The BIGS

Rasheed Wallace is not just a good player. He is great. He is nigh unstoppable when he gets it going in the post and because of his range he is a constant threat when he runs the high pick and roll with Billups. How many times have you heard this, "Rasheed shoots to many threes"? Wrong, Rasheed is versatile. His range is much more of an asset to his game than a detriment. He stretches defenses with the three ball. You think Big Z wants to come out and guard Rasheed 23 feet from the bucket? No, no he doesn't. Pulling shot blockers out of their comfort zones allows Prince to abuse people in the post and allows the Piston's guards to drive with impunity. Rasheed's fade-away jumper is the toughest shot to defend since the Skyhook. He's 6'11" his release is high and he's fading away. That's no slouch defending him in the pic, that's All-NBA 1st Teamer Dwight Howard getting torched. Despite the potentcy of his offense Rasheed is key to the Piston's title run because of his defense. He (along with the other Piston's Bigs)kept big Dwight out of his comfort zone and forced him into bad shots and turnovers. I like 'Sheed, always have. His emotion is his biggest strength and biggest weakness. But he is a great player and if you ask the Pistons, a great teammate. Ask them what they think of his outbursts and they just reply, "'Sheed's gotta be 'Sheed." Amen to that.

I have to be honest when McDyess began shooting jumpers in the 4th quarter each shot was preempted by a sharp inhale from your's truly. When 'Dyess get's rolling his jumper is nasty, but when he's off...well he's off. He was rolling in Orlando. McDyess brings alot to the team. His jumper, strength in the post on both D and O and hunger. He has got to be the hungriest vet on the team. He wasn't there for '04 championship and he tasted the bitterness of Game 7 in San Antonio in '05, the Heat debacle in '06 and the LBJ dismantling in '07. That hunger is important and I hope 'Dyess continues to motivate the team the way he did after he donned the mask this year. He was an absolute beast in Game 5 vs. Orlando. The Magic looked helpless as he flew all over the court grabbing rebounds, hitting shots, snagging loose balls and, along with the rest of the squad, playing suffocating D. Every player on the team plays a key roll but if McDyess continues to bring the strength and energy (particularly on the boards) that he brought vs. Orlando it will make the Piston's bid for the title that much stronger.

Tayshaun, the unsung All-Star, the Stopper, Mr. Consistent. Tay has more upside than any other vet on the team and it is easy to imagine him leading the team in the future. Flip moving him to point-forward was a nice move. He handles the ball well, makes good decisions and is another match-up nightmare. Where can't he score from? He pulverizes smaller players in the post and drives past bigger players to the bucket. His jump hook is very tough to defend and when he gets by his man he dunks the ball with authority. He shoots the three at 33% and is shooting inside the arc at a scintilating 56% in the playoffs. Of course he does all this AND draws the opposing team's best perimeter player where he becomes a walking migraine for the opposition. Just ask Andre Iguodala and Hedo Turkoglu.

I was going to include J-Max in this edition of DP Today but I will include him in my next segment: The Zoo Crew and You.

-Peace