I think Billups stock is definitely on a slide. He's valuable to any team, but his individual worth is highly questionable since he has started to struggle. That's the kind of stuff Joe D taps in to when he plays hardball ala Ben Wallace.

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They are the archetype for dominance. They are the gatekeepers of the conference. They are the Detroit Pistons.

Besides the loss, I think that was one of the most helpful game the team has played the entire season. I learned a lot about the team that makes me think we have a legitimate chance at a finals. First, most of the team has the flu. It is obvious. They are lackluster and a step slow. Nevertheless, they showed me a few things:

1. Prince has instilled confidence in me that he may finally "get it." With Hamilton / Webber out, there are many more shots open and Prince has taken them. Not only is his jumper falling, but he is back to scoring off his man. This is pivotal as he maybe are best mismatch come playoff time.

2. The defense is becoming just sick. During the two runs (2nd qtr / 4th qtr) the defense played awesome. Finally, I saw the team defend the pick and roll with some precision. This maybe because Maxiel was in instead of webber, but most of the time it is the guards fault for recovering to late and forcing the switch. As bad as they played today, I thought all the perimeter players did a good job at that.

Second, the trap defense employed by Flip was awesome, maybe better than when we ran it with LB. The trap forced a lot of bad decisions, but didn't (as many traps do) lead to uncontested layups by the Bulls, because the help side D was there.

Basically, the reason that I am so optimistic is because the sudden loss of all these players is forcing or allowing Flip to try a bunch of stuff. Were as most teams run a single type of offense (p & r, motion) the Pistons have the versatility to run a bunch of types. Hopefully, Flip is smart enough to use them all. Also, the multiple defensive looks that the Stones can now run will make it really hard for opposing offesnes to cue up on one particular weakness. This diversity of skills the team has I think is what will separate them from the rest. Especially in the playoffs were the ability to adapt is what makes the win. This is were we are different from last year where we had to rely on Hamilton / Billups creating and the LB ere man on man defense.

Micro, I am sure you are disagreeing about the zero D part. The part about him just standing around on offense when he does not have the ball is 100% true.

This is why I think he's more of a point guard than a 2. He does better when he has the ball and is a threat to drive. Not better than Chaunce, but better than he does as CB's wingman.

true, but you shouldn't be leaving your feet with the game tied and only a few seconds left on the clock. especially here, where hinrich was behind the 3-point line and going to have to take a tough shot ... just get a hand in his face and take your chances that he misses, especially since hinrich is a terrible shooter.

Boy that game made me mad. The one positive was that Chicago looks like the Indiana teams of the last couple years - tough, grinding clubs that ultimately had a pretty low ceiling. We played like crap for three quarters of the game, without two starters, on their court, and it was still a two-point game that included the luckiest basket you're ever likely to see. But would somebody rebound the damn ball already?

That's no different than Billups. Or Webber. Or at times, Tayshaun. Or Lindsey.

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They are the archetype for dominance. They are the gatekeepers of the conference. They are the Detroit Pistons.

As improbable shot as any, that in essence could have been categorized as the winning shot or the difference in the game

One good thing, Bulls fans will decieve themselves into thinking they are just as good until the playoffs come and we smoke 'em.