Cleaves went on to Michigan State and led the Spartans to the 2000 NCAA Championship where he was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. After being drafted in the first round by the Detroit Pistons back in 2000, Cleaves has played for four teams; Sonics, Kings and Cavaliers. Stops have also included the D-League, and Russia.

I have often been asked why Cleaves hasn't settled down with an NBA team along his journey.

Mo-C is a hard worker, good guy, excellent attitude, not a complainer and has no ego. On the floor he gets the team into the half-court offense and can push the ball in transition. I'm not sure if he's going to make the Nuggets club but I wish him all the luck in the world.

Here's a video clip from You Tube with Cleaves working out on the comeback trail.

PLAY THE RIGHT WAY

76ers def. Celtics 98-92

Magic 118, Bobcats 90

Hornets 105, Pacers 71

Pistons 85, Bucks 71

Wizards 89, Grizzlies 80

Timberwolves 88, Thunder 82

Hawks 100, Suns 96

Warriors 110, Blazers 95

Detroit Pistons

2007-08 Standings 59 - 23, 2^nd Eastern Conference

2008-09 Predicted Record 51 - 31, 2^nd Central Division, 3^rd Eastern Conference

Projected Starting Five:  Rasheed Wallace, Antonio McDyess, Tayshaun Prince, Richard Hamilton, Chauncey Billups

Sixth Man:  Rodney Stuckey

While the San Antonio Spurs have been the best team in the West for the past decade the Detroit Pistons have been the East's Beast for the same time. Seven consecutive seasons of 50 wins, two trips to the Finals, one NBA title, numerous All Stars - a resume of success. Yet there is a sense that the best has come and gone for the Pistons.

They were beaten in six games in the Eastern Finals last year by the Boston Celtics, the eventual champions. The year before LeBron James hammered them. It feels like its time to retune the roster so what did the Pistons do? They signed Kwame Brown, the poster boy for underachievers. A decidedly underwhelming offseason.

Still, the Pistons do possess close to the best starting five in the NBA and if you add rising star Rodney Stuckey to that, the best first six players in the league. Yet there is a sense that the Pistons have become almost blasé with success. They know they're good but the jeopardy isn't there, or rather they don't feel it. Personally I think they should have traded Billups and/or Rasheed Wallace this past offseason and brought some new urgency to the team. 

Despite this the Pistons are still one of the contenders for a title. They have superb defence, a solid frontcourt, an All Star backcourt and in Stuckey a young stud.  Their bench has an imposing look about it with bruisers such as Jason Maxiell and Amir Johnson which makes it so puzzling that they signed Brown. Why bring a chemistry killer into the mix?

The Pistons will win 50 games again this season but I have a feeling this will be the last time this lineup will be together. Will they leave with a ring?

Coach:

Michael Curry takes over the team from Flip Saunders. An assistant coach in Detroit last season, this is his first head coaching gig. Hopefully he won't find himself in over his head.

Bench:

The Pistons bench is one of the best in basketball. Rodney Stuckey will be the eventual starter for the Pistons but for now he leads the bench crew.

Star Player:

It could be argued that the Pistons have four stars in Wallace, Billups, Prince and Hamilton but I'm putting my money on Richard Hamilton. The masked one is an effective (if dirty) defender while being the closest thing in the NBA to the retired Reggie Miller.

Team MVP:

For the Pistons to contend at the highest level they need Rasheed Wallace playing effective basketball. Too often he settles for the outside shot. That's not even counting his hotheadedness.

Final Prognosis:

It's time for the Pistons to trade one or two of their stalwarts while they still have value. They'll win 50 games but will struggle to make another Eastern Conference Final.

You can find an index of past Previews here.

----------------------------

Curry: Johnson is Pistons' starting forward
[Michael] Curry was careful not to make any direct comparisons to former Piston Ben Wallace but he believes Johnson can bring some of the same intangibles to the starting unit Wallace did.

"Ben could make a tremendous impact on a game without having any plays run for him. Amir is like Ben in that sense," Curry said. "Amir can impact a game by how he rebounds, he can impact on the speed in which we play, offensively and defensively. His presence will be a welcome addition to that group."

----------------------------

Unlike the resident of this place, they do not see what's really there ... hidden in plain sight.

Thus far, MC [Hammer] just keeps churning out the hits, as the Pistons' new/old maestro, in Motown.

----------------------------

There's a[n old] soul in the city, watching over us tonight ...

UPDATE: Pre-quel ... MC [Hammer] is a 'Boy Scout' at heart. :-)

Ayer se empezaron a celebrar las primeras pachangas “oficiales” de pretemporada. Abrían el fuego un Pistons-Heat y un Warriors-Hornets. O lo que es lo mismo, los perfectos representantes de la ideología de cada conferencia. Y aunque estos partidos no valen para nada más que para coger ritmo de temporada, sí que se pueden sacar algunas conclusiones, por nimias y gratuitas que sean.

Así, una de las principales atracciones del Pistons-Heat era sin duda la presencia del número 2 del pasado draft, Michael Beasley. Beasley no salió de titular con el equipo, pero metió unos muy respetables 16 puntos, y lo que es más importante, con una racha de 13 en el tercer cuarto, fruto de su buen entendimiento con Dwyane Wade. Eso sí, defensivamente el chico está bastante verde, pero es algo normal. El otro rookie de los Heat, Mario Chalmers, acusó su debut como profesional y tuvo un partido más bien discretito, con 4 puntos, 3 asistencias, 4 pérdidas y 5 faltas en casi 25 minutos de juego. El supuesto base titular de los Heat, Chris Quinn, se torció el tobillo y está considerado day-to-day, lo cual, unido al estado de Shaun Livingston (a quien los Heat aún no se atreven a poner a jugar), hizo que tanto Chalmers como Marcus Banks contaran con minutos de juego. Partido apañado de Dwyane Wade, por cierto, con 11 puntos y 7 asistencias en 22 minutos. Buena parte de la temporada de los Heat dependerá de cómo esté la superestrella del equipo... y si sigue como estuvo en Pekín, los Heat podrían incluso soñar con entrar en playoffs, que es mucho soñar. Sobre todo si traspasan a Shawn Marion, que es el rumor que ha vuelto a circular estos días por el entorno de los Heat.

Por los Pistons, dos cosas a destacar, las dos bastante previsibles. Primero, que Michael Curry sigue sin tener claro a quién usar de “4”, y anoche hizo un experimento: dejó a Jason Maxiell y Antonio McDyess en el banquillo, puso a Rasheed Wallace de “4” y a Amir Johnson de center titular. Eso sí, a lo largo del partido Johnson jugó poquito, y fue Maxiell el que tuvo más bola. El otro detalle importante de los Pistons fue el buen partido de Rodney Stuckey, que metió 23 puntos. Este chico está solidificando su juego a pasos agigantados, y va a ser un hombre muy importante para los Pistons esta temporada. Walter Herrmann también tuvo un buen partido con 11 puntos... y el ex del Barcelona, Alex Acker, jugó 2 minutos y 24 segundos, fallando el único tiro que lanzó. Cuando juegas dos minutos y medio en un partido de pretemporada, no puedes esperar muchas cosas buenas en la regular season...

Por cierto, aunque a nadie le importe, el partido lo ganaron los Pistons por 95-91 tras una prórroga.

Mientras tanto, en el Golden State-New Orleans, también se pudieron sacar algunas conclusiones menores. En los Hornets brilló David West, que metió 19 puntos casi sin fallo en 21 minutos. Lo más destacable fue sin duda el papel de Mike James: el bueno de James sabe que sin Jannero Pargo, es su oportunidad para hacerse con el papel de base suplente, y parece que está por la labor. Metió 12 puntos y dio 5 asistencias. Por cierto, Tyson Chandler sólo jugó 5 minutos antes de torcerse (sí, el también) el tobillo. Por suerte, no parece muy grave.

Por los Warriors, varias cosas a destacar. La primera es sin duda la actuación de Marco Belinelli, que metió 14 puntos y dos triples importantes que mantuvieron a los Warriors dentro del partido en el último cuarto. “Il Bello” ya hizo una buena pretemporada el año pasado que no le sirvió para diputar muchos minutos a lo largo de la temporada. Veremos si Don Nelson está más dispuesto este año a dar cancha al italiano. Por otro lado, los recién llegados a los Warriors cumplieron, sin más. Corey Maggette metió 13 puntos y Ronny Turiaf hizo un poco de todo: 6 puntos, 7 rebotes, 7 asistencias y 1 tapón. El Diablo de Tasmania jugó más minutos que Andris Biedrins (24 por 19), y se perfila como un hombre que contará en el equipo.

Ah, sí, en este caso ganaron los Hornets, 103-106... por decir algo.

Michael Curry, head coach of the Detroit Pistons on preparation via the Detroit Free Press. (I also mentioned this piece on my coaching blog)

No player in the history of the NBA prepared harder than Michael Curry. Every year at this time, he would read about how somebody had taken his spot. And every year, he ended up playing.

"I always wasn't supposed to," Curry said, "but I always did. The thing that nobody could calculate was, 'What is Michael doing every day to prepare?' When guys were on two weeks vacation, I was in the gym doing two-a-days. I was on the track at noon, after doing a morning workout and before an evening basketball workout."

-SF

Hoops135@hotmail.com

PLAY THE RIGHT WAY

Michael Curry head coach of the Detroit Pistons is becoming one of my favorite guys and he hasn't even coached a game in the NBA.  Detroit Free Press reports.

No player in the history of the NBA prepared harder than Michael Curry. Every year at this time, he would read about how somebody had taken his spot. And every year, he ended up playing.

"I always wasn't supposed to," Curry said, "but I always did. The thing that nobody could calculate was, 'What is Michael doing every day to prepare?' When guys were on two weeks vacation, I was in the gym doing two-a-days. I was on the track at noon, after doing a morning workout and before an evening basketball workout."

-SF

Hoops135@hotmail.com

What kind of shape are you in?

Have you been training hard?

Many teams are going to the D-D-M offense.  One thing is for sure - you better be in top shape.

Teams are looking to push the ball in transition which means stamina.  Teams are looking to drive the ball to the rim which means, 'you better be in great shape'.

New York Knicks new head coach Mike D'Antoni has the Knicks off and "running" via The New jersey Record.

Yet, the running the Knicks did Tuesday morning, then during dinner-time scrimmages, was what new point guard Chris Duhon called “different running,” basketball running, not the line-to-line “suicide” sprints many coaches mandate.

D’Antoni, who said he hated such sprints when he played, kept his team moving in basketball drills of the end-to-end and halfcourt variety — more than a half-hour’s worth, straight, when reporters were let in to watch.

“We’re running plays instead of just running,” Zach Randolph said “We can run 15 suicides, but it’s better doing some thing.”

“It’s efficient running,” said Allan Houston, who reported no problems after the first practice of his latest comeback. “That’s what you’re going to do in the game.”

“You can run all the lines you want,” Jared Jeffries said, “but until you’ve got to stop and go and have contact and things like that, that’s how you get in basketball shape.”

The Detroit Pistons are getting after it with new head coach Michael Curry via MLive.com

Things look to be quite different under first-year coach Michael Curry, who put his players through a rigorous three-hour practice dominated by physical play that left players banged, bruised and with a better understanding of what he expects from them this season.

"Our big thing is, we want to be the aggressor," Curry said. "That's our No. 1 thing in everything we do."

Curry had the players engaged in several drills Tuesday, and near the end of practice, he had players working on the team's half-court trap.

Trapping opponents will definitely be an important part of the team's defensive strategy this season.

"It takes a lot of conditioning to trap and get back (defensively)," Curry said. "We'll play multiple coverages, but definitely being the aggressor is going to be our focus throughout training camp."

Joe Stolzer spoke at 'The Clinic to End All Clinics' back on Sept. 19th at Manhattan College. Here are a few of his comments.

'I can't make the people that come to me be Olympians, I can only inspire them and try to make them a better athlete than when they came to me'.

'31% of all movement in basketball is lateral, why don't we train that way'?

And from the same clinic, Memphis head coach John Calipari says, 'SPRINT TO THE RIM ON CUTS'.

Train hard!  Get into the best shape possible! Run, lift and run some more!

PLAY THE RIGHT WAY!

Boston Celtics Season Preview

Philadelphia 76ers Season Preview

Toronto Raptors Season Preview

New York Knicks Season Preview

New Jersey Nets Season Preview

Northwest Division Previews:

Utah Jazz Season Preview

Portland Trail Blazers Season Preview

Denver Nuggets Season Preview

Minnesota Timberwolves Season Preview

Oklahoma City Thunder Season Preview

Central Division Previews:

Cleveland Cavaliers Season Preview

Detroit Pistons Season Preview

Chicago Bulls Season Preview

Milwaukee Bucks Season Preview

Indiana Pacers Season Preview

Pacific Division Previews:

LA Lakers Season Preview

Phoenix Suns Season Preview

I am a diehard Sixer fan, probably one of the few Philadelphia sports fans where the Sixers are my favorite over the Eagles, Phillies and Flyers (which would be the order of importance to me).  I have never been more pumped for the start of an NBA season then I am for this upcoming season.  The Sixers were hands down the outright winners of the offeason and the team they are about to trot onto the hardwood could be the best in years.  The run and gun style combined with a true post presence really gives me goosebumps when I think of the potential this team possesses.

Mr. Stein ranked us 8th in the NBA, but behind fellow Eastern Conference mates: Boston (1), Cleveland (6) and Detroit (7).  He had this to say about our franchise heading into the 2008/2009 NBA season.

The Sixers were undisputed champs of the offseason, but it's also true that Mr. Brand might lift last season's No. 7s only one spot. Philly can finish anywhere from No. 2 to No. 6, like Cleveland, Detroit, Orlando and Toronto.

I think Mr. Elton Brand will indeed lift us higher then then 7th seed in the East.  I'm predicting a 3 seed (behind Boston and Detroit), it's bold, it's a tad high, but who ever said lofty expectations were bad.   I think Mr. Brand is the best pickup we possibly could have made.  Not only was he the best FA out there, but he also filled our biggest need at a true Power Forward.

Things are looking bright Sixer Fans and I'm jumping on the bandwagon now, wait, I was always on the Sixer bandwagon... anyway, see you on opening night.

"No, he wasn't (tough enough). In my opinion, he wasn't. He let too many things slide. And that goes as far as myself, and what some of my teammates have done. With L.B. (Larry Brown), I think really, honestly, it was a respect level. Everyone respected Larry. Even though then, we had more of a veteran team, but everyone respected Larry, and everyone respects Mike now."

I was browsing through an old issue of Sporting News and there was a fantastic interview with Chicago White Sox skipper Ozzie Guillen who in my mind is one of the top 3 managers in all of baseball. One of the questions to Guillen, 'Have players gotten softer over the years'?

SN: Have there been many altercations on this team? Managers say it happens behind closed doors all the time.

GUILLEN: We had it in Kansas City between (Jim Thome) and (Orlando) Cabrera. I have a meeting as soon as that game's over. We won the game. You know what I say? "I like that. I love it." I don't want anybody talking about a teammate behind his back or be having dinner with another teammate and going, "Look at what he did." (Expletive). You feel something, have some (expletive) and go right at him. And then there was a disagreement. The next day, we just forget about it. They're friends, they're teammates and I love it. There was an argument, and I didn't even move. I don't move. I sit there and watch. If the thing goes a little far, then I act. But I say you got a disagreement, good.

Then you have Tom Coughlin, head coach of the New York Giants football team and his new approach from tough guy to a guy everyone appreciates a bit better now.

[caption id="attachment_194" align="alignleft" width="225" caption="Chauncey Billups' minutes may be down, but he is still the man for the Pistons."][/caption]

 

Chauncey Billups (PG)

Helps: Assists, Points, FT%, 3-pointers, Steals

Hurts: FG%

The demise of the Pistons is greatly exaggerated. They are still loaded with both NBA and fantasy potency and Billups is at the top of the list. While he does not offer the categorical dominance of a Chris Paul and is not an elite scorer or passer, Billups is a superbly solid all-around point guard that makes him a valuable asset.

Like most point guards who shoot a lot, Billups FG% (.416 career) is a drawback, but he makes up for it nearly everywhere else. He has averaged at least 1.5 3-pointers per game in seven straight seasons, at least 6.8 assists in each of the last three, more than one steal in the last two, at least 16.2 points in each of his six seasons with Detroit and is an .886 career free-throw shooter.

It is true that the Pistons' core is getting older and Billups played just 32.3 minutes per game last season - his lowest number since 2002-03, which was his first year as a full-time starter. But even if his minutes continue to decrease slightly, Billups is in the upper echelon of point guards and the offense revolves around him.

When to take him: In the third round as one of the not-quite-elite points guards.

Rasheed Wallace (PF/C)

Helps: Blocks, Steals, 3-pointers, Rebounds

Hurts: FG%, FT%

In the same boat as Billups, Wallace's 30.5 minutes per game last season were his lowest in his four-year stint with Detroit. Wallace is now 34 and Detroit appears to be favoring their young players more to give them experience and set the franchise up for the eventual transition away from the recent nucleus.

Wallace's value lies in his ability to contribute 3-pointers, blocks and steals - a rare combination for someone eligible at the center position. His biggest drawback is that he wildly inconsistent, capable of giving you 30/15 one night and near nothing the next.

Wallace has never shot better than 44 percent with the Pistons. He has gradually improved his FT% to a respectable level (.767 last season, .788 the season before) but is still unpredictable at the line.

Far from a safe, consistent pick, his upside as a source of 100-plus blocks and 3-pointers still makes him desireable.

When to take him: In the sixth round.

Richard Hamilton (SG)

Helps: Points, FT%, FG%, Assists, Steals

Notice a theme here? Hamilton played his fewest minutes per game in five years last season, though his per minute numbers stayed on target with his career averages.

Hamilton is one of the league's most efficient scorers, averaging more than 17 points per game while still displaying a solid FG% (.484). He is an outstanding free-throw shooter (.853 career) and contributes around four assists and one steal per game - both marginally valuable numbers.

It should be recognized that Hamilton is also becoming more of an outside threat as he gets older, sinking a career-best 62 3-pointers in 72 games last season. He still should not be viewed as someone who helps significantly in that category, but it helps offset the overall decline in his numbers based on his shrinking minutes.

When to take him: In the seventh round.

THE REST:

With the decreasing numbers of minutes for the big three noted above, it means increased minutes for the rest of the roster. There is kind of a hodge-podge of Pistons to be drafted in the last couple of rounds in most fantasy leagues and here is my take:

Rodney Stuckey (PG): He looks very much like their PG of the future, but the idea that he is going to wrestle big minutes away from Billups is laughable. He may see 25 minutes per game, but that isn't enough to make him a lock draft pick. However, he could be huge in providing insurance if you draft Billups or a waiver wire pickup should either of Detroit's starting guards gets hurt.

Jason Maxiell (PF): Maxiell averaged 13.3 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per 36 minutes last season while shooting nearly 54 percent from the floor. His minutes have jumped in each of his first three seasons and he could be seeing 30 minutes per game this season. He is a must draft in the late rounds.

Antonio McDyess (PF): A solid source of rebounds and FG% last season, it's unlikely that he can play 29 minutes per game for 78 games again. He is worth a late-round pick, for sure, but Stuckey or Maxiell have far more potential value.

Tayshaun Prince (SF): Statistically show me one area in which he significantly helps your team. He is a borderline draft pick in ANY 12-team league.

Kwame Brown (C): Seriously, wouldn't you rather just chew on broken glass?

The Pistons are set up well long-term with big mean Aaron Afflalo and Amir Johnson but it just doesn't seem either will get enough minutes to warrant a draft pick. However, in an injury befalls Wallace of McDyess, everyone to the waiver wire!

Be sure to check your league rules for specific position eligibility rules.

Bastantes cositas menores, que estos días he descuidado un poco esos traspasos finales que se hacen para acabar de mejorar (o no) algunas plantillas. Eso, el bluff de Shawn Kemp y el fichaje de Alex Acker por los Pistons completan un listado de últimos fichajes curioso, curioso.

Alex Acker: Parece que la decepcionante temporada de Acker en el F.C. Barcelona no les ha parecido tan decepcionante a los Detroit Pistons, que han fichado al jugador. El contrato es por dos años a razón de 700.000 dólares al año, y sólo tiene garantizada la primera mitad de este año. No creo que rasque mucha bola, pero bueno...

Rafael Araujo: El ex de Raptors y Jazz firmó hace unos días por los Timberwolves, y ya se ha hecho una foto de equipo más bien... curiosa, como podéis ver. Su fichaje supongo que responde a las urgencias del equipo, que ahora mismo tiene a Al Jefferson y Jason Collins lesionados. (Vale, la lesión de Collins es intrascendente... pero había que mencionarla). Por lo tanto, se espera que Araujo tenga minutos de juego al principio de temporada, acompañando, supongo al rookie Kevin Love en la pintura.

Shawn Kemp: Ya lo anuncié hace unos días, pero el desastre se ha confirmado definitivamente: el Premiata Montegranaro italiano se ha desprendido de Shawn Kemp sin que llegar a disputar un solo partido oficial. Vaticino que lo próximo será intentar volver al baloncesto profesional jugando en un equipo búlgaro o rumano. Más información aquí, por si alguien quiere leer la crónica de un no-regreso anunciado.

Shaun Livingston: Pobre Shaun. ¿Es que no tiene ya bastante con la lesión de la que intenta salir, como para que ahora todos le pongan la miel en los labios para luego quitársela? Primero fueron los Blazers los que, tras expresar su gran interés por el jugador, declararon que no lo ficharían. Ahora son los Heat, que parecían los principales candidatos para ficharlo, los que han declarado que ni hablar del peluquín. El otro equipo que sonaba para ficharle era Minnesota, pero por ahora tampoco están muy por la labor... ¿le espera a Shaun otro año en el dique seco?

Kevin Ollie: Los Timberwolves han fichado al veterano base de 35 años... lo cual a priori parece confirmar que, efectivamente, no van a fichar a Livingston. Si tuviera que elegir entre un Ollie sano y un Livingston en estado indeterminado... no sé qué elegiría.

Jamal Sampson: Tras perder a Nathan Jawai, el primer aborigen australiano en jugar en la NBA, a causa de un problema cardiaco, los Raptors han decidido fichar a Jamal Sampson, cuyo único mérito (a priori) es ser primo del legendario Ralph Sampson. Habrá que ver si lleva el baloncesto en los genes...

Stephon Marbury: El culebrón continúa. Los Knicks no quieren pagarle 20 kilos a Marbury, y dicen las malas lenguas que están esperando un acto de insubordinación de Starbury para castigarle y apartarlo del equipo. Mientras tanto, Stephon debe de estar ahogando sus penas en algún bar junto a Tinsley...

Y mientras tanto, Ben Gordon sigue sin firmar su extensión con los Bulls...

Or, that it's important to ride with the ship, no matter what?

If not ... then listen up.

Courtesy of mlive.com ...

[audio=http://blog.mlive.com/pistons_impact/2008/09/x080929-wdfn-rasheed-wallace.mp3|bgcolor=#0000ff|leftbg=#ff0000|slider=#00ff00]

As this corner has pointed out several times before ... things are going to be different for the Detroit Pistons this year.

"I mean, Guys respected him; guys looked up to him. Mike knows the game ... you know, if you know the game of basketball then I think coaching can come easy to you ... but everyone that's a coach don't know the game of basketball." - Rasheed Wallace

-------------------------

So, so true.

Today was media day for most if not all 30 teams and training camp starts on Tuesday. The posters over at RealGM are all over media day and have a thread devoted to the subject.

As you can see, the media day is just a glorified photo shoot with a slight question and answer section where all the players pretty much say they like their team's chances and how they want to win the championship (I've been to media day for college football and there is not an event where you'll see more bland answers than a media day - the event truly is awful to cover...but alas that's for another day).

I'll get to the Minnesota Timberwolves' new jerseys, the Oklahoma City Thunder situation and what in God's name Delonte West is doing to himself later in the post, but right now I would like to get into Marc Stein's Training Camp Power Rankings for ESPN.

Marc Stein does a great job of covering the NBA for the "Worldwide Leader" and his power rankings are always a hot button issue among NBA fans. Stein pretty much stays with the chalk for his first two selections as he projects the NBA champion Boston Celtics as No. 1 and the Los Angeles Lakers as the No. 2 team heading into the preseason. His 3-5 teams are also really not cause for debate in that everyone expects New Orleans, Houston and San Antonio to be finals contenders (that is if Houston ever makes it out the first round but the addition of Ron Artest could be end all that talk)

The six through ten slots is where the rankings really start to see some sizzle attached to them.

Stein has the Cleveland Cavaliers as the sixth-best team in the NBA and the second-best team in the Eastern Conference. You may remember the Cavs acquired Mo Williams this August to give LeBron James the help he needs. James nearly eliminated the eventual champion Celtics by himself last spring and the Cavs hope Wiliams is just the offensive spark they need.

The Pistons have been to six straight Eastern Conference championships but that really does not matter to Stein as he has them seventh. With a new coach, Michael Curry, the Pistons will have to prove that they are the same Pistons team that has dominated the regular season over the past couple of years.

Philly comes in at No. 8 and this is largely due to the fact that acquired Elton Brand this off-season. The city of Philadelphia has not won a championship in any sport since the Sixers won back in 1983 and Phila fans are hoping that the Elton Brand acquisition is just the stepping stone the city needs for that elusive championship.

The Jazz are ranked ninth but they are a very boring team and I don't really want to talk about them.

Rounding out the top ten are the Canadiens (i.e. the Toronto Raptors). The Raptors acquired Jermaine O'Neal from the Indiana Pacers this off-season and they hope his knees hold up so that he and Chris Bosh can form a very formidable duo. Plus Canada has the best national anthem - that should get them bonus points heading into the season.

That's all I'm going to delve dealing with the power rankings because frankly I feel like I need a nap and a cold beverage after only reviewing about 5 1/2 of the teams. I dont know how Stein ranks all 30 teams every week - the man's a machine.

Other Media Day related goodies 

- The Seattle Super Sonics...wait, make that the Oklahoma City Thunder might have the worst uniforms in professional sports

The whole sitaution is a train wreck down there in OKC. But back to the uniforms for a second. When I think of thunder, I think of colors such as black or grey - I definitely do not think of blue and orange. What a disaster this team is. At least the state of Oklahoma has two top 25 college football teams because those uniforms, along with the horrid play of the Thunder will make OKlahomans want to gouge their eyes out (probably a better solution than having to look at those hideous things for an extended period of time).

- Speaking of uniforms, the Minnesota Timberwolves unveiled their new digs and, well, they look like a WNBA team. If that's what they are going for, then more power to them (hell, Mike Miller looks like he's ready to go try out for the Lynx). Actually I'd probably be more apt to play in uniforms that look like they were made for a women's team than wear what the Thunder are being forced to endure (Did I mention how much I hate those wretched things and hope they are burned? I did, ok good).

_ And then there's Cavaliers' guard Delonte West. Delonte is going for the "scaring children look" this season - and I think he has succeeded in that. It appears that West may be growing out his hair in order to put it in corn-rows. Delonte if you are doing this, I beg of you please stop the madness right now. There's certain kinds of people that look good with corn-rows - I'm sorry but you're not one of them. Lighter skin and corn-rowed orange hair might cause Clevelanders to riot outside of Quicken Loans Arena. For the good of all mankind Delonte, go back to the shaved look.

Leading Scorers
Janel McCarville had 21 points for New York
Deanna Nolan led the Shock with 23 points

Glass Eaters
Cathrine Kraayeveld of New York and Taj McWilliams Franklin of Detroit both had 8 rebounds each

Helping Hand
Janel McCarville had four assists for New York

Central
Chicago (0-0)
Cleveland (0-0)
Detroit (0-0)
Indiana (0-0)
Milwaukee (0-0)

Southeast
Atlanta (0-0)
Charlotte (0-0)
Miami (0-0)
Orlando (0-0)
Washington (0-0)

Northwest
Denver (0-0)
Minnesota (0-0)
Oklahoma City (0-0)
Portland (0-0)
Utah (0-0)

Pacific
Golden State (0-0)
LA Clippers (0-0)
LA Lakers (0-0)
Phoenix (0-0)
Sacramento (0-0)

Southwest
Dallas (0-0)
Houston (0-0)
Memphis (0-0)
New Orleans (0-0)
San Antonio (0-0)

I know it's not a big deal. I get that. Yeah, the Celtics went to the White House, but it wasn't a political statement, nor a vote of confidence in an embattled, incompetent figurehead. Of course not.

It was just an obligatory photo opportunity; an easy way for an increasingly irrelevant President to score a few points with the sport fans of America. Or, for the less cynical, simply a nice bit of high-level acknowledgement for the hard-working Celtics.

But isn't it patently ridiculous, nigh absurd, that the Celtics are forced to meet Bush?

I'm not here to make cheap Dubya zingers -- they're nearly as played out as Michael Jackson jokes -- but why would a team of athletes want to meet an embarrassment to democracy like Bush? Are they forced to attend? If a politically-minded player justifiably opted to reject a Bush handshake, would they be fined or suspended?

The typical NBA player didn't grow up rich. They didn't grow up privileged, blessed by nepotism or undue favour. They worked ridiculously hard to be good at basketball -- one of the few ways a kid from the projects, or the neglected outer suburbs of America, can get serious money. Many of them could never afford college, were it not for the scholarships granted to them. Many, had their NBA dreams shattered like the thousands before them, would not be able to afford adequate healthcare.

So why would they want to meet a man like Bush, a manifestation of the cruel ease with which a white, untalented, unintelligent, uneducated goon can get rich and powerful?

Hell, maybe some of the Celtics are die-hard Republicans. I don't know. Maybe some Boston ballers adore the lofty tax breaks given to the rich.

Maybe some relate to Washington resident Gilbert Arenas, who recently disappointed his fans by spouting this ridiculous drivel:

It’s hard for me to vote, because since I’ve been in the NBA I’ve been in the upper class so I’ve been a Republican. If you have any type of money, you’re a Republican, period.

Whatever, Gilbert. I'm guessing most NBA players aren't real Bush family fans. I know Rasheed Wallace isn't. When asked about meeting Bush after the Pistons won the 2004 championship, Wallace had this to say:

I don’t have shit to say to [Bush]. I didn’t vote for him. It’s just something we have to do.

Right on, Rasheed.

Posted By: Anton

"I don't have one assistant that concentrates on smalls (guards) and one on the big guys, and one on offense and one on defense," Curry said. "I expect us to be well-rounded as coaches."

That's why during practices, Curry expects his assistants to take an active role in running offensive and defensive drills.

"I believe doing it that way, they (players) won't get tired of hearing me so quickly," Curry said. "And also, it gives our coaches a chance to really reinforce things and teach players.

"I don't think you can go two months as a coach and not coach a guy and then under duress of a game situation try to now coach a guy for the first time and get the full response that you need from a player. If they're coaching on a day-to-day basis and players have to give them their full attention, then when they're talking to them throughout a game, then they'll have their attention then as well."

This is an interesting take on dealing with your coaching staff.  I have often heard of coaches who like guys that specialize in one thing and then on the other hand I have heard of guys who want their assistants to be well-versed in all areas.

The bottom line is you should work together, don't have any secrets, not care who gets the credit and most of all, not worry about your next job.

-SF

Hoops135@hotmail.com

BasketballForum.com exclusive by DienerTime

DienerTime
Wallace is solid but VERY over rated. Some still mention him when they are talking about the best power forwards in the league but yet his numbers (12.7 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 1.8 apg. 1.7 bpg) tell a whole different story. Billups is still a good point guard, one of my favorites, and his production will not fall as the aformentioned will. But he may not be as good as recent years... (Read the preview)

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Awkward Interviews: Rodney Stuckey [It's Just Sports, via TrueHoop]
" ... when I'm in the game with Chauncey, coach wants to have the ball in Chauncey's hands more. When I'm in with Rip, he wants the ball in my hands more so Rip can come off screens and what not. Things are gonna be the same offensively with stuff like that, but I'll tell you one thing, our defense and defensive standpoint, things are going to be a lot different. We're gonna be picking up full court, trying to get back to our old ways of playing Bad Boys defense. That's something to look forward to this coming year."

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seemingly, coming from every corner of the net.

Bad Boyz II ... featuring M[ichael]C[urry] Hammer-ball makes it's debut, for real, in Motown ... Wed Oct 29 2008, at the Palace vs the Pacers.

Now you know exactly what the intro music SHOULD be.

PS. If the Lakers hadn't already been annointed in this space as eventual 2008-2009 NBA Titleists, with a Legendary 70+ regular season W's to their credit, IF ALL HANDS ON DECK CAN STAY HEALTHY! ... even yours truly MIGHT be swayed into thinking that this year's Pistons Crew has a legit [underdog's] shot at knocking down the reigning CHAMPS ... and, THEN, taking out, again, Showtime.v2, in Lalaland. Might being the operative word, of course. Still, something to keep in mind, as the season ahead develops.

PPS. I Love THIS Game, I & II.