Deeeeeeetroooooit Baaaaaassssketbaaaaaalllll

Brian Spencer: Empty the Bench

Their sixth-consecutive run for a NBA title fell short yet again. The Big Trade that everyone anticipated this summer never happened. And with most of their salary-cap dollars tied up until next summer, they barely dipped their toes into the free-agent pool.

Detroit Pistons GM Joe Dumars ultimately chose to keep his cards and call the rest of the league’s bluff once again: outside of Boston and LA, has the rest of the Eastern Conference, and the NBA at large, really caught up with his Pistons over the past few months? Though many–including myself–were calling for change after the team’s meltdown against the Celtics in last season’s ECF, it’s hard to blame Dumars for sticking with his big guns one more time.

Natalie Sitto: Need4Sheed.com

2. What are the team’s biggest strengths?

Detroit brings back a core that is arguably one of the best starting five in the league. Chauncey Billups, Rip Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince and Rasheed Wallace have been there before and know how to get things done. With the addition of Amir Johnson to the starting lineup they now add youth and athleticism to mix with the veteran core. And let’s not forget Antonio McDyess who will reprise his sixth man role and then there is terror that is Jason Maxiell. Even with all that we still haven’t mentioned the one player to keep your eye on…Rodney Stuckey, who is looking to call even more attention to himself than he did during Detroit’s playoff run last season.

Matt Watson: Detroit Bad Boys

2. What are the team’s biggest strengths?

Experience? Veteran savvy? Other random intangibles? Even under Saunders, an allegedly offense-first coach, the Pistons remained one of the top defensive teams in the league. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that trend continues under Curry. (Okay, that limb isn’t very long — it’s all but etched in stone Detroit will have a top three defense.)

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