http://www.freep.com/article/20091026/S ... ng-defenseHard to see Pistons playing defense
The Pistons have said all the right things about staying committed to playing defense. Do you think the roster is capable of doing it though?
There are three types of great defensive players in basketball.
1. The all-around player who is so competitive that he not only wants to destroy you offensively, but he wants to prevent you from scoring every time on defense, too. Examples – Jordan, Kobe, KG.
2. The player who is so limited in one area of his game that he completely dedicates himself to the other parts of the game that only require hustle and heart. Examples – Ben Wallace (circa 2004), Bruce Bowen, Mark Eaton
3. Players on good defensive teams who instinctively raise their games to fit in with the players around them so that as a team, they are a collective force. Examples – Chauncey Billups, Dwyane Wade.
By my count, after an exhaustive look at the Pistons roster, they have a grand total of one of these players. And that may be being generous. Look up and down the roster and what are each of these guys known for – offense. Rip – offense. Ben Gordon – scoring in bunches. Charlie Villaneuva – scoring and rebounding, but certainly not a commanding presence down low. So basically we’re left with Ben Wallace and Tayshaun Prince. I come here not to bury Wallace, but I think my feelings on him are clear. In his prime, a defensive force. But his prime ended right about the time the sub-prime crisis began. Maybe he’ll be a leader and advisor on this team, but he won’t be a defender. So then we have Prince, who’s defensive legacy has long been debated.He rose to prominence here in Detroit by being a McGrady-stopper, which I always thought was a gross exaggeration. He is not a stopper by any means. But against players like McGrady in his prime (there’s that word again) or LeBron or Kobe, there’s no such thing. Prince still does a lot of things well and is long enough to defend almost any position on the floor. He’s a fine defensive player but not a difference maker. He’s not good enough to stop any of the superstars in this league. And his defensive presence isn’t enough to rub off on the other offensive players to turn this into a defense-first team.I talked with Villanueva last week and asked him if we should prepare ourselves for some 132-129 games this season and he laughed and said no, it’s defense first. But I don’t see it. The identity of these players are all offensive, and I mean “offensive” in a good way. Because of that, I think the defense sometimes this season will be offensive, and I mean “offensive” in a bad way.
