07-08 Pistons Preview!

The long awaited preview by "Welcome to the D" is finally here! I'm sure all of you have been sitting on the edge of your seats clicking on refresh constantly! Well, enjoy what I have for you here.

What Happened:
Last year was supposed to be a return to glory. Back to the championship through an easy playoff schedule where the only competition for the Pistons was the team coming out of the West. Things were going great. After a very interesting up and down regular season, the team came in with new blood in C-Webb and started it off with a domination of the Bucks. Soon they rolled through the surprisingly weak Bulls. It was onto the lowly Cavs who played nobody to get to the ECF. After two great games that ended in the same winning score for the Pistons things went south. WAY south. Everything went wrong including the incredible 28 points straight points by Lebron in game 5 that ended up as a loss for the Pistons in OT. (28? I'm not sure)

Grades for different aspects of the 07-08 team:
Offseason:
Joe Dumars quietly improved this team. A very underrated move was dishing out the money for Chauncey Billups, who was being courted by a couple of other teams including his hometown Denver Nuggets. Other than that there was not much to be excited about. The draft came and went with the draft picks of two guards Stuckey and Afflalo. What did this team lose? C-Webb and Dale Davis...damn. Honestly, that doesn't bother me too much especially if Maxiell and Amir Johnson can step up and be big contributors. Finally the signing of Jarvis Hayes will help bring energy to the bench with a scoring threat. (Oh yea, Dumars lost patience with Delfino and traded him. Again...damn.)
Grade: B- (Not much happened but the team is improved thanks to the few moves.

Guards:
You cannot tell me that the combo of Billups and Hamilton is still not in the top 3 guard combos, if not the best, in the NBA. With the addition of Stuckey (currently injured) and Afflalo, the Pistons also still have veteran Lindsay Hunter to fill some time while Flip Murray seemed much more comfortable out there in the pre-season than he did last year. So, once Stuckey comes back it is a very deep position. The question to be asked is if the youth can step up this coming year.
Grade: A-

Forwards:
This has been a sore spot on the Pistons bench for awhile. Tayshaun Prince will hold down the 3 spot easily but who can come in? Well, now there are a few options. Jarvis Hayes can come in and play 3 as well as Rip moving to 3 while one of his backups comes in at 2 and then there's the versatile Amir Johnson who could spare some minutes. It's a position that will be a strong point for the Pistons because of the presence of Tayshaun Prince. I'm looking for a huge year from Prince if he can be more aggressive than he's been in the past.
Grade: A-

Big Men (Centers):
I hesitate to title this section simply "centers" because that is an issue for the Pistons. Who's there true center? Well, that's why big men is here. The starting two of McDyess and Wallace shape out what I believe is still the best starting 5 in the NBA. Wallace, while I'm sick of his antics (I forgot to post about his most recent comments earlier this week), seems extremely focused and ready to dominate. People should realize as I did last week that the last time McDyess was a starter he was a dominating all-star. Yes, he's older but both of these guys, not just McDyess, are playing for a ring and will do anything to get it. As far as there backups go, I'm excited to see Maxiell and Johnson but will Nazr be a capable backup? I just don't know. It doesn't seem that we will see much of 7 foot 1 inch Cheikh Samb, especially early on so it is an interesting position to be in.
Grade: B+

Depth:
It's been said elsewhere, but it is true. This is the deepest bench we have seen from the Pistons since the championship run in 2004. The next five looks very solid and should be able to produce rather than just try to hold the lead. Once Stuckey comes back from his injury you have him, Flip Murray, Jarvis Hayes, Amir Johnson, and Jason Maxiell. Most young guys, but it's crazy to think, finally, that this team could legitimately run a 10-man rotation when the last few years it has been a 7 or 8-man rotation. I love this bench. It is just very young so we will have to wait and see if they can produce like we think they can.
Grade: B+


That's all I am going to go into with the grades. Flip Saunders needs to take control of the team and stay focused. He needs to keep the friendly relationship with Sheed going because that was part of the problem last year during the playoffs. My final verdict on this team is "I don't know." On paper this team looks like one ready to make a championship run. The issue is the youth. There is a lot of young players that we "hope" will be able to contribute so early in their careers. As much as I love Amir Johnson, he has played a total 11 games in the NBA. Really, we just don't know.

I'm not going to make any prediction because it would be worthless. I am a homer, I admit it so I would have to go ahead and say that this team should make it back to the NBA championship series. I don't see the Cavs doing anything, especially after last night's performance. The Bulls just don't scare me as much as other people. They are the same exact team as last year except for they added another, less talented, Ben Wallace-type player. I'm sorry but they aren't solid enough in all areas to make a huge run. The Heat are a toss-up and will be around in the end, but a lot depends on what Shaq can do and if Wade will be the same player after his surgery.

This is long enough. The offseason has been long enough and we finally get to start tonight! I even get to watch it since it's on TNT! Wow, could life get any better! Well, yes is could, a Pistons championship would make it a lot better.

Enjoy this!