Well, here we are again. The Detroit Pistons are off to a great start, and leading the division.
A few things have shown as trends so far in this young season. Number one: injuries.
They started the year off with no Rodney Stuckey, and for a few games, no Richard Hamilton. Aaron Afflalo was thrown into the fire, and he played like a second round pick rookie would: cautious, and at times, unsure.
The Pistons have gotten great support off the bench from Jason Maxiell, Jarvis Hayes, and at times, Flip Murray. Murray can get trigger-happy on occasion, but until Stuckey returns, he will do.
Maxiell has been spectacular. He leads the team in blocks per game with 1.57, to go along with 9.2 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. As he matures, he will only get better. He rebounds with the best of them, and is a great finisher around the basket. He seems to have a knack for the offensive boards, and he hustles as hard as anyone to those loose balls. His motor never stops.
Get this man a 17-foot jumper and he’s the Antonio McDyess of ten years ago.
Another key player off the bench is Jarvis Hayes. He has been a nice surprise. Most fans thought he would be a decent backup to Tayshaun Prince and Rip, and he has been all that and more. Jarvis has become a great defender on the Paul Pierce's and Jason Richardson's of the East. As the season goes on, the Pistons will have to show that they can play the defense they are capable of, along with shooting the ball well.
Rasheed and Chauncey are playing great as usual, and Rip is dishing out 4.5 assists a game, a great number to get out of a shooting guard. Once Rodney Stuckey is back and as Maxiell grows as a player, the Pistons are looking to make another run to the finals.
There's just one thing standing in their way: the Boston Celtics.
The Magic don’t pose as big of a threat, as the Pistons have many bodies to throw at Dwight Howard, and Prince is the perfect man for guarding Rashard Lewis. The Celtics, on the other hand, may be a problem.
Pierce, Garnett, and Allen (the PGA Tour, as I like to call them) pose a significant threat. Who do you stop? Double Garnett, and that’s an open three for Allen.
The Pistons will have to play 2004-esque defense this year, because it isn’t going to be easy...
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