Pistons Initial Tune-in

At this point, with the Pistons 4-0, having beaten three playoff teams [did the Kings make the first round last year], what can we say?

Since the starting 5 is the same, the issue for the Pistons is whether the second unit can hold its own in the first rotation mixed with the other guys first unit, and improve against the other guys second.

The Dodger was not as impressed as the Free Press, below, with the opening game win. Philadelphia was missing Dalembert, the center who gave the Pistons some trouble in playoffs last year. Frankly, the game looked like garbage time from the middle of the 1st quarter, running up and down with no pattern or flow...There was a brief stretch when the Pistons got a bunch of offensive rebounds in a row, although the box didn't show a huge amount of OR's; this looked like Philadelphia weak, not Detroit strong.

Compared to the championship year, last year demonstrated second unit problems. In the 1-2-3 rotation, the absence of Mike James thinned the offense and also the defense. In the 3-4-5 rotation, McDyess was a major plus, but they needed one more 4 to account for Ben and Rasheed in foul trouble at the same time, missing Ogkur. Nevertheless, McDyess on balance did more than replace those who left in the 4-5, and Prince improved enough to cover both himself and Williamson.

Compared to last year, Ben looked thinner and faster, all over the court. Maurice Evans looked like a major find and improvement in the 3-4-5 rotation. This was with Lindsay Hunter on injury list, and Dale Davis not playing at all. What's up with Davis, he started for Indiana last year and has yet to get on the floor? He's in the Elden Campbell role.

As the year goes by, the question will be whether Milicic can play himself into a regular fourth entry on the 4-5 rotation. An emergency, foul trouble replacement. So far he's shown a more confident posture standing around, but not much more. We also have to look for whether Arroyo can be a consistent 4th in the 1-2-3 rotation, and whether Delfino can play.

The Dodger didn't see the buzzer beater at the Celtics, the romp of the Raptors, or the Krushing of the Kings.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
DETROIT 108, PHILADELPHIA 88:

Rip roaring
Hamilton scores 37 as Pistons open season with a rout
November 3, 2005

BY KRISTA LATHAMFREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER

Welcome to Pistons basketball, version 2006: It's faster, flashier and more efficient than previous models!
At least it looked that way after the Pistons zoomed to a 108-88, season-opening victory against the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night at the sold-out Palace.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>