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.