Ok, Ben is gone and some think the Pistons are forever doomed because of his departure. We all know Ben was the face of the Detroit Pistons. He was everything the franchise represented; hard work, defense, that blue collar mentality which is Detroit.

Ironically, thanks to David Stern, also gone is the hard nosed in your face defense. The no "free chili" drive down the lane will result in a flagrant foul, perhaps a suspension and fine.

The Pistons created this type of defense, back in the late 80`s and early 90`s, and again the past few years. This is a new day and it is fast becoming a new game in the NBA.

With the emergence of D-Wade and King James, the free-wheeling Suns and others, Stern has turned his nose at low scoring defensive oriented teams in favor of high flying-dont touch me-run & gun style entertainment for basketball.

I guess what I am trying to say here is; can the Detroit Pistons, a team we have known so long to be defined by defense adapt to this new style of NBA play, and win a championship?

For myself it would be somewhat strange to watch a Piston team run up and down the floor scoring 98-100 points a game, and giving up the same amount of points!!

It just wouldn`t be right.

I don`t know what the future holds, but maybe then the Pistons and myself will be ready to accept that change is inevitable, but not right now, for me anyway.

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"We are going to be really good offensively and definsively, we are going to be a team that can beat you 120-110, or beat you 80-70" Coach Michael Curry on the 2008-2009 Pistons.

For most of the regular season last year they did score 98-100 (or more) a night. Wallace was tops at some things but very limited in other ways. Lacking a single dominant player like other top NBA teams (Duncan, Wade, LeBron, etc), Wallace was the key weapon the Pistons had to neutralize their advantage, coupled with a complementary lineup of 4 very good B+/A- type guys. The Pistons are still a very good team, but they will have more trouble than in the past competing with the the superstar dominated NBA elites.

But they certainly didn`t give up that many..........

I hate these rule changes and I hate that Wade, James and so on getting calls for almost everything. Stern never learned to deal with the departure of Jordan. The rules should be as they were back in '98 or so. I can't imagine the Pistons being an offensive- minded team. That would be against nature somehow. Their defense was weak last year (I still haven't beared how Randolph, Bosh and all those young PF's dominated our paint) and will be even weaker this year. Still, I don't think it's possible these days to win a ship with defense.

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I'm a wannabe- GM, but I stand to it.

I really don't care how they win. If they can win a championship running and gunning so be it. I'd enjoy watching it.

I loved and I am very proud of the Bad Boys and the 2004 team. But honestly, if we had a "showtime-like" team (No Kobe jerks please), I think I'd like it even more. It's fun to watch.

Boo hiss on Darth, whatever! It's the truth.

Can they do it with offense? I don't think they can unless they get a stud who can light it up. The Pistons found a unique way to win, and the NBA will not allow them (or anyone else?) to use that method again. So we'd better get Marion if we can.

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"Quite simply captain, I examined the problem from all angles, and it was plainly hopeless. Logic informed me that under the circumstances, the only logical action would have to be one of desperation. Logical decision, logically arrived at." -- Spock

I agree with you Darth. I don't care if the Pistons are a running team or a defensive team, as long as they:

1. choose a system that fits its players
2. bring in additional players that fit that system and phase out players that don't
3. are able to execute the system
4. work hard and give 100% effort
5. WIN with the system

There are 2 ways of looking at winning. Either you score more points than the opponent (a la the Suns) or you give up less points than your oppenent (a la our Pistons).

Both can be effective, but with the rule changes and emphasis on offence, going for a more fast tempo attack oriented system might be in our best interest - from a self preservation point of view.

Doesn't matter to me, as long as we get it done!

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After watching the replay of the world cup game, I have to wonder again why the NBA feels the need to increase scoring.

Why 160 points/ game is not enough when the most popular sport on Earth produces 2 points/game, is beyond me.

How many sports have more scoring than basketball? Darts and bowling are the only 2 that I can think of and they don't exactly have great ratings. Stern is barking up the wrong tree.

My bowling scores are lower than the Pistons score in a typical game and my golf scores are higher than they score.

Stern turning the league toward run-n-gun will blow up in his face. Defense is a BIG part of every major sport...and even the lesser ones.

I can already see myself growing tired of free-wheeling offense with no D...kinda like watching the Allstar game...except it will happen EVERY regular season game night.

Maybe you should switch to lawn bowling and Frisbee golf.

Geez, I didn't even think they had invented the golf course in Idaho yet.