From Dennis Velasco,
Your Guide to Basketball.
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After losing Big Ben, the coaching issues, working around the technical foul thing, is Detroit now poised to come out of the East yet again?

Natalie: Detroit is looking better every day. With the addition of C-Webb, who has given much more than expected, this team had arguably the best starting five in the league. It’s pick your poison with Detroit, any one of their starters can go off on a given night. I don’t see anyone in the East being able to take them in a series.

Atma Brother #1: Definitely. Bringing Chris Webber back home might be the shrewdest move of the season. Sure, CWebb is nowhere near the balla extraordinaire that he was pre-knee injury, but he's still a very savvy veteran big man who is capable of dropping 20-10-5 on any given night. Guys like that don't grown on trees. Joe Dumars, unlike the many clueless GM's in the league, grasps this very simple concept: Young teams can be fun to watch, but they don't win (see Celtics, Boston and Hawks, Atlanta). Old teams win.

Dave: With Dwyane Wade’s shoulder injury likely putting down the already-hobbling champs, who’s going to stop them? Toronto’s too new, Washington can’t defend, and I think in a seven-game series the Pistons’ experience--especially in the backcourt--will trump Chicago’s youth and enthusiasm. I didn’t think it would be this way when the season started but I’m a convert now.

Ryan: With D-Wade messing up his shoulder I’ll be shocked if anyone else can prevent the Pistons from representing the Eastern Conference as it’s sacrificial lamb in the Finals. I hate to be cynical but matching the Pistons against the other Eastern Conference teams is the equivalent of heading into a gun fight with a knife. The East is so brutal this season that it looks like the Toronto Raptors - a team that managed less than 30 wins last season - could hold the second best record in the conference at the end of the season.

Dennis: I think the addition of Chris Webber made a huge difference for the Pistons. And as much as Ben Wallace brought to the Pistons defense, under coach Flip Saunders, this is an offensive team and C-Webb's versatility on offense makes a significant difference for the team. And Webber is back home in Detroit and on a contending team for the title - he's happy. And that only enhances his production on the court. Joe Dumars is one smart GM.