Kori Ellis
07-21-2005, 11:57 PM
Saunders says Pistons need to find role for Milicic
Friday, July 22, 2005
By A. Sherrod Blakely
http://www.mlive.com/pistons/stories/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/112198560339480.xml&coll=1
AUBURN HILLS -- Among the early challenges facing Flip Saunders as the Detroit Pistons' head coach will be finding a place for Darko Milicic on the floor. For the past two seasons, the No. 2 overall draft pick in 2003 has been a mainstay at the end of the Pistons' bench.
Saunders addressed Milicic's situation on Thursday, as well as his overall philosophy toward young players.
``The No. 1 thing with young players, you got to get them to play hard,'' Saunders said after being introduced as Detroit's new coach. ``That's the No. 1 thing you really have to stress with them. As I've told players ... when you step out on the court, they don't check your paycheck to see how much you make, and they don't check your ID to see how old you are. You have to go out and compete.''
Saunders recognizes that Milicic, one of the few players from that draft not to play much, needs a confidence boost.
``As a coach, you have to have all players play at a confident level,'' Saunders said. ``If they don't, they'll never play up to their potential. The reason Darko has a chance is because he's got an attitude, he's got good character.
``We've got to work on keeping him where he plays at a high level, and give him responsibility. That's why this summer is important, preseason is important. But ... nothing is given to you in this league. He'll earn time. We're going to give him every opportunity.''
Saunders will spend the next few weeks putting together his coaching staff from about 20 possible candidates. He is expected to try to bring at least one of his former Minnesota assistants to Detroit. That will likely be Don Zierden, one of Saunders' best friends. It's unclear if the Timberwolves will give the Pistons permission to talk to him. Sidney Lowe is another possibility, although he has interviewed for an assistant's job with Nate McMillan in Portland.
``I really hadn't thought that much about it,'' Saunders said of assembling his coaching staff. ``I'll sit down with Joe (Dumars) and John (Hammond) and start talking about a list of people.''
It is doubtful that Saunders will retain any of the Pistons' assistants.
The Pistons were pleasantly surprised by the play of all three of their recent draft picks -- Jason Maxiell, Amir Johnson and Alex Acker.
But of the trio, the unexpectedly solid play of Acker was the biggest eye-opener.
``Acker was probably our most consistent player over the summer league,'' said Hammond, Detroit's vice president of basketball operations. ``He played extremely well. Every game, he played well ... mistake-free basketball.''
The Pistons have yet to sign Acker or Johnson, partly because the team is not sure of what it will do via free agency this summer.
In addition to the usual collection of free agents and restricted free agents, the league's one-time amnesty rule allowing teams to waive higher-salaried players could put the Pistons in the market for proven veterans such as Dallas' Michael Finley, Toronto's Jalen Rose or possibly former Piston and current New York Knicks guard Allan Houston. However, Hammond said the Pistons are looking primarily at small forwards who can play behind Tayshaun Prince.
``Tayshaun Prince probably played way too many minutes (this past season),'' Hammond said.
The goal through free agency would be to ``give him a little help on the offensive end and defensive end, take a little pressure off of him,'' Hammond said.
Dumars has a new long-term deal as the Pistons president of basketball operations. The original deal he signed in 2000 was to expire prior to the start of this upcoming season. ... Although NBA schedules won't be released until later this month, the Pistons are expected to play either the San Antonio Spurs or the Phoenix Suns at The Palace on Christmas. It would mark the second straight season in which the Pistons played on Christmas. ... Saunders' oldest child, Ryan, is a walk-on basketball player at the University of Minnesota, the alma mater of both of his parents.
Friday, July 22, 2005
By A. Sherrod Blakely
http://www.mlive.com/pistons/stories/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/112198560339480.xml&coll=1
AUBURN HILLS -- Among the early challenges facing Flip Saunders as the Detroit Pistons' head coach will be finding a place for Darko Milicic on the floor. For the past two seasons, the No. 2 overall draft pick in 2003 has been a mainstay at the end of the Pistons' bench.
Saunders addressed Milicic's situation on Thursday, as well as his overall philosophy toward young players.
``The No. 1 thing with young players, you got to get them to play hard,'' Saunders said after being introduced as Detroit's new coach. ``That's the No. 1 thing you really have to stress with them. As I've told players ... when you step out on the court, they don't check your paycheck to see how much you make, and they don't check your ID to see how old you are. You have to go out and compete.''
Saunders recognizes that Milicic, one of the few players from that draft not to play much, needs a confidence boost.
``As a coach, you have to have all players play at a confident level,'' Saunders said. ``If they don't, they'll never play up to their potential. The reason Darko has a chance is because he's got an attitude, he's got good character.
``We've got to work on keeping him where he plays at a high level, and give him responsibility. That's why this summer is important, preseason is important. But ... nothing is given to you in this league. He'll earn time. We're going to give him every opportunity.''
Saunders will spend the next few weeks putting together his coaching staff from about 20 possible candidates. He is expected to try to bring at least one of his former Minnesota assistants to Detroit. That will likely be Don Zierden, one of Saunders' best friends. It's unclear if the Timberwolves will give the Pistons permission to talk to him. Sidney Lowe is another possibility, although he has interviewed for an assistant's job with Nate McMillan in Portland.
``I really hadn't thought that much about it,'' Saunders said of assembling his coaching staff. ``I'll sit down with Joe (Dumars) and John (Hammond) and start talking about a list of people.''
It is doubtful that Saunders will retain any of the Pistons' assistants.
The Pistons were pleasantly surprised by the play of all three of their recent draft picks -- Jason Maxiell, Amir Johnson and Alex Acker.
But of the trio, the unexpectedly solid play of Acker was the biggest eye-opener.
``Acker was probably our most consistent player over the summer league,'' said Hammond, Detroit's vice president of basketball operations. ``He played extremely well. Every game, he played well ... mistake-free basketball.''
The Pistons have yet to sign Acker or Johnson, partly because the team is not sure of what it will do via free agency this summer.
In addition to the usual collection of free agents and restricted free agents, the league's one-time amnesty rule allowing teams to waive higher-salaried players could put the Pistons in the market for proven veterans such as Dallas' Michael Finley, Toronto's Jalen Rose or possibly former Piston and current New York Knicks guard Allan Houston. However, Hammond said the Pistons are looking primarily at small forwards who can play behind Tayshaun Prince.
``Tayshaun Prince probably played way too many minutes (this past season),'' Hammond said.
The goal through free agency would be to ``give him a little help on the offensive end and defensive end, take a little pressure off of him,'' Hammond said.
Dumars has a new long-term deal as the Pistons president of basketball operations. The original deal he signed in 2000 was to expire prior to the start of this upcoming season. ... Although NBA schedules won't be released until later this month, the Pistons are expected to play either the San Antonio Spurs or the Phoenix Suns at The Palace on Christmas. It would mark the second straight season in which the Pistons played on Christmas. ... Saunders' oldest child, Ryan, is a walk-on basketball player at the University of Minnesota, the alma mater of both of his parents.