Top 5 Pistons of All Time

[StickAndMove]

Zeke
Bing
Lanier
Dumars
Grant Hill

Ben Wallace, George Yardley, Chauncey, Lamb, DeBusschere would fill out my top ten.

Here's a list of top 100 Pistons from NBA.com:

http://www.nba.com/pistons/history/alltime100_50-1.html

[hoophabit]

Isiah
Dumars
Rodman
Ben Wallace
Laimbeer

Lanier, Bing, Yardley, etc may all have been greater individual players than some on my list, but they didn't bring the Pistons franchise the great success that the guys on my list did, so I have to give them the edge overall if we're talking careers as Pistons only and what they did for the Pistons.

This is pretty close in my opinion. There's always room for argument. I know Rodman turned into a circus act, but he had as much to do with the first two championships as anyone. This is a case where a players stats don't tell it all. Rodman's defense, rebounding and general toughness were huge. I might want to rank Laimbeer above Wallace based on number of championships, years of service and balanced game. The guy could really rebound and score (including shooting his FTs), and his defense was underrated.

[Uncle Mxy]

I know Rodman turned into a circus act, but he had as much to do with the first two championships as anyone. This is a case where a players stats don't tell it all. Rodman's defense, rebounding and general toughness were huge.

Rodman sprained his ankle during the second championship series and missed games as a consequence.
He played <16 mpg and clearly wasn't himself.
Fortunately, we won without him.

[hoophabit]

I know Rodman turned into a circus act, but he had as much to do with the first two championships as anyone. This is a case where a players stats don't tell it all. Rodman's defense, rebounding and general toughness were huge.

Rodman sprained his ankle during the second championship series and missed games as a consequence.
He played <16 mpg and clearly wasn't himself.
Fortunately, we won without him.

Yes, but they had to get there didn't they? Rodman's contributions during those years was key.

[beau]

How is Billups not there?

5 time all star, 3 time all NBA, Finals MVP

Arguably the best all around player on the pistons from 2003-2008, which coincide Bens defensive dominance.

If anything, Joe Dumars is getting overrated here just because he played so long for the Pistons.

If Joe doesnt f@@@ up and trade him, Billups would have probably gotten a couple more allstar selections and still been the face of the franchise.

Its sill mind boggling JoeD completely undervalued Billups' effect on winning basketball. The dude was an ultimate winner, and a person that sacrificed personal statistics for the better of the team.

[Redeemed]

How is Billups not there?

5 time all star, 3 time all NBA, Finals MVP

Arguably the best all around player on the pistons from 2003-2008, which coincide Bens defensive dominance.

If anything, Joe Dumars is getting overrated here just because he played so long for the Pistons.

If Joe doesnt f@@@ up and trade him, Billups would have probably gotten a couple more allstar selections and still been the face of the franchise.

Its sill mind boggling JoeD completely undervalued Billups' effect on winning basketball. The dude was an ultimate winner, and a person that sacrificed personal statistics for the better of the team.

Joe Dumars also possesses a pretty impressive list of accomplishments. Joe was critical to the Pistons success. It's a little unfair, well inaccurate to call him overrated. Tenure didn't get Joe added to the list, his accomplishments did.

All Rookie team
6 time NBA Allstar
3 time all NBA
5 time All Defensive team
2 time NBA champion as a player
NBA finals MVP
Elected to the Hall of Fame

[hoophabit]

Yes, if anything Dumars is underrated by a lot of people because he played with the spectacularly talented Thomas. Sadly, I'm old enough to remember and there were plenty of nights where Dumars was the better player. Billups is right there, but I can't rank him over any of the top 5. Thomas Dumars and Laimbeer seem obvious from the 2 championship team. Rodman, who was scouted and drafted by the team was a second round maybe all-time steal. Even though he went off the deep end and ended up moving on, he still ended as maybe the best pound for pound rebounder that ever played. An amazing athlete in his prime. Wallace was another freak athlete, and the 3rd championship wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for him. Wallace taking the pounding from Shaq and pretty much playing him straight up earns him a place on this list in my view.

[Heatin4]

No list with Billups in it yet?

He would be up there as a floor general but what category does he lead as a Piston? Also those guys on the top five played out most if not all of their tenure with the Pistons. Something Billups as a traveler has not done.

[StickAndMove]

In my opinion, the most underrated players are those who played so long ago that it's unlikely there are many fans on here who can remember watching them play.

For example, Laimbeer and Ben Wallace are ranked above Lanier and Bing on the majority of the lists. As great as Lamb and Big Ben were, they weren't the same caliber of players that Lanier and Bing were. The stats indicate this, as well as the Hall of Fame. I know Ben's not eligible yet, but he's clearly not close. No disrespect -- I have him in my top ten, but it's the truth.

I think Lamb and Ben are being overrated because they epitomized "Detroit basketball" and also because they played recently enough that many of the posters on here likely lived through their careers. It could also have to do with being on great teams, where they played an important role in championships.

[hoophabit]

In my opinion, the most underrated players are those who played so long ago that it's unlikely there are many fans on here who can remember watching them play.

For example, Laimbeer and Ben Wallace are ranked above Lanier and Bing on the majority of the lists. As great as Lamb and Big Ben were, they weren't the same caliber of players that Lanier and Bing were. The stats indicate this, as well as the Hall of Fame. I know Ben's not eligible yet, but he's clearly not close. No disrespect -- I have him in my top ten, but it's the truth.

I think Lamb and Ben are being overrated because they epitomized "Detroit basketball" and also because they played recently enough that many of the posters on here likely lived through their careers. It could also have to do with being on great teams, where they played an important role in championships.

Yes, I'm not old enough to remember the best parts of Lanier and even older players careers. A lot of what I know is based on film and print. I do assign a fairly heavy weighting to having played for championship teams. In many ways it's not fair, but at the same time it's the ultimate measure of success. Lanier, Bing and others were great players, but just didn't play for especially successful Piston teams.

[Snakebites]

No list with Billups in it yet?

He would be up there as a floor general but what category does he lead as a Piston? Also those guys on the top five played out most if not all of their tenure with the Pistons. Something Billups as a traveler has not done.

What category? You mean measured out over a career?

Honestly, I don't care about that. He was the clear best player on a team of ours that won 63 games, played with us for a number of years in which he made multiple all star teams, and we won the finals MVP and was just a few minutes short of winning a second.

I've got him over Ben Wallace and on the list alongside Isiah, Dumars, Lanier, and Bing. Put him 5th out of that group if you like but I don't see a 5th player that deserves to be ranked over him.

[StickAndMove]

No list with Billups in it yet?

He would be up there as a floor general but what category does he lead as a Piston? Also those guys on the top five played out most if not all of their tenure with the Pistons. Something Billups as a traveler has not done.

What category? You mean measured out over a career?

Honestly, I don't care about that. He was the clear best player on a team of ours that won 63 games, played with us for a number of years in which he made multiple all star teams, and we won the finals MVP and was just a few minutes short of winning a second.

I've got him over Ben Wallace and on the list alongside Isiah, Dumars, Lanier, and Bing. Put him 5th out of that group if you like but I don't see a 5th player that deserves to be ranked over him.

I think you can make a great case that Billups deserves that 5th spot. I took Grant Hill over him because they each played six seasons for the Pistons and I think Grant was a better player than Chauncey. I was trying to consider them all as individuals and not favor those who were in great situations -- Chauncey had huge advantages over Grant in terms of teammates as well as coaches.