Detroit Pistons Still Firing on All Cylinders in 2006

I am going on record right now to say that the Detroit Pistons are far from done - and will remain one of the top teams in the eastern conference in 2006-07, barring any unforeseen injury to one of the core members of the nucleus they've worked so hard to build over the last half-decade.

I know the Pistons fell apart in the eastern conference finals like a house of cards after setting a franchise record for wins during the regular season under first-year head coach, Flip Saunders - and that, the focal point of their superior (at least until last season) defensive-oriented team, center Ben Wallace, bolted for the supposedly greener pastures (and heftier paycheck) that the Chicago Bulls were offering, but this team still has talented players at every position. Here is my breakdown on the Pistons for 2006-07.

Point guard Chauncey Billups is about as good as it gets for NBA point guards. The aptly named "Mr. Big Shot" is also backed up by the reliable, Lindsey Hunter, who is still a very good player, albeit one that is aging.

Detroit is also in excellent shape with Richard Hamilton firmly entrenched as their starter at the "two." Hamilton is one of the best off-the ball players in the entire NBA and better yet, meshes perfectly with Billups. One of the reasons I like the Pistons a little better this year (at least offensively) is because of the acquisition of backup two-guard Ronald, "Flip" Murray, an excellent scorer who grew up just a stone's throw from my old neighborhood on the mean streets of North Philadelphia. Reminiscing aside, Murray will prove to be an excellent addition for the Pistons.

If I have to say it one more time - the Pistons are also set with the smooth Tayshaun Prince entrenched as their starter at small forward. Prince is a solid player at both ends of the floor and one that still seems as if he hasn't reached his full potential yet, which is an absolutely scary thought. Carlos Delfino has been making plenty of noise this offseason about not getting enough playing time, which should increase this year, giving the Pistons even more offensive firepower.

At power forward, I love Rasheed Wallace, I really do. Having said that, I think it's a damn shame that he has never fully reached his incredibly vast potential and become one of the greatest power forwards of all-time (like counterpart Tim Duncan).
Wallace is a fine player, no doubt, but he had better step into more of a leadership role this season (he won't) in order to help the Pistons overcome the loss of the almost "low key" greatness that Ben Wallace took with him to Chicago. Veteran, Antonio McDyess, will split time between the 4 and 5 spots this year and is undoubtedly still a very dangerous player and outstanding scorer.

I think the Pistons acquisition of center Nazr Mohammed immediately after Wallace bolted for Chi-Town was an absolute stroke of genius. Mohammed could actually be a perfect fit in Sanders' offense, but is obviously not the defensive player that Wallace is. Once again, McDyess will play minutes here and will be a more than capable scorer and rebounder.

Prediction:
The Pistons won 64 games last year but looked absolutely clueless during the postseason. I think they are undoubtedly going to be a semifinalist in the east this year and I wouldn't put it past them to make it to the eastern conference finals once again. However, something tells me Flip Saunders is going to mess it up once again. We shall see.