Blake eager to play any role for Pistons
Auburn Hills — If last season is any indication, the Pistons can’t have too many point guards. After seeing Brandon Jennings play some of the best basketball in his career before being lost to a season-ending Achilles injury, they had to make a move.
Pistons president/coach Stan Van Gundy traded for Reggie Jackson to solidify the position for the long term, but heading into this season, there’s still some uncertainty behind him. As Jennings recovers, the Pistons brought in Steve Blake as a veteran presence, and Spencer Dinwiddie, in his second season, has shown flashes.
That’s created a logjam and the performances in the preseason and early in the regular season will help sort out the position.
For his part, Blake is comfortable with the uncertainty and can fit in whatever role Van Gundy wants him to play.
“From the second I got traded here, talking to coach Van Gundy and the plans he has for this team, it’s exciting,” Blake said. “My role will probably change throughout the year, with Brandon being hurt, playing some backup point guard in the beginning.
“When he comes back, maybe not playing at all. If I have to play with another point guard at times, that’s fine with me. I’m open to whatever he asks me to do and he’s made me aware of that.”
As for Jennings, the outlook is not so clear. His status will remain in question until he is able to play at full speed and show whether he can get back to the All-Star level he was playing at before the injury in January.
There’s no competition with Jackson. Jennings said he feels no bitterness about Jackson signing a long-term deal in the offseason to be the starter, leaving Jennings to be the backup and a potential trading chip.
“He earned it, but my job is to come here and push him every day when we get in practice,” Jennings said. “We’re teammates so if we’re going to play together, we have to have that chemistry together. My job is to go in there and make that work.”
The other piece is Dinwiddie, who played more with all the attrition last year, but will have to find a niche, likely battling with Blake for playing time. But as Dinwiddie saw last year, there are no guarantees that the way the season starts is the way it’ll end up.
“It’s going to be up to Stan on who he decides to go with to back up Reggie to begin the season, then when Brandon gets back, I’m sure it’ll be his job,” Dinwiddie said. “You just roll with whatever comes. You never know, just like last year, I didn’t know I was going to be playing post-All-Star break because Brandon got hurt.”
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