The Detroit Pistons were poised to add onto their highly decorated pedigree. With six consecutive trips to the Eastern Conference Finals starting in the 2002-2003 NBA season, the Bad Boys were built like a tank, presumably, with the intention of taking away another title from some poor Western Conference team, just as they had done in 2004 in their defeat of the heavily-loaded Los Angeles Lakers (which featured four future Hall of Famers in Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, Karl Malone and Gary Payton in the starting lineup). Unfortunately for the Detroit team, they were defeated by a group of upstarts looking to their own championship dreams in the Boston Celtics for the 2008 Playoffs, not so much unlike the LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavs in 2007.
As it was, Detroit didn’t seem to have many weaknesses, if any–the only true criticism was that they could become complacent and lethargic, out of their silent pretension which showed on the court during the regular season. Just so, the Pistons didn’t lose to the Celtics as they really just beat themselves and now the future of the Pistons roster is in question.
It is going to be an issue of whether head coach Flip Saunders stays, as he has had to endure constant chattering about his job ever since 2006, his first season in the Palace at Auburn Hills, but he’ll be looked at much more closely now. Another person of speculation will be the dynamic Rasheed Wallace, the team’s starting power forward and center for the past 4 1/2 seasons–for Wallace, while his zest and overzealousness has costed him some technical foul calls and plenty of fines, the nature of his decline is now being looked at, as he has not delivered what was thought that he would contribute the Pistons core group, and adding to the fact that he’ll be heading into his mid-30s, and general manager Joe Dumars might have to consider what Wallace would bring on the open trade market (although, it’s doubtful that he’ll actually be traded). If anything, no one in the starting lineup outside of Chauncey Billups is totally safe from the potential of being traded, but there are some sure things that will be staying around.
One sure thing is rookie Rodney Stuckey, who was the 15th overall selection in the 2007 NBA Draft–Stuckey provided much needed energy off the bench and proved to be a very valuable commodity, being able to play both the point guard and off-guard positions effectively and with either Billups or Richard Hamilton on the floor; he’s seen a Dwyane Wade clone. Jason Maxiell also broke out with his energy, but also provided strength, guile and big-man skill which was a great complement to the drifting Wallace; Maxiell will likely supplant former sixth man power forward Antonio McDyess as the new starting “four” man.
If anything, the Pistons will be looking closely at several members of the bench to step up and move into crucial roles. Arron Afflalo, another fellow first-round selection from 2007, will be needed to not only provide his great defense, but to also regain his identity as the scorer he was when he attended UCLA at the backup shooting guard spot. Amir Johnson will have to show and prove himself as well, moving up in the rotation to play off of Wallace as the All-Star combination forward that the organization thinks he can be. Walter Hermann, who was traded to Detroit during the 2008 season, was a breakout player from his previous stint in Charlotte in 2007, and it will be wise for the Pistons to also resurrect his minutes as a key player in the frontcourt–he fits perfectly as the primary backup small forward, behind Tayshaun Prince. Other key members that will be looked upon are Jarvis Hayes (who showed his talent as a shooter, but little else), Juan Dixon (a tough, overachieving combo guard who may be necessary for spot minutes) and McDyess (who should provide just as much effectiveness if he returns to his comfort zone as the team’s sixth man).
It is imperative that the Bad Boys make these changes, but as always, there is never any guarantee that the will still move back in the Finals.
