I don't think too many people expected Chris Webber to help Detroit this much. With Webber in the starting lineup, the Detroit Pistons are 11-2 and have won seven in a row, including a 92-74 dismantling of the visiting Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night.
They have emerged as the class of the Eastern Conference with a defense reminiscent of their championship season. Detroit has held its last 12 opponents to an average of 88.7 points a game, six fewer than it had before the infusion of Webber into what is now his second Fab Five. Teams have scored fewer than 100 points against the Pistons in 11 of the last 13 games.
Webber is averaging a solid, but unspectacular 13.1 points and 7.4 rebounds a game. But his passing has energized the offense. He has registered 3.1 assists a game. His passing is far better than that of previous starter Nazr Mohammed. Bet on the Detroit Pistons at WagerWeb.com and receive a 30% bonus!
It must be warned, however, that the Pistons are in the midst of a five-game homestand. They play 11 of 17 on the road in March, including games at Miami, Denver, Phoenix, Houston, San Antonio and Chicago. Detroit does own the only winning road record in the Eastern Conference at 15-9 and has opened up a 2.5-game lead on second-place Cleveland in the Central Division.
The defeat of the Clippers proved typical of the Pistons in recent weeks. Webber led the team with 19 points and nine rebounds. Meanwhile, Detroit held Los Angeles to 24 of 74 (32 percent) from the field.
Clippers forward Lamar Odom missed the game with back spasms.
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Star Guard Stories: The premier point guard in the NBA will be sidelined for a bit more, and one of the best will be gone for a while. The former is Phoenix star Steve Nash, who will miss Wednesday night's game in Seattle and Sunday's All-Star Game to rest his ailing shoulder. Utah forward/center Mehmet Okur, Portland forward Zach Randolph and Odom are candidates to replace Nash on the Western Conference team.
Nash is expected to return to the lineup following the following the All-Star Game.
Golden State point guard Baron Davis won't be so fortunate. He will undergo surgery on his left knee on Tuesday. The operation will help determine how long he will be out. Davis is leading the Warriors at 20.7 points and 8.7 assists a game. His absence could knock Golden State out of the playoff race.
Dribbles: Denver guard Allen Iverson remains sidelined, but his Jekyll-Hyde team has started to win again. The Nuggets made it three in a row Monday night with a 123-111 home defeat of the Warriors. Carmelo Anthony (who else?) led the way with 28 points despite missing the fourth quarter with a bruised thigh. J.R. Smith emerged from the bench to score 28, while teammate Nene Hilario celebrated a start by scoring 24 points and nailing 10 of 14 from the field. … Most NBA teams struggle in their first home game following a long road trip. Toronto hopes that's true of Chicago, which hosts the Raptors on Tuesday night. The Bulls' 20-6 home record is the best in the Eastern Conference. The same goes for the Los Angeles Lakers, who are finally back after an extended trip to host New York. WagerWeb.com lists Chicago as a 4.5-point favorite and the Lakers as 7.5-point favorites.
