With the All-Star break now officially upon us, what better time to reflect on what has been a pretty impressive 52 games for the Pistons. The starting five continues to be one of the top two or three in all of basketball, while the bench's contributions in the last two weeks have really cemented this team as a legitimate title contender. Rodney Stuckey and Arron Afflalo continue to play big roles in quality minutes, thus giving some much needed, and valuable rest to Billups and Hamilton. The frontcourt of Maxiell and Johnson is just as impressive, if not more intriguing. Johnson played more than 31 minutes in that win over the Pacers before the break, registering 9 boards and 7 BLOCKS during that time. As 'Sheed says, he won't get any offensive plays called for him any time soon, but he's making up for it with his hustle, nose for the ball, and knack for being in the perfect position for a Stuckey alley-oop.
All of this sets up very nicely for the Pistons and the final 30 games in the regular season. But, with the deadline approaching on Feb. 21, the Pistons should explore the idea of making a trade. They have the expiring contracts of Flip Murray, Primos Brezic, and Walter Hermann, plus the added cap space from dumping Nazr Mohammed, so they could take on a $6 million deal, with two or three years left on it, if the player makes since. I'm still not sold on Jarvis Hayes being a solid scorer off the bench, which as we know, is something the PIstons will clearly need come playoff time. Too often, when Hayes' shot isn't falling, he continues to jack up ill-advised shots, all the while being an easy target on defense. (He's not a bad defender--just not one of the best on a good defensive team). Joe Dumars has gone on record saying he wouldn't mind adding another big man, but those are always hard to come by. I would take another wing player (Stackhouse if Nets buy him out??? hhmmmm) who could provide more scoring punch off the bench, which could propel this team to its ultimate desitnation--The Finals.
Ryan...I love Sheed, and Chauncey to death. There isn't a better man in the NBA than Joe D, but this team doesn't have the goods to win it all.
They are on a roll with 10 straight right now and have the 2nd best record in the league, but they are certain to face the same hurdles as they did last year.
Didn't they go 64 and 18 2 yearsago and once again made it to the ECF last year. Neither season ended the way they wanted it too. This team has been the same for a 5 years now, with 1 ring.
A trade like they made when they secured Sheed from the Hawks, is very much needed for them to avoid another Cavs debacle.
I have a ton of respect for them and their achievements(5 straight ECF/1 ring) I admire their unselfishness,chemistry,and defense.
They just don't have the goods right now to get by Boston and probably not Cleveland either.
And another thing that scares me about them....FLIP SAUNDERS. Very good coach, but not the kind to take you to a title.
He was successful in Minny and has been with the Pistons, but his track record doesn't lend any weight to getting a team over the top.Countless first round exits and last years melt down vs the Cavs sends up a warning flag to me.
I agree the whole team has been playing at a high level for most of the season with a few blips to weak teams. The bench has come thru big time adding valuable rest time for the starters. I would welcome some legit low post player that provides easy points in the paint an area where we routinely get out done by our opponents. If we stay healthy i think this team can bring home a title but they have to match the hunger in the Celtics camp right now. Kevin Garnett has given that team his desire and drive to win. We need Rasheed to play at that same level and the team will feed off his energy and activity.
Good point alaskanballa: Flip to me is a proven 1 game coach. But yet to prove he can make series adjustments. This team should've had at least 2 rings the past 5 yrs and losing to Cleveland with a 2nd yr head coach was a slap in Saunders face. You see Nelly got his team by dallas on coaching and motivation. Flip has yet to win me over for any coach of the year votes.
A lot of people love Richard Hamilton but I think he needs to go. Detroit's backcourt is too frail to contain King James. Hamilton is too shorty and thin. Prince is just too thin.
They need an athletic 2 guard who can create for himself and get to the basket.
The Pistons are weak mentally and it starts with their best player. Many people think it's Billups. Rasheed is by far their best player and he's always one meltdown away from the psychiatric facility.
When your leader is a ticking time bomb it affects your entire team.
I picked the Pistons to win the title in 2006 and beat the Cavs in 2007. Same roster, same story.
Detroit will disappoint again. Flip Saunders will be a memory by next season.
Last edited by Hoffman on February 15th at 4:30 PM.
Unless there is a major development or injury (unfortunately for Pistons, Cavs and Magic fans), this is the year of the Celtics. Watch them ride their strong, hand-checking defense to the finals.
HOFFMAN: I disagree. The Pistons are well-balanced. They have an excellent mix of young up-and-comers like Amir Johnson, Stuckey, Afflalo to go along with the battle-tested vets.
You do not get rid of a consistent, hard-working player like RIP. He is great at moving without the ball and is a consistent scorer from mid-range and long-range. And most of all, you do not get rid of him because he serves as a mentor to the young guards on the team.
What RIP and BIG SHOT provide to the locker room is similar to what KOBE and FISH provide to guys like Farmar and Sasha.
This year will not be the same story for Detroit because they are hungry just as much as the rest of the elite.
No one's paying attention right now, and that's perfectly fine for a team like DET who is flying under the radar while everyone else gets the press.
Look for it to happen come June: LAKERS vs. PISTONS in the NBA FINALS.
J-Dizzle, you make some great points, but I think I side with Hoffman on this one this time.
The Pistons' backcourt is great, everything you wrote about them is true and I'd never suggest getting rid of them, except for the fact that they probably can't handle LeBron James, and they are going to have to do that to get to the Finals.
It's like when the Lakers traded away to fine small forwards to get Trevor Ariza: they needed someone who could slow down Shawn Marion -- or at least they thought they did.
Having said that, though, I totally think the Pistons, as they ARE now, can win the East. If playoff seedings go well and someone else takes out Cleveland for them, the Pistons just might do it, and for the reasons you elaborated on.
I see a lot of concern that Rip and Billups won't be able to deal with James if needed.
Correct me if I am wrong but is it not Prince that defends LeBron?
Rip and Billups are vital to that team and are proven winners and money players. I am not a big fan of either, but respect their work ethic and contribution to the team.
Joe D needs to add somebody. I would love to see Ron Artest play there. He has the size,speed,strength to defend James and gives them some pop on the offensive side.Both are team needs!!!
Call me crazy, I know he is hated there b/c of The Brawl a few years back, but him helping them get another title would give him a pass by the Det. fans.
Also, they have the type of take no sh..it leaders in Sheed and Billups to harness Ron in and settle him down. Sheed was the same type player with the same reputation when he got there and Joe Dumars was able to get him under control.
Artest could help them get over the top of Boston. Without a major acquisition they are destined to be beaten in the ECF
If the pistons want to win a championship this year!!! They need to pick up one of these guys. brad miller nasty strong player who would fit perfect as a pistons center, or j Oneil, randolf, curry, somebody who is gonna go after the ball and after the rim to score. they are to small regardless of how well sheed is playing. AGAIN. TO win the CHAMPIONSHIP they need another dominant BIG in the middle. and all credit to DYSS but if we want a title in MO TOWN then thats what needs to happen and YOU , me, DOE D, mr. blaha, Special k, and everyone else should know that! all i can Say STONS is PROVE me WRONG!!!!
TOM7: "except for the fact that they probably can't handle LeBron James, and they are going to have to do that to get to the Finals."
Tell me, who in the world can Detroit acquire that can "handle LEBRON JAMES?"
And by the way, the Lakers did not acquire ARIZA to slow down Shawn Marion. They already had ODOM to do that. Trust me, Marion never worried the Lakers one bit. Why do you think PHX didn't really care about keeping him long term?
The reason they got Ariza was not only to get salary cap flexibility, but to get a defensive minded athletic player who could back up Odom at the three and who was quicker and more athletic than Luke Walton.
Last edited by J-DIZZLE on February 18th at 9:51 PM.
In his previous blog field talks about Jarvis Hayes as if he is the next Vinnie Johnson:
"Jarvis Hayes has proven his 4 average years with the Wizards might have been a fluke, as he has found his shooting touch, providing a "micro-wave" like scorer off the bench."
Now all of a sudden he thinks Jarvis can't score:
"I'm still not sold on Jarvis Hayes being a solid scorer off the bench, which as we know, is something the PIstons will clearly need come playoff time. Too often, when Hayes' shot isn't falling, he continues to jack up ill-advised shots, all the while being an easy target on defense. (He's not a bad defender--just not one of the best on a good defensive team)"
Hi, I'm Ryan Field of FSN Detroit, a correspondent on PISTONS LIVE, TIGERS LIVE and RED WINGS LIVE. My blog is primarily about the Pistons, although I also enjoy talking college football and basketball, so I hope you'll enjoy blogging with me about those topics.
Before joining FSN, I was a sports reporter at WJBK-TV (FOX 2) in Detroit (2000-03) and provided sports updates on WDFN Radio (1130 AM). Before that, I was sports director and previously weekend sports anchor at WSYM-TV (FOX 47) in Lansing. My television work began in 1996 as a sports intern at WILX-TV, the NBC affiliate in Lansing.
I'm a native of Troy, Mich., and a proud graduate of Michigan State University.
