Guest Blogger Steve Kays: A Few Thoughts on the Detroit Pistons

Hey guys.

Here’s Part II on A Few Thoughts on the Detroit Pistons. Click here for Part I.

The fact that Allen Iverson is a Piston still hasn’t really sunk in for me. Now I don’t know if he makes the Pistons necessarily better, but he definitely makes them different. If he can make the Pistons less predictable offensively in the playoffs, then he will have done his job.

However Iverson’s tenure in Detroit goes, this trade can’t be fully judged until the summer of 2010. Everyone knows that the cap space that the Pistons gained with this trade was a major reason for it. If the Pistons are able to acquire Chris Bosh, LeBron James, or another premier player, then this trade will have been a success. As for Denver’s end of the trade, you already know how I feel about that in my previous posts found here and here.

I honestly don’t like the Detroit Pistons chances of winning the NBA title this year. Then again in December 2003, who would have said that the Pistons would have won the title that following spring? I’m guessing no one. Most would have said that the Pacers, Spurs, Timberwolves, Lakers, or Kings were going to win the championship that year.

So maybe the Pistons need to be considered the underdogs. But with each passing day it seems more and more likely that the title will be won by the Celtics, Lakers, or Cavaliers. Now I’m not counting out the Pistons by any means. Remember that the Pistons are basically in training camp with Iverson since he was acquired during the season.

Also recall that Antonio McDyess, who was included in that trade, was resigned by the Pistons this week. I’m not claiming that time and McDyess are the answers to this team’s problem, but McDyess’s return does affect several things.

It allows Rodney Stuckey to more effectively lead the second unit and to slash and penetrate better since opposing teams will have to respect McDyess’s jumpshot. It also allows Rasheed Wallace to player fewer minutes as he won’t have to burden being the only big man with above average defense and a reliable jumper. And it also takes the burden off Kwame Brown, Jason Maxiell, and Amir Johnson as they won’t be counted on to score consistently or do anything else outside of their expertise.

So maybe time and McDyess will be all the Pistons need, but I sincerely doubt it. However, if the Pistons continue to struggle, even with more time and McDyess, there might be another trade in the near future or at the very least lineup changes.

I don’t think LeBron James becomes a Detroit Piston anytime soon, but it’s definitely a possibility. If he really wants to play for multiple championships then he has to consider Detroit. In 2010 the Pistons’ likely roster will look as follows: Rip Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, Rodney Stuckey, Arron Afflalo, Jason Maxiell, and Amir Johnson.

That’s not a bad lineup already. Throw in a LeBron or a Bosh and you can start talking about a serious championship run. I do think that the Pistons will have a great chance to acquire either Carlos Boozer or Chris Bosh. Either way, from now until July 2010 is going to be a very interesting and exciting time in the NBA.

In summary, this season for the Pistons is exciting and new, but also frustrating sometimes. Nothing is guaranteed anymore but maybe that’s a good thing. In the past the Pistons would fall apart in the conference finals of the playoffs. Now I don’t know if even that’s going to happen as they might lose in the second round or even the first round. But they might also make it to the finals and win a championship.

The trade for Iverson is hopefully a positive thing for this season and for future seasons. It should make Detroit a less predictable team in the playoffs and also allow the Pistons to sign or trade for a major free agent of 2010 (or 2009), such as LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, or Carlos Boozer. I don’t know what the future holds but I’m excited and optimistic.

Go Pistons!

-Steve Kays

www.pistonscast.com