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.