By Tony Targan, TalentedMrRoto.com
September 17, 2006 - 10:31 a.m.

2005-06 OVERVIEW

Can Nazr Mohammed fill the big shoes of Big Ben? (Allen Einstein/NBAE/Getty Images)

The Detroit Pistons finally got their due during the 2005-06 NBA season. Four All-Star selections, a record consecutive games streak for the same starting five, the best regular season record and home court advantage throughout the playoffs: They had it all. This hard-working bunch from the Motor City was on cruise control, and Pistons fans were revved up for another NBA Finals run. Then something funny happened on the way to their happy ending. After barely surviving the Cavaliers, the Pistons got torched by the Heat in the Eastern Conference finals.

After watching Miami go on to beat Dallas in the NBA Finals, many Pistons observers felt that their defensive-oriented approach was now passé in the offensive-minded NBA. Although Detroit made a legitimate effort to re-sign Ben Wallace, the four-time defensive player of the year left town for the greener pastures – and greater greenbacks – offered by the Chicago Bulls.

To many, Big Ben was the face of the Pistons and the heart and soul of their suffocating team defense. His departure creates a huge hole, but also opens the possibility that the Pistons will have to step on the gas offensively rather than rely on deflating the other team's tires on defense.

ADDITIONS:
Nazr Mohammed, C
Ronald Murray, SG
Ronald Dupree, SF
Cheick Samb, C
Will Blalock, G

LOSSES:
Ben Wallace, C
Maurice Evans, SF

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP:
C – Nazr Mohammed
PF – Rasheed Wallace
SF – Tayshaun Prince
SG – Richard Hamilton
PG – Chauncey Billups

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN 2006

The Pistons thrive on challenges and probably play better with a chip on their shoulder than they do as frontrunners. Last season was all about proving that they could win without Larry Brown as head coach. This season, the team will have to overcome the loss of Ben Wallace.

The emphasis on greater offensive production could be a bonanza for Pistons players. Last season, the team averaged 96.8 points per game and only Richard Hamilton (20.1) topped 20 PPG. Chauncey Billups (18.5), Tayshaun Prince (14.1) and Rasheed Wallace (15.1) are all capable of scoring more. With more shots should also come more free throws, three-pointers, rebounds and assists. On the "flip" side (expect this phrase to become a cliché on a team with both Flip Saunders and Flip Murray), both steals and blocks will be down without Big Ben patrolling the lane.

KEY BENCH POSITIONS / POSITION BATTLES

Starting Center – The burden of filling Ben's big shoes falls squarely on the acquisition of Nazr Mohammed. In reality, this is an impossible act to follow, and Mohammed won't come close to Wallace's multi-category contributions. But Mohammed will rebound the ball: he ranked ninth in the NBA with 14.4 rebounds per 48 minutes, so the center job is his to lose. If you don't have faith in Mohammed, you could roll the dice with Antonio McDyess, who seemed to get stronger as the season went on. In the playoffs, McDyess averaged 7.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, and shot 55.9 percent from the field in only 20 minutes per game and could definitely benefit from an up-tempo offense.

Reserve Shooting Guard – Ronald "Flip" Murray could provide the Pistons with much-needed scoring punch off the bench in a role reminiscent of Vinnie "the Microwave" Johnson. Murray averaged 13.5 points per game after being traded to the Cavaliers in mid-season, but he won't come close to the 36.7 minutes per game he got in Cleveland. Battling Flip for minutes will be the Carlos Delfino, who has yet to live up to the promise he displayed as a member of the 2004 gold medal Argentinean Olympic team.

PLAYERS WE LOVE

Tayshaun Prince was the only Pistons' starter not to be named an All-Star last season, yet he was their most consistent performer at times, especially in the playoffs when he averaged 41 minutes per game. Prince is exactly the sort of multi-category performer that helps wins fantasy leagues, as he does a little bit of everything. His numbers – 14.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.5 blocks – were down last season, but he should bounce back as he will be relied upon more heavily this year without Big Ben in town.

Rasheed Wallace is no longer the other half of "Wallace X 2," but he might be the better fantasy value, especially if he qualifies at center. Few big men can fill it up from three-point range like Sheed, and his other averages are impressive too: 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.6 blocks.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

Nazr Mohammed's biggest problem is that he will be unfairly compared to Ben Wallace. The weight of those expectations may be too much to bear for a role player whose career averages are only 19 minutes, 7.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, 0.5 steals and 0.6 blocks per game. At 29, he still has some productive years left but do not expect a huge jump over his career numbers despite the probable increase in minutes.

BOTTOM LINE

The Pistons are a resilient bunch, and they will find a way to compete in the "shoot first, ask questions later" NBA. Last season, freed from Larry Brown's offensive shackles, Detroit showed that they could play more up-tempo at times. This season, without Ben Wallace, they will have no choice but to outgun their opponents. All of this means that Pistons starters should be a good value on draft day. The "Stones" – as they are known in Detroit – should renew their "Shattered" hoop dreams and be more than just "Respectable." While it might be "Just My Imagination," I boldly predict that Rip, Chauncey, Tayshaun and Sheed will bring great "Satisfaction" to their fantasy owners this year.

The views expressed by TalentedMrRoto.com represent only the views of the writers; they do not represent the views of the NBA or any NBA team.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT: Player Rankings | Depth Charts | Other Team Previews