February 15, 2007
The NBA All-Stars are heading to Las Vegas this weekend, and most of them promise to come back. I'm not saying the guys will be out until all hours in Sin City, but the game's official starting time is "whenever."
All-Star Games are the unofficial midpoint of a season, which makes this a good time to evaluate the Pistons.

Our first analyst is Rip Hamilton.
"I love where the team is at," Hamilton said. "Sharing the ball, having fun, guys are playing defense.

"
This is what I find so entertaining about the Pistons: They always think everything is great right now. Two years ago, when they spent most of the regular season checking their watches and yawning, they said not to worry -- they would come through in the playoffs. They ended up losing Game 7 in San Antonio.

So last season, they were determined to grab home-court advantage -- and they did, winning 64 games. They ended up losing to Miami.
Now they say they peaked too early last season, and they have a better approach this season.

I sometimes roll my eyes at the Pistons' confidence.
But the thing is, they are usually right. The Pistons are 11-3 with Chris Webber in the starting lineup.

They are the favorites to come out of the East for the third time in four years. Webber has been such an instant fit, it's almost like Joe Dumars acquired him for a fantasy team, where chemistry doesn't matter.
"It feels like I've been here a couple of years," Webber said.

"I know everybody's style and personality. It feels like I've been here a long time."
Yes, they were beaten handily Wednesday night by San Antonio.

But a month ago, the Pistons would have spent the second half missing shots and complaining to officials, and they would have lost by 20. But those were the old, pre-Webber Pistons. The new Pistons missed shots, complained to officials and lost by nine.

I guess that's progress.
Flip Saunders said his players felt too good about themselves after winning seven straight and were distracted because of the All-Star break. But I'm trying to be as positive as the Pistons.

Maybe they were overjoyed at the two successful Valentine's Day marriage proposals on Palace Vision in the first half.
I hope the couples have happy marriages filled with love and laughs, etc., but do you know what I'd really like to see?

A couple announce that they are getting divorced.
Speaking of divorces: Nazr Mohammed isn't asking for one, but I get the sense he would like to see other people. Mohammed isn't happy with his role, which is understandable, since his role is that of a bench ornament.

He is too good of a teammate to complain, and he sees what everybody else sees: The Pistons are playing much better with Webber.
The Pistons have played so well lately (Wednesday being the exception) that they are in no rush to make a deal. I wouldn't be surprised if they do.

But the best thing that could happen to the Pistons is no deals for anybody in the East.
As the East stands now, the Pistons are the best team, period.
(Goodness, I really do sound like them, don't I?

)
"We're getting a groove together," Webber said. "After the All-Star break the work really starts."
By the end of the season, they should be better offensively than they have been for this entire era.

The questions are all about their defense.
Can Webber and Rasheed Wallace guard Tim Duncan, or Shaquille O'Neal, or some other large, athletic and famous man, well enough to make up for the loss of Ben Wallace?
Wednesday night's game should have told us something about that, but the Pistons were so bad offensively, Duncan's 23-point, eight-rebound performance was almost beside the point.

Not to worry, the Pistons will tell you. They'll shoot better when the games really count.
Ok, take it from somebody who was there first hand.

I was in row BB, right behind the Pistons bench last night for that awful performance against the Spurs. I must say, I observed a few things that cause some concern for me and should for other Pistons fans.

1.

Flip got Out-Coached, too many times the Spurs would pick us apart down the floor to a WIDE open player who would make a 3. In a game where you are down 10+, you can't give guys open looks from 3 the way they did last night.

2.

Rasheed (remind him this is a team), everyone says it's just his thing to go sit on the scorers table, or on the end of the bench pouting when he plays like S**T, but listen to your coach and what he's trying to tell the team, you can't play any better if you don't know what your team's gameplan is coming off a timeout. He doesn't pay any attention to Flip or what he has to say, and then comes out and bricks bunnies off the glass so he can keep crying foul. SHUT UP AND PLAY, the basket won't count no matter how much you complain.

3. Carlos Delfino is not all that, no matter how much he thinks he might be. Nazr Mohammed is perfectly fit and healthy, put him on the floor.

He's a guy who is complaining about playing time, so give him a chance to prove his worth. Especially against his former team..

.big mistake Flip.

4.

Stop crying to the refs, after every single call. There is a such thing as a foul, it happens in the game, and believe it or not, some are our fault. Even though 'you swear' that slap everyone heard was 'all ball,' we know better, we're educated fans.

Any disagreements??

Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 5:11 pm
People are worrying too much.

What if Webber gets hurt during the season and sits out for 5 games. Heck, I hope he does. The only way Flip will rest these guys is if they get hurt.

I'm just not worried. I don't agree that any big tests are coming up. The tests don't start until the playoffs.

What if they crush Dallas by 30 in Dallas, what does it mean? Not much. What if they lose by 30?

It's just a game. Unless your betting on the game, it really doesn't matter either way.

Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 3:21 pm
While their performance yesterday was disappointing, the Pistons have had a heck of a run since adding Webber and you can't read too much into any single game.

They were on a 10-2 run going into last nights game, the All Star break is here and, despite what the Pistons say, they are still adjusting to Webber and vice versa.

I'm much more interested in how the Pistons play after the All Star break. The real tests are yet to come.

In March they've got Dallas at home and both Phoenix and San Antonio again on the road. After March we'll have a much better idea of where this team stands.

As it stands now, they appear to be on track to make it back to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 11:31 am
They should not trade naz. Webber is thirty three and at some point in the season he is gonna get injured and take a powder. Need naz to step in to stay competetive.

I agree with you patriot. Larry had the guys playin with a little more discipline but less offensive freedom. Flip has not proven much to me yet.

Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 9:22 am
Nice to hear the Pistons are confident. However, Wednesday's game against San Antonio was a big game/test - and the Pistons failed miserably. They hadn't played any other really good team in the last month - and when faced with a good team, they missed half-a-dozen bunnies, either forgot to play defense, or couldn't defend, and turned it over way more than they should have.

It's not like they became a bad team. It's just that their coach was as out-to-lunch as they were. He obviously has no ability to coach them - to get their head back in the game, when they've thrown up too many clankin' threes, when they stand around.

...

I'm afraid that Joe has gone too far in appeasing his players with a coach that can't or won't. I betcha they can't win it all without a Larry Brown.