Joe Dumars has been able to bandage up some of the exit wounds that handicapped the team all last season. The glaring weakness in the frontcourt has been legitimized with the addition of sheer size with the signing of two 7 foot Yugoslavian players. European centers Ratko Varda and Zelijko Rebraca both inked multi-year contracts. Also added muscle is former all-star and Phoenix Sun Cliff Robinson.
For the first time in over five years the Detroit front office will release a legitimate team to begin a season. Last years team was a cast consisting of the NBA second leading scorer and second leading rebounder and not much else with the remaining comprising of a cast of journeymen and CBA caliber players.
In a busy off season Joe Dumars has revitalized the team and retooled the caliber of his players to once again compete for playoff contention. The initial lineup Rick Carlisle has currently will be the following:
Point Guard is unquestionablely going to be Chucky Atkins barring a Howard Eisley trade before the start of the season. Although Mateen Cleaves is the hometown favorite, of the two younger guards Chucky is simply better at performing on a consistent basis and on game night, where Mateen has at time seem lost in his rookie year. The trial period has long ended and both Cleaves and Atkins our on the clock. Carlisle stated that the two will be able to compete for the starting job, but there will be no guard controversy, and the position will not jump back and forth.
Jerry Stackhouse will command the 2 spot, but Joe Dumars is desperately seeking a legitimate backup that can fill in quality minutes and be able to contribute. The team may use their mid level exception to bring in journeymen Jimmy Jackson. Dana Barros will be resigned primarily to give the team a 3 pointer shooter after trading Jud Buechler.
Already inked as a starter Rodney White will begin his career ahead of the game, as it will be his position to lose. Joe Dumars is extremely confident in his ability to produce right away, and has resigned Corliss Williamson to help in speeding the process and as a legitimate insurance plan for any growing pains. Big nasty although not a Webber caliber player as many has unfairly compared him to, is more in the mold of a true Bad Boy, he has shown a deep fortitude to win and has always put Detroit as his first choice since arriving here via the Jerome Williams trade. He can flat out play and has released a lot of the scoring burden placed on Jerry Stackhouse, averaging over 17 points a game during the final 20 games of the season. He has far been under appreciated where ever he has played in including Sacramento, and Toronto look for him to be a big positive for the Pistons this year.
For the first time since the championship years over a decade ago, Rick Carlisle will have the opportunity to choose the best player to play a position in a competitive manner. For years the Pistons lineup was decided on the lesser of the two evils. Instead Carlisle will have both Clifford Robinson and Ben Wallace to choose from as his primary power forward. Look for both players to share time at that slot at the beginning of the season while White and Rebraca mature into their positions. The predicted likelihood is Wallace holding the center position he played last year and Robinson would play the four, because it is not expected that either Varda or Rebraca will be ready to start immediately.
Initial Starting Lineup for the 2001-2001 Season:
PG Howard Eisley or Chucky Atkins
OG Jerry Stackhouse
SF Rodney White
PF Clifford Robinson
C Ben Wallace
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