Matt
10-03-2006, 08:42 AM
Filling the gap
Pistons holdovers make it clear, life goes on without Big Ben
October 3, 2006
BY KRISTA JAHNKE
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER
There was no 'Fro at Pistons media day this year.
And believe it or not, life continued.
Returning All-Stars Chauncey Billups, Rasheed Wallace and Richard Hamilton posed for photographers. They chatted with fans online. They sat for interviews and joked with one another. Just like usual.
And as usual, they predicted high achievements for the upcoming season, even without four-time defensive player of the year Ben Wallace, who will answer to a different city's critics this season as a Chicago Bull.
"With him gone, it's going to be a little different," Billups said. "But the train keeps riding, man. I'm really excited for what we've got, and I'm happy with how things panned out."
Anyone expecting the Pistons to bemoan the loss of Big Ben doesn't know these guys very well.
Mostly, they just want to put the subject behind them.
Case in point: As Rasheed Wallace gathered the assembled media around him, he said, "Let's get all the Ben questions out of the way now."
So, Rasheed, what will things be like without Ben?
"There's going to be positives and negatives about him being gone," he said. "As a friend I'm happy for him, because he got what he wanted, he got his cheese, he had a baby girl this summer. You can't ask for more than that. He's been blessed ...
"I'm not behind the scenes calling him dirty-this and dirty-that. No. I'm happy for him and his family, because at the end of the day, that's what it boils down to. Basketball is just what it is -- a game."
That was the main theme of Monday's session; that while the team appreciates what Wallace did in Detroit for six seasons and will miss him as a friend and teammate, the Pistons are ready to continue without him.
They're excited to see what coach Flip Saunders' offense looks like when it is really opened up.
After Wallace exited, the Pistons added center Nazr Mohammed, a proven veteran who can score in the post or on jumpers, and combo guard Flip Murray, a player who can score off the bench and break down defenses off the dribble.
Those changes give the Pistons' offense the possibility for major improvements.
"What you have to understand, this has never been a team about individuals," Saunders said. "This is a team about team. And we function as a team as far as high-assist, low-turnovers. We share the basketball. That's how we play. And we'll continue to play that way, but I think Nazr can help us be even more effective in that realm. "
The players also are ready to be accountable on defense and rebounding, areas Wallace anchored.
"We're going to have to put a lot more attention to that," Tayshaun Prince said, "with all of our guys."
The Pistons are more than prepared to answer some who are predicting the end of their run as an elite team.
"I love it, I love," Hamilton said. "I think we play better. I think when people continue to doubt you, you can never really smell yourself. You can never really go out there and say, 'I'm better than what people say I am,' unless people doubt you. And we really thrive off that."
With Ben gone, Billups is the team's only captain. It would seem that would mean added pressure or responsibilities. If so, Billups, ever calm and collected, hasn't noticed.
Things are different ... but not that different.
"I don't feel any different," Billups said. "I've been the captain. Guys have been coming to me like that. There've got to be some other guys that assume and take a piece of Ben's role as far as being a leader or being a captain. So I don't think all the pressure is going to fall on my shoulders."
Contact KRISTA JAHNKE at 313-223-4493 (not sure that's a good move with all of her adoring stalkers, er, fans - matt) or kjahnke@freepress.com.
Pistons holdovers make it clear, life goes on without Big Ben
October 3, 2006
BY KRISTA JAHNKE
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER
There was no 'Fro at Pistons media day this year.
And believe it or not, life continued.
Returning All-Stars Chauncey Billups, Rasheed Wallace and Richard Hamilton posed for photographers. They chatted with fans online. They sat for interviews and joked with one another. Just like usual.
And as usual, they predicted high achievements for the upcoming season, even without four-time defensive player of the year Ben Wallace, who will answer to a different city's critics this season as a Chicago Bull.
"With him gone, it's going to be a little different," Billups said. "But the train keeps riding, man. I'm really excited for what we've got, and I'm happy with how things panned out."
Anyone expecting the Pistons to bemoan the loss of Big Ben doesn't know these guys very well.
Mostly, they just want to put the subject behind them.
Case in point: As Rasheed Wallace gathered the assembled media around him, he said, "Let's get all the Ben questions out of the way now."
So, Rasheed, what will things be like without Ben?
"There's going to be positives and negatives about him being gone," he said. "As a friend I'm happy for him, because he got what he wanted, he got his cheese, he had a baby girl this summer. You can't ask for more than that. He's been blessed ...
"I'm not behind the scenes calling him dirty-this and dirty-that. No. I'm happy for him and his family, because at the end of the day, that's what it boils down to. Basketball is just what it is -- a game."
That was the main theme of Monday's session; that while the team appreciates what Wallace did in Detroit for six seasons and will miss him as a friend and teammate, the Pistons are ready to continue without him.
They're excited to see what coach Flip Saunders' offense looks like when it is really opened up.
After Wallace exited, the Pistons added center Nazr Mohammed, a proven veteran who can score in the post or on jumpers, and combo guard Flip Murray, a player who can score off the bench and break down defenses off the dribble.
Those changes give the Pistons' offense the possibility for major improvements.
"What you have to understand, this has never been a team about individuals," Saunders said. "This is a team about team. And we function as a team as far as high-assist, low-turnovers. We share the basketball. That's how we play. And we'll continue to play that way, but I think Nazr can help us be even more effective in that realm. "
The players also are ready to be accountable on defense and rebounding, areas Wallace anchored.
"We're going to have to put a lot more attention to that," Tayshaun Prince said, "with all of our guys."
The Pistons are more than prepared to answer some who are predicting the end of their run as an elite team.
"I love it, I love," Hamilton said. "I think we play better. I think when people continue to doubt you, you can never really smell yourself. You can never really go out there and say, 'I'm better than what people say I am,' unless people doubt you. And we really thrive off that."
With Ben gone, Billups is the team's only captain. It would seem that would mean added pressure or responsibilities. If so, Billups, ever calm and collected, hasn't noticed.
Things are different ... but not that different.
"I don't feel any different," Billups said. "I've been the captain. Guys have been coming to me like that. There've got to be some other guys that assume and take a piece of Ben's role as far as being a leader or being a captain. So I don't think all the pressure is going to fall on my shoulders."
Contact KRISTA JAHNKE at 313-223-4493 (not sure that's a good move with all of her adoring stalkers, er, fans - matt) or kjahnke@freepress.com.