Pistons' youngsters have a nice debut
AUBURN HILLS - Arron Afflalo has played in the last two Final Fours with UCLA. So it shouldn't have come as any surprise that he felt comfortable in his first taste of NBA action.
"There's something about the game atmosphere," Afflalo said after the Pistons wiped out Miami, 103-86, in the preseason opener Monday night at The Palace. "I love to compete and what better place to compete than in a game?"
Most eyes were on Rodney Stuckey, the Pistons' top draft choice, but their other firstrounder made just as strong an impression in his first outing.
From the moment Afflalo stepped on the court, he carried himself like an eight-year veteran. Afflalo contributed nine points, two assists, two rebounds and a steal during a 10-minute stint in the first half. Afflalo made another steal during the second half.
"I just want to win," said Afflalo, a shooting guard. "If that means getting a rebound, getting a steal, getting an assist, diving for a loose ball, whatever, I just want to be part of the team and win."
He didn't waste any time getting himself involved in the action as the Pistons grabbed a 26-point first-half lead. He set up Jarvin Hayes on the fast break for a layup, then made a spin move in the lane for his first basket. He slipped into the lane for a five-footer moments later and attacked the basket on a fast break during the next possession, which he converted into two free throws.
Late in the half, Afflalo stripped Heat rookie Daequan Cook, leading to another fast break.
"After about 30 seconds, he was pretty good," coach Flip Saunders said. "He played aggressively and really got out in transition. He had some plays where he did some things that maybe don't show up in the boxscore. He gets out and runs the wing hard, where they've got to cover him, and that opens things up for somebody else."
Stuckey also played like a veteran, leading the team with 15 points. He shot 5-for-7 from the field and 5-for-6 from the foul line, though he didn't have an assist.
"One of his strengths is to pass the ball but you kind of take what they give you," Saunders said. "Tonight he was very efficient in what he did with the basketball. He'll have assists when they're there."
Stuckey made a couple of layups in the first half but looked more relaxed during the second half. He powered into the lane on several trips, drawing contact when he didn't finish. He also buried a 20-footer late in the third quarter.
"That's what he does," Chauncey Billups said. "That's when he's at his best, attacking and getting to the hole and getting fouled, keeping pressure on the defense. That's why his favorite player is D-Wade (Dwyane Wade). They're similar in that aspect. They like to attack and get into the paint every time."
Stuckey didn't get to go headto-head with his idol. Like a split squad during baseball's spring training, the Heat sent their "B" team to Auburn Hills. Wade, recovering from knee and shoulder surgeries, didn't make the trip. Shaquille O'Neal (knee tendinitis), Alonzo Mourning (strained quad) and offseason free-agent signee Penny Hardaway (knee) also stayed home.
Coach Pat Riley's decision to sit out regulars Udonis Haslem, Antoine Walker and Smush Parker stripped Miami of all of its regulars except for Jason Williams and Dorell Wright.
That allowed the Pistons' rookies to settle in quickly. The only young player who didn't see action was Amir Johnson, who is recovering from a sprained left ankle.
"The young guys give us great energy," Saunders said. "It really gives us a different look, both offensively and defensively. Overall, there's a comfort level playing those guys because they make plays, they're intelligent and they play hard."
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