http://www.freep.com/article/2...tons--defensive-duo-

Brown and Wallace are Pistons' defensive duo
Kuester calls it a matter of mind-set
BY GEORGE SIPPLE
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER


Don't be surprised if center Kwame Brown and forward Ben Wallace begin the year as starters for Pistons coach John Kuester.



"We still have a lot more preseason to go -- we've got two weeks," Kuester said Sunday. "There are a number of challenges ahead of us to see how this all plays out. There are so many guys deserving of time, so it's been challenging that way."



Kuester acknowledged that Brown and Wallace "set a tone defensively for you."



The coach wants people who understand "what it's going to take for us to be successful defensively."



The Pistons probably won't get much offensively from those two spots, though, when Brown and Wallace are in the game together.



"Then you say you got a lot of defense," Kuester said. "I think you've got to have a mind-set going into the season that we've got to defend to be successful. Ben has had some outstanding practices where he's really felt very comfortable on the offense. He already knew it ahead of time, and Kwame has really stepped up and played extremely well."



Kuester said the offensive approach won't change dramatically with Brown and Wallace compared with other lineup combinations.



"There are certain things when other players are in the game that you look to run," Kuester said. "Having huge adjustments? No. Little adjustments? Yes."



Daye camp: Kuester didn't have much to say about the one-game suspension the NBA handed to rookie Austin Daye for an altercation with former Piston Carlos Delfino in the win over Milwaukee. "I'll let Joe (Dumars) handle that," Kuester said. "Pleased with the way Austin's playing. Pleased with our young guys, how they've handled things."



That's two Detroit rookies who have been suspended. Jonas Jerebko received a one-game suspension for an altercation with Jamaal Magliore. "They're not going to back down from anybody," Kuester said. "These guys are very competitive."

Wish more preseason games were available. Ben grabbed 7 rebounds in 13 minutes last night. He seems to be making at least a decent case for starting this year.

Offense will flow, Im betting my money that this new look team will score more than 100 per game. If the defense is decent, by that I mean holding people below 42% shooting and not allowing more than 95 per game, this will be a fun year.

Stuckey 14 ppg
Rip 20ppg
Tay 13ppg
Villanueva 15ppg
Brown 7ppg

Add 19 from Gordon and 10 from Bynum and without exaggerating individual scoring potential you get 98 ppg. Thats why I see them as strong offensive team.

quote:

Originally posted by swift_carlos:
Offense will flow, Im betting my money that this new look team will score more than 100 per game. If the defense is decent, by that I mean holding people below 42% shooting and not allowing more than 95 per game, this will be a fun year.

Stuckey 14 ppg
Rip 20ppg
Tay 13ppg
Villanueva 15ppg
Brown 7ppg

Add 19 from Gordon and 10 from Bynum and without exaggerating individual scoring potential you get 98 ppg. Thats why I see them as strong offensive team.

Good prediction. I don't see Rip ave more than 18 ppg.

quote:

Originally posted by swift_carlos:
Offense will flow, Im betting my money that this new look team will score more than 100 per game. If the defense is decent, by that I mean holding people below 42% shooting and not allowing more than 95 per game, this will be a fun year.

Stuckey 14 ppg
Rip 20ppg
Tay 13ppg
Villanueva 15ppg
Brown 7ppg

Add 19 from Gordon and 10 from Bynum and without exaggerating individual scoring potential you get 98 ppg. Thats why I see them as strong offensive team.

Can you predict my future?