Prince's role with Pistons might change

By Perry A. Farrell / Detroit Free Press

DETROIT — In tight games , Tayshaun Prince was always a viable option to have the ball in his hands.

One of the team's best decision-makers, Prince's role may change down the stretch if coach John Kuester goes to a three-guard offense of Richard Hamilton, Rodney Stuckey and Ben Gordon. Point guard Will Bynum also could be part of the three-guard rotation.

"We have two guys on our team who are pretty much our best playmakers in Rodney Stuckey and Will Bynum, and I think they can pretty much beat their man off the dribble better than anybody else on the team," said Prince, who starred at the University of Kentucky. "They're great at getting to the basket and making plays for themselves or drawing contact, and at the same time they're great at penetrating and making a play.

"In the past with 4 or 5 seconds left on the clock, I'm usually the guy taking the ball out to kind of read the defense and make decisions. I would like to be in that position of making the decisions. Sometimes I will be, but I know the majority of the time it will be Stuckey or Will Bynum and Ben Gordon because of their quickness and penetration. ... Depending on score and situation, those guys will have the ball."

However, with his three-point range, Prince could become a threat to receive a pass and make a triple if the situation called for it.

Kuester praised Stuckey for becoming a better point guard and defender, two weaknesses in his game. Kuester liked the way Stuckey defended Milwaukee shooting guard Michael Redd.

"It was really neat to watch him develop as a point guard the last two exhibition games because he ran the team and he put people in positions," Kuester said. "His offense just flowed in regards to not looking for his offense; it just happened. I think that's the thing that was impressive about watching him the last two games, and watching him on tape defensively, truthfully, when he wants to lock down he's as good a defender as there is in this league. He has a chance to be special defensively."