Recap: (53-29) The Detroit Pistons had another strong season last year. They were the #1 seed in the East for most of the season, and Chauncey Billups was an MVP candidate going into the Eastern Conference playoffs. But as usual, they breezed through the conference and were not quite ready for the playoffs. They knocked off the Orlando Magic with ease, but after getting ahead of the Chicago Bulls in the second round, it seemed as if the Pistons were waiting for the elimination victory to fall into their lap. Yet the most surprising part of Detroit’s season came in Game 5 of the third round when Lebron James scored 25 straight points. I thought Detroit was supposed to be a defensive stalwart, you know? They were the first or second best defensive team in the NBA for the past four or five years and then they let Lebron James, who has no help, score 25 straight points. It was unfathomable, and I am sure Detroit cannot fathom how they let that happen either.
Off-season: Their big move was re-signing Chauncey Billups. After that, the Pistons seemed content upon adding youth. Draft picks Rodney Stuckey and Arron Afflalo were all great selections. Stuckey can help out at guard, and Afflalo was something of a steal in my opinion. The acquisitions of Jarvis Hayes and Cheick Samb provide some depth to a lineup riddled with age. Chris Webber was let go, but may be on the roster before the end of the season.
Starters:
C – Nazr Mohammed: He’s no Ben Wallace, but…well, he’s no Ben Wallace.
PF – Rasheed Wallace: As he gets older his average distance per shot attempt increases. That’s not a good thing.
SF – Tayshaun Prince: The only player from the championship team who has gotten better.
SG – Richard Hamilton: Very few people can guard Hamilton for an entire game.
PG – Chauncey Billups: His defense was lacking against the Cavs, hopefully he will step it up this year.
Bench: Rodney Stuckey, Lindsey Hunter, Jarvis Hayes, Arron Afflalo, Ronald Murray, Amir Johnson, Ronald Dupree, Sammy Mejia, Antonio McDyess, Jason Maxiell, Cheick Smith.
Philosophy: The Detroit Pistons are going to motion offense teams to death…again! Their athleticism down low draws a lot of attention and opens up the floor for Hamilton and Billups. Rasheed should look to establish himself on the block a lot more this season, and Antonio McDyess will continue to be very productive from the post, as well. With those guys operating in the post, Billups and Hamilton should have plenty of room to do what they do on the perimeter. Defensively, the Pistons might have addressed the absence of Ben Wallace by re-signing Amir Johnson, a young shot blocker with lots of potential.
Projection: The Pistons are old, and unlike most veteran teams, they turn it on and off entirely too much. It’s one thing to cruise through the regular season, but it’s another thing to sleep walk during the 2nd and 3rd round of the playoffs like they have done over the course of the last 2 post-seasons. If someone does not insert some energy into this team, their reign as the team to beat in the Eastern Conference may be over.
Prediction: 57-25; 1st in the Central Division
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1 Comment:
Good defense by the Detroit Pistons drama boys, if only we could patch up the difference, this will be a Detroit good season. They are running, switching in defense, rebounding see those efforts. We don't have yet the Pistons team down.
I which I could see some Pistons games live. I was looking for tickets all the good seats on ticketmaster were taken I had to check broker. And man you don’t want to do that especially for the Detroit Pistons. Thanks god there sites like Ticketwood which work as comparators here is the site
Pistons Tickets
http://www.ticketwood.com/nba/Detroit-Pistons-Tickets.php.
I like slam dunks that take me to the hoop my favorite play is the ally-hoop,
I like the pic n roll,i like the given goal its basketball yo, yo lets go!
Go Pistons Go!!!
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