2007-2008 Detroit Pistons

Last Season: 53-29, 1st Place (Central)

Detroit is again the early favorite to win the division this year, as well as making a run to be the Eastern Conference champions with yet another NBA Finals appearance. Fortunately for the Pistons they took care of business in the off-season and re-signed their number one priority in starting point guard Chauncey Billups. This move allowed the Pistons to keep their veteran team firmly intact, thus enabling them to have a very legitimate chance at winning another NBA championship.

Projected Starting Lineup
PG - Chauncey Billups
SG - Richard Hamilton
SF - Tayshaun Prince
PF - Rasheed Wallace
C - Antonio McDyess

Top reserves who should receive a significant amount of playing time
Jason Maxiell - SF/PF
Nazr Mohammed - C
Ronald Murray - SG
Amir Johnson - SF/PF

Fantasy Expectations: (per game averages)
PG - Chauncey Billups - 18 pts, 8 ast, 3 reb, 1 stl, 2 3pt, 42 fg%, 90 ft%
SG - Richard Hamilton - 18 pts, 3.5 ast, 3.5 reb, 1 stl, 47 fg%, 85 ft%
SF - Tayshaun Prince - 14 pts, 4.5 reb, 2.5 ast, 1 3pt, 45 fg%, 80 ft%
PF - Rasheed Wallace - 13 pts, 7 reb, 1.5 ast, 1 stl, 1.5 blk, 42 fg%, 75 ft%
C - Antonio McDyess - 11 pts, 8 reb, 1 ast, 1 blk, 52 fg%, 65 ft%

Jason Maxiell - 10 pts, 1 ast, 5 reb, 1 stl, 1 blk, 45 fg%, 55 ft%
Nazr Mohammed - 4 pts, 3 reb, 1 blk, 50 fg%, 65 ft%
Ronald Murray - 5 pts, 1.5 reb, 2 ast, 42 fg%, 70 ft%
Amir Johnson - 10 pts, 5 reb, 1 stl, 2 blk, 52 fg%, 70 ft%

The Detroit Pistons are simply a team of proven veterans who know how to get the job done. With the addition of Antonio McDyess in the starting lineup, rather than having him come off the bench as the 6^th man, all of Detroit's starters should be good for at least 10 points a piece. The Pistons have clearly established themselves as a very unselfish team, and therefore it appears very unlikely that anyone on the team will average more than 20 points per game. While this may not be to the liking of many fantasy owners, you will be rewarded with a proven track record and expected performance night in and night out. Not to mention great free throw and field goal percentages to boot. With everything added together, every Pistons starter makes for a good fantasy player. Those riding the bench for the Pistons may also be of use in case of injury to any of the starters. The most intriguing option, and new 6^th man off the bench, is Jason Maxiell. If he only averages 20 minutes per game, he should score 10 points, grab 5 rebounds, and get at least 1 block and 1 steal per game. If he gets around 25 to 30 minutes per game, he has the ability to grab almost 10 rebounds and block 2 shots per game. Maxiell is a definite sleeper in any fantasy league format.