World, Meet Rodney Stuckey
The Detroit Pistons have a rookie to thank for returning home with the Eastern Conference Finals all tied up.
With Chauncey Billups still not quite 100% healthy (though still pretty damn good, as he racked up 19 points and 7 assists), Rodney Stuckey took it to the Celtics last night, and his surprise performance gave Billups a chance to rest for long stretches of the game.
The rook scored 13 points in 17 minutes of burn, and the C’s had no answer for him.
“I thought Stuckey really gave us problems,” admitted Celtics guard Paul Pierce. “I think he was the X factor in the game.”
“He’s grown up a lot in these playoffs,” said Billups. “He was just awesome out there. He was a problem out there. I’m sure he’s going to be in their scouting report because he can make plays. It’s a breath of fresh air for me to sit back and watch a young player like that play so effectively.”
With The Big Three combining for 75 points last night, and still losing the game, it is now the Celtics who need an unlikely hero to step up on the road.
74 Responses to “World, Meet Rodney Stuckey”
May.23 at 9:33 am
Sesa says:
Okay then, Who?
If someone needed to step up, it had to be Paul Pierce because Celtics is HIS team
May.23 at 9:34 am
LAN says:
1st
May.23 at 9:35 am
LAN says:
F@CK U SESA!!!!!! AHHHHHH
May.23 at 9:35 am
LAN says:
BIG BABY!!!!!!!!!! yiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
May.23 at 9:36 am
Sesa says:
1st, by the way
May.23 at 9:36 am
BETCATS says:
Stuckey = newer/younger version of Vinne Johnson, or is that already Ben Gordon’s tittle?
May.23 at 9:36 am
Sesa says:
Man, such a harsh words
May.23 at 9:37 am
Prophecy_projectz says:
Lil’ Curtis did his thing yesterday…
May.23 at 9:38 am
TADOne says:
Rodney Stuckey is the Pistons future. I’ve been pining for him all season. I just wish Mark Jackson wouldn’t have compared him to Dwyane Wade.
May.23 at 9:40 am
LAN says:
stuckey= ok but big baby= the best like id trade that guy for garnett
May.23 at 9:41 am
LAN says:
i mean id trade garnett for him oiiii
May.23 at 9:41 am
solito says:
Eastern Washington Eagles stand up! Stuckz got mad game… Somewhere Larry Brown is not amused.
May.23 at 9:44 am
TADOne says:
How exactly this kid didn’t make it to a major D1 program, I have no idea.
May.23 at 9:46 am
TADOne says:
Hey Ben: Can we please get a Stuckey piece in a not too distant Slam?
May.23 at 9:51 am
whitewater says:
He played for Eastern Washington. He got picked by the pistons 1st round,15 pick in 07′
May.23 at 9:56 am
TADOne says:
Whitewater: Yeah, I know that. I was just saying I don’t know how someone like Washington or Oregon didn’t offer this kid a scholarship.
May.23 at 10:01 am
whitewater says:
TADOne…yea I realized that AFTER the fact I posted it. He should’ve went to a bigger school I agree.
May.23 at 10:06 am
Mo Charlo says:
The C’s are dead. The person they need to step up is Ray Allen. Yeah, he scored some points last night, but his shot is still broke, which means he’s really not a factor.
May.23 at 10:11 am
LAN says:
stuckey is the second coming of dajuan wagner
May.23 at 10:11 am
DP says:
Morale of the story? IT DOESN’T MATTER WHERE THE HELL YOU PLAY SCHOOL. If you can ball, the L will find you. Rodney will be the next Billups but more athletic. Billups just needs to teach the kid how to get his teammates involved. Celtics X-factor? Sammy-I-ammY? or is it “I’m in every trick daddy-dj khaled video” James Posey? Eddie house needs to borrow my “Better Basketball:Ballhandingly video” I bought a couple of months ago. It works wonders.
May.23 at 10:13 am
Ben says:
I think his grades weren’t good enough or something…
May.23 at 10:26 am
Bubba Chuck says:
DETROIT PISTONS = NBA CHAMPIONS!
May.23 at 10:26 am
Prophecy_projectz says:
I wonder if the fact that the Celtics shot well in the game (Allen especially) and still lost is encouraging or discouraging? Im leaning towards the latter. Detroit weathered the storm well.
Of course this is not to say Boston cant win on the road but Detroit has to be aggressor to keep them at bay.
May.23 at 10:28 am
riggs says:
@Mo Charlo: 9 of 15 is a step up from anything ray has done since the playoffs began.
May.23 at 10:28 am
ciolkstar says:
I’ve been waiting for Stuckey to get some burn. The Pistons players and coaching staff have been high on him all year. I think Stuckey will move ahead of Billups before that 5 year deal (or however long it was) runs out. The kid’s got speed, strength, and can score in the paint. Once he gets more aquainted with their offense and his teammates (in game situations) his passing will improve.
May.23 at 10:32 am
TADOne says:
Mo Charlo: Allen’s shot is definitely NOT broke. He wasn’t even hiting rim, and barely tickling the twine, and a majority of those jumpers. His J was wet in the 2nd half. Boston did not play bad, Detroit just played better. It was a great game. And ciolkstar: I agree. Stuckey will be starting in 3-4 years.
May.23 at 10:41 am
DP says:
Baby Ray Ray got his stroke on last night like his name was Lou Rawls. Good to have you back Ray…for now at least.
May.23 at 11:09 am
Jess says:
@ Bubba..I couldnt agree more.
May.23 at 11:16 am
TADOne says:
I’m the biggest Pistons slappy on this board, but lets not get ahead of ourselves everyone. The Celtics arent going to just bend over, and the Lakers and Spurs are very good. One game at a time.
May.23 at 11:23 am
Eazy-Yi says:
And the winner is…
May.23 at 11:23 am
Eazy-Yi says:
Anyone bought the Cool Kids album, “The Bake Sale”?
May.23 at 11:29 am
Eazy-Yi says:
I’m hoping Arron Afflalo will break the rotation next year
May.23 at 11:34 am
DP says:
that’s like an EP not an LP, Easy-Yi.
May.23 at 11:38 am
Sir Chuck says:
Although Stuckey is a solid player i laughed so hard at the comparison with wade…hes got alot to do before he gets there
May.23 at 11:58 am
Cub Buenning says:
TAD, i was pitching a piece on Stuckey in college and i think we at least got a “picture me ballin’” about him. His grades were an issue out of high school, so most of the pac-10 schools around his seattle hometown weren’t interested. Ironically enough, Eastern is actually a pretty good school. Seattle hoops, do not sleep.
May.23 at 12:01 pm
Cub Buenning says:
His career at Eastern was borderling prolific, as well. They play Nortern Colorado, so i got to peep him a few times over his two seasons. Needless to say, the Big Sky had no answers for him.
May.23 at 12:03 pm
E. Sneed says:
Dang, did somebody really pull out the Dajuan Wagner tag?! This kid is strong and quick…you can’t teach that, but with Mr. Big Shot there how is he ever going to develop?
May.23 at 12:23 pm
underdog says:
I hope Stucky will step up, like Daniel Gibson did last year. Plus, Amir Johnson needs some burn too.
May.23 at 12:26 pm
TADOne says:
Thanks for the info, Cub. I had heard a story about his grades and such, but most schools let them skirt as long as they pass the SAT’s. But yeah, I remember that Stuckey article from way back when. I want a FEATURE done on him! I don’t ask too much, huh?
May.23 at 12:27 pm
TADOne says:
Actually, f’ it, I may do something myself.
May.23 at 12:34 pm
TADOne says:
E. Sneed: I say Stuck is developing quite nice regardless of Chauncey being there. Plus he is a combo guard, so he can play the ‘2′ as well. Billups is 31, so he won’t be there forever. Stuck will get his burn sooner rather than later, trust.
May.23 at 12:45 pm
E. Sneed says:
Naw, the Kid is doing his ting, and yeah, he’s a combo guard but I don’t see Flip tellin’ C-Bill or Rip to sit down anytime soon. Flip doesn’t have the testicular fortitude!
May.23 at 12:52 pm
TADOne says:
This is true.
May.23 at 12:53 pm
Jim says:
Stuckey did have bad grades in highschool but he ended up being an academic all american at eastern washington. Best thing about the kid is his poise…he’s never rattled.
May.23 at 1:07 pm
TADOne says:
Indeed Jim. He is pleasantly surprising me as a rookie. Not many can handle that kind of pressure.
May.23 at 1:17 pm
albie1kenobi says:
according to Barkley’s mantra “a series doesn’t start until a team loses its home game”, the ECF has finally begun! i’m also looking for the same tonight in the west. hopefully this NBA Final 4 will be everything we thought it’d be during the Best Regular Season Ever™.
May.23 at 1:51 pm
Chukaz says:
F*ck Rodney Stuckey. Poor-mans DWade? F*ck no. He is way too small for that title. How ’bout poor-man Stevei Franchise(2K8 version)?
May.23 at 1:52 pm
Bob says:
I propose a rule to outlaw saying first when you are the first person on the board.
May.23 at 1:57 pm
RiseKing says:
Cub, saying Eastern is a pretty good school is a huge stretch; Cheney Washington is hellish, and they’ll admit just about anybody with a high school transcript & an SAT score. UW was all over Stuckey throughout the recruiting process, there was just no way he could get admitted to the school. Romar was heartbroken. In his defense, he turned it around academically at EWU, and you’re right about him dominating the WAC. He’s doin’ his thing in the league, for sure. Puget Sound basketball is an underrated talent hotspot…
May.23 at 1:57 pm
Chukaz says:
I’m f*ckin’ tired of the whole “a series doesn’t start ’til the home team looses”. Do you mean to tell me that the C’s-Hawks series never begun? did the Bron-C’s series never start? That sh!t is modaf*ckin’ stupid.
May.23 at 1:58 pm
RiseKing says:
WAC=Big Sky…sorry for the typo
May.23 at 2:00 pm
Chukaz says:
Rodney Stuckey is full of himself and so is Rondo. Here’s hoping that both get benched and/or are waived midway thru a game.
May.23 at 2:07 pm
Chukaz says:
Yo, f*ck the WAC and f*ck the Big Sky. As a matter of fact, f*ck all the mid-majors in the country (most, not all, are as irrelevant as dividion II schools)
May.23 at 2:08 pm
Steve says:
Chukaz is insane.
May.23 at 2:17 pm
Chukaz says:
@ Steve: F*ck you dawg. Don’t be playa-hatin’ on me, b*tch.
May.23 at 2:38 pm
TADOne says:
I liked you better when you were gone. Go away please.
May.23 at 3:08 pm
Cub Buenning says:
Steve, your critique of Chukaz was a bit severe, he’s made a series of quality points here.
May.23 at 3:13 pm
Steve says:
maybe i misunderstood the first one about stuckey being too small. did you mean small time cuz he is bigger in stature than wade. He in no way looks like francis. definitlely more like billups. The series not starting thing means that if each team predictably wins at home, it all just comes down to a one game series in game 7. stuckey and rondo are both just confident players and it seems to be working for them.
May.23 at 3:18 pm
Spaceship Jay says:
Yo, Chukaz is crazy!
May.23 at 3:34 pm
albie1kenobi says:
i think Chukaz is absolutely right. by Barkley’s statement, the Celts’ playoff run hasn’t started until last night! what were we watching the past month then? and i mean, Rondo and Stuckey have only been riding on their respective teams’ veterans’ coattail all season long. who the fcuk do they think they are? neither the magic nor the cavs even knew they were playing, that’s the only possible explanation that they lost to a piston team without billups and a celts team without ray allen. and of course fcuk the mid major schools coz if they are of any importance they’d be on tv! yo Chukaz thanks for opening up my eyes.
May.23 at 3:46 pm
bbfan says:
Stucky looks like 50 cents to me (small version)
May.23 at 3:52 pm
cdef15 says:
stuckey is the pistons next star no one on the celtics can guard him rip hamilton can be guarded by ray ray and chauncey with his injury can be somewhat guarded by rondo the only question is if dumbass flip saunders will play him enough to be a factor like he was in game 2
May.23 at 3:59 pm
P.Slight says:
Actually Mark Jackson quoted the Pistons coaching staff in regards to that D.Wade comparison so dont blame him, but JVG said it best he needs to accomplish something first before making those type of comparisons
May.23 at 4:04 pm
TADOne says:
Albie: I’ll take that as sarcasm (but I wasn’t too sure at first because my radar was off, being Friday with a holiday coming up)
May.23 at 4:24 pm
albie1kenobi says:
@ TAD: put it this way, some things feed on hate, but if you praise them, they die. however, the fact that i have to explain it means i have failed at conveying my point. i’m years behind Russ and Ryan with this technique.
May.23 at 4:29 pm
celtics=champs says:
Stuckey came up huge in game 2. He has been compared to a few NBA stars including D. Wade. Which makes since in the fact that he loves to take it to the rack and can finish when he gets there. Not to mention he has a descent jumpshot.
May.23 at 4:31 pm
celtics=champs says:
Stuckey came up huge in game 2. He has been compared to a few NBA stars including D. Wade. Which makes since in the fact that he loves to take it to the rack and can finish when he gets there. Not to mention he has a descent jumpshot
May.23 at 4:39 pm
TADOne says:
All good albie. Like I said i’m off kilter some because my mind is on the upcoming weekend. I praise myself on sarcasm, but my technique is better in person than written word, where the Double R’s are masters.
May.23 at 5:38 pm
B. Long says:
The Game just released a mixtape dissing Stuckey for just looking like Curtis Jackson. G-unot!
May.23 at 7:06 pm
albie1kenobi says:
@TAD: hence they get paid for it and we don’t. (they DO get paid for writing, right?)
May.24 at 3:36 am
LAN says:
yes E. Sneed i did tag that kid, stuckey is the second coming of dajuan wagner
May.25 at 7:48 am
Ohpityme says:
From what looked like a bleak future for the Pistons(With their core getting old)now looks pretty good with the emergence of Stuckey,Maxiell etc.
They just have to resist giving any more of their old core new long contracts!
May.25 at 9:06 pm
D-Boy says:
As a Magic fan, I’m still not over the fact that Stuckey was taken with Orlando’s draft pick last year. Much like our gift to Phoenix (when they drafted Amare Stoudemire with our pick). Then again, I’m sure we would have passed over Stuckey anyway because we can’t spot talent after the number 1 pick!
May.25 at 11:33 pm
LeBron fan 23 says:
I think you should give Stuck or J Max an article in SLAM. They deserves it as one of da best 6th men in the league.