Up Close With Tayshaun Prince
From:http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=14539
By: Joel Brigham Last Updated: 12/3/09 8:26 AM ET
Despite being relatively well-known as one of the NBA's ironmen, Tayshaun Prince has missed all but three games this season with a bad back. A huge part of the Pistons struggles early this year has to do with Prince and Richard Hamilton being out. But as Prince told HOOPSWORLD recently, he's close to returning, and he hopes then everything will start going in a more positive direction.
You looked good shooting out there in warm-ups—the back's feeling a lot better I'm guessing?
"Yeah, it feels good."
You getting close to coming back?
"I'm close. It's feeling really good lately. I haven't set a timetable or anything yet, but I'm working with the trainers. We'll see."
Where are you at in terms of practice? Are you green-lighted to go full strength at this point?
"I just go based on how I feel. I've been able to go consecutive days without any soreness or stiffness or anything like that."
While you've been out, Austin Daye has had the opportunity to kind of step in and get his feet wet, and since he's a player similar to yourself I'm guessing that you've had a chance to work with him a bit. What are some positive things you're seeing out of this young man so far?
"He's young and he's starting to get the groove of how things are done, not just on the court but with the NBA as a whole. You have to be prepared and give it your all every night. I think he's at a point where he's trying to understand the game—the difference between college and the pros. Obviously he's showed a lot of flashes, and he's shown some times where he needs to improve. But that goes for every rookie in the league, no matter how great they are.
"It's kind of fortunate for him that I've been out so he can kind of see how I do things out on the court. He can relate to me because I'm a long, lean guy like him. I've been showing him some things, and I'm pretty sure things are starting to get better for him. I talk to you him out on the court and let him know what to do, but obviously it's better to show somebody how it's done. But that'll come with time, and the sooner I can get healthy the better it'll be for him."
Record-wise I know you aren't what you want to be, but it's got to be hard to win games without you and Rip out there…
"Yeah, it's tough. We went on a rough losing streak and it was hard for us to break it. We broke it against a great team in the Atlanta Hawks, and that just shows you how the league is. You've got to go out there and get that monkey off your back as quickly as you can…"
Just ask the New Jersey Nets about that, right?
"Yeah, exactly. We've got to find a way to get it back as soon as possible. Hopefully we can get Charlie back by Friday, Ben Gordon is starting to feel better day by day, and that means we're just back to me and Rip again."
This is going to be a very different team when everybody gets healthy, but with the injuries and the new coach and the new players, it's hard for us to get a handle on what exactly this Pistons team is…
"We're going to space the floor, for one. Charlie gives us that shooting we lost with Rasheed spreading the floor. Charlie does a good job putting the ball on the floor, and that gives us an opportunity to use some great shooters out on the perimeter. But then we also have guys that can penetrate and create plays for one another. We've got some guards that can shoot the ball, and we've got fours and fives that can bang. But at the same time are good rebounders and are good defensively.
"Once we all get healthy we'll be able to prove what we can do. It kind of hurts because this team is in its first year together and we haven't had that opportunity to mesh yet. But we've got some veteran players who will be able to respond and hopefully get us back on track."
There didn't seem to be an ounce of doubt in Prince's face when he said these things, so it appears as though he legitimately believes that Detroit can get back into the playoff race. Truth be told, they aren't all that far from getting back into it even right now. Getting the gang healthy and making a strong push makes this team relevant again, and that all starts with getting Prince healthy—something he appears well on his way to achieving.