Pistons

[catbasketball33]

How bout em pistons. 2nd in the league

[.]

[Andrew]

When the Stackhouse/Hamilton trade occured, I was certain that Washington had the better end of the deal, and that Detroit had made a mistake in tinkering with a team that had greatly improved in 2001/2002. However, the Pistons have made it work this season, with Rip playing well and the acquisition of Chauncey Billups. Some might argue they are in the East, but 28 of their games do come against Western teams, and Wallace will fearlessly matchup against larger centres.

Despite pre-season predictions that read otherwise, the Pistons will be a dangerous foe come playoff time, perhaps going deep into the playoffs. I'd say they have a good chance of making the Conference Finals, but the Nets will still be the team to beat in the East.

[scubilete]

The East is so weak, lol. I still remember the end of the season last year, the Rockets were out of the playoffs when if they were reported with that record in the East, they would have been in the 5th spot.

Rip is feeling some freedom back there, I did believe Pistons made a mistake too but I guess they did make a big move, and there's a lot of comments of giving Dumars the executive of the year after all that. They are playing great and still are being considered as a very good defensive team, which is for most the reason they are in that position.

[TheBob]

I'd say they have a good chance of making the Conference Finals

Bold prediction Andrew... They are the best team (record wise) in the East and they do have the second best winning percentage in the league.

[Andrew]

That wasn't a prediction, I didn't say they would make the Conference Finals. I don't make predictions because usually when I do, the complete opposite inevitably occurs. So I prefer to label teams as contenders with a good chance.

[MajaFiggaz_Early!]

And I remember when they traded G. Hill for Ben Wallace I thought Orlando was getting the better of the deal...Silly Me.

[Andrew]

I think most people felt that way (I know I did). Of course, no one counted on Hill's surgery in 2000 being ineffective in stopping further complications. I thought that this season would actually be different, and Hill would just sit out a couple of games here and there. But that hasn't been the case, so it's the Pistons who got the better end of the deal, and are the ones at the top in the East.

[Stevan]

In my opinion the Pistons are overrated, and will crash out in the first round of the playoffs. They have only been a playoff team the last couple of seasons because David Stern loves Joe Dumars.

[Rens]

Come on Stooge you know you're just saying that to get a reaction

[MajaFiggaz_Early!]

Stevan looking at the teams roster and you can feel that way, but everyone on that team produces, and the most important reason is the role player...Look at that team and there only All-Star is technically a ROLE player, He grabs all the boards and plays the defense, doesn't have to score... I give it up to Carlisle for starting Michael Curry a role player with great defense who's points are a bonus...Then looking at there bench they all play there roles to a T, and they have the explosive scorer off the bench in Corliss.

Along with the terrific performances Rip has been having and these guys can easily bring home and eastern conferecne championship.

[Clinton]

Do you think they have enough firepower to beat the Pacers or Nets in a 7 game series?

[Andrew]

I would be inclined to say the Nets and Pacers both have a better chance at coming out of the East. Detroit would be a very tough opponent for New Jersey or Indiana, but I still believe that in a 7 game series (not necessarily going the full 7 games either), the Nets or Pacers would probably scrape past the Pistons.

Now that I've said that, watch the Pistons come out of the East.

[MajaFiggaz_Early!]

Andrew I dont know about the Pistons...I mean I don't think Ron Artest can stand playing the same team for that span of time...Mentally. I mean he might snap on someone or something and get himself suspended. Also even though I love him as a baller, Al Harrington does some really dirty shit on the court...Along with Coach Thomas I don't think this team has the chemistry to do it.

The Nets on the other hand I dont know, but I still think Detroit can pull it off..

As a Bucks fan though I will say I think we will make the eastern Conference Finals at least.

[Andrew]

I assume you meant Pacers, not Pistons. I see your point, and my current pick for Eastern champs are the Nets, but the Pacers have had a pretty good year thus far, though they've slowed down a bit. If they could regain their early season form, I think they'll still be around late into the playoffs.

As a Bucks fan though I will say I think we will make the eastern Conference Finals at least.

Your unbiased view as a Bucks fan I think the Payton/Cassell duo will work out better than expected. The Bucks should definitely have a better final couple of months than they did last year in the regular season, and might be able to make it past the first round. I don't know about Conference Finals, but lower seeded teams losing in the first round is only an expectation, not a rule.

[Stevan]

Come on Stooge you know you're just saying that to get a reaction

Nice banner "Dan".
I'm just following the trend...

I don't think the Pistons have that one special guy who can take over, or step up or whatever over 7 games. I think even the Wizards could take the Pistons if they were to make the playoffs. Somebody is bound to make Rip their bitch. The playoffs are a different ball game as everybody seems to think, and the Pistons go to scorer hasn't played a playoff game yet. The other playoff teams have Jason Kidd, Paul Pierce, T-Mac, Ivy, Reggie etc... Kind of like last year (with the exception of maybe NJ or Indy) there isn't a clear cut favourite. I just have a feeling the Pissedons aren't going too far, but hey I could be wrong.

[Rens]

While the Pistons don't have a token "man", they do have several players who can score in bunches when needed. Rip Hamilton, Chaunsey Billups, Jon Barry, Uncle Cliffy, Corliss Williamson, even Hubert Davis could hit 3 threes in a row to open up a game.
BTW Stevan look at my location you might get something out of it.

[Stevan]

The Pissedons don't really have a proven game winner. Yes there are a bunch of players on that team who can score, but I would take a team with a consistent scorer (or two), over a team with which you never know who is going to step up. I guess it depends on what kind of team you like, and obviously an unpredictable team has less chance of being consistent. Rip has 20ppg, but no playoff experience, and I dunno if it's because he weighs the same as Michael Jackson, but he lacks toughness. The biggest reason though why I think they won't get anywhere... ZELLY'S BEEN OUT A LOT!! It will be interesting to see how they go.

BTW Stevan look at my location you might get something out of it.

You live in two places at once?

And where the hell's Matt Brickowski to argue about how good the Pistons are, and how Mehmet "nothing will" Okur is gonna be the man???

[benji]

The Pistons game winner is their defense.

Okur is much better than Rebraca.

The Pistons are 7-1 against New Jersey, Indiana and Boston.

[TheBob]

The Pistons are 7-1 against New Jersey, Indiana and Boston.

In the regular season...I remember during Toronto's first playoff year they had beaten the Knicks 4 times or something that year and then got swept in the playoffs. The REGULAR season means nothing....

[benji]

Um...no...you can get homecourt advantage (like the Pistons should)...you can build confidence over teams...you can develop your game...

[Stevan]

Can the Pistons guards handle Gary Payton, Sam Cassell, Michael Redd and Desmond Mason? Ben Wallace may be a defensive player of the year, but who's he guarding in a hypothetical series against the Bucks (a team who may not make it to the playoffs, this is a what if)? Nobody who's going to do any damage up front. Then there's still Tim Thomas, Toni Kukoc and Anthony Mason to account for, and the Pistons best defender probably won't guard any of them or atleast not for an extended period. If it turns into a scoring fest, who comes out on top?

[Matt]

ahhhhh, its good to see good old Stooge hatin on the Pistons

um lets see, i'm sure the Curry and Robinson could take Mason and Redd

up front Wallace gets rid of any post game the Bucks have (Mason, lol) and i doubt that anyone can stop Williamson. Payton and Cassell would be the real issue, probly Kukoc as well, unless guarded by Robinson
hmmmmmm