Daye Matches Jerebko, Summers in Starring Role

Posted Saturday, July 11, 2009
Daye matches Jerebko, Summers in starring role

LAS VEGAS – Austin Daye watched as Jonas Jerebko dominated Thursday’s scrimmage and DaJuan Summers starred in Friday’s Summer League opener. Saturday was his turn. The Pistons’ three rookie draftees keep giving Joe Dumars reasons to fend off any panicked moves to overpay for a veteran big man in free agency with their smorgasbord of skills for new coach John Kuester to tap as the need arises.

Daye played all 40 minutes in Saturday’s 91-87 win over Toronto, running the Pistons’ Las Vegas record to 2-0, and finished with 19 points, eight rebounds and two assists. Daye was especially impressive early, with two dazzling feeds for layups, a 3-pointer, a deft show-and-go move that froze Toronto’s defense for a layup and five first-quarter rebounds.

Pistons assistant Darrell Walker, who played Daye only 19 minutes in Friday’s opener, decided Friday night that he wanted to see Daye in as many different situations as possible Saturday, including having him run the pick-and-roll – a skill set not common to many 6-foot-11 players.

“He just told me he wanted me to go out and do different things,” Daye said. “I think they wanted to see how I would play in long stretches. I was surprised I was in that good of shape.”

Summers, coming off a 24-point opener, matched Daye’s 19 points, scoring six in the fourth quarter, and added six boards. Jerebko didn’t shoot particulary well, going 5 of 14, and his misses visibly frustrated him, but he battled NBA veteran 7-footer Patrick O’ Bryant and held his own in the post as Walker, in an effort to give all three extended minutes, had Jerebko – who has played small forward all of his life – playing center.

“He’s more of a four/five than a three/four, I think,” said Walker, who compared the 6-foot-10 Jerebko to New York Knicks forward David Lee. Jerebko finished with 12 points, seven boards and three steals. Over his three days, Jerebko has shown a knack for getting his hands on loose balls and keen instincts for knifing into passing lanes. He also uncorked a running hook shot across the lane that looked good but bounced off the rim.

“It’s different, playing the five,” Jerebko said, “but whatever it takes to get minutes is OK. It’s physical. I like it. I guess I did OK against (O’Bryant).”

It might be a little early to start pigeon-holing the three rookies, but one thing that’s jumped out about all of them is their ability to play all over the floor. All three are not only willing passers but have shown above-average ability for big men to set up teammates off the dribble.

“All of them have good hands, all can run and (Summers and Daye) can flat-out shoot the basketball,” Walker said. “That’s going to be great. You’ve got Rip Hamilton, Ben Gordon with them to stretch the floor and Kwame Brown rolling to the basket.”

Daye, who hit 8 of 14 including 2 of 4 from the 3-point arc, also held up well defensively, guarding lottery pick DeMar DeRozan for much of the game. DeRozan had a 10-point third quarter and finished with 20, but it took him 20 shots. DeRozan, who like Daye grew up in Southern California and has known him for years, is billed as an explosive athlete, but Daye consistently kept DeRozan in front of him.

Summers shot 7 of 17, making all four of his free throws. He guarded DeRozan with the Pistons up four with less than 20 seconds remaining and forced him into an air ball after cutting off penetration.

The other Summer League participant likely to stick on the roster, Deron Washington, had an uneven game – he was 4 of 11 from the field and 4 of 12 from the line – but several spectacular moments, including two breathtaking tip dunks and one come-from-behind block to thwart a fast break.


The Pistons got solid point guard play from two players with NBA experience, Andre Owens and Sean Singletary. Singletary had seven points, four assists and two turnovers; Owens, the more physical of the two, had four points, nine assists and one turnover. The Pistons are likely to sign another point guard to take to training camp to play behind Rodney Stuckey and Will Bynum.

Two other point guards – Michigan State’s Travis Walton and Gonzaga’s Jeremy Pargo, added Friday – did not play. Big men Dwayne Jones and Marquise Gray also did not play.

The two players who gave the Pistons firepower off the bench Friday, Mike Bramos and Clay Tucker, played more limited roles on Saturday but again produced. Bramos had five points in four minutes and Tucker eight in nine.

Pistons owner Karen Davidson, widow of late owner William Davidson, attended the game and sat courtside.

Toronto’s roster included a few familiar faces: ex-Piston Smush Parker committed seven fouls in 14 minutes; ex-Michigan State center Paul Davis didn’t play; and ex-Michigan forward Brent Petway had six points in 21 minutes.

The extended minutes for the three rookies cut into Trent Plaisted’s playing time, but he showed up well in his 12 minutes with four points, five boards and solid defense.

The Pistons have Sunday off. They’ll resume play Monday with a 10 p.m. (Eastern) tipoff against Golden State and lottery pick Stephen Curry.