that, but at this point you're probably better off just giving it up and shooting for the first pick.

That being said, godspeed Pistons, pass the Nets on your way up and I'm fine with it.

[jayfan]

He'll help a little because KCP has been a train wreck. Still a bad team, though.




.

[Nastradamus]

He can help a little. He was top 10 in TS% for SGs last year. Might have been 5th IIRC. We need that scoring.

[Levity]

meeks isnt that bad at the rim. he is a two foot jumper, though, which makes it kind of fun to watch him attack. he was also pretty surprising off the ball; always looking for a baseline back cut. and as is most known about him, he can hit open shots. call him streaky if you want, but he'll still be the pistons best 3ball option, and if he can get the minutes, should put up 13+ easily.

defensively, he gives you effort. being undersized, any bigger two will just dominate him in the paint. but he plays passing lanes well, has active hands and moves his feet.

now, i dont know if the pistons are tanking or not. but he'll definitely add to the W column.

[Rake2204]

From what I've heard, he's still way behind things, and him playing tonight is kind of a surprise. So I think it'll be slow going with him for a couple of weeks. Hopefully he can get back to full strength soon.

[Droid101]

Lakers sure miss his three point shooting if that means anything to you.

[Rake2204]

Lakers sure miss his three point shooting if that means anything to you.As a fan of a team of currently can't shoot, it actually kind of does.

[Rake2204]

This could be a sign of how bad things are in Detroit, but I actually felt joy in my heart tonight as I watched Jodie make proper curls off of down screens, freeing himself up for mid-range J's or kick outs to the corner. That type of movement off the ball has not existed for one single moment this year... until tonight.

Also, what a great feeling to see him step up to the line with 8 seconds left knowing he's a 90% shooter.

Yes, it's been that bad here. Still, he looked a lot better than I thought he would, considering the word that he's not quite in full form.

[hawksdogsbraves]

Jodie CAN help! :bowdown:

[dunksby]

Meeks is going to ball for the Pistons, he played well for a worse team in a better conference. Pistons need more scoring and better shooting which I believe he can bring to the table along with stretching the opponents defense cause of his range. Jennings will have more options, Smith gonna get some breathing space even Drummond is going to benefit.

[ImKobe]

welp, they won a game, he was ok his return :)

[Eric Cartman]

Former Lakers from a 22 win team are gonna wreck the Leastern conference :roll: :applause:

[Rake2204]

Without Meeks: 3-19
With Meeks: 2-0

In all seriousness, he didn't do a ton tonight, but he's certainly a welcomed addition.

[r0drig0lac]

Without Meeks: 3-19
With Meeks: 2-0

In all seriousness, he didn't do a ton tonight, but he's certainly a welcomed addition.
this is mvp stuff right there