2007 NBA Season Preview - Detroit Pistons

A Look at the Upcoming 07-08 Season

Detroit Pistons
'06-'07 Record/Standing: 53-29 (.646), Central Division Champs
'06-'07 Postseason (if applicable): Lost in Eastern Conference Finals (4-2 to Cleveland)
Coach (Record): Flip Saunders, 3^rd season w/Detroit (117-47); 13^th season overall
Key Additions:

SG Rodney Stuckey (draft; 1^st round, 15^th overall); G Aaron Afflalo (draft; 1^st round, 27^th overall); SF Jarvis Hayes (FA; Washington)
Key Losses: SG Carlos Delfino (trade; Toronto); PF/C Chris Webber (unsigned as of 10/3)

For the past few seasons, the Detroit Pistons have been the class of the Eastern Conference. While teams like Miami and Cleveland have been perennial contenders as well, it has been Detroit that the rest of the conference looks to and wants to emulate in terms of basketball skills and discipline. However, last season, when everyone expected them to once again be the center of basketball east of the Mississippi River, they were shocked by young LeBron James and his Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals. Well, that is just unacceptable for a Pistons team that won the Championship in 2004 and been a part of the Eastern Conference finals in each of the past five seasons. A return to that plateau is not only desired, but expected in Motown. That being said, the team decided that only minor changes were needed to a team that was the top seed in the Eastern Conference last year. A few young players, maybe a veteran or two, and this team could be right back on top.