Matt
09-29-2006, 01:59 PM
Motorin'
By Chris Bracke
Associate Editor
September 28, 2006 1:00 PM ET
Detroit Pistons Preview: For most teams, getting to the conference finals would be enough to call the season success. That's not the case for a Pistons team that has been there in each of the last four years, and has advanced to the NBA Finals in two of those seasons. Half of the front office blamed their falling short of their championship goals on fatigue and the other half cited boredom, but they'll have to embrace a changing league and change in team philosophy if they hope to get back on track.
Additions: C Nazr Mohammed, G Flip Murray, G/F Ronald Dupree
Departures: C Ben Wallace, G/F Maurice Evans
Impact Players: The Pistons are determined to change their style of play to take advantage of the changes the league is instilling—less defense, more scoring. That should have an impact on the already improved numbers of tweener Richard Hamilton, who is coming off a season in which he set career highs in scoring and field goal percentage. His 49 percent from the field was particularly remarkable considering he's a jump shooter who rarely drives to the hoop. Another player who enjoyed career-best numbers was point guard Chauncey Billups, who topped his best scoring and assist numbers, justifying a fifth-place finish in the MVP balloting. Fantasy owners have to like a player who limits his mistakes, and Billups finished with a league-best 4.11 assist-to-turnover ratio. The loss of center Ben Wallace to the Bulls was a big one, but the reality of it is, his rebounding numbers had declined in each of the past three years, and he contributes in few other fantasy categories. Nazr Mohammed and Rasheed Wallace will be asked to pick up the slack. Mohammed will provide more offense than Big Ben ever did, but his rebounding, defense, and consistency remain questions. Case in point, after an impressive 20-rebound game against the Sixers last February, he posted only three more double-digit rebound games the rest of the season. As for Wallace, he'll be encouraged not to gravitate towards the perimeter as frequently, which if successful, could improve his lackluster board total for a player of his size.
Depth Chart: The team is ecstatic over the offseason pick up of Flip Murray. He's not a formidable fantasy option, but he will play enough to keep Hamilton and Billups more fresh—an obvious benefit to their fantasy owners, especially during the seasons stretch run. Rookie Will Blalock will probably make the roster, but his chances of grabbing a significant role in the rotation is about as likely as Bill Laimbeer coming out of retirement to fill the center void. Forward Tayshaun Prince is expected to take on a more significant role this season as well. The team is counting on him to attack the rim like he did during the playoffs last season and his versatility could really become obvious to fantasy owners if his minutes per game climb back above 37. One thing that fantasy owners should keep an eye on his how much burn veteran forward Antonio McDyess gets. When Detroit was without Big Ben for an eight-game stretch in 2004-05, McDyess averaged 14 points, 11 boards and one block per game. If Mohammed remains the same inconsistent player he has always been, there is little doubt that that Antonio's playing time will increase. If it does, so will his fantasy impact.
http://www.fanball.com/ph/article.cfm/ID.7813/Pro%20Hoops
By Chris Bracke
Associate Editor
September 28, 2006 1:00 PM ET
Detroit Pistons Preview: For most teams, getting to the conference finals would be enough to call the season success. That's not the case for a Pistons team that has been there in each of the last four years, and has advanced to the NBA Finals in two of those seasons. Half of the front office blamed their falling short of their championship goals on fatigue and the other half cited boredom, but they'll have to embrace a changing league and change in team philosophy if they hope to get back on track.
Additions: C Nazr Mohammed, G Flip Murray, G/F Ronald Dupree
Departures: C Ben Wallace, G/F Maurice Evans
Impact Players: The Pistons are determined to change their style of play to take advantage of the changes the league is instilling—less defense, more scoring. That should have an impact on the already improved numbers of tweener Richard Hamilton, who is coming off a season in which he set career highs in scoring and field goal percentage. His 49 percent from the field was particularly remarkable considering he's a jump shooter who rarely drives to the hoop. Another player who enjoyed career-best numbers was point guard Chauncey Billups, who topped his best scoring and assist numbers, justifying a fifth-place finish in the MVP balloting. Fantasy owners have to like a player who limits his mistakes, and Billups finished with a league-best 4.11 assist-to-turnover ratio. The loss of center Ben Wallace to the Bulls was a big one, but the reality of it is, his rebounding numbers had declined in each of the past three years, and he contributes in few other fantasy categories. Nazr Mohammed and Rasheed Wallace will be asked to pick up the slack. Mohammed will provide more offense than Big Ben ever did, but his rebounding, defense, and consistency remain questions. Case in point, after an impressive 20-rebound game against the Sixers last February, he posted only three more double-digit rebound games the rest of the season. As for Wallace, he'll be encouraged not to gravitate towards the perimeter as frequently, which if successful, could improve his lackluster board total for a player of his size.
Depth Chart: The team is ecstatic over the offseason pick up of Flip Murray. He's not a formidable fantasy option, but he will play enough to keep Hamilton and Billups more fresh—an obvious benefit to their fantasy owners, especially during the seasons stretch run. Rookie Will Blalock will probably make the roster, but his chances of grabbing a significant role in the rotation is about as likely as Bill Laimbeer coming out of retirement to fill the center void. Forward Tayshaun Prince is expected to take on a more significant role this season as well. The team is counting on him to attack the rim like he did during the playoffs last season and his versatility could really become obvious to fantasy owners if his minutes per game climb back above 37. One thing that fantasy owners should keep an eye on his how much burn veteran forward Antonio McDyess gets. When Detroit was without Big Ben for an eight-game stretch in 2004-05, McDyess averaged 14 points, 11 boards and one block per game. If Mohammed remains the same inconsistent player he has always been, there is little doubt that that Antonio's playing time will increase. If it does, so will his fantasy impact.
http://www.fanball.com/ph/article.cfm/ID.7813/Pro%20Hoops