Clingman - No Mello probably would not have played as much as he wanted to but he would have been a different player under LB and would be worth a lot more than Darko is now. Prince just had the breakout series against Orlando at the time and fit LB's controlled defensive style more than the rookie Mello.

Yea Dumars did draft for need as Hatter pointed out. At the time we did need a 3rd big to play behind Ben and Okur and the opportunity was there to even start over Okur. If Dumars was drafting for need then wouldn't he have chosen Bosh if Darko was not in the draft? In that case Bosh would have been more ready to play after a season and we may not have signed Dyess which would have opened things up for Bosh as the 3rd big.

In hindsight. Probably the best thing to do would have been to trade the 2nd pick to the Clipps for their 9th or 10th ( whatever they had ) plus a couple of future 1st rounders. Thats assuming Dumars would have known that ATL was going to give Sheed away and Dyess was about to make a comeback off the bench for a contender.

LOL.. lots of ASSumptions

I believe the Clips had a #5 pick when they grabbed Kaman... this guy is playing real well right now... Kaman certainly came in much more developed than Darko... we coulda got a solid center... and as you mentioned another pick or player for sliding down in the draft.

Hopefully well have some answers by next year (think I said this the last two years)

One thing I don't buy is the crap they keep saying about him improving while practicing against the vets and sitting and learning... let's see it.

Last year I would have said Tayshaun, easily. But this year the two have gone in opposite directions, IMO. Tayshaun used to be very creative with the ball offensively. Always getting easy points in the paint on those "inbetween" shots. Now he's just a spot up shooter, and a solid defensive player. When was the last time he did anything in a post-up situation? Seems like he used to have at least 2-3 of those "wow, that's an un-guardable move" plays every game.

A true Piston does not refuse to go into a game. I have no respect for a player who sits out of a game that he is paid millions of dollars to play because he doesn't agree with the coaches decision. It is telling the fan that worked his tush off to be able to afford tickets.......Sorry, but I am an ungreatful basketball player, who will take away from the game you spent your hard earned money on, that makes me able to make millions with a game because I am puffed up.

No thanks, I will take a hard working kid, who isn't screaming show me the quan. One selfish player could mess up the whole system.

FreshPrice22. Curious - seems with that handle that you would be supporting Prince. Prince has not been doing too bad this season. He was on quit a tear at the end of last season. He is still getting inside. Perhaps he will turn it on more as the season goes on. If anything to me his defense seems to have slipped.

Merc, I hear you. The francise attitude has changed. Not really heard very many excuses at all this season. I am not sure what is going on except the trade rumors seem to have some teeth.

Yea, I'm still a fan of Tayshaun, but he hasn't impressed me this year. I was hoping last year was a permanent change for him. To me, he was our best player for most of the year last year. It seemed like he was good for an effecient 16-24 points a night. This year he has turned into a perimeter guy who just tries to score on the break and on those flare out plays where he has a foot on the three point line. He also isn't working hard to get rebounds either (he and Sheed have fallen off big time on that).

If he was busting his ass and just slumping I would understand, but he seems like he is less focused this year after getting his hefty payday. I mean, in the last 34 games he has scored 20 in a whopping 3 of them. Last year he had 14 20+ point efforts from Feb-April alone. And it's not like he's just being more unselish, he's just not being effecient or aggressive. His assists are down as well.

Do you think it's Flip's system? Tayshaun slumping? Or does it have something to do with that contract?

Maybe Prince is just a second half of the season type of guy.

Prince is leveling off? This has been his best season so far.

Simply not true- Tayshaun has regressed from last season- I hope it's not because he already has his big contract so that he doesn't hjave anything to prove like many other cats who only play good in the final year of their contract.

I think the team is much more balanced and with Sheed demanding more of the ball (GOOD THING) and what might be more important, Prince remembers being DRAINED by the time the playoffs were in progress, and even if not on purpose he's coasting a bit most nights so he'll have it to bring come June. he's shown up for the big games this year... see SA with career high in rebounds.

Isn't it a great things when we get so picky about our team.... our problems are just so serious... Can we imagine being in Miami's fans place right now..... now thats a mess, and with shaq's contract they know there window is now or never.