Detroit Pistons small forward Caron Butler sees a wide range of possibilities for versatility on his team, including at his position, where the starter remains undisclosed
AUBURN HILLS -- Caron Butler had a laconic response as to why he snapped out of his preseason scoring slumber so decisively in the Detroit Pistons' preseason finale.
"Season's coming," the 13th-year NBA veteran said.
The Pistons open the regular season Wednesday at Denver and a central mystery is how head coach Stan Van Gundy plans to utilize his small forwards.
The identity of the starter matters inasmuch as it affects all player groupings, but until Butler's 18-point, eight-rebound game in Thursday's 109-103 win over the Philadelphia 76ers, he had made little case to win the job.
In five other preseason games, Butler totaled 16 points and was scoreless three times, and the 34-year-old seemed to savor the thought of Friday's off day as much as Thursday's outburst.
"As veteran guys, man, I hate the thought of preseason," Butler said. "But I had to get through it. The younger guys, with our young core, they pushed me through."
Butler and a new group of post men responsible for passing to him out of double-teams, and new point guards responsible for finding him open shots, also became more attuned during four weeks of practices and exhibitions.
"We got more and more comfortable with practice and stuff, and finding out what spots guys like the ball and where guys are going to be, and getting more familiar with one another," Butler said. "I mean, it's a process. We've got a lot of new faces here."
Injuries to shooting guards Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Jodie Meeks forced the Pistons into makeshift perimeter groupings and made judging the small forwards somewhat imbalanced during preseason.
Still, Kyle Singler, who had 19 points and three steals Thursday, was the most consistent in the group, and his errant 3-point eye early in preseason eventually refocused.
And if asked to identify the Pistons' top two preseason steals leaders, few correctly would cite Cartier Martin (12) and Greg Monroe (11), who also were the only Detroit players with a steal in every preseason game they played.
Martin had 17 points and six steals against the 76ers.
"I like the positivity and energy and learning, the thirst for learning from those guys," Butler said of Martin and Singler. "They're always asking questions and ask me what do I see or what do I think, and that means a lot as a veteran guy, being that shoulder to lean on. I appreciate that and I'm proud of the moments they had this season and hope they carry over."
Van Gundy hasn't announced any firm starters but almost certainly will go with Brandon Jennings at point guard, Andre Drummond at center and Josh Smith at power forward to start the season. When Caldwell-Pope is healthy and full-speed, he figures to start at shooting guard, perhaps by the opener.
That leaves small forward and Van Gundy's coyness.
"I'll read all you guys' columns and stuff, I'll weigh that into my decision and then we'll decide," he said. "No, I'm not firm on what we'll do."