NBA JAM: DETROIT PISTONS

In our continuing rundown on the NBA season, Neate looks at the Central Division, specifically the Detroit Pistons.

Last season: 64-18, 1st in Eastern Conference, lost to Miami in third round
Coach: Flip Saunders
New faces: Flip Murray, Nazr Mohammed
Funny-looking white guy: Sorry, but Bill "What Foul?!" Laimbeer is the eternal geeky white Piston*
Blogs: Detroit Bad Boys

You have to love the logic of some sportswriters. The Pistons got to the top of the league with a team concept, and now they lose their defensive stopper Ben Wallace to free agency and it's all supposed to go to hell.

Yes, that totally makes sense -- never mind that the Pistons still have a solid lineup in Chauncey Billups, Richard (Rip) Hamilton and the eternally mercurial Rasheed Wallace (pictured, at right). As for filling Big Ben's shoes, the Pistons signed Nazr Mohammed away from the Spurs, and if they can get him to play cut down on his penchant for undisciplined fouls, they should be adequate at centre. They better hope that happens, since their only other big is aging Dale Davis, captain of the I Can't Believe He's Still Playing All-Stars.

Ultimately, the handwriting wsa on the wall for last year's Pistons. In Flip Saunders, they had a coach who'd inherited the two-time defending conference champions and understandably realized the trust factor wasn't there for him to make big changes (well, that, and the Pistons unquestionably are the GM's team, not the coach's). The Pistons might have also been suffering from burnout after back-to-back trips to the Finals.

Now they're rejuvenated, and more importantly, motivated to show they've still got it. By the way, keep an eye on is Jason Maxiell, a sophomore forward who was Detroit's top draft choice in '05. He had a superb pre-season.

Also in Central: Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Milwaukee Bucks

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