Background: The Detroit Pistons were a game from winning the 2005 NBA championship. They were champions in 2004. But for some reason, they are often forgotten when talk of the NBA’s elite teams ensues. Sports Illustrated projected Detroit would finish fourth in the Eastern Conference under new coach Flip Saunders. But Detroit is 8-0 after beating Houston on the road Friday night.
“I didn’t expect to be undefeated,” Detroit point guard Chauncey Billups said. “But I’m not really all that surprised now. I’m just happy and excited.”
What’s up: The Pistons were known as a defensive-minded team under former coach Larry Brown. The Pistons were second in the NBA in points allowed per game last season at a stingy 89.5, but were 24th in scoring (93.3). But entering Friday’s game, Detroit ranked third in scoring (102.7) while allowing only 89.4 points. Billups said the key offensively is that with this veteran team, Saunders is allowing him to call plays and the team takes advantage by reading defenses.
“Flip is much different than Larry Brown and (former Pistons coach) Rick Carlisle,” Billups said. “(Saunders) is an offensive genius, baby, he’s an offensive coach. He’s going to want you to get up and down and score points. He doesn’t want you to play like Phoenix or Dallas, first shot, just shoot it. But he does want you to push it up the court if you’ve got the opportunity. If not, you’ve got so many different plays and sets that you’re going to get a lot of shots. It’s an equal opportunity offense, whereas the last couple years we’d walk up the court.”
What’s next: The Pistons always knew they could be this good, but they enjoy being the underdog to add extra motivation. Now, no one will underestimate Detroit. “I want to win early, but it’s a Catch-22,” Billups said. “I don’t want people to get on our bandwagon. I want them to still think that we’re going to be the fourth- or fifth-best team and let us do what we always do. In the end, we’ll beat everybody and they’ll say we’re supposed to be good. Our whole focus is trying to get home-court advantage.”
Spears’ take: The Pistons returned every important player and added veteran center Dale Davis and talented young swingman Maurice Evans. Now, with their offense upgraded, the Pistons are even better than a year ago.
