DEEETROIT BASKETBALL!

For those of you holding your breath until The Pistons regular season kicks off, tomorrow you can finally exhale. Unfortunately for me, I will not be able to experience the joy of tip off due to a prior engagement. Because I won’t be able to properly articulate tomorrow’s game, instead I will make a detailed prediction as to what may go down. For those who read this blog religiously (there are millions of you I’m sure) Now is your chance to repremand me for inaccurately scouting a game. Feel free to let me have it. Question whether I should have a blog, or comment on how if you had a blog, mistakes like this wouldn’t happen. I give full permission for anyone to unleash the venom. HOWEVER, If I do in fact accurately predict what transpires, a moment of silence to appreciate my vast Piston knowledge will be in order. For those you especially impressed, I will give out my address so a gift basket can be sent to my residence.

With all that being said, here is my prediction.

The Pistons will win by approximately ten to 15 points. Chauncey Billups will be the leading scorer with 23 points. All five Piston starters will be in double figures. Shaq will lead the Heat with 22 points and double digit rebounds. Off the bench Jarvis Hayes will contribute 11 points, nailing at least two three pointers. Jason Maxiel will also have a solid game off the bench scoring in double digits, and blocking multiple shots. Rasheed Wallace will be whistled for a tech (not exactly going out on a limb on that one) and the Heat’s second leading scorer will be Ricky Davis with 18 to 20 points. Final score? A 102-90 Pistons victory. Mark it down Baby!!

There’s a pesky insect annoying the Pistons these days. The injury bug. Amir Johnson missed all but one preseason game with a severe ankle sprain. Nazr Mohammad was hit with a sore calf, and the latest wounded warrior Rodney Stuckey, will be out at least six weeks with a broken hand. Stuckey’s injury undoubtedly hurts the most. He was to have a significant role backing up Chauncey Billups, and along with Amir Johnson, was to be the poster child for the new, young, influx of talent the Pistons want to contribute this year.

Does it hurt? Absolutely! Is the season doomed? Not exactly. There is a silver lining here, although it took a while for me to find it. Adversity is good for this team. In fact, the Pistons feed off of it like wild dogs gnaw on fresh meat. The absence of Stuckey will force the Pistons to step up their game to make up for the temporary loss. This is especially true for the perimeter players coming off the bench. Flip Murray has to be the Flip Murray that attacks the basket and scores points in bunches and Aaron Affalo, who originally was going to have a more reduced role with the team, must show leadership capabilities despite his rookie status, and the good defense which got him drafted. Starters Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton also must play better for a prolonged period to help remedy the loss off depth in the back court. In a perfect scenario Rodney Stuckey would be healthy as a horse. But again, adversity is good for a team that has been accused (and rightfully so in some cases) of taking the pedal off the metal. The Pistons thrive when their backs are against the wall, hopefully they respond accordingly this time around. If you don’t believe me, just hold your breath for six weeks. Stuckey should be back in about 15 to 20 games.

Last night the Pistons played the Dallas Mavericks in a game that fortunately doesn’t count. Even more alarming then the 122-94 final score, was how the game began. The Piston starters came out flatter then a surf board, missing their first 11 shots. Even more alarming then the statistics, was how the Pistons looked. Yes it was only a preseason game, and the Pistons treated it that way, coming out slow, and that ugly word nobody wants here “complacent.” The only bright spot in this poor excuse for a basketball game was the play of Flip Murray and Rodney Stuckey. Murray’s first shot, a rim shaking dunk, set the tone for how he would play all night, attacking the basket furociously and finishing with 22 points. Stuckey shot poorly from the field but was 9 of 11 from the free throw line scoring 15 points. Everyone else? Jump shots, jump shots, and more jump shots. When the Pistons offense struggles, it’s because they settle for mid range shots. In years past, the team could afford prolonged scoring droughts because of their suffocating defense. Those years are over. Now the Pistons MUST find different ways to score. Their defense may keep them competitive, but it no longer is able to win games for them like it used to. For the Pistons to achieve anything better then dropping a dud in the Eastern Conference Finals, they must be ready to take it to the rim, or score on the pick and roll. Jump shots won’t bring a championship to Detroit.

I’m not in love with the Cavaliers. They have no true point guard, even with the emergence of Daniel Gibson. Restricted free agents Varejo, and Pavlovic still aren’t signed, and they haven’t acquired any impact players through free agency or the draft. So, scratch Cleveland off my list as a favorite compete for the Eastern Conference. The Bulls are a solid team, however, they lack enough offensive fire power. New draft pick Joakeem Noah is a high energy guy, but he will struggle to score consistently in the NBA. I like the Bulls, but they have too many players in the mold of Ben Wallace, lots of hustle, but simply can’t put the ball in the basket. Signing Joe Smith wasn’t what the Bulls needed to cure their need for a big time scorer in the front court. Until that player is found, scratch Chicago off the list.

In my humble opinion, the only legitimate candidates ready to compete for Eastern Conference supremacy, are the Kevin Garnet led Celtics, and your Detroit Pistons. So, who’s better? Let’s break it down.

Front Court: This is a toughie. The Pistons are far deeper on the front line. Rasheed Wallace can still put up solid numbers when he decides not to verbally abuse the officials, or jack up too many 3s, or decide to hang WAY out on the perimeter, away from any opportunity to use his effective but scarcely used post up moves. Tayshawn Prince is a borderline all star who can not only score but defend using his 7 ft. wing span. Antonio McDyess’s production should increase after being thrust into the starting line up this year. He tends to start slow but should be in his usual groove when playoff time comes around. The Pistons can also counter with young, energetic, big men coming off the bench like Jason Maxiel and Amir Johnson. The Celtics are a lot thinner up front, but they do have Kevin Garnett which evens things up quickly. Rasheed Wallace is the x factor in all of this. Wallace tends to step up when facing the premier big men in the NBA. The way he has performed offensively and defensively against Garnett in the past, gives the Pistons a slight edge.

Back Court: Depth plays a big part here as well. The Pistons still possess one of the best back courts in Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton. The Celtics have Ray Allen who is still an accomplished shooter, and young Point Guard Rajon Rhondo, a stingy defender who needs to develop his offensive skills. The Pistons strengthened their depth at the guard positions by drafting Aaron Affalo, and Rodney Stuckey, who will probably be the first guard off the bench. Flip Murray, who struggled last season, but can certainly score, will also compete for minutes. If Stuckey turns out to be the slasher the Pistons need, and if Affalo can contribute as a back up to Richard Hamilton, then the Pistons should win the back court match up

Coaching: Neither Flip Saunders or Doc Rivers have been particularly successful in the playoffs. The edge should go to Saunders because of his postseason experience. Coaching is not the strength of either team. The Pistons win by default

Star Power: Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce, are a deadly combination for the Celtics. Garnett is by far the best player on either team. Pierce also gives the Celtics an advantage because of how he performs in the playoffs, averaging over 20 ppg, in each appearance. Although the current Piston core have won a NBA championship together, in recent years they haven’t shown the ability to deliver when it counts. This one goes to the Celtics.

Conclusion: The Pistons overall are a much deeper team then the Celtics are. However, the green and white possess more fire power from their top players, and have the best player in Garnett with a chip on his shoulder. Pierce and Allen like Garnett want to prove they can lift their team to the next level. The Pistons on the other hand, have battled complacency during the playoffs in recent years. If the Pistons can play with the edge that made them so good during their 2004 championship run, then they should be able to overcome the star power of the Celtics. Either way, the resurgence of the Pistons Celtics rivalry should be a joy for any NBA fan.

Because Halloween is just around the corner, I’ve decide to dress up. Give me a moment as I straighten up my tie, comb my excessively jelled hair due, and practice proper syntax for the camera. Ok, I’m now ready to impersonate a NBA pundit, with a slight Piston bias ( although not nearly as large as Bill Lambeer’s during ESPN NBA Shoot around.) Today’s topic, what can be expected out of the Piston’s young players next season.

The Pistons made modest changes in the off season. With the exception of Chris Webber, all of last years starters return, even Rasheed Wallace whose head fans were demanding on a platter, after he blew a gasket in game six of last year’s disastrous playoff run. Instead of any major trades, Joe Dumars decided to improve from within the organization. The Pistons needed a major influx of youth to spare the veteran starters from burning out during the playoffs yet again. Insert Jason Maxiel, Amir Johnson, Rodney Stuckey, and Aaron Affalo. These players are now looked upon as not only a part of the future, but a large part of the present as well.

Of these 4, Maxiel is the only player who has proven he can contribute on the NBA level. In more minutes last season, Maxiel showed an innate ability to rebound, block shots, and despite being undersized, out tough some of the taller players at his position. Maxiel must improve his free throw percentage significantly in order to take full advantage of the attempts he earns at the foul line due to his ferociously aggressive style of play. This alone should make him even more of a weapon coming off the bench for the Pistons.

Joining Maxiel on the front line is Amir Johnson. In the off season the Pistons resigned Johnson to a 3 year $11 million dollar deal. Why? Potential. Johnson spent the majority of last season in the NBDL where he was a man among boys. Now Johnson will get his chance to live up to the hype, most likely in a platoon role, filling in for starting Center Antonio McDyess, and Rasheed Wallace at Power Forward. Whether Johnson has a NBA ready body is suspect, but from the way he played in very limited minutes last season for the Pistons, it is a safe bet that Johnson will provide if nothing else, the ability to block shots, and high energy on every play. The best case scenario? Johnson becomes a younger, more offensively talented, version of Ben Wallace. The worst case scenario? He turns into a taller version of Jerome Williams. Who? It was during the teal era, don’t make me relive those days again.

While Amir Johnson and Jason Maxiel are to provide youth on the front line, Rodney Stuckey and Aaron Affalo are the young legs in the back court. Stuckey had numerous eye opening performances during the Vegas Summer League. He showed the ability to get to the basket, either finishing strong, or drawing a foul. Another pleasant aspect to Stuckey’s game is the high percentage he shoots at the free throw line, and a serviceable mid range game.

Affalo was the second guard taken by the Pistons in the 2007 NBA Draft (27th overall) Unlike Stuckey, he is not especially quick, or aggressive going to the rim. . To make a solid contribution, Afalo must capitalize on his ability to come off screens, by improving upon a decent jump shot. While he improves upon his game, Affalo should provide entangables like leadership, and a hard work ethic. These qualities will help veteran teammates sustain maximum effort throughout the season, something last years team failed to do on one too many occasions.

So there you have it. These are the young guns who will do alot in determining how successful this season’s Detroit Pistons will be. Although we can’t say for sure whether any of these players will be a part of the next championship core, there is reason for hope. The implementation of young players will provide a nice luxury last year’s team didn’t have. A healthy change of pace. Although offensively and defensively efficient for most of the year, the Pistons of 2006-2007 played at a very slow pace. Missing was the ability to run an effective fast break, and the constant, suffocating, defense made famous by the 2004 championship team . With the addition of Stuckey, and Johnson on offense, the Pistons can now present a lineup in sharp contrast to the slow, methodical, offense played by the starting unit. Afalo and Maxiel should provide provide the same contrasting style on the defensive end. What does all this mean? If Joe Dumars blueprint for success comes true, fans should expect a more well rounded, and hopefully much more successful, Detroit Piston team.