 |
 |
 |
|
Ben Wallace wears a Bulls uniform these days, so the new Bad Boys era is definitively over in Detroit. But don't try and bury the Pistons yet, or you're liable to have Tayshaun Prince's bony hand coming out at you from the grave.
That's a believable visual. Prince, who has actually bulked up over the years, still has the physique most resembling the Crypt Keeper's of anyone in the NBA. He makes the most of it, though. Entering his sixth season in the league, it has become impossible to ignore his contributions. Once known as the lone non-All-Star starter on the Pistons, the only player not voted to ring in 2005's midseason showcase, Prince has blossomed into their best player.
|
|
| Chauncey Billups will cede some of his PG duties to Tayshaun Prince. (Getty Images) |
Over the years, Prince has become one of the better scorers on the roster, someone who can post up, spot up and moves well without the ball. He averaged a career-high 14.3 points per game last season, often showing signs of joining the league's elite scorers. He knocked down a career-high 81 3-pointers. If he were playing for anyone else, he might score 20 points a night and be an unquestioned All-Star. In Motown, he's just part of the equation. The fact he's becoming the biggest part might just be dawning on some people.
In Las Vegas this summer, Prince reprised his role of glue guy, doing whatever Mike Krzyzewski and his coaching staff asked of him. He was deemed invaluable, able to play stopper against guards and larger perimeter players. He stretched opposing defenses and got the ball to LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Michael Redd, the main shooters on the U.S. squad.
He did his job so well that the odds of him beating out Coach K favorite Shane Battier for a roster spot on the 2008 Olympic team are better than anyone would have anticipated. Detroit coach Flip Saunders was obviously paying attention to the goings on, because he came into the season intent on putting the ball in Prince's hands more.
"We are going to put more responsibility on him this year," Saunders said. "We are going to put more on him to be a facilitator in what we do both offensively and defensively. And when you are given that kind of responsibility, that's when your game can expand and you play at an All-Star level."
It might seem like this is all coming out of nowhere, but Prince has been creeping up on folks for years. It's practically his M.O. Even when he was rising out of Compton as one of the top high school talents in the country, there were few who knew what to make of him. Now he's a finished product. If Detroit is going to contend in the Eastern Conference, his development figures to be the difference.
Saunders might not be the most popular coach in Detroit right now, but the man can run an offense. His brainstorm is to use Prince in more of a point guard role, helping take some of the pressure off Billups and adding another dimension to Detroit's attack.
"If I am in that position, I can make just as good of decisions as Chauncey," Prince said, "but with me being 6-9 and having the length to see over defenses, it's a plus."
At 27 years old, Prince is finding ways to reinvent himself, keeping his team from growing stale. Similar to what Tony Parker has done in San Antonio, Detroit's small forward is playing resurrector, keeping his aging squad from being put to rest.
| Detroit Pistons |
| Power Ranking Rank: 8th |
| Projected Record: 48-34, 2nd Central |
| Best case scenario: Rasheed Wallace doesn't lead the league in technical fouls, an indication that things are going well. Detroit wins 50 games again, rises above the competition in its division and doesn't run out of gas when the postseason comes around. |
| Worst case scenario: The reserves struggle, forcing Flip Saunders to play his starters more minutes than he would like. As a result, they're labeled as old again come May and are looking for a new head coach by the time summer hits. |
| X-factor: One of two new acquisitions, small forward Jarvis Hayes or rookie Rodney Stuckey, will be invaluable to the cause. |
| Early season schedule: Another visit to Miami tips the season off, allowing the Pistons to make a statement while avoiding Dwyane Wade. Only two of the Pistons' first eight games will come at the Palace, leaving no room for a lethargic start. |
| 2007-08 NBA Team Previews | ||
| Eastern | ||
| Atlantic | Central | Southeast |
 Boston Celtics |  Chicago Bulls |  Atlanta Hawks |
 New Jersey Nets |  Cleveland Cavaliers |  Charlotte Bobcats |
 New York Knicks |  Detroit Pistons |  Miami Heat |
 Philadelphia 76ers |  Indiana Pacers |  Orlando Magic |
 Toronto Raptors |  Milwaukee Bucks |  Washington Wizards |
| Western | ||
| Northwest | Southwest | Pacific |
 Denver Nuggets |  Dallas Mavericks |  Golden State Warriors |
 Minnesota Timberwolves |  Houston Rockets |  Los Angeles Clippers |
 Portland Trail Blazers |  Memphis Grizzlies |  Los Angeles Lakers |
 Seattle Supersonics |  New Orleans Hornets |  Phoenix Suns |
 Utah Jazz |  San Antonio Spurs |  Sacramento Kings |