Pistons Preview
Natalie Sitto from Need4Sheed helps us preview the 2007 Detroit Pistons.
The pre-season is underway and the regular season jumps off in less than a month (Oct. 31), so it’s probably time to start previewing the 2006-2007 NBA season. With the help of some of the most prominent hoop writers on the web (bloggers and newspaper columnists), we’ll be taking an in-depth look at each one of the 30 teams.
Today, Natalie Sitto from Need4Sheed helps us preview her team, the Detroit Pistons.
SLAM: Do you get the sense that Pistons fans are mad that Ben Wallace left, or are they understanding since he was such a beloved player in that city?
NS: I would have to say for the most part Pistons fans can’t blame Ben for leaving for the big paycheck. They respect Ben and his “Hard Work” attitude and thank him for helping the Pistons win a Championship in 2004. Ben’s 10 million dollar salary bump in Chicago is something most players wouldn’t turn down and after last season’s quick exit from the playoffs you could sense that Big Ben wasn’t happy with Detroit’s new offensive direction. But Ben’s departure did leave a bad taste with some Pistons fans who can’t understand how a guy like Ben would take the money and run, break up one of the best starting fives of all time and leave the Pistons team in a bad way after they traded Darko and Arroyo for cap space to sign him. Either way, the man will be missed in Motown.
Has management done enough to fill the void left by Big Ben?
The acquisition of Nazr Mohammed to fill the huge space left by Wallace was the best move Joe Dumars could have made without trading one of the Pistons’ core players. There weren’t many choices in this summer’s free agent pool and Dumars jumped on signing a center as soon as Ben bolted. Sure Nazr is no Ben but then again, nobody is. It’s not that easy to replace an All Star that is a four time Defensive Player of the year. Anyone was going to be a downgrade defensively but Mohammed brings some offense to the center position in Detroit, something they haven’t seen since Bill Laimbeer donned a Piston uniform.
Flip Saunders looked lost at times in last season’s playoffs, and some players grumbled. Is he the right man for the job?
You would think that coaching a team to a 64-18 record would solidify one’s job with an organization but Flip’s got to get this team to the Finals this season or risk losing his job. After last season’s playoff meltdown it was widely observed that Saunders’ failure to utilize his bench and make adjustments during the playoffs had many pointing fingers at Saunders’ coaching abilities. This season with the absence of Ben Wallace, Saunders can fully put his offensive minded ways to the test on the court. With a center that can score it will keep the opposition from using his defender to roam around and help on the other four players, like they did with Ben Wallace.
Flip has vowed to be tougher and more demanding on his players this season, and play more zone defense. He knows what he has to do, let’s hope he gets it done.
Ron Artest returns to the Palace of Auburn Hills on January 20th. What kind of scene should we expect in Motown that night?
Even with the change of uniform, a different number, new German kicks and rap career that’s not going to have 50 Cent running scared, Ron Artest has his Tru challenge when he steps on the Palace floor.
Even though Pistons fans haven’t seen Ron in two years, since the day he ran into the stands and started that awful brawl that has shamed the city, Detroit fans aren’t quick to forget. The Palace fans, known to be very loud, will be sure to let Artest know how they feel. It will be a steady stream of boos from the moment he hits the floor until he walks off it. Detroit can be ruthless, Ron. Get ready.
Alright, enough foreplay, how will the Pistons fare this season?
The Pistons are in a familiar underdog position going into the season. Everyone outside the Motor City has written off the team with the loss of Big Ben Wallace. But the major players still have not changed: Chauncey Billups at point, Rip Hamilton at the two, Tayshaun Prince at SF, Rasheed Wallace at PF, and Antonio McDyess. What other team in the league can boast four former All Stars and a burgeoning star as the team’s core? With the addition of Nazr Mohammed and Flip Murray, and the likelihood that Delfino and Maxiell will get quality minutes, you can be sure to see the Pistons right at the top of the Eastern Conference. Don’t count the Pistons out, they are just where they want to be, in the backs of everyone’s minds and ready to strike.
23 Responses to “Pistons Preview”
Oct.19 at 10:25 am
Cheryl says:
Ah, but they won’t beat the Heat…
Oct.19 at 11:50 am
Gilbert0 says:
flip murray is a very underrated addition to the pistons. lets hope the bench is used. This will be a much better offensive team without a free throw liability. does throwing drinks at players count as ruthless, or just dumbass?
Oct.19 at 12:00 pm
Boing Dynasty says:
95% dumbass
3% ruthless
2% wastefull
Oct.19 at 1:16 pm
PIMPN says:
i like flip murray alot. in the playoffs a couple years ago it was him and rashard and jesus. flip does his thing. how many techs will sheed get this year?
Oct.19 at 2:48 pm
dizzle says:
how many techs will sheed get this year? That is the wrong question. Out of the 84 game schedule how many games will he go without a tech is the question!!!???
Oct.19 at 3:30 pm
Sam says:
Forget Sheed and his techs. How about how many more years will the US team lose in the World Games and the Olympics with Stern at the helm. If you need the refs’ help to make you a star or help you win a championship, you ain’t no star and your team sucks.
Guess what, those refs don’t work for the NBA so they are going to call the game like they see it, not how the NBA wants it. Whole league is made of bunch of whussy stars who can’t make an outside jump shot.
Oct.19 at 4:00 pm
Detroitbball says:
I’ll just find it funny that if we dont make it to the finals, everyone will bring up ben wallace.. and if we do make it to the finals everyone will still bring up ben wallace. I forget where I read this but i agree with it that, Ben Wallace was one of our greatest strength, but he could also be labeled as our greatest weakness. But its time to put that foot forward and with that chip on our shoulder, the NBA better watch out.
Theres one call for us all.. DEEEEEETROIT BAS-KET-BAAALLL
yessir!
I just wanted to say good job Natalie and I totally agree with everything you said
Oct.19 at 4:02 pm
The Henster says:
We r back and trust me we r gonna b alot more hungrier than ever.last season is over and done wit so all the pistons haters out there keep hatin,Stay Tuned for REVENGE 07 Starring #1
#32
#22
#36
#13
Supportin Cast: #6,#10,#20,#54,#24 Oh boy!!!!!!!
Oct.19 at 4:36 pm
Stephen C says:
Right on point with this one, The Pistons love to be the underdog. I still say they have the best starting 5 in the league even with Nazr at center. The Pistons have something to prove, so watch out. YES SIRRRR!
Oct.19 at 4:52 pm
Boing Dynasty says:
DIZZLE, its only 82 games.
And Sam, David stern has nothing to do with USA basketball, they didnt even have an NBA coach.
Anyones else find it wierd that took an amarican game changed a bunch of shit about it.
Next up international baseball with only 2 bases and a closer pitching mound.
1
Oct.19 at 5:52 pm
rgeezy says:
jason maxielle is lookin real nice in the preseason…dont sleep on him, he looks lean and fit and is throwin down dunks like crazy.
Oct.19 at 9:20 pm
DP says:
dont really care about the pistons because i dont like them. kobe is number one period. kyle lowry fo rookie of da year and monta ellis fo most improved player of da year. play wit it
Oct.19 at 11:22 pm
Boing Dynasty says:
DP? sounds about right.
Oct.20 at 12:04 am
Detroitbball says:
DP.. Why would you comment on the pistons preview, if you dont like the pistons? Some people just dont have lives.. Play with that sucka ; )
Oct.20 at 10:01 am
DP says:
dont get mad at me detroitbball cause yall got mopped up and down the floor by miami. yall suck and u aint gone whoop no ass so shut the hell up. play wit it now son. almost forgot kobe #1 kyle fo rookie of da year and monta ellis fo most improved player of da year. all yall play wit dat.
Oct.20 at 5:37 pm
albie1kenobi says:
nazr has a chance to shine. i thought he was doing a relatively good job playing with Spurs, but i guess coach Pop doesn’t like him much. and Flip is definitely the most slept-on signing of the off season. that one game after all star break in the middle of another bad losing streak, Flip made that winning 3 that basically saved the Cavs’ season. without that shot (and that win), the cavs might have missed the playoff again and everyone might be on Bron’s case about not making the playoff in 3 years. (and Bron subsequently bolting cleveland for NY possibly)
Oct.20 at 6:14 pm
amber says:
i love rip
Oct.21 at 3:46 pm
Jeff says:
NEED4SHEED.COM once again comes through with a fair and in depth analysis of the best team in pro sports. DEEEEEEEEEEEEEETROIT BAAAAAAAAASKETBALL
Oct.22 at 12:10 pm
Shane says:
the pistons are gonna win it this year for many reasons. 1 their starting 5. 2. their bench is better than 50% of the nba’s starting 5. 3. maxielle flip and hopefully amir are gonna show taht if they can play ball too(no more when the startes get tired its game over) and finally becuse flip saunders is gonna be coach of the year this year.
Nov.8 at 7:40 pm
Get a Free RAZR says:
i got a free razr from this website and thought i would share
Mar.22 at 10:32 pm
Mark Cuban Reads Need4Sheed.com « HoopsAddict.com says:
[…] Mark Cuban Reads Need4Sheed.com Jump to Comments By Ryan McNeill Kudos go out to Natalie from Need 4 Sheed for having Mavericks owner Mark Cuban as one of the many readers of her blog. I’m glad to see that all of the hard work that she’s putting into her blog is paying off as she’s been mentioned on ESPN, Sports Illustrated and Slam. I also want to thank her for the work she put into creating a Toronto Raptors screensaver that I’ve had on my laptop since the fall. […]
May.18 at 11:35 pm
sheed says:
to DP - kobe is the number 1 will never get the championship ring anymore ahahahha! LAKERS is looser because of KOBE ahahaha
Nov.16 at 9:44 am
Tom says:
hah.. heat. That team should be happy if they come over the 500 mark..
Pistons are going to have a solid season jet again, let’s hope they get the best of Maxiell, Affalo, Johnson and Stuckey!