How To Fix The Pistons

It is safe to say this season has not gotten off to the usual stellar start we have come to expect from the Detroit Pistons.  The defense looks confused, the offense has sputtered and the bench has been inconsistent.  There are plenty of culprits, and plenty of questions to be answered. 

So the season is lost and we should all switch allegiances to more popular teams, right?

The most obvious answer to this question is a resounding 'no.' Confused?  Let me explain.

For all of the blogs and comments I have read from my fellow 'Stones' fans, you would think the big three's troubles have transferred themselves onto the Pistons. 

Additionally, Michigan residents have had to endure historically bad seasons from the Detroit Lions and University of Michigan Wolverines, not to mention a Detroit Tigers team with World Series aspirations that ended up finishing in last place. 

While the rest of the country has just begun to feel the recession, Michigan has been neck-deep in one since the beginning of the Bush administration.

So for Michigan residents, sports are all they have... and sadly, they have not had much this year.  Given what they have had to endure this year, the usually high expectations that are heaped on the Red Wings and Pistons are even higher this year.  Truly, anything short of a title is a disappointment.

Given all they have had to deal with, why would I be calling for hope and optimism?  Because these Pistons are not in need of an overhaul, but rather a small tweaking.

First things first, the defense must be addressed for anything else to work effectively.  Right now, the Pistons are playing timid and scared.  I know, it is hard to imagine a team with Rasheed Wallace and Allen Iverson playing scared, but they are. 

They are taking the opposing team's best shots first, and countering with a huge second quarter deficit and an offense that has been inconsistent from the perimeter.  They no longer can shoot three's to catch up to an opposing team the way they could when they had Chauncey Billups.  They will be no short cuts from here on out when they are playing from behind. 

The best way to fix this problem is actually fairly easy given Detroit's personnel.  They need to play a full court trapping defense in the first half.  In 2004 when Detroit won their last title, they did it by playing suffocating defense.  They had quick, pestering guards like Lindsey Hunter and Mike James, while their quick, athletic and long front court players took away passing lanes. 

This defense can be easily replicated.  While James, Hunter and Ben Wallace are gone, they have been replaced by quicker and more athletic players.  Now playing the roles of James and Hunter in the back court will be Allen Iverson, Arron Afflalo and Rodney Stuckey.

Each of these players have the quickness of feet and hands that allows them to pester the opposing teams ball handlers.  Additionally, Afflalo and Stuckey are about five inches taller than James and Hunter, giving them an added dimension.

On the flip-side of this equation, the front court is in even better shape than they were in 2004.  While Ben Wallace was able to cover a ton of ground, Amir Johnson is taller, quicker and most importantly longer.  Tayshaun Prince is still here, as is Rasheed Wallace, giving this defense the experienced front court players it needs to be effective. 

Additionally, there are more players on the bench that could step in if needed.  Walter Hermann can be tenacious on defense, and brings good size and strength.  Also, Jason Maxiell, Rip Hamilton and Will Bynum all have the needed athleticism and quickness to fit well within in this system.

Now you may be asking yourself, "even if this works, what about the offense?"

So glad you asked. This question is even easier to answer.

First off, the full-court trapping defense translates into easy baskets.  You are effectively punching the other team in the mouth, and dictating the pace of the game.  This leads to a shorter shot clock and erratic possessions.  Initially, it will translate into turnovers and easy baskets. 

Fast break layups, any basketball coaches will tell you, is the best way to build offensive confidence in players.  If you get Afflalo, Hamilton and Iverson easy layups to start the game, they will most likely begin to hit jumpers later on. 

If they hit jumpers, the defense is forced to extend and play the perimeter, allowing quick guards like Stuckey and Iverson to blow past defenders and get easy penetration. 

Easy penetration turns into easy buckets from offensively limited players in the frontcourt like Johnson, Maxiell and Kwame Brown.  Its a snowball effect that turns 80 point games into 95 point games. 

Need more signs of hope?  I have gone this far in my story without mentioning Antonio McDyess.  This week's addition of McDyess not only toughens up the interior defense, which was pushed around by Boston twice this season, but it shores up the second units offense.  McDyess, paired with Stuckey and Iverson, brings the added dimension of the pick-and-roll to this offense.  His mid-range jumpers have been sorely missed by a second unit that has been forced to play catch-up without the  benefit of a consistent scorer.

Bottom line, the NBA season is a long one.  Add to this the emotional roller coaster of losing the face of the franchise and adding a superstar, and a minor hiccup was to be expected.  However, the Pistons are a team composed of smart, experienced players that know how to win and a front office that knows how to build a winner. 

Still pessimistic? 

Think back to the last time the Pistons struggled to open the season.  They had just made the transition from a good regular season coach to a new coach in hopes of improved postseason play.  They eventually traded to get a one-time superstar to help push them over the top.  On the day after Christmas, they lost to the New Jersey Nets 82-79 to drop their record to a disappointing 16-13. 

Can you remember the year?  If you are a Pistons fan, you will remember that we finished that season by having a parade. 

You guessed it, 2004.