The NBA season is just around the corner, and with added firepower in Antonio McDyess and Argentine Olympic gold medalist Carlos Delfino, the boys from Motown look all-set and ready to defend their title this year. My money is on the Pistons winning it all over again this year :) Who do you think are their biggest threats for a back-to-back championship?

The #1 Stonners will repeat this year...nobody plays better team ball, plays better all around defense, or has more heart. Nobody has a more complete line-up either.
Chauncey "Mr. Big Shot" Billups
Rip Hamilton
Tayshaun "The long arm of the law" Prince
"Big" Ben Wallace
Rasheed Wallace

Delfino is a real versatile baller who can handle the rock and make athletic plays. McDyess if healthy is a real banger and top 10 PF. Campbell gives us size to body up on Shaq...Darko needs about 2-3 more years and he'll develop nicely. Darvin Ham is a real hustle guy who gives us quality minutes off the bench. It's all good in the motor city. Pistons repeat as champs in 2005 baby!

And ain't it nice to see an Eastern team in the big leagues again??! :D

The #1 Stonners will repeat this year...nobody plays better team ball, plays better all around defense, or has more heart. Nobody has a more complete line-up either.
Chauncey "Mr. Big Shot" Billups
Rip Hamilton
Tayshaun "The long arm of the law" Prince
"Big" Ben Wallace
Rasheed Wallace

Delfino is a real versatile baller who can handle the rock and make athletic plays. McDyess if healthy is a real banger and top 10 PF. Campbell gives us size to body up on Shaq...Darko needs about 2-3 more years and he'll develop nicely. Darvin Ham is a real hustle guy who gives us quality minutes off the bench. It's all good in the motor city. Pistons repeat as champs in 2005 baby!


Am with you on this one oldgringo ! 2005 Season-Ender Headline : Pistons Win It Back-to-Back ! (can you hear the song playing ?..."the night the Pistons won it back to back ....")....

And ain't it nice to see an Eastern team in the big leagues again??! :D

It'd be nice to see some other teams step up. It's been Bulls/Pistons for the last 15 years. Pacers always choke when they have a chance to win. The Heat look nice this year on paper but Wade is still too young and their bench is ordinary. Wade is ****in amazing though.

My point was that no matter who was left standing out of the east...be it the Nets, Pacers...........WHOEVER...........the west winner has (in recent memory) made them look "bush league" before last year.

Shaq is an incredible player, but the Heat still needs some maturity to make it to the finals. An additional veteran marquee player or two might help them achieve that. But not this year. They won't go past the Pistons if ever they make it far in the Eastern Conference.

And ain't it nice to see an Eastern team in the big leagues again??! :D


Yeah..so tired of hearing the question what "Western" team will be champs this year.. :)

Its a good 3-1 start for the Motown boys. And they're playing well even while coach Brown is sidelined....

spurs this year. duncan will prob get his third mvp if kirilenko doest steal it from him

spurs this year. duncan will prob get his third mvp if kirilenko doest steal it from him


You really think Kirilenko is MVP potential ?

yea either the pistons or the rockets

You really think Kirilenko is MVP potential ?

i was sort of a pun seeing that he had 5 steals yesterday

i was sort of a pun seeing that he had 5 steals yesterday


Whew. I thought I was dreaming when I saw your post :)
I'd even have Pao Gasol and Manu Ginobili ahead of Kirilenko
on my best foreign NBA player list, that is of course my list.

Whew. I thought I was dreaming when I saw your post :)
I'd even have Pao Gasol and Manu Ginobili ahead of Kirilenko
on my best foreign NBA player list, that is of course my list.

i didnt mean kirlenko was a bad player because he is one of if not the best small forward in the league and he fills up the stat sheet.
he had 2 5/5(at leastpoints/rebounds/assists/steals/blocks) games last season. thats pretty impressive and i rank him ahead of both pau gasol and manu ginobli as far as euros are concerned.he is without a doubt dpoy this year.

yea either the pistons or the rockets


Yup, PISTONS-ROCKETS would be a good finals to see ;)

Rockets? are you kidding me? hell they might not make the playoffs let alone win the championship.

The Pistons are a good team, but only great teams repeat. I think The Spurs take it this year.

Rockets? are you kidding me? hell they might not make the playoffs let alone win the championship.

The Pistons are a good team, but only great teams repeat. I think The Spurs take it this year.

Good? Name one average player in their starting lineup...don't even say Tayshaun Prince because nobody else would have made that block against Reggie Miller last year in the ECF. The bench is so deep now with McDyess, Delfino, Ham, Lindsey Hunter and Elden Campbell. The Pistons are one of the best TEAMS (notice the emphasis on team...they play team basketball) and one of the best defensive teams in the last couple decades. Plus they have experience and know what it takes to win.

The Heat is looking pretty ****in good.

Good? Name one average player in their starting lineup...don't even say Tayshaun Prince because nobody else would have made that block against Reggie Miller last year in the ECF. The bench is so deep now with McDyess, Delfino, Ham, Lindsey Hunter and Elden Campbell. The Pistons are one of the best TEAMS (notice the emphasis on team...they play team basketball) and one of the best defensive teams in the last couple decades. Plus they have experience and know what it takes to win.


I'd have to go with old gringo on this. The Pistons are not a team of stars but a STAR TEAM. That's what made them beat the star-studded Lakers last year. I'd put my money on the Motown boys repeating .

Miami and Utah have good chances.

Good? Name one average player in their starting lineup...don't even say Tayshaun Prince because nobody else would have made that block against Reggie Miller last year in the ECF. The bench is so deep now with McDyess, Delfino, Ham, Lindsey Hunter and Elden Campbell. The Pistons are one of the best TEAMS (notice the emphasis on team...they play team basketball) and one of the best defensive teams in the last couple decades. Plus they have experience and know what it takes to win.


Nice avatar :) Go Pistons !! :D

Good? Name one average player in their starting lineup...don't even say Tayshaun Prince because nobody else would have made that block against Reggie Miller last year in the ECF. The bench is so deep now with McDyess, Delfino, Ham, Lindsey Hunter and Elden Campbell. The Pistons are one of the best TEAMS (notice the emphasis on team...they play team basketball) and one of the best defensive teams in the last couple decades. Plus they have experience and know what it takes to win.

Taking away that championship ring from the Lakers doesn't gurantee that the Pistons could make it as back-to-back champion this 2004-2005 season! Even if they outhustled the then problematic Lakers team, how could they make it through Spurs, or Timberwolves for example? They won because Lakers lost to themselves! Had it been that Kobe and Shaq weren't feuding, this Pistons will not get the championship and the respect that they are now having! I am predicting that sooner or later, their promise would soon fade maybe, at the middle of the season!

Taking away that championship ring from the Lakers doesn't gurantee that the Pistons could make it as back-to-back champion this 2004-2005 season! Even if they outhustled the then problematic Lakers team, how could they make it through Spurs, or Timberwolves for example? They won because Lakers lost to themselves! Had it been that Kobe and Shaq weren't feuding, this Pistons will not get the championship and the respect that they are now having! I am predicting that sooner or later, their promise would soon fade maybe, at the middle of the season!

You must be kidding...anyone who says the Lakers beat themselves either diudn't watch the Finals last year or just doesn't know what they are talking about in general.

The Pistons completely SONNED the Lakers...completing what was basically a 5 game sweep. They proved that they can handle Shaq inside and Tayshaun Prince did a masterful job of limiting Kobe Bryant. Remember this, A FULL HOUSE ALWAYS BEATS 2 PAIR AND 3 OF A KIND.

Regarding the T-Wolves and Spurs, it's a pretty open and shut case as far as I'm concerned.

Spurs: Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Brent Barry and Rasho Nesterovic are a good core team. What they don't have however is the consistancy after Duncan. There are three people on the Pistons that can carry the team in Billups, Hamilton, and Rasheed Wallace. Wallace has the size, defensive ability, and length in order to guard Tim Duncan. Plus we have the weak side help in the form of the best defensive player in the NBA, Ben Wallace. The Pistons play the best team basketball in the NBA and the best defense and that's what you would see in a hard fought 6 game series...you would see hard nosed defense, stellar play from our superior bench, and our backcourt simply outclassing Manu Ginobili and Parker.

T-Wolves: The T-Wolves are using a lot of smoke and mirrors to appear as if they are good. They are very overrated IMO. Kevin Garnett is the best player in the NBA hands down, but he can be limited. Once again you would see Rasheed Wallace defending Garnett and using his size/length to bother KG's shots and change his game a bit. Theres really not much you can do about KG because he's just incredible. As for the rest of their team, Sprewell is fading with every day that goes by and should not prove to be a very hard test for Tayshauns length and defensive ability. Sam Cassell is also old and has that experienced basketball savvy. However, he will not do to well when he realizes that he can't push around the bigger/stronger Chauncey Billups. The T-Wolves are weaker in every aspect outside of KG...they also proved that they have trouble stepping up in the big game situation (i.e. allowing Kareem Rush to drain multiple 3's at the end of the WCF).

Of course nothing is guaranteed amigo. The Pistons could suffer insane amounts of injuries and already have (Larry Browns hip :D and Ben Wallace's mother and brother dying :( ) but if they hold strong going into the playoffs I don't believe there are any teams that can handle the class and team play of the Pistons. Indiana is in shambles and Shaq/Wade/Jones sure as hell cant get it done alone. The two teams you mentioned have the best chance of dethroning the Stons but I'm thinking it's very unlikely. Whew...that only took me 8 minutes...I know I know I'm a loser. :D

anyone who says the Lakers didn't self destruct has to be...well from Detriot.

Dont forget about Malone getting hurt before the Finals.

Im sorry have you actually seen Shaq's numbers in the finals?

anyone who says the Lakers didn't self destruct has to be...well from Detriot.

Dont forget about Malone getting hurt before the Finals.

Im sorry have you actually seen Shaq's numbers in the finals?

Please...the whole self destructing argument is about as played out as Wlad's vaseline argument or Byrd's poison on the gloves argument. Fact of the matter is that they got handled in 5 games. We outplayed them in game 2 but Kobe bailed them out with that miraculous 3 ball. I'm familiar with Shaq's numbers...34, 29, 12, 36, and 20 or something to that effect. None of them really mattered however outside of game 2. Are you really trying to tell me old man Malone would have drastically changed the series? Phil simply couldn't make 4 of the biggest ego's in the NBA mesh and it showed. Malone was over the hill and Payton was unhappy and useless in the triangle system. It was going to happen any way you looked at it. ****, Kobe and Shaq could have been best friends and they still would not have been able to deal with Motown.

Look at the guy in my avatar. Now that's what the Lake show needed. A real ****ing man with some defensive edge and heart.

Please...the whole self destructing argument is about as played out as Wlad's vaseline argument or Byrd's poison on the gloves argument. Fact of the matter is that they got handled in 5 games. We outplayed them in game 2 but Kobe bailed them out with that miraculous 3 ball. I'm familiar with Shaq's numbers...34, 29, 12, 36, and 20 or something to that effect. None of them really mattered however outside of game 2. Are you really trying to tell me old man Malone would have drastically changed the series? Phil simply couldn't make 4 of the biggest ego's in the NBA mesh and it showed. Malone was over the hill and Payton was unhappy and useless in the triangle system. It was going to happen any way you looked at it. ****, Kobe and Shaq could have been best friends and they still would not have been able to deal with Motown.

*sighs*

If you say so killer

*sighs*

If you say so killer

Rarrrrrrgh. :D

I get very heated when discussing the Stons. I grew up with teh Bad Boys, supported them through the Grant Hill transitional years, and I am just loving the new wave bad boys.

Please...the whole self destructing argument is about as played out as Wlad's vaseline argument or Byrd's poison on the gloves argument. Fact of the matter is that they got handled in 5 games. We outplayed them in game 2 but Kobe bailed them out with that miraculous 3 ball. I'm familiar with Shaq's numbers...34, 29, 12, 36, and 20 or something to that effect. None of them really mattered however outside of game 2. Are you really trying to tell me old man Malone would have drastically changed the series? Phil simply couldn't make 4 of the biggest ego's in the NBA mesh and it showed. Malone was over the hill and Payton was unhappy and useless in the triangle system. It was going to happen any way you looked at it. ****, Kobe and Shaq could have been best friends and they still would not have been able to deal with Motown.


i think the series would have been tighter had malone not been injured. he held that team together. combine his 13 , 7 and leadership = he was important. he had some big games in the playoffs and the lakers missed his defense against sheed and big ben.btw im not a laker fan its just my opinion.

i think the series would have been tighter had malone not been injured. he held that team together. combine his 13 , 7 and leadership = he was important. he had some big games in the playoffs and the lakers missed his defense against sheed and big ben.btw im not a laker fan its just my opinion.

Malone helped them on both ends but we aren't talking about a prime Malone here. He was still significant and serviceable but the Stons were just too much. If the starting 5 didn't get them it was the bench and vice versa. I had this argument with my boys and almost got into a fight because I was arguing IN FAVOR of Malone. I know just as well as anyone that he helped that Lakers team get to where they were but the Lakers, healthy Malone or not, would not have been able to beat THAT Pistons team...and that's my opinion. I was saying before the Finals when everyone was writing the Pistons off that they were going to trounce the Lake show. The Spurs would have been a much better test. Points well taken though fix.

^^^^ i said it would have been tighter but the way the pistons played it would have been hard for anyone to beat them. finally someone sticks up for malone ,iam usually the only one.a prime malone was a beast on both ends .

i think that the pistons can repeat...but look out for the Jazz.

Power Rankings (http://www.nba.com/features/power_rankings_041111.html)

You must be kidding...anyone who says the Lakers beat themselves either diudn't watch the Finals last year or just doesn't know what they are talking about in general.

The Pistons completely SONNED the Lakers...completing what was basically a 5 game sweep. They proved that they can handle Shaq inside and Tayshaun Prince did a masterful job of limiting Kobe Bryant. Remember this, A FULL HOUSE ALWAYS BEATS 2 PAIR AND 3 OF A KIND.

Regarding the T-Wolves and Spurs, it's a pretty open and shut case as far as I'm concerned.

Spurs: Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Brent Barry and Rasho Nesterovic are a good core team. What they don't have however is the consistancy after Duncan. There are three people on the Pistons that can carry the team in Billups, Hamilton, and Rasheed Wallace. Wallace has the size, defensive ability, and length in order to guard Tim Duncan. Plus we have the weak side help in the form of the best defensive player in the NBA, Ben Wallace. The Pistons play the best team basketball in the NBA and the best defense and that's what you would see in a hard fought 6 game series...you would see hard nosed defense, stellar play from our superior bench, and our backcourt simply outclassing Manu Ginobili and Parker.

T-Wolves: The T-Wolves are using a lot of smoke and mirrors to appear as if they are good. They are very overrated IMO. Kevin Garnett is the best player in the NBA hands down, but he can be limited. Once again you would see Rasheed Wallace defending Garnett and using his size/length to bother KG's shots and change his game a bit. Theres really not much you can do about KG because he's just incredible. As for the rest of their team, Sprewell is fading with every day that goes by and should not prove to be a very hard test for Tayshauns length and defensive ability. Sam Cassell is also old and has that experienced basketball savvy. However, he will not do to well when he realizes that he can't push around the bigger/stronger Chauncey Billups. The T-Wolves are weaker in every aspect outside of KG...they also proved that they have trouble stepping up in the big game situation (i.e. allowing Kareem Rush to drain multiple 3's at the end of the WCF).

Of course nothing is guaranteed amigo. The Pistons could suffer insane amounts of injuries and already have (Larry Browns hip :D and Ben Wallace's mother and brother dying :( ) but if they hold strong going into the playoffs I don't believe there are any teams that can handle the class and team play of the Pistons. Indiana is in shambles and Shaq/Wade/Jones sure as hell cant get it done alone. The two teams you mentioned have the best chance of dethroning the Stons but I'm thinking it's very unlikely. Whew...that only took me 8 minutes...I know I know I'm a loser. :D

God, your response is way too long i couldn't answer them all. Well, all i can is say we will end up again here, if what you say proves to be right, then i could tip my hat off to you but if not, well let me just say that you're analysis proves that you're just a mere fan of the Pistons. Well, like you said it's too early to predict what's gonna happen! Let us just wait and enjoy this very exciting season. By the way, your Pistons lost again to the Nuggets yesterday, well, i know what you're going to say, it's too early to tell!

God, your response is way too long i couldn't answer them all. Well, all i can is say we will end up again here, if what you say proves to be right, then i could tip my hat off to you but if not, well let me just say that you're analysis proves that you're just a mere fan of the Pistons. Well, like you said it's too early to predict what's gonna happen! Let us just wait and enjoy this very exciting season. By the way, your Pistons lost again to the Nuggets yesterday, well, i know what you're going to say, it's too early to tell!

:D Yes it is too early to tell. McDyess and Delfino still have to find their rhythm and Larry Brown needs to return to bring everyone together. I mean, I'm a die hard Pistons fan but I'm still realistic about other teams being able to win it all. I'm just pointing out why I think the Stonners will win it. My favorite player in the league isn't even on the Pistons (Michael Finley followed by Shawn Marion followed by the man in my avatar).

the heat and pistons will contend for the east.. but still the west is where the powerhouse teams are

the heat and pistons will contend for the east.. but still the west is where the powerhouse teams are

yeah, the spurs is looking awesome, have you seen how they beat miami? nesterovic has improved a lot and ginobili was playing the game of his life! spurs i think is the team to beat, but i've never seen a t'wolves game this season and i'm pretty sure they're gonna give spurs a run for their money! and the mavericks who beat miami by 20 points are playing really really well! i just hope nowitzki sustain his very good performance all through out! yes this west is a powerhouse i can't agree with you more! but it's early to predict who would survive, there are a lot of good teams today!