The NBA season is finally in full swing.  Finally, the NBA fan body gets to enjoy the NBA season.  The Utah Jazz are on top of the league, and the Defending Champs, the Miami Heat, are below .500.  The Pistons are doing alright, at 9-5 heading into tonights game against the Heat.  But I have a few problems with our season so far.
 
 

 1.  All the technical fouls Rasheed is recieving.  David Stern’s new ‘Zero-Tolerance’ rule is really hurting us.
 2.  The Pistons don’t have an great inside threat, offensively or defensively.  Ben Wallace left a big hole, and although Nazr is a pretty good big, he’s not Ben Wallace.
 3.  Flip and McDyess have put up pretty pathetic stats.  I’d expect more out of the bench, but that’s not the case.
 4.  Tayshauns production is below expectations.  I thought he would get 18+ points per game, but that’s also not the case.
 5. Our defense is not stopping like it has been in the past.  We are giving up 96 points per game.

  Still, at 9-5, there is not much to complain about.  The season is going pretty good.  Some of our famous team chemistry is gone, but we are adapting to it pretty well.  I’ve been proud of these things so far:

 1.  Jason Maxiel is progressing along fine. He could make fans forget about Big Ben.
 2.  Richard Hamilton is averaging 22.1 points per game, his career best.
 3.  The lack of turnovers shows that the Pistons are playing smart basketball, a Detroit basketball trademark.
 4.  The Pistons Record puts us at Second in the Eastern Conference, right behind Orlando.
 5.  If Rasheed is on fire, there is no stopping the Pistons.  He has had the opportunity a few times this year, but that ‘Zero-Tolerance’ rule is really hurting us.
 
 The game against Miami will be an important test, because Miami will want to get back on track.  If they can beat the red hot Pistons, then they will have a lot of momentum and confidence, especially with no Diesel in their lineup.  We can stop them.  I’m just hoping for the best.  Hoping for a title, and the Magic to return to the lottery.  We have their pick, make it a good one, especially with a deep draft class.  Ball Don’t Lie.

-SunnyD