What a physical presence Sacramento could have under new coach Eric Musselman with Ben Wallace, Ron Artest and Bonzi Wells.
And if Avery Johnson really wants to play defense with his Dallas Mavericks, it would be a lot easier with Wallace and Josh Howard around Dirk Nowitzki.
You know George Karl in Denver would love the defensive anchor of Wallace to replace or perhaps supplement Kenyon Martin.
“The way we played this series wasn’t the way we played all season,” Richard Hamilton said late Friday night after the Miami Heat rode Shaquille O’Neal to its first NBA Finals appearance with a lopsided 95-78 win over the Pistons and 4-2 advantage in the Eastern Conference finals. “You go back to the drawing board, figure it out, come out next season and, hopefully, can change that.”
For Miami President/coach Pat Riley, the series provided vindication for his revamping the team after the 2005 conference finals loss to the Pistons and for him stepping in to coach for Stan Van Gundy.
Miami’s victory gives a chance to O’Neal to show he’s still dominant as he goes for a fourth NBA title, to young star Dwyane Wade to get a first title and to veterans such as Alonzo Mourning, Antoine Walker, Gary Payton, James Posey and Jason Williams to get a shot at, perhaps, their only one.
“I’ll celebrate a little,” said O’Neal, who was determined on both ends of the court Friday night with 28 points on 12-for-14 shooting, 16 rebounds and five blocks. “But like I told the guys, `The job is not done.'”
It’s just beginning for the Pistons, who hardly are through with their run of excellence but certainly are due for some changes.
“I can’t remember the last time we played defense like this,” Tayshaun Prince said of the Heat shooting 55.7 percent in Game 6. Miami, however, shot 54.9 percent in Game 4, 58.2 percent in Game 3 and 56.3 percent in Game 1.
You get the idea. The Pistons were through.
It began fraying last week with players, particularly Wallace, blaming coach Flip Saunders for the defensive shortcomings, for matchup changes and personnel usage.
But they had forgotten their mirrors. It was them.
The arrogance and hubris that led them to seven games with the Cleveland Cavaliers finally exposed a team that was less than the sum of its parts.
The chemistry and selflessness that was admired in a 2004 title and seventh-game loss to the Spurs in 2005 faded in accolades for four starters with All-Star appearances. Trouble gushed open in Wallace’s open defiance of Saunders when he refused to play in a March game and likely will end with the departure of Wallace, the team’s symbolic leader.
Wallace is a free agent and seeking a large, long contract.
He was among a vocal majority of Pistons disturbed with Larry Brown’s tenure, angry because he sought another job while seeming to take the credit for the Pistons’ success, tired of his demanding way.
Even owner Bill Davidson, in pushing out Brown, said there was too much Brown and not enough Pistons. The light, guiding hand of Saunders was the prescription.
Then there was the flip side that Saunders didn’t push hard enough.
You can’t have it both ways. General manager Joe Dumars ceded to the players’ wishes to trust them to be responsible. They won a league-high 64 games, then left their game in the regular season.
Now he will make changes.
Wallace has been described as the Pistons’ heart and foundation. But at 32, even with another Defensive Player of the Year award, his skills are eroding. Moving him would signal a major change without a substantial breakup.
There’s no way the Pistons want to see him in the East and there figure to be many takers in a sign-and-trade, unless the Bulls want to take a shot with a big-money offer.
It’s more likely, however, Wallace moves west and the Pistons get a big man, perhaps for Brad Miller of the Kings or Erick Dampier of the Mavs. You figure the Lakers and Grizzlies would try to offer packages since it seems Wallace, too, needs a new start.
Dumars has proven a bold executive and this run all started when the Pistons traded Grant Hill.
Detroit can come back.
“I’ve been here four years,” Hamilton said. “Chauncey [Billups] has been here four years, Tayshaun has been here four years and Rasheed [Wallace] three.
“What we’ve accomplished in four years is four Eastern Conference finals, a championship and another trip to the NBA Finals.
“The sky is the limit.”
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sasmith@tribune.com
