Jennings says it would be 'embarrassing' if the Pistons miss the playoffs

As the Detroit Pistons keep finding ways to lose games they find themselves in a very dangerous position. Miss the playoffs and also lose their top 8 protected draft pick in what is being called a loaded draft. Or they can come on down the stretch, make the playoffs and be cannon fodder for the Miami Heat or Indiana Pacers.

Right now the Pistons are 23-35 and are sitting 3 1/2 games behind the free falling Atlanta Hawks for the East's final playoff spot.

On paper the Pistons were thought of as playoff contenders after adding Brandon Jennings and Josh Smith in free agency and rookie Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in the draft. Things seemed to be looking up and it looked like the Pistons would end their four year playoff drought. Instead the Pistons have found ways to blow fourth quarter leads and piled up some head scratching losses which resulted in Maurice Cheeks being fired.

Jennings, who was brought in to help change the Pistons' fortunes says that it'll be "embarrassing" if the Pistons miss the playoffs.

"With everything going on, you know, it's kind of like now we keep slipping out of the playoff race, and you get a little worried," Jennings said.  "We've only got, what, 20-something games left?  So time is ticking, man.  We keep talking about we want to take the next step and turn the corner, but we keep giving up games and losing games, it's going to get real tough."

"If we don't make the playoffs, it'll be very disappointing," Jennings said.  "It'll be very disappointing and kind of embarrassing, the fact that with myself coming over here, and Josh coming over here, and us making these moves, and we don't get it done -- it's going to be real disappointing.

"We've still got time.  But it's not going to be easy.  I'll tell you that much, it's not going to be easy.  We've definitely got to start making our push.  And it's got to be tomorrow if we want to get there, because other teams keep losing and we just keep slipping."

To be honest I don't think it would do any god for the team to make the playoffs at this point. I wouldn't be convinced that it would unless they went on a massive winning streak. I hate to say it but the team might be better off  trying to save the draft pick and hope to land in the top 8 of the draft. If that doesn't happen it could result in a roster shakeup in the offseason.




 

Charles Barkley says the Pistons 'have a bunch of idiots' on the team

While watching Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond participate in the NBA Rising Stars challenge, a game in which Drummond won MVP honors, TNT's Charles Barkley took time to rip his Pistons teammates.

Barkley said the Pistons 'had a bunch of idiots on that team' when he spoke about the Pistons.

“He’s a terrific player who’s playing with those other idiots up in Detroit. And they’re not going to win,” Barkley said.

When the rest of the “NBA on TNT” panel, including Ernie Johnson and Kenny Smith, questioned that statement, Barkley continued: “They’ve got some idiots on that team. They’ve got some talented players who are not going to ever get it.”

In my opinion that was a shot to Brandon Jennings and Josh Smith. While the duo is talented they still possess the knucklehead factor and aren't winning players. The team lacks cohesion which is displayed when the team has many of it's 4th quarter collapses.

Barkley's talking about the lack of team play,"buddy ball in the back court", and no leadership on and off court. He's right this team doesn't understand good shots and mental toughness. Making the playoffs would help teach about possessions and finishing games.

Brandon Jennings says he has no confidence in his shot

As a NBA player you have to exhibit confidence. If you don't the game will eat you up.

Detroit Pistons point guard Brandon Jennings has always been a confident player but has struggled with the game recently. It's to the point where Jennings says he has no confidence in his shot.

“I’m just going to tell it like it is,” Jennings said. “I think that’s why my shot isn’t where it is right now,” he said. “I don’t have any confidence in my shot right now. That’s the reason I’m missing, because there’s just no confidence there.”

Jennings went 4-16 in Friday night's loss to the Atlanta Hawks. He missed four three pointers and committed four turnovers in the fourth quarter.

“I feel like I’m just shooting when people are telling me it’s time for me to shoot,” he said. “I gotta want to shoot. I’m so into passing that I kind of forget I can score sometimes.

“My confidence level isn’t high.”

Here's a solution for Jennings. Help the team in other areas of the game, like on defense. The Pistons could definitely use an improved effort.

It's still early in the season and at some point Jennings will get his groove back. He never was the best shooter in the game so it doesn't surprise me when he has moments of being an inefficient chucker.

He needs to get his head back in the game because the Pistons really need him to put forth his best effort.

Pistons still showing interest in Rajon Rondo

Despite the fact that the Detroit Pistons have recently traded for point guard Brandon Jennings, reports are that the team still hasn't cooled on Boston Celtics point man Rajon Rondo.

From Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe:  Just because the Pistons acquired Brandon Jennings in a sign-and-trade deal with the Bucks doesn’t mean they’ve lost interest in Rajon Rondo. In fact, they could eventually use Jennings as a trade chip and seek to acquire Rondo. There are going to be several interested parties in Rondo, and that number could increase when he shows he’s fully recovered from anterior cruciate ligament surgery .

It appears that Joe Dumars is happy with the acquisition of Jennings but if he can find a way to pry Rondo out of Boston he'll do it in a heartbeat.

The only way this happens is if Rondo gets so disenchanted with the losing in Boston that he becomes a force so detrimental to the team that he has to be traded. Also Jennings would have to be the same player he was in Milwaukee, clash with head coach Maurice Cheeks and ruin the Pistons' chance at a playoff spot.

I don't know if it'll happen but i'm sure Dumars has Danny ainge on speed dial if a deal is to be made.

Jim Boylan out as Milwaukee Bucks head coach

The Milwaukee Bucks were swept out of the first round of the playoffs by the Miami Heat. The Bucks have swept interim coach Jim Boylan out of town. Boylan took over for Scott Skiles midway through the season.

In 50 games, Boylan went 22-28 and 0-4 in the opening-round sweep to the Heat.

The Bucks confirmed the news and general manager John Hammond said: "At this time we feel it's in the best interest of the organization to seek a new coach to lead our team. We appreciate Jim's efforts not only in his time as head coach but in his entire tenure as a coach in Milwaukee.

"We wish Jim and his wife Jan the best."

It didn't help that Boylan had occasional clashes with point guard Brandon Jennings and that J.J. Redick hadn't spoke to Boylan during the playoffs. There was some disconnect with that team.


The Bucks have some major decisions coming up this summer in addition to finding a new coach. The team must figure out what to do about Jennings, Monta Ellis, and Redick, all free agents.

If the Bucks remain intact they do have some pieces but they must find the right coach that can make it work.

Houston Rockets assistant Kelvin Sampson is rumored to be a candidate for the job.

Brandon Jennings may not be in Milwaukee much longer

Milwaukee Bucks guard Brandon Jennings will be a restricted free agent after this season. But instead if doing the same song and dance so many other players have done, Jennings has a different plan than most. Jennings says he'll play on a one year qualifying offer, but if he does he's good as gone in Milwaukee.

"If I take the qualifying offer and become an [unrestricted] free agent there is no way I am coming back," Jennings told Yahoo! Sports on Friday after practice. "There is no way."

Simply put, he wants to get paid. But Jennings also would like the Bucks to be more competitive and that he just wants to win. Jennings might have to come to the realization that the Bucks being championship caliber is a pipe dream and might have to go elsewhere to win. He wants to go to a bigger market but being in a big market isn't the key to winning a title. Ask any New York Knocks player of the past decade about it.


"I just want to win," Jennings said. "The way I am playing now, I just want to go to a winning team and play like that. I don't care about being a superstar or being the main guy. I did that [the] first four years. I just want to win and be somewhere where it's all about winning.

"I'm not saying the Bucks aren't about winning. But I think [a title caliber situation] will help me, motivate my game and then you have to perform."


Not the most conventional way to full blown free agency but Jennings has never done things in a conventional way when it comes to his basketball career.

He went to Italy to play professionally for one year instead of going to college. And instead of signing with an established shoe company he signed with Under Armour. Kind of a trailblazer of sorts.

Jennings looks at what the Oklahoma City Thunder have accomplished in a small market and figures why it can't happen in Milwaukee. Well, the Thunder have a special player in Kevin Durant and a very capable sidekick in Russell Westbrook. The Bucks have a few pieces like an emerging Larry Sanders and Monta Ellis, but the Bucks don't have too much outside of those players.

I hate to say it Bucks fans, say bye bye to Brandon.

I'm on the Brandon Jennings train

After another impressive early season performance,I'm officially on the Brandon Jennings train.The flashy,playmaking rookie point guard has made me a believer.The kid can flat out play as evidenced by his 55 point outburst against the Golden State Warriors last weekend.Last night he lit up the Charlotte Bobcats for 29.Those teams are far from the elite in the NBA,but it is against the best the world has to offer and he wasn't expected to do this.He won't make the Milwaukee Bucks contenders,but he makes them watchable.
   When he snubbed college for Italy,many were skeptical.It was a trailblazing decision,which had never been done.It seemed everyone predicted failure for Jennings for the fact he was far from home,playing with pros and not getting much playing time.I'll admit I was also skeptical.Instead its looking like it worked to his advantage.Jennings got a lot more practice time in Italy than he would've under the guidelines at Arizona. He didn't play much,but he used the time as a learning experience.He listened to the coaches instead of pouting and now its all paying off.I don't advocate this move for all high schoolers.I'm a fan of the college game and would love to se the top players there.But if college isn't your thing then maybe going overseas might be the best option.Jennings used this to become more acclimated to the pro game and lifestyle,and I'm glad to see he's doing well.Let's hope he keeps this up as I see him being one of the more entertaining players in the years to come.