Go Pistons!

Our beloved Pistons will end their regular 2005-2006 season tomorrow. It will be nice if they end it with a win before the playoffs begin. But with a 64-17 win-loss record as of today, it hardly matters; Flip Saunders' decision to rest the big guys makes perfect sense.

During the lull before the push for another championship, Pistons fans can enjoy a recap of the 2004 championship via Blue Collar Champions by John Hareas and Pistons general manager Joe Dumars. This little 112-page gem includes scores of photographs, a recap of the year, and chapters on then-coach Larry Brown and all the major players. Fun, fun.

I love the UNC Tar Heels connection, of course, being a Chapel Hill graduate and having experienced the uproarious aftermath of the 1982 championship on Franklin Street, back when Michael Jordan walked the same main thoroughfare.

Larry Brown and Rasheed Wallace both played under dear Dean Smith, the very civilized man at the helm of the Carolina machine. The modified Smith system served the Pistons well in 2004, but Flip Saunders is even better-suited for this year's drive. The Carolina style always seemed a little too restrained for my tastes, so I salute Flip for letting his players go harder and faster and take more risks with those exciting three-point shots. Last year's championship loss to a team that shall remain nameless here was excruciating, but I think this year they can fully hit their new stride, given a little extra dose of good luck.

Hard work goes without saying. I really admire the leadership skills, drive, discipline and talent of Chauncey Billups and think he can take them there again this year. Go Pistons! I'll have more to say about Billups, Ben Wallace, Rasheed Wallace and the rest of the crew in due time. We have a ways to go yet. It's exciting!

For photos, team statistics and more, there's the Pistons official website at: www.pistons.com

Additional information can be found at: www.espn.com

Rock on!