Stuckey plays well with ever-increasing minutes

Rodney Stuckey is trying to prove his floor leadership skills all over again.

The fourth-year player started the season as the Pistons' point guard. In mid-January, he was moved to shooting guard with Tracy McGrady becoming the primary ball-handler. Over the past four games, Stuckey has been shifted back to his old spot.

"It doesn't matter, as long as I'm out there on the court," he said.

That was a reference to the infamous night in Philadelphia a couple of weeks back when head coach John Kuester benched half the team, including Stuckey, after a reported shoot-around boycott. Stuckey issued an apology and started at the point the following night, leading his club to a 120-116 win over Utah.

He has been flirting with triple-doubles ever since, averaging 20.8 points, 8.0 assists and 6.0 rebounds in his second stint at point guard. Stuckey had 19 points, seven rebounds and nine of his team's 29 assists in a victory over Washington Sunday night.

Stuckey plays at a quicker tempo than McGrady, as the team has averaged 19.5 fast-break points during those games, seven above its season average.

"I'm just pushing the ball," he said. "I love to play fast. I think that's when we're at our best."

Stuckey becomes a restricted free agent after the season and the Pistons must decide which guard spot best suits his skills in the long run, or if they want to keep him at all. Playing him the last quarter of the season at the point will facilitate that decision.

Forward Tayshaun Prince credited Stuckey for the team's 66.7 percent shooting in the fourth quarter against Washington Sunday but the offense hasn't run smoothly in crunch time on a consistent basis.

"He's played well," Prince said. "Great floor games. We know he's going to attack but especially in the last five minutes of the game, he came off pick-and-rolls and made the right play."

Stuckey will have to be sharp for the Pistons to collect even one win on a rough three-game trip that begins in San Antonio Wednesday.

"We're going to San Antonio, Oklahoma City and Denver -- they're all playoff teams," he said. "It's going to be a good challenge for us. If we just come out and play defense, we'll be fine."

PISTONS 113, WIZARDS 102: Forward Tayshaun Prince led seven Pistons in double-figures as the Wizards' road record dropped to 1-29 Sunday. The Pistons had a 45-29 rebounding advantage and a 44-20 edge in bench points, offsetting the Wizards' 26-12 advantage in made free throws.

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