Maxiell Could Be a Prince

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">A rarely used rookie on a championship contender, Jason Maxiell would appear to have little chance of contributing to the Detroit Pistons' upcoming title run.

Three years ago, the same thing could have been said about Tayshaun Prince, but that didn't stop him from becoming one of the best stories of the 2003 playoffs, nor will the long odds stop Maxiell from staying ready.

As a rookie, Prince appeared in only 42 regular-season games for a 50-win Detroit team, averaging only 3.3 points a game. Given a chance in the playoffs, Prince shined, nearly tripling his scoring average, ably defending Tracy McGrady and Allen Iverson, and helping lead the Pistons to the Eastern Conference finals.

Maxiell, a former University of Cincinnati Bearcat, has played in only 23 games this season, and averaged just 4.4 minutes in those rare outings.

Playing behind Ben Wallace and Rasheed Wallace, Antonio McDyess and veteran Dale Davis, Maxiell is even less likely than Prince had been to make an impact in the postseason. But that hasn't kept coach Flip Saunders from raving about his rookie as the regular season winds down.

"He's just had a great attitude," Saunders said.

"He's improved a lot, (largely) because he's had to play against Ben and 'Sheed and those guys every day. I think he's a guy that if we give him extended time, maybe not (the first night), but over a two- or three-game span, I think you'll see him produce."

With 64 wins, Detroit already has clinched home-court advantage throughout the playoffs, so the final regular-season games are Saunders' chance to rest his starters and give guys like Maxiell an extended look.

The rookie played a career-high 16 minutes at Toronto Friday night, scoring four points and grabbing one rebound. Though he couldn't match the 15 points and eight rebounds he averaged in his final season at UC, Maxiell showed his size and strength. It was a performance not unlike one that comes from the man he has been playing behind, Ben Wallace.

Upon being drafted by the Pistons, many compared Maxiell to Wallace, another tough but under-sized big man. Now Maxiell calls Wallace a role model and big brother, and Wallace sees big things ahead for his prot?g?.

"He's going to be a great player in this league," Wallace said.

"He comes in every day and works on his game. He can rebound the basketball, he's got a nice touch around the bucket, he moves his feet out on the perimeter. ... he just needs a little time to develop."</div>

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