2006-2007 Pistons Season Overview By: Quinn McCormack AKA: Pistonfan11The Pistons are coming into the 2006-2007 NBA season with some positives, and negatives to take away from this past off-season that will affect the whole season this year.As the Pistons entered this years off-season, the obvious and main goal for the franchise was to re-sign Ben Wallace. We gave him what many Detroit fans, and Pistons Executives thought to be a good deal for the franchise player for the past 4-5 seasons. Ben however was very disappointed in the offer from the Pistons; in fact he was insulted by it. Even though it was the biggest offer to a player in the history of the franchise, it wasn?t enough money for Ben Wallace. The Chicago Bulls offer was enough, and he signed with them on July 13th, 2006. His reasoning, he has a younger group of players to play with, he gets more money, and he liked Chicago?s approach to the situation better. ?It was the simple fact that they came to see me. They came to my house, met my family, and we all sat down. It made me feel comfortable with the situation, knowing that it was going to be tough to leave Detroit. ? Piston fans across the state of Michigan and across the country had one question in their heads, why? At first, most of us Piston fans would say that he betrayed us; that he chose money over blood, but if you think about it he made the decision that would benefit him for the long run. He chose the team with the younger talent, the team that could contend for years to come because of that youth, and made it for monetary reasons too, something that most of us would have at least considered as well. As bitter as we may all be, he knows that the Pistons are starting to age, and when he gets older, he has a better chance with younger players, and he made the move he felt was best for his career and his family.And so the post-Ben Wallace era began in DetroitSo now the Pistons need a center, and they get their man; a player who many people think will have a career year in Detroit in Nazr Mohammed. Joe Dumars also addressed the need of depth on the bench by re-acquiring Ronald Dupree, resigning Lindsey Hunter, and signing scorer Ronald ?Flip? Murray. They join Antonio McDyess, Dale Davis, and Carlos Delfino as the main bench players for the Pistons. Jason Maxiell, Amir Johnson, and Alex Acker are the Pistons youngsters that hope to get a roster spot this year to make an impact. In the draft the Pistons traded Maurice Evans for rights to Chieck Samb, and with the last pick in the 2006 draft picked up guard Will Blalock.The coaching staff also had some changes this off-season. Dave Cowens left his position as the Coach and GM for the Chicago Sky, a WNBA franchise, and decided to try and make an impact with the Pistons. Also former Milwaukee Bucks head coach Terry Porter joined the bench as an assistant coach as well, making the Pistons coaching staff very deep.Now the season is about to begin. There are IMO three BIG games for the Pistons this year that they need to win to keep their confidence high enough to contend, here they are in no order;Tuesday, December 7, 2006. Detroit @ Dallas Last year when the Pistons came to Dallas undefeated, they were in a word destroyed by the eventual Western Conference champs. This year the Mavs are looking at another title run, and the Pistons are hoping to contend as well. The Pistons need to win this game, to make up for the game that they played against them last year, and to show that they are still contenders.2. Sunday, February 25, 2007. Chicago @ Detroit The return of Big Ben to the Palace, but it is more then that. The Pistons and Bulls are both expected to be at the top of the league, and at the top of the division so the winner of this game should gain ground in the division race, and if they win the series a possible advantage in the playoffs.Friday, March 2, 2007. Detroit @ Miami The game after they play the Bulls at home they travel to Miami in their first game @ Miami since last years game 6 loss. The Pistons need this win to show that they can beat the Champs at their home floor. For the Pistons to be successful there are three main players that have to have a big year:Tayshaun Prince Tayshaun has improved year by year in almost all statistical categories. He is a top 10 defender in the NBA already at his age, and if he continues to develop he can become a great player for the Pistons.Chauncey BillupsIf the Pistons are hoping on winning a championship this year, Chauncey Billups needs to be the MVP caliber player he was last year. He is the catalyst for the offense, and not to mention he is one of the best defensive guards in the league.Rasheed WallaceIf there was a year where Rasheed really needs to step up, this is the year. He is the vocal leader of the Pistons, and I think he will step up on the court as well.My prediction of the final record of the regular season is 55-27.I think that the Pistons will win the Division in one of the closest three way races in NBA history.When the Pistons make the playoffs, I see them going to the ECF, and anything beyond that would be too bold of a prediction at this time.
Man it looks good PF11. I'm making a Bobcat one, so I'll post mine there in a few days.Expect a big year from McDyess again. I'm seriously thinking 13 ppg, 7 rpg. 6th man of the year is very possible.
I'm in the process of writing another pistons one. idk if this was assigned to you, but I was already going to do one, and well im going to do it anyways. im almost done, its about 5 pages on paper so, its long.I go all the way back to 04. so yeah, it will be up in a couple days or so.
