So, after 4 straight games of Rodney Stuckey in his new role as a starter, what have we learned?? For one, Stuckey is a future star is this league. His ability to command the offense in just his 2nd NBA season is something to marvel at. This isn't a 2nd rate team he currently is at the helm of. Nope, he's got four legitimate scoring options at his disposal, plus his own game to consider as well. Allen Iverson put it best after their win over the Wizards, talking about how he's never been on a team where the coach calls offensive plays for all five members of the starting line-up. That's impressive in itself, but even more so when you consider that when Stuckey is running the point, Michael Curry lets him call most of the plays himself. Stuckey admits his first goal is to get everyone else involved, then if the opportunity presents itself, he looks to attack hiimself. It's that mindset that clearly makes the Pistons a better team with Stuckey at the helm.

The 2nd thing we've learned from this is that AI truly is at his best as a two-guard. Having him run the point for this team was a short-lived experiment indeed. To best utilize his skill set, Curry made the right call in moving Iverson to the 2, Rip to the 3, and Prince to the 4. It puts opposing defenses in a bind having to guard both AI and Hamilton on each wing, with an attacking player in Stuckey at the point. While Curry admits each of his starters has the ablitiy to score 20 points a game every night, with five scorers in the line-up, they will simply ride the hot hand, a decision he puts squarely in the hands of a 2nd year player we're watching grow before our very eyes.

After much delay, The Field Report has finally returned! And oh boy, do we have some things to discuss. Well, the season started like any other for the Pistons, but after two games, Joe D finally came through on that promise for an earth-shattering trade. Mr Big Shot and Dice got rolled to Denver and in return, the Pistons got the Answer, but more questions instead. Why make the trade now? Didn't Dumars turn down a trade for Iverson this summer? How will the Pistons long-standing chemistry be affected by the team's first true "superstar" since Grant Hill? All legitimate questions, yes, so lets start with the first one.

Why make the trade now? The Answer: Why Not? The Pistons probably weren't going to beat the Celtics as contructed. Yes, they've made six straight trips to the Eastern Conference Finals, but they have just one title to show for it. After standing pat with the same group for years, Dumars finally took a leap of faith and shook things up. Assuming McDyess re-signs with the Pistons next month, you basically traded Chauncy for Iverson. Not a bad move at all. Four games into his Pistons career, you can already see how AI brings a much-needed dimension to the offense in the fact he can create his own shot at will, while still finding a way to get others involved. For the first time in a long time, defenses will have to employ two guys to guard one Piston. That will only open things up for everyone else.

Didn't Dumars turn down a deal for Iverson this Summer? Yes, but that was after the Chauncey/Tayshaun for Carmelo deal fell through. At the time, Dumars still thought he could get a better deal, plus the Nuggets still wanted Prince as part of the package and that wasn't going to happen. So what changed? According to Dumars, it was an innocent phone call four days before the trade was announced. Denver changed their offer, wanting only Billups and whoever else to make the salaries match. Trader Joe agreed, knowing McDyess wouldn't play for Denver, thus they would have to buy him out, paving the way for his return to the Pistons. The underlying question in all of this is Rip Hamilton's 3-year contract extension. According to Billups, it was agreed to three days before the trade was announced. Would Rip have agreed to the extension knowing his long-time backcourt mate and good buddy would not be a Piston?? We'll never know, but based on Rip's three days of silence following the trade, you know he wasn't too happy.

How will the Pistons chemistry be affected? After losing their first two games with AI following a 4-0 start, this question deserved to be in bold. But keep in mind, the group of Billups, Rip and Prince was beginning their 7th year together, and 5th full season with Rasheed. Changing a key piece to the puzzle after that long was bound to cause disharmony both on AND off the court. I was in the elevator with Rip and Tayshaun at the team hotel following the trade, and you would have thought they were coming from a funeral. Imagine living with a best friend for six-plus years, only to wake up one morning and find out they moved away. It was the finality of it all that took some time to get over.

Now, here we are on the West Coast. We're 4 games into the Allen Iverson era, and he seems to be getting more and more comfortable every time out. The Pistons are slowly adjusting to the way he plays on offense, although defensively there are still some kinks to be worked out (Pick-n-Roll defense anyone??) The Pistons are 2-2 with their new #1, but keep in mind, he's had only two full practices with his new teammates over this time. What have we learned? Well, assuming McDyess comes back, this should be one hell of a trade. Iverson will prevent those patented Pistons scoring droughts we've seen far too often in recent postseasons. Plus, he gives the team a legitimate superstar, one who will GET the calls in the playoffs, calls we've seen go AGAINST the Pistons time and time again. Was it a gutsy trade? You bet. Did it re-energize a Pistons fan base longing for something different? Without a doubt. Will it lead to a Championship Parade in June? Only time will reveal the Answer.