Black Dynamite
04-18-2008, 08:39 PM
Rasheed is key to the operation
Dumars, Pistons know Wallace is essential if they are to claim another title
AUBURN HILLS -- To hear some people talk, Rasheed Wallace shouldn't even be with the Pistons.
If angry fans(or idiots imo) had their way, Wallace would have been shipped out of town after last year's Eastern Conference finals.
Wallace, you might remember, had a fourth-quarter meltdown in the sixth and deciding game against the Cavaliers. He was hit with two technicals and ejected after being called for a foul on LeBron James.
It was a bitter ending.
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Despite Kstat's calls for Wallace's ouster, Pistons president Joe Dumars never wavered.
Not only wasn't Wallace going anywhere, Dumars believed Wallace would give the Pistons a legitimate shot to win another championship.
Wallace, after his most consistent season in a Pistons uniform, is poised to do just that.
"Rasheed Wallace epitomizes what I want a Detroit Piston to be," Dumars said. "He's a smart player, he plays to win, plays with passion and he's totally unselfish."
Many experts have said the Pistons never would have won the 2004 title without Wallace, who was acquired at the trade deadline.
Dumars doesn't disagree.
"Without a doubt, Rasheed was the missing piece to our championship season," Dumars said. "And as we sit here today, I think he's in integral piece to us winning another championship."
Wallace, 33, was solid during the regular season -- 12.7 points (36 percent from 3-point range) and 6.6 rebounds in 77 games. And for the fourth time in his career, he had more than 100 blocks and 100 3-pointers -- no other player has done it once.
If there was one game that stood out, it was Nov. 14 at Golden State.
The Pistons, playing without Chauncey Billups and Antonio McDyess, trailed by 22 before Wallace led a 27-10 run for a 111-104 victory.
"The second half, he just put us on his back -- just carried us," assistant coach Michael Curry said. "That ended up being a big game. I said it then, that it would big a big game for us later in the year.
"That was one of the many games Rasheed showed what kind of player he is."
'Follow me'
Wallace entered training camp in shape and focused. In the team's first meeting, he delivered a message.
"He told the players, 'Follow me,' " coach Flip Saunders said. "He's toned things down as far as from a mental standpoint, he's done a great job for us."
Wallace, however, downplays his words.
"Everybody's hungry," Wallace said. "Everybody knows what we have to do. We know that last year we didn't do it for whatever reason."
But his teammates have taken notice of Wallace's demeanor.
" 'Sheed has been very focused this year," Billups said. "He's come in with a chip on his shoulder from Day 1. You can sense it when he's feeling like that.
"He's been able to maintain that most of the season. He has been locked in, focused. Because of that, you see us get our home-court advantage back. We got back to being a very dominant team. A lot of that has to do with 'Sheed."
Wallace even caught the attention of NBA commissioner David Stern -- in a good way: Wallace was selected as a replacement in the NBA All-Star Game.
The best part about Wallace's game is that he's a true team player. Consider Wallace's technical predicament from a year ago -- the league leader with 21.
This year, he has 12.
"He definitely could be a selfish offensive player," Curry said. "But he's not.
"He brings everything to the table. He's our biggest post threat, and in order to win, especially in the postseason, you have to get points in the paint."
Wallace also is the team's best interior defender. All-Stars Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett both have said they have trouble playing against Wallace.
"He's very underrated defensively," Saunders said. "When he gets motivated in one-on-one type situations, he can play just about anyone.
"When he thinks that we need a big stop, that's when he'll do it -- the same offensively. 'Sheed is one of those guys. He can pretty much do what he wants to do when he puts in mind to it and for the most part this year he's been extremely consistent."
Championship or bust
Deep down, you get the feeling Wallace won't rest until the Pistons get a second title.
They came close against the Spurs in 2005. But in Game 5, on the verge of winning three straight at home to go up 3-2, Wallace -- in an attempt to seal Manu Ginobili in the corner -- left Robert Horry open.
Horry nailed a 3-pointer to beat the Pistons.
"I have never once talked to Rasheed about that play," Dumars said. "I've never mentioned it to him and we've never talked about it.
"I know his heart and mentality when he's on the basketball floor. He's the most selfless player we have on the team. He was doing what he normally does, trying to help a teammate. There's nothing to talk about when something like that happens."
That's why Dumars didn't overreact when Wallace was ejected in Game 6 in 2007."We built something special here, and I don't think you just give up on us or him just because of a couple tough series," Billups said. "You look at what good he's done and what he means to the team.
"He can dominate at any time."
Wallace enters the postseason with the same goal: Win.
"We're going to try to get as many championships as we can while we're still together and before changes come," Wallace said. "I never worried about that after last season; that's a front-office decision.
"I'm just still out here playing and trying to win -- no matter what."
You can reach Rob Parker at rob.parker@detnews.com.
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080418/OPINION03/804180319/1127/SPORTS0102
Only kidding at red italics. :)
Dumars, Pistons know Wallace is essential if they are to claim another title
AUBURN HILLS -- To hear some people talk, Rasheed Wallace shouldn't even be with the Pistons.
If angry fans(or idiots imo) had their way, Wallace would have been shipped out of town after last year's Eastern Conference finals.
Wallace, you might remember, had a fourth-quarter meltdown in the sixth and deciding game against the Cavaliers. He was hit with two technicals and ejected after being called for a foul on LeBron James.
It was a bitter ending.
Advertisement
Despite Kstat's calls for Wallace's ouster, Pistons president Joe Dumars never wavered.
Not only wasn't Wallace going anywhere, Dumars believed Wallace would give the Pistons a legitimate shot to win another championship.
Wallace, after his most consistent season in a Pistons uniform, is poised to do just that.
"Rasheed Wallace epitomizes what I want a Detroit Piston to be," Dumars said. "He's a smart player, he plays to win, plays with passion and he's totally unselfish."
Many experts have said the Pistons never would have won the 2004 title without Wallace, who was acquired at the trade deadline.
Dumars doesn't disagree.
"Without a doubt, Rasheed was the missing piece to our championship season," Dumars said. "And as we sit here today, I think he's in integral piece to us winning another championship."
Wallace, 33, was solid during the regular season -- 12.7 points (36 percent from 3-point range) and 6.6 rebounds in 77 games. And for the fourth time in his career, he had more than 100 blocks and 100 3-pointers -- no other player has done it once.
If there was one game that stood out, it was Nov. 14 at Golden State.
The Pistons, playing without Chauncey Billups and Antonio McDyess, trailed by 22 before Wallace led a 27-10 run for a 111-104 victory.
"The second half, he just put us on his back -- just carried us," assistant coach Michael Curry said. "That ended up being a big game. I said it then, that it would big a big game for us later in the year.
"That was one of the many games Rasheed showed what kind of player he is."
'Follow me'
Wallace entered training camp in shape and focused. In the team's first meeting, he delivered a message.
"He told the players, 'Follow me,' " coach Flip Saunders said. "He's toned things down as far as from a mental standpoint, he's done a great job for us."
Wallace, however, downplays his words.
"Everybody's hungry," Wallace said. "Everybody knows what we have to do. We know that last year we didn't do it for whatever reason."
But his teammates have taken notice of Wallace's demeanor.
" 'Sheed has been very focused this year," Billups said. "He's come in with a chip on his shoulder from Day 1. You can sense it when he's feeling like that.
"He's been able to maintain that most of the season. He has been locked in, focused. Because of that, you see us get our home-court advantage back. We got back to being a very dominant team. A lot of that has to do with 'Sheed."
Wallace even caught the attention of NBA commissioner David Stern -- in a good way: Wallace was selected as a replacement in the NBA All-Star Game.
The best part about Wallace's game is that he's a true team player. Consider Wallace's technical predicament from a year ago -- the league leader with 21.
This year, he has 12.
"He definitely could be a selfish offensive player," Curry said. "But he's not.
"He brings everything to the table. He's our biggest post threat, and in order to win, especially in the postseason, you have to get points in the paint."
Wallace also is the team's best interior defender. All-Stars Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett both have said they have trouble playing against Wallace.
"He's very underrated defensively," Saunders said. "When he gets motivated in one-on-one type situations, he can play just about anyone.
"When he thinks that we need a big stop, that's when he'll do it -- the same offensively. 'Sheed is one of those guys. He can pretty much do what he wants to do when he puts in mind to it and for the most part this year he's been extremely consistent."
Championship or bust
Deep down, you get the feeling Wallace won't rest until the Pistons get a second title.
They came close against the Spurs in 2005. But in Game 5, on the verge of winning three straight at home to go up 3-2, Wallace -- in an attempt to seal Manu Ginobili in the corner -- left Robert Horry open.
Horry nailed a 3-pointer to beat the Pistons.
"I have never once talked to Rasheed about that play," Dumars said. "I've never mentioned it to him and we've never talked about it.
"I know his heart and mentality when he's on the basketball floor. He's the most selfless player we have on the team. He was doing what he normally does, trying to help a teammate. There's nothing to talk about when something like that happens."
That's why Dumars didn't overreact when Wallace was ejected in Game 6 in 2007."We built something special here, and I don't think you just give up on us or him just because of a couple tough series," Billups said. "You look at what good he's done and what he means to the team.
"He can dominate at any time."
Wallace enters the postseason with the same goal: Win.
"We're going to try to get as many championships as we can while we're still together and before changes come," Wallace said. "I never worried about that after last season; that's a front-office decision.
"I'm just still out here playing and trying to win -- no matter what."
You can reach Rob Parker at rob.parker@detnews.com.
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080418/OPINION03/804180319/1127/SPORTS0102
Only kidding at red italics. :)