Detroit No Longer the Standard

The Detroit Pistons have been the standard in the Eastern Conference for 5 years now. Although they have only appeared in the Finals twice during that stretch, they have been the consistent mark of excellence by which all other East teams need to be measured in order to be taken seriously. The Heat in 06, The Cavs in 07, the Celtics in 08...all of these teams needed to knock off Detroit in order to gain the respect of their critics. And they did. The irony here is that the Pistons have not won the Eastern Conference since 2005. And yet, every year they are showered with respect and accolades usually reserved for reigning champions.

The Pistons are not heroes. Instead, they are the abyss through which heroes must pass. In order to defeat the machine, a hero must rise up and take their game to new and fabled heights. Dwayne Wade emerged from his battle with Detroit more mature and primed to turn in the greatest Finals performance in NBA history. The next year, LeBron James came of age right before our eyes. We had seen the obvious flashes of potential, but it wasn't until King James found himself backed into a corner by the 5 headed monster from the Motor City that he was able to channel that potential into jaw-dropping, legendary greatness. That's what it takes to beat this team. A superstar. And yet, strangely, they have never had a player like this.


They run like a machine. They are mechanically flawless. There are no weaknesses to exploit. And on top of that, they make their own mismatches. Their 7-footer can knock down 3s with astonishing regularity. Rip Hamilton is the ultimate irritant who can get any defender to leave his feet. If their point guard can't beat you off the dribble, he'll post you up down on the low block. Their team defense is like a sleeper hold, slowing your life functions until you're barely able to breathe at all. It's virtually impossible to beat them just by playing sound team basketball, because there's no way that you do it as well as them. They are not superstars. Instead, they are the fire that forges superstars. They are the ultimate test. At least they were. After last night, it's pretty clear to me that those days are gone.






Last night was one of those games that you circle on your calendar as soon as the schedules are released. We all expected another epic battle. An Eastern Conference Finals preview. Hell, I was still thinking that way as I was making my way to my seat last night. The first matchup was a fluke, I thought, this would be much more difficult. Never did I expect that the Big Three would each see less than 30 minutes of floor time. Never did I expect that we'd see Gabe Pruitt and Patrick O'Bryant out on the floor for the Celtics to gain some garbage time experience. Never did I expect that fans would be exiting the arena after just three quarters because the outcome had already been secured. Now, this Pistons team has had some impressive victories, and I know it seems premature to close the book on them while they're still finding their new selves after the AI trade, but I'm doing it. The Pistons are no longer the Pistons. There are still many credible threats to the Celtics in the East this season, but they are coming from different places.


I love the trade that Joe Dumars made to bring in Allen Iverson, because I think that it will pay huge dividends down the line. Essentially, I think it will allow the Pistons to rebuild before they ever sink too low. But, this move kills them in the short term. First, they don't take care of the ball. The Celtics had 11 steals last night, and the Pistons just looked horrible in transition. Second, they can't score points in the paint. Antonio McDyess was a very underrated piece of the Pistons attack, as was the ability of Chauncey Billups to use his size down on the block. Third, their defense is full of holes. Rajon Rondo had his way with them last night. Finally, they lack depth. Stuckey and Maxiell. That's about it. Leon Powe, Tony Allen, Eddie House, Brian Scalabrine (yes...fine..I said it), and Glen Davis dominated the Pistons bench last night.


Now, some of these issues will be relieved if Antonio McDyess returns. He will help them to improve in the paint on both ends. This will also give them another solid bench player in Kwame Brown. However, McDyess will not be enough to salvage this team.


People say that we can't take too much away from the two Detroit-Boston matchups so far this season, but I don't understand why. Exactly what are we waiting to see from Allen Iverson? People say "oh, they're just getting used to playing with Iverson. He's a totally different player than Chauncey Billups." Are we supposed to wait for him to establish some kind of consistent offensive rhythm with this unit? The Nuggets were waiting for that too....FOR 2 YEARS! It's not going to happen, especially not over a few months. Either Allen Iverson is his team's identity or his team has no identity. That's the way it has been for his entire career. In Philadelphia, he was the identity for a long time. That worked during the dark ages of the Eastern Conference, as he once led his team far enough for them to be the Lakers' sacrificial lamb. Under Iverson, the Pistons will be exciting and they will most likely have a good record. But, they will not establish an identity and they will not take care of the basketball. AI has always taken too many shots and he has always turned the ball over. They will continue to give up points. Chauncey Billups used to thwart opponents' possessions before they ever really built any momentum. AI works on defense (I'm not saying it's an effort thing) but the results appear to be the bare minimum. Can the Pistons beat the Celtics as currently constructed (plus McDyess)? In a single game, absolutely. In a playoff game or two, sure. In a 7 game series? Not a chance. What they're doing this season flies completely in the face of the way they were constructed.


The Pistons will be back. This trade assured that. But, for the time being, the shift in power in the East is complete. The new standard has been established. The road in the East runs through Boston. The Pistons can get in line for their shot.

God Bless America and Blockbuster Trades

Trades of this magnitude so rarely happen these days. Superstars in this era usually change teams through free agency or are unloaded for rebuilding (see KG to Celtics for the Al Jefferson prize pack). In fact, the only recent trade I can think of that got my fires burning like this one was the Clinton Portis-Champ Bailey deal. There was no more fitting time than the eve of election day for this to happen, because there is nothing more American than the Blockbuster trade.

The Nuggets now have Chauncey Billups locked up through 2011, with a team option for 2012. I love this move for them. They have seemed like a team desperate for some kind of identity for several years now. After Allen Iverson was brought on board, the question everyone was asking was "Can AI and Melo share the ball." The answer to that question was yes, but it proved to be inconsequential. What we should have been asking was whether or not AI and Melo sharing the ball was a recipe for success.

With Andre Miller out and AI in, the Nuggets offense lacked method and rhythm. Looking more like members of the And 1 tour than a professional basketball team, their inefficiency on offense was jaw-dropping. Furthermore, they were giving up well over 100 points per night despite having a All-NBA defensive player in the middle (the now departed Marcus Camby). There seemed to be no master plan in place, and without Marcus Camby this team seemed destined to disappear into irrelevant oblivion in 08-09. Things will be different now.

Billups will provide veteran leadership, championship experience and moxie, and the offensive stability that has been so lacking. He's got some great weapons in Melo, JR Smith, Kenyon, Martin, and Nene. I expect them to be utilized more effectively than we have ever seen. How could Carmelo Anthony, now in his sixth season, ever be expected to flourish as nothing more than one of the revolving planets in Denver's Answercentric offense? Don't get me wrong, I love AI. He is the essence of spectator sports. He is supremely talented and exciting, and he gives every ounce of what he has every night regardless of the score or his team's current standing. But, he takes a lot of shots. He also turns the ball over a lot, and his overall level of play has also declined. Billups will protect the ball more and shoot less. This will lead to more efficient, methodical, and effective possessions for Denver. Chauncey is also an improvement on the defensive end, where he defends on the ball extremely well.


Although the circumstances have been different, Detroit has also been stuck in a rut. They have been clinging to a song that has grown tired and stale. After failing to make it out of the Eastern Conference Finals for the third straight year, Joe Dumars made it clear that nobody's job was safe. Chauncey Billups is the logical choice for the chopping block. The length of his contract handcuffs the pistons, who see their point guard of the future in Rodney Stuckey. It still remains to be seen how AI will fit into Detroit's offensive system, which has traditionally been a more grinding half-court scheme. But, nobody can deny that this team needs a change. They need a shot of life. They also need to score more points. They have brought in the ultimate competitor, and a guy who has the third highest scoring average of all time.

Regardless of how things play out in Detroit this season, this was the right move. This trade is not about what Allen Iverson can do in 08-09. This move is really about Allen Iverson's expiring contract. Now, don't confuse that with Theo Ratliff's expiring contract. There is a real talented superstar to go along with it, and I expect AI to have a great season in Detroit. But, what fueled this move for Joe Dumars was the cap space that it will open up this summer. Iverson and Rasheed Wallace's contracts alone will wipe 34 million dollars off of Detroit's books, allowing them to rebuild without ever needing to sink too low. I'm sure it was hard for Joe Dumars to pull the trigger on this one, and I'm sure Detroit fans are sad to part with the floor general that has guided them through so many great years. However, this is the nature of pro sports in the 21st century, and I think Dumars has set his team up very well for the future.

Allen Iverson Playing High School Football

Check out that play at about the 1:30 mark when he rolls out and heaves it down the field on the run. That's an incredible play for a high school kid.