Detroit Pistons Season Preview: ESPN
Earlier this week, ESPN released their Eastern Conference team-by-team previews for the 06-07 season. These Daily Dime previews include the opinions of 10 ESPN “analysts”, from Greg Anthony to Marc Stein. Each analyst added their own comments about the Detroit Pistons performance in the coming season. The analysts’ average prediction for Detroit’s placement in the runnings?
DIVISION RANK: 1.5 | CONFERENCE RANK: 1.8
The most noteable comment in the Pistons preview came from Chris Sheridan:
“Just as a year ago, we’re overlooking them while trying to discover our new favorite flavor. They’ll miss Ben Wallace on defense, but they have more than enough to win just as many without him as they did with him.”
DIVISION RANK: 1 | CONFERENCE RANK: 1
The preview’s “Coaches Corner” section added a good remark:
Getting newly acquired Flip Murray and second-year prospect Jason Maxiell into the rotation from opening day will prove challenging — the core guys can play together with their eyes closed and don’t need anybody else. But adding new blood will help the vets later in the season.
My thoughts? The Pistons have 82 games to develop their strategy. Only multiple injuries can keep them away from the playoffs.
When the Pistons reach the playoffs, I expect a better performance for two reasons:
- Ben Wallace lost one, nearly two games for the Pistons in the last post-season due to his free throw performance. This season, I don’t expect such an easily exploitable weakness on the part of the Pistons. This was so exploited last season, “Hack-A-Ben” joined the dinner table dialect amongst NBA fans.
- The Pistons should have learned their lesson after losing to the Spurs in 2005, but they did not. Last season, they learned it good and hard. Starting on November 1st, they once again have something to prove. No one expects the Pistons to win a championship this year. Not without Ben Wallace. But if you can pay the Detroit Pistons any favor toward their skills in the coming season, it is to tell them that they are inadequate, that they aren’t good enough to win it all. Boys, let’s see what you’re made of…