After witnessing the collapse of the Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals, I wonder if the fall began with the departure of Ben Wallace.
Granted, this Detroit Pistons team won the conference regular season title (not to mention the title for the best Central Division since Jordan and company's last title reign in 1997-'98) without "Big Ben". Also, they did not make and win the Finals until after they traded for Rasheed.
However, while Chauncey is "Mr. Big Shot" Billups, Rip Hamilton is 'Mr. Consistency', Tayshaun Prince is 'The Stopper', and Rasheed Wallace is 'Mr. Mismatch', Ben Wallace had more or less been the heart of the franchise the past few years. When the Pistons ascended to the top of the conference with their defense, Big Ben was named Defensive Player of the Year four times, not to mention having five combined appearances on All-NBA Second and Third Teams. He regularly kept in check the best big men in the league.
The difference in the team's performance versus the Cavaliers in the playoffs is solid testimony. Last year, the Cavs averaged 80.9 PPG in the seven-game series; this year, they averaged 89.7. Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who was held to 3 rebounds in last year's deciding Game 7, had 12 in Game 6 Saturday, including 7 offensive rebounds. Meanwhile, the team showed no improvements offensively despite a Ben-less lineup. Thus, the subtraction of Ben and the shift in team philosophy failed.
Never before had the volatile Rasheed Wallace lost control during the playoffs like he did during the Cavs series. Without the other Wallace to keep him in check, Rasheed succumbed to frustration, misfiring his jersey into a teammate after a loss in Cleveland and then fouling out and getting ejected in the closing game of the series. His anger complemented the struggles of Billups, Prince, and Hamilton.
Take away the heart of a defense and the defense is scattered; take away the heart of a team and the team is fragile. "DETROIT BASKETBALL!" may still echo throughout the Palace, but now the man in the middle belongs to Chicago and the Eastern Conference title belongs to Cleveland.
Granted, this Detroit Pistons team won the conference regular season title (not to mention the title for the best Central Division since Jordan and company's last title reign in 1997-'98) without "Big Ben". Also, they did not make and win the Finals until after they traded for Rasheed.
However, while Chauncey is "Mr. Big Shot" Billups, Rip Hamilton is 'Mr. Consistency', Tayshaun Prince is 'The Stopper', and Rasheed Wallace is 'Mr. Mismatch', Ben Wallace had more or less been the heart of the franchise the past few years. When the Pistons ascended to the top of the conference with their defense, Big Ben was named Defensive Player of the Year four times, not to mention having five combined appearances on All-NBA Second and Third Teams. He regularly kept in check the best big men in the league.
The difference in the team's performance versus the Cavaliers in the playoffs is solid testimony. Last year, the Cavs averaged 80.9 PPG in the seven-game series; this year, they averaged 89.7. Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who was held to 3 rebounds in last year's deciding Game 7, had 12 in Game 6 Saturday, including 7 offensive rebounds. Meanwhile, the team showed no improvements offensively despite a Ben-less lineup. Thus, the subtraction of Ben and the shift in team philosophy failed.
Never before had the volatile Rasheed Wallace lost control during the playoffs like he did during the Cavs series. Without the other Wallace to keep him in check, Rasheed succumbed to frustration, misfiring his jersey into a teammate after a loss in Cleveland and then fouling out and getting ejected in the closing game of the series. His anger complemented the struggles of Billups, Prince, and Hamilton.
Take away the heart of a defense and the defense is scattered; take away the heart of a team and the team is fragile. "DETROIT BASKETBALL!" may still echo throughout the Palace, but now the man in the middle belongs to Chicago and the Eastern Conference title belongs to Cleveland.