Villanueva Finding Rhythm in Motown

Posted: Nov. 9, 2009
Charlie Villanueva finds his rhythm in Motown
BY VINCE ELLIS



The Pistons were nursing a four-point lead with 1:18 left when Charlie Villanueva received the pass along the baseline.

In the early part of this young season, Villanueva might have just settled for the 15-footer.

But in play that carried over from his fourth-quarter eruption Friday night at Orlando, Villanueva took it strong to the basket.

He was denied on his first attempt, but he grabbed the rebound and floated in a short jump hook, and the Pistons were on their way to an 88-81 home victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday.

Villanueva contributed 16 points and five rebounds to go along with the 28 points he scored in Friday night's loss to Orlando.

After a slow start, the free-agent acquisition is starting to get comfortable in Motown. He said taking the ball to the hoop instead of relying on his jumper has helped his game.

"It's me being a little more aggressive, taking the ball more to the basket -- start off the game like that," Villanueva said. "I also try to get in the flow of the game, but I'm basically just being more aggressive."
Coach John Kuester wasn't worried about Villanueva when he averaged just over nine points in the first four games of the season, pointing to the fact that Villanueva was hampered by a groin pull in the exhibition season.

"I think it did," Villanueva said when asked whether the lack of work in the preseason was a factor in the slow start. "I didn't try to put too much mind into it.

"I just tried to go in there and play right away and try to play well right away. But it's a long season and it took me a little bit, but it looks like I'm getting back into the flow of things."

Kuester is a fan of the offense Villanueva brings to the court, but he also was impressed with the defense down the stretch.

"He's doing the other things that are going to be important for us and that's not only scoring points, we need him to defend," Kuester said. "I thought in the beginning of the game he was a little slow in reacting, but I thought as time went on, and especially in the fourth quarter, boy, he reacted extremely well, getting key rebounds and getting into the flow as time went on.