The Detroit Pistons and Their Road to Victory

It all started with the Big Five during the '03-'04 NBA season. They were a team compiled with great athletes and tremendous chemistry. After a 54-28 season, the Pistons not only had the best record in their organization since 1997, but ended up winning the NBA Finals 4-1 as the underdogs against the Los Angeles Lakers.

During the '05-'06 season the Pistons ended the year with the best record in the NBA at 64-18. Four of the five starters made it to the All-Star game, excluding Tayshaun Prince.

The Pistons lost in the Eastern Conference Finals of the playoffs to the Miami Heat, who ended up making it all the way to the finals and winning the championship.

Shortly after this great season the Pistons Big 5 began to collapse.

During the 2006 off-season, Ben Wallace signed a four-year, $60 million contract with the Chicago Bulls.

The Pistons sent Chauncey Billups packing this season to Denver in exchange for Allen Iverson.

Trade rumors have been talked all around the NBA world about Rasheed Wallace being shipped this season. If so, only two of the starting Big Five players would remain on the Pistons roster.

Why are the Pistons not one of the top three teams in the Eastern Conference this season?

The Pistons are in need of a powerful big man down low.

Rasheed Wallace is now in his 13th year in the NBA and does not have the skills and ability to move like he used to. Although he numbers are at a solid 12.3 PPG, 7.4 RPG, and 1.5 BPG, a big man is needed in order for the Pistons to compete with the Eastern Conference top three.

Since Rasheed is in his final year of his contract, the Pistons should make a move now and trade him before the trade deadline approaches.

Big men like Carlos Boozer and Chris Kaman could fit in well with the Pistons.

A change for the better

With Rodney Stuckey now controlling the point-guard position, the Pistons have looked like a better team. He is averaging 19.90 PPG, 6.60 APG, 4.40 RPG, 2.40 SPG, in 37.0 MPG over his last five games, including one 40-point game.

Allen Iverson is back to playing his original position at the shooting-guard averaging 39.7 MPG during the last 10 games and solid numbers all around.

Richard Hamilton has stepped up as the small-forward and is currently on pace to make 72 3PTM this season, giving him a career high in 3PTM. Rip is also shooting the ball and getting to the line a lot more than last season.

Tayshaun Prince has played a bigger role this season since Billups’ departure. Starting at the power-forward position, Tayshaun has seen an increase in his rebounds this season averaging a career high 7.4 RPG.

Their bench consists of young raw talent such as Amir Johnson, Jason Maxiell, Walter Sharpe, Alex Acker, Arron Afflalo, Walter Herrmann, and Will Bynum. With Allen Iverson, Richard Hamilton, and Rasheed Wallace mentoring these players, we can expect them to step up throughout the rest of this season.

Outcome

If the Pistons could somehow work out a deal with another organization for a solid big man, they could turn into one of the top three teams in the Eastern Conference and surprise the NBA during the playoffs this year.

In their bumpy road to victory, the Pistons have a chance to change their line-up once again this season. Hopefully this time it will turn them into a stronger team.

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