Pistons' leadership a problem
The Detroit Pistons have problems defensively, which we all expected when Ben Wallace left. But there's an even greater void that I'm not sure this team is up to filling -- his leadership.
The reason why Chauncey and Ben worked so well together as co-captains was because they each took a uniquely different path to asserting their leadership with the team.
Chauncey was the politically correct one, never one to call out a teammate or coach publicly. Ben, as we all know, made it known to any and all if he wasn't happy about something.
Rip and Tayshaun, who are both talented players, are too much like Chauncey when it comes to leadership. They'll say all the right things, put up good numbers but rarely will they put themselves - or their teammates - on Front Street.
You need a guy or two like Ben who, from time to time, has the courage to call out his teammates - and every now and then, his coach. It's not a coincidence that some of Detroit's most inspiring performances in recent years, came after Wallace called out his teammates. But you have to balance that with calling yourself out and acknowledging when you don't get the job done, which Ben didn't do as good a job at 'fessing up to in his last season than he should have. That's when tension starts, which was one of the factors in Detroit's postseason demise last season.
Yes, there is an adjustment period for this team defensively with Ben gone, and they're obviously in the midst of that now. But to put their struggles solely on that, and a lack of on-court communication, ignores the most noticeable intangible this team lacks with Ben gone, and that's his leadership.
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