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Critics said the Pistons repeat with a championship. While they didn’t win it all, they went back to the NBA Finals and were three minutes of accomplishing that goal.

Critics said the Pistons couldn’t win without Larry Brown. Instead they began this season strong and have held the best record all year.

Critics recently have said the Pistons can’t continue to win without Carlos Arroyo. Don’t be surprised if this team comes out and wins 10 or 12 straight games inspite of a very difficult upcoming schedule.

What is the Pistons modus-operandi? Well, whenever you tell them what they aren’t, or what they can’t do. They go out and do anything and everything in their power to do just that. So it’s actually a good thing that while the Pistons have the best record in the league, national power rankings rate Dallas as the hottest team in the league.

This can only be good for the Pistons as it motivates them to continue to prove they are the best team in the league.

Dumars works Magic (again), teaches New York NBA math.
Carlos Arroyo was shipped from Utah after clashing with Jerry Sloan’s no-nonsense style. And while Arroyo was not a problem in the lockerroom, he has mentioned in the interviews several times that he wishes he could play more minutes. Arroyo never crossed the line in Detroit because he knew not to mess up a good thing so as to become labled as a “problem-child.” As long as he doesn’t stir up trouble in Orlando, his reputation shouldn’t take a hit.

Arroyo’s wishes were granted, along with Darko Milicic’s. When they were traded to Orlando, they were granted an opportunity to really play and help a bad team become good. In Detroit, with their good thing going, they never would have been afforded that chance. But Detroit just couldn’t take the risk of giving them more time or trying to fit them in, so they dropped them off in Orlando.

And Detroit benefits its future by grabbing a 1st round draft pick in a couple years from what is expected to still be a bad team. It doesn’t end their. Dumars’ carefull working of the salary cap that allowed him the flexibility to put such a talented team together up to this point is further emphasized by acquiring a large expiring contract in Cato.

This will allow them to reward their franchise cornerstones, Ben Wallace and Chauncey Billups, without breaking the bank and paying a ton of luxuray tax dollars. Study Dumars’ nonetbook, assemble hard working players who don’t cost a ton. Put them all together, give em’ a few years to gel, and go to the Finals a few times. Now thats an equation that equals out. New York, along with other teams should take a peak at Dumars’ notes.

The NBA’s trade deadline is near, February 23rd. Thats eight days away. Now is the time that trade talks heat up every year.

The most prominent rumor being mentioned is that the Pistons may trade Darko Milicic and Carlos Arroyo to the Orlando Magic for Kelvin Cato and Orlando’s 1st Round Pick.

The one snag being reported is that Orlando only wants to give a lottery-protected pick while the Pistons want their pick for this year no matter what.

Oppinion:
This deal is terrible. The only appeal to Cato is his nearly $9M in expiring contract. Sure he’d get the Pistons under the salary cap, but the only concern with the cap is the Pistons’ ability to sign Ben Wallace in the offseason which is going to happen anyway. You might get a 1st round pick, but how good will it be and do you really need it? Don’t forget, the way the Pistons raise rookies Jason Maxiell, Alex Acker, and Amir Johnson are still promising and next year whoever the Pistons draft would be no closer to helping the team than Darko or any of the current rookies.

Carlos Arroyo’s minutes have declined recently and fans have been hounding him for unfocused play. The fact remains that he has an undeniable playmaking ability and potential is still there from him single-handedly defeating U.S. Olympic team in 2004. Do you REALLY want Lindsey Hunter, who’s barely back from being injured all season, and Alex Acker, who hasn’t played a minute all season, being the primary backups to Chauncey Billups. I certainly do not.

The jury is still out on Milicic.
He has shown flashes of brilliance and everyone who watches him practice says he has amazing talent. His only knock is that he gets bored not playing. Not playing behind three All-Star bigmen, largely in their prime and a 14-year veteran. At 20 years old, should you really be knocked for being unfocused here and there? You’re lying to yourself if you say yes.

If you’re not getting better you’re getting worse.
As the top team in basketball, why trade your largest asset? Your depth. God forbid something happen to one of our amazing guards, or our incredible frontcourt, you are going to need every bit of energy you can get from Darko and Carlos. With this trade, that bit of hope is completely gone and you’re vulnerable.

All those years of dissrespect seem to be ending as everyone nationally is on the Pistons bandwagon. Local media and fans are far more critical of this Pistons team than their counterparts, especially compared to any other year.

Coaches around the league know best.
As they decided to send the largest Pistons delegation to the All-Star game in franchise history. Rasheed not getting in as an injury reserve most suspected, but voted in outright. Thats a big time honor. And its not just because they play great “team-ball.” These guys are and have legitimately played like All-Stars for the last few years, its about time they get some burn.

Fans have become snobs.
People are so used to winning that when a brief and rare, two-game slide comes about, people want to make a major trade and rip apart the team.

Speaking of slides… The Pistons lost to the Nets, gave away a game against the Hawks, and fell flat late versus the Pacers.

Bumped and bruised. Playing on tired legs, these stretches come about. And on the very back-to-back we all dreaded, they bounced back and blew out LA’s best team, the Clippers who had won four straight coming in.

Looking ahead:
The team is gearing up to to stay in sync against Miami and New Jersey. Win or lose these next two, no statements can be made by any team.

Rest is desired, but the starting unit will go back to work next weekend in exhibition competition in Houston at the All-Star game with a cast of Chauncey, Rip, Sheed and Ben. Should be fun to see who Flip mixes in there. I’d like to see what Vince Carter looks like playing the wing spot with the Pistons and of course giving LeBron some run with our guys would be must-see TV. Anything but Dwyane Wade perhaps. I hate to say it, but that could finally be the look that some have drooled over in hopes that Pistons present-architect, Joe Dumars, would have drafted him instead of Darko.

Good times to be had by all.

Smooth sailing thus far for the Pistons has been the case as they’ve cruised to a 36-5 mark, halfway to the much heralded ‘96 bulls team regular season record of 72-10.

Well it won’t continue to be easy.

Detroit will play six out of the next nine games on the road, six of those nine different teams are currently positioned with playoff spots.

Tough stretches make it interesting for a great team thats sliced their way through the schedule, its only fair right?

Five All-Stars?
What is the record for the most representatives of a single team in the All-Star game in one season? The Pistons may just set it.

Pistons Head Coach Flip Saunders reserved his ticket to Houston with the help of his players about a week and a half ago.

The choice seems clear that Ben Wallace will be voted a reserve by the coaches to back up leading fan vote-getter, Shaquille O’neal.

If Chauncey Billups, who’s name has been mentioned quite frequently as the league MVP, doesn’t get an All-Star spot, the game is a joke.

Rasheed Wallace is the third leading vote-getter for East forwards, following LeBron James and Jermaine O’neal. O’neal will not participate in the game due to an injury prognosis of possibly missing eight weeks of action. With Ron Artest now in the West, he is not a factor if they sent the next best player on the same team.

Thats four.

And Rip Hamilton, the primary offensive weapon on the leagues best team with a much talked about potent offense, looks to see his first All-Star game appearance. His primary competition is Paul Pierce — neither are locks; not having been voted in by fans.

The question of the ages once again arises. The flashy guy with the numbers from losing team or the flashy guy with the numbers from the leagues best, and a recent world champion. The choice seems clear to me, lets see if the coaches can see through the fog and are bold enough to send four Pistons players to the mid-season classic.

Food for thought: Shouldn’t Darko be allowed to get in on the action and participate in the Rookie/Sophomore game? Ha!

Artest Swap: The Pistons ended up getting gyped in this deal between Sacto and the Pacers. Ben Wallace doesn’t get to beat up on Artest this year. And Tay, who has frustrated the hell out of Peja twice this year, gets to go back at him four more times. Gotta love it.

This methodical charge that the NBA is witnessing has been spearheaded this season by Pistons head coach Flip Saunders. Right around this time last year he was fired from the Minnesota Timberwoves after 10 years of service.

Flip will be recognized this year as the Eastern Conference coach at this years All-Star weekend next month. Many have speculated that Chauncey Billups is an early-season MVP candidate. Coincidently, both figures have ties to the Twolves. Coincidently, both figures burned the Target Center down today during their return to a jealous former team.

Maurice Evans, also a former Wolf, got some good revenge action with a perfect game of shooting adding, two-three pointers and five-of-five overall from the floor. Chauncey burned them in the second half after starting the game slow shooting 0-8 in the first half. He later exploded for 27 points, 8 assists, 7rebounds, a steal and a block. Coach Flip Saunders also blazed past Minnesota for his teams 34th win in 39 tries.

No other team is a hot as the Pistons and you can better belive the Pistons want to keep it that way. In workman like fashion the Pistons continue to dismantle teams with a relatively free and easy season. Other teams throughout the league are rankled with chaos.

Although extremely deserving, it is uncertain whether or not the Pistons will have a player or players starting or on the roster for the All-Star team at all coming up. Despite its excellent play, individuals on this team in particular are not recognized for their efforts. The Pistons however, just keep on winning.

Detroit has now won eight straight games and prior to the victory vs. Houston, the team rolled off six straight blowouts by a margin of 10 points or more. So the Pistons haven’t just been winning with no recognition, they’ve been KILLING teams.

Its better for them though, their rivals are riddled with unneccesary controversy. All along, the Pistons go about their business of capturing all the W’s they can to ensure a #1 seed throughout the playoffs and a certain home court advantage in every series they play (and they plan to play many.)

Continuously dodging bullets, the Detroit Pistons for the fifth time this year, avoided consecutive losses.

Although the league’s front runner, the Pistons goal this season is to match pace and exceed in the win column over their chief competition — the San Antonio Spurs. If they can continue to bounce back after their rare losses the way they have, the team has a good chance at securing the top seed for the playoffs ensuring the home court advantage throughout the playoffs that they badly want.

Tonight the Pistons encountered a feisty Hornets team and a raucous Oklahoma crowd.

Always looking forward to a challenge, the Pistons excecuted the way they have for the past three years. They methodically grind down the opponent with with balanced scoring and their brand of solid defense down the stretch.

Big Game Ahead
Must see TV: Thursday at 8, exclusively on TNT. The Pistons take on the Spurs in San Antonio. Both teams are coming off single-game winning streaks and the Spurs, this time around with a healthy Manu Ginobli, look to avenge their prior 15-point loss in Detroit on Christmas Day.

Win or lose, the outcome will be critical to the psyche of the Spurs players ensuring confidence that they can defend their championship and keep up with the leagues hottest team.