Rodney Stuckey Shows He's Coming Along

Last Updated: October 26. 2009 1:07PM
Pistons: Notebook
Third-year Piston Rodney Stuckey shows he's coming along
Ted Kulfan / The Detroit News

Auburn Hills -- For the Pistons to have a good season, it'll be important for Rodney Stuckey to be a good point guard.

The Pistons need to see continued development from their third-year player, a player who has shown great promise at times, but has frustrated the Pistons and their fans by not showing it consistently enough.

The Pistons want to see consistent, effective results. Which is why Stuckey's all-around play the final two exhibition games was so pleasing for coach John Kuester.

Stuckey had 16 points and six assists and supplied shutdown defense in the Pistons' 95-93 victory Friday in Milwaukee. Heading into Wednesday's season opener, the Pistons hoped it would signify big things ahead.

"It was neat to watch him develop as a point guard the last two games," Kuester said. "He ran the team, he put people in positions, and his offense just flowed in regard to not looking for his offense -- it just happened.

"That was the thing that was impressive."

But it was on defense that Stuckey may have been most impressive. He made Michael Redd work for 23 points, and gave Kuester further evidence that Stuckey could prove to be a defensive stopper in certain situations, such as when the Pistons go to a three-guard lineup.

"Watching him on tape defensively, truthfully, when he wants to clamp down, he's as good defensively as there is in the league," Kuester said. "He has a chance to be special defensively. I'll tell you right now, he did a number of things defensively in regards to guarding the best two-guards, (including) Michael Redd, and he doesn't shy away from any competitive situation."