Nothing inspires confidence like confidence, and Villanueva doesn’t ooze swagger. Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun once told Brian Koonz of The (Dansbury, Conn.) News-Times:

"Charlie is maybe the least confident kid on our team. He really is."

I think Villanueva’s confidence has grown since, but there are still issues. Is he a good player? Sure. A nice guy? You bet. But someone you believe can rally a team or a fanbase with his presence? No way.

But I think it’s time to show some confidence in him.

Summer plans

In April, Villanueva said he would stay and work out in his NBA city during the offeason for the first time. Ted Kulfan of the Detroit News reported Wednesday that Pistons officials confirmed Villanueva had been working out “diligently.”

My reaction: ho-hum.

If Kulfan checked on Villanueva’s progress, what were Pistons sources supposed to say? They’re obviously biased, so who knows how truthful they were being? Nobody was even willing to to attach his or her name to the statement.

But then Joe Dumars, who I find much more credible than anonymous sources, corroborated the story during his conversation with Keith Langlois of Pistons.com:

Charlie and Ben Wallace have been in the gym more than anybody else on our team since the season ended. Charlie started coming in about the middle of May and so did Ben. So I’ve seen those guys in the gym more than anybody else. So Charlie has been a man of his word about the time and effort he was going to put in here. And stay here during the summer. Charlie is a New York guy, spends time in LA, but not this summer. He’s been a Detroit guy, stayed in Detroit and made a commitment that he’s going to be in the gym and proud of what I’ve seen so far this last month or so. He and Ben Wallace, I look out my window on a daily basis and I just about see those guys every day. It’s a great first step.

And Kulfan actually went to the practice facility and saw Villanueva, who seems to understand what’s necessary:

"I want to change my whole body," said Villanueva, who wants to get stronger and quicker.

Still, it’s only June 13. It’s easy to see how a month of working hard can turn into a summer of partying, golfing and relaxing.

But, using history as a judge, I don’t expect that to happen to Villanueva.

The best I can tell, Villanueva has twice pledged to go above and beyond during the offseason. Both times, he honored his word.

Connecticut 2004

Villanueva arrived to Storrs, Conn., a McDonald’s All-American and rival.com’s No. 5 recruit, in 2003. But with a disappointing freshman season that saw Villanueva disappear down the stretch, UConn faithful seemed to think, “this is it?”

But in July 2004, Matt Eagan of The Hartford Courant provided an update on Villanueva’s offseason:

That may be all he said, but Villanueva has spent his summer working to make sure explanations won’t be necessary again. He has added about 10 pounds of muscle and has been preparing his game for more work in the low post.

Both were items on UConn coach Jim Calhoun’s wish list.

“He’s got to be more explosive with his body,” Calhoun said. “The weight is the only way to go. Every other part of the game, you’re amazed by some of the things he is able to do.”

Villanueva concedes as much but has become convinced that he needs to establish himself inside to reach a higher level.

“I’m working on one move in particular, my jump hook, for my post game,” Villanueva said. “Last year I tended to stay outside, but this year I am going to take a whole different approach. I have to work it inside and then go outside.”

It didn’t take long for Villanueva to impress. From Phil Chardis of the (Manchester) Journal Inquirer:

And Saturday, at the first official practice of his sophomore year, perhaps the real Villanueva began to emerge.

"Charlie was a star today he was a big-time player, that’s a better word than star," UConn coach Jim Calhoun said after the three-hour, 10-minute practice. "He dominated at times — he dominated the rebounding, and in one of the more physical box-out drills we’ve had. He was really good."

Indeed, Villanueva already looks like a far more confident player than last year. Noticeably bigger and stronger, the versatile forward from Brooklyn was scoring inside and with his jumper and holding his ground defensively, which was a weakness last season.

"I feel like I’m a bigger presence on the court," Villanueva said. "It comes from working in the weight room and working hard over the summer. I just feel more confident with my body, more confident being out there, period. Last year, I tried to stay away from contact, but now I think I’m working hard in the post and I feel I can be an inside-outside type of player. My confidence level right now is high and I don’t see it going down."

Perhaps more important, Villanueva carried himself differently Saturday — like a player who is ready to assume the responsibility of the Huskies’ go-to player.

A simple stat shows Villanueva’s offseason work transformed his game in the same way Pistons fans would like to see him change this summer.

• Freshman year: 18-of-49 on 3-pointers.
• Sophomore year: 6-of-12 on 3-pointers.

Villanueva’s improved play made him the Huskies’ MVP and the No. 7 pick by the Toronto Raptors.

Milwaukee 2008

After a couple disappointing seasons in Milwaukee, Villanueva was mentioned in several trade rumors during the summer of 2008. Charles F. Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel talked to Villanueva about his offseason plans:

Villanueva also was hampered early in the season because he was returning from shoulder surgery for a torn labrum, a procedure performed in March 2007.

"Last year the whole summer I was rehabbing," Villanueva said. "Now I can play basketball, lift weights. I can improve. I have the whole summer, and I know I can get better, a lot stronger and be in shape when season 4 gets under way."

The next season, Villanueva posted career highs in points per game (16.2), rebounds per game (6.7), assists per game (1.8), PER (18.6), defensive rating (106), defensive win shares (2.7) and win shares (4.9).

Pause for concern

Both those examples were contract years of sorts. Villanueva used his sophomore season at UConn to become the No. 7 pick, and he turned his 2008-09 season with the Bucks into a big contract from the Pistons.

Will he match his intensity of those summers without more money on the line? He’s guaranteed to make $31.2 million the next four seasons – regardless of the work he puts in this offseason. When he becomes a free agent in 2013 or 2014, teams really won’t care what he did this upcoming season.

Perhaps, I’m being naive, but I really believe Villanueva will work hard this offseason. I couldn’t find any previous examples of him promising this type of effort for non-contract years. I think he’s finally beginning to take ownership of his NBA career.

Plus, working out with Ben Wallace will help keep Villanueva in line.

Previously, I defended Villanueva by saying he’s just not as bad as he played this year. Now, assuming his improvement will come only from reverting to the mean might be selling him short. It could be time to expect his play to match his immense talent.

Pressure is on, Charlie.

If you vote for “other,” please note in the comments whom you think deserves it. Actually, even if you voted for someone on the list, please explain your choice in the comments.

Of course, he dodged some questions. Anyone in his position would. When someone directly called Charlie Villanueva soft, Dumars said it’s not just about Villanueva. When asked about trading for the 76ers’ No. 2 pick and Elton Brand, Dumars didn’t tamper. And the whole press conference was filled with clichés about toughness and grit.

But he provided a lot more depth in his answers than most general managers do.

Still, I was very disappointed in what was revealed at the press conference – and given Dumars’ relative openness, it’s because the question-askers failed to get better information. So many times, they didn’t ask follow-up questions that needed to be asked.

Maybe Dumars wouldn’t have answered, but you (usually) don’t know until you ask the question. Here’s what I wish the assembled media had asked (and I’m just limiting these to relevant follow-up questions, not topics they missed addressing completely).

Who are Dumars’ bosses now?

At one point, Dumars addressed the ownership situation. And although, “You make it work,” isn’t exactly a ringing endorsement, there was no way Dumars was going to throw Karen Davidson or any of her underlings under the bus here.

But somebody asked whether Dumars needed permission to sign players or make other moves now. Dumars said he always had to go through somebody, noting it was Bill Davidson before. It’s just a different group now.

How did nobody ask whom he answers to now?

With limited flexibility under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, how do the Pistons move forward?

Dumars spent a lot of time talking about “the profile” of the type of player he wants. He threw out key words like “grit” and “toughness.” When pressed about who on the team now fits that profile and who doesn’t, Dumars said he would spending the offseason evaluating not only which players fit it, but which could fit it.

But given the Pistons owe a some players a lot of money, it’s not that simple.

What does Dumars do if he identifies a player on the team who doesn’t fit that profile, but that player makes so much money, he can’t easily be traded?

Did this season alter the Pistons’ plan?

All the talk about grit and toughness doesn’t sound anything like the talk last year’s buzz about stretching the floor and scoring from all five positions.

Obviously, you’d love to have both. But you know what you call a player has toughness and grit and can score like crazy? A superstar. None of those are walking through the door.

So, had this season made Dumars rethink (or, I’d argue revert back to his previous) priorities, or are these just different circumstance for a different team with different needs than last summer?

Does Dumars have the right goal?

Dumars talked about always trying to win right now. In fact, he almost sounded like he was bragging that he has never discussed a five-year plan.

But can that lead to decisions that, although designed help the team in the short run, hinder it in the long run? (Any guesses what I’m alluding to?)

What position will Rodney Stuckey play going forward?

When asked to evaluate Stuckey, Dumars made a point to emphasize Stuckey’s success at shooting guard this season. Was Dumars saying he sees Stuckey as more of an off guard than a point guard?

Dumars later says he doesn’t look at backcourts in terms of having a point guard and a shooting guard. He looks for two players who can play well together. So, if he used that line to dodge the question, ask, “For a player who you think would be ideal next to Stuckey, would other teams consider him a point guard or a shooting guard?”

Does Dumars know how to build a team in the new NBA?

Dumars talked about how the game isn’t as physical as it used to be, so he wants players who can get to the free-throw line.

Why bring it up in an offense-first way? If the game isn’t as physical, isn’t it easier to get to the line? What about getting players who can defend without fouling? Isn’t that a more valuable skill in the new NBA?

Conclusion

I finished the audio shaking my head and without nearly enough answers.

It’s not like I think Dumars is doing a terrible job. I’ve defended Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva, and I’ve been in favor of a one-year plan.

But Dumars needs to answer for his decisions. He put himself in front of a room of reports to do that.

It’s a shame he wasn’t asked to.

@DETPistons I heard the Press Conference with Joe Dumars earlier today went well, interesting. We need to REdevelop that Detroit toughness.

I embrace being a Detroit Pistons. And though we’ve had a share of bad luck, I’m determine things will change for better in 2010-11. RISE.

What does he think fans will think of those tweets? Does he not see the irony everyone else will?

The Pistons need to redevelop that Detroit toughness because of you.

Maybe that’s unfair. You were hurt most of the season and played through it. That’s tough. But you didn’t play tough. You were soft on defense, soft on the glass and soft on shot selection.

Maybe being hurt is a legitimate excuse, but most fans won’t see it that way. And isn’t a major point of your tweeting to stay connected with the fans? Well, those two tweets show a major disconnect.

It’s not luck

More than anything else, I have a big problem with Villanueva pinning Detroit’s problems on luck.

Of course, the Pistons suffered from more than their fair share of injuries. Of course, that hurt the team. Of course, that was unlucky.

But there was plenty more wrong than that and pinning the Pistons’ problems on luck isn’t going to fix their other other shortcomings. Bad luck is a scapegoat. It will sort it self out. The other problems are real, and those are where Villanueva’s focus should lie.

He’s made the right overtures before. From Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press in February:

It might have been a first for Charlie Villanueva.

After Friday morning’s shoot-around to prepare for the Nuggets, Villanueva said he is concentrating on defense and rebounding first, and isn’t worrying about whatever offense comes his way.

Villanueva has shown he knows how to say the right things (usually). But he hasn’t shown will act on them. The above proclamation ultimately rang hollow.

• In 54 games before the statement: 16.1 shots and 7.2 rebounds per 36 minutes.
• In 24 games after the statement: 16.1 shots and 6.9 rebounds per 36 minutes.

He didn’t change one bit. He was the same player before and after.

Villanueva can be a good rebounder and an adequate defender. The first step would be to stop shooting – not completely, but stop looking for shots and having plays called him. Villanueva expends way too much energy on offense.

But more than just a change in on-court philosophy is necessary.

Attitude adjustment

I think Villanueva carries himself like a star player. That’s not to say he’s not a hard worker or a good teammate, but he likes to do things his way. He shoots a lot and likes to be in front of the cameras. I think he wants to be the face of a franchise.

But he’s not a star player.

He’s on-again, off-again starter on a bad team. He’s never made the playoffs. His 13.1 career scoring average ranks 103rd among active players – behind such stalwarts as Kirk Hinrich, Al Thornton and Wilson Chandler.

I think Villanueva sees the nonchalance of the game’s premier players and emulates it. LeBron can dominate while clowning with his teammates. Dwight Howard can shut down opposing offenses while laughing all game. Dirk Nowitzki can drain jumpers while making it seem like he barely looks at the rim.

I think he’s picked up a little bit of the prima donna attitude, too, but I can live with that. Most professional athletes expect preferential treatment. But there’s a line, and it varies by player.

I found myself questioning Villanueva several times last year. Is he worth the headache? Does he provide on the court to justify his issues off it. Because that’s what it ultimately comes down to. That’s why so many teams will appease each of LeBron’s demands this summer and not think once about signing Stephon Marbury.

How to fix this

Villanueva has to realize he’s not a star. There’s a chance he could become one. It’s a small chance given his age and what he’s accomplished so far. But he won’t reach that level if he keeps his current mindset.

I don’t expect anything to change, though. Villanueva isn’t a bad guy – far from it, it seems. And if he reads this or any other article critical of him, he can point to a lot of reasons he should be proud of what he’s done.

He does great work in the community. He puts himself out there to fans, interacting with them in ways few professional athletes do. He won a national title at Connecticut. He’s a role model for young Hispanic basketball players. (By the way, a writing trick is to do lists like that in threes. But it was so easy to come up with four that I included them all, and I think that says something about Villanueva).

It’s completely fair for him to look at those and other accomplishments and say, “I’m on the right track.” If he continues on this course, that’s no real tragedy. He’s in the NBA and seems to enjoy it. Who am I to call him a failure? I don’t think it’s fair to expect greatness from every player. Do you do the best you can at your job, or do you peak near the level your boss expects of you to get by?

But if he really is serious about redeveloping that Detroit toughness, he can’t be satisfied. He needs to work harder. He needs dive for loose balls and risk looking foolish, even if the stars of the league would never do that.

And he needs to make tweets like last night’s more than lip service – because right now, that’s all they seem like to me.

Instead, they turned the Pistons into a laughing stock – at least that’s the common perception.

I can’t remember one Daily Dime Live chat where I wasn’t asked about Gordon and Villanueva disappointing. “Do the Pistons regret signing Gordon and Villanueva?” Over and over and over.

My common response: “Probably a little, but mostly because of injuries – which is based on hindsight. I’m willing to call this year a wash and evaluate them next year.” I want to explain that thinking with a little more depth.

Whether Gordon and Villanueva will work out in Detroit is a complex question, and I plan to analyze the nuances throughout the summer. But here’s a simple case for why both players are better than performed this year, based on just six numbers for Gordon and five for Villanueva.

Ben Gordon

• 40.5
• 43.5
• 41.3
• 41.0
• 41.0
• 32.1

That’s Gordon’s 3-point percentage each year of his career.

The only other players to make at least 40 percent of their 3-pointers each season between 2004-05 and 2008-09: Raja Bell and Steve Nash. It’s a pretty exclusive club.

I really doubt Gordon forgot how to shoot 3s this year. I think this year, not the previous five, was the aberration.

It’s clear his injuries messed with his head. Gordon missed twice as many games this year as his previous high. He didn’t look comfortable on the court post-injury and showed no confidence in his shot.

Hopefully, a summer off will clear his head. Judging by Gordon’s strong play the last four games (26.5 points per game and making 44.8 percent of his 3s), he’s on the right track.

Charlie Villanueva

• 13.5
• 13.6
• 15.0
• 14.7
• 12.0

Those are Villanueva’s rebounding percentages each year he’s been the league.

A knock on Villanueva has been he doesn’t do anything but shoot. He certainly has room to improve his all-around game, but he’s a pretty good rebounder.

I really think his plantar fasciitis prevented him from showing it this year. He just didn’t have the same lift or ability to move in the paint he showed early in the season.

Rebounding percentage usually doesn’t vary much for a player. For example, Andray Blatche has a career rebounding percentage of 13.8 in five seasons, same as Villanueva. His career low was a 12.6 as a rookie.

So, as with Gordon’s 3-point shooting, I think this year – not the previous four – is the aberration. Let Villanueva’s foot heal, then evaluate his rebounding.

Conclusion

Gordon and Villanueva are young and have plenty of room to grow. But Gordon is a good 3-point shooter and Villanueva can rebound – even if they didn’t show it this year. Add those major pieces to each of their game’s, and the signing won’t look so bad.

Villanueva answered 31 questions on twitter (to match his uniform number). Here are the questions and his responses:

One

@Law_Junky: How hard do you commit yourself in the off-season? Rumors are your lazy and don’t take the training to serious, is that true?

1) How hard will I commit this off-season? Like never before! This will be my first off-season staying in my NBA city.#31REPLIES

Two

@EC_Rapsfan: yeah, you seem real humble guaranteeing a win last night. I used to be a fan of your personality and your game, did both fall off?

2) Regardless of our fallen season I’m still Charlie. I’ve said b4 that this has been a humbling experience for me.#31REPLIES

Three

@LowellAhee: if we get top 5 pick. Who is ur wish….(you can list them out of order)

3) When it comes to the NBA draft… I think we should select the best player available regardless of position.#CV31REPLIES

Four

@DetroitBuckets: Are you disappointed in the role coach has asked to to play? Do you feel you should have been a bigger part of the game plan?

4) I was okay with my role, anything to help my team win. Though I expected much more for myself, performance.#CV31REPLIES

Five

@4tny: Yoo CV…hows ur time in Detroit? Do you regret signing?

5) I don’t have any regrets signing with Pistons. I LOVE Detroit. I purchased my house here. My career will Excel here.#CV31REPLIES

Six

@PistonsLover22: since u answering questions…Do u and coach kue really get along or yall jus play for the cameras?

6) Honestly, Coach Kue & I had some difference but with communication all is good now. He demands the best.#CV31REPLIES

Seven

@gkenning: Do you think you’d be happier had you never left Toronto?

7) Would I be happier not leaving Toronto: I believe everything happens for a reason. My son is Canadian, I’m happy!#CV31REPLIES

Eight

@Topher78916: which do u believe ur game is more geared towards playing on the perimeter or in the post? Who’s ur favorite @MLBplayer?

8 ) My game is stretch to both perimeter & post play whatever coach wants I’ll do. Oh my favorite MLB player: A-Rod#CV31REPLIES

Nine

@Smokeydabear123: what specifically can u do to address ur weaknesses this summer?

9) This off-season I have HIGH expectations. I intend on working on all aspects of my game. Toughness is key#CV31REPLIES

10

@gstash1800: How tough was this season for you? Also , where do you think LBJ ends up?

10) Unfortunately this season was a bit of a rude-awakening, but I must learn from it. And LeBron James will stay!#CV31REPLIES

11

@Keefe15: How upsetting is it to you that you chose Detroit over Cleveland?

11) I don’t regret choosing Detroit over Cleveland. God always has a plan. This experience has matured me. Believe.#CV31REPLIES

12

@SteveKaysNBA: Hey CV, what’s the #1 you plan on working on this summer?

12) Hey Steve, I’m staying here in Detroit this off-season; going to be working closely with our coaching staff.#CV31REPLIES

13

@nbarocksstc: we all know this has been a dissapointing season, but pistons will have a great year next year, right?

13) My guarantees are rough right now but I’ll promise a coming better year for Detroit. Determined Challenge!#CV31REPLIES

14

@JoannePistonFan: Fave restaurant in the Detroit area?

My favorite restaurant in the D right now has to be brunch hours at Bravo Cucina in Rochester Hills. Love it!#CV31REPLIES

15

@BIGGESTGRINDER: is it cool not having to shave and stuff??

15) You know me having this skin condition Alopecia Areata, its the best not having to shave or haircuts, LOL.#CV31REPLIES

16

@TShrine: celeb crush?

16) This question is dangerous, lol, but I had a serious crush on Alica Keys, wooow #CV31REPLIES

17

@Philip_McD: Who is your "sleeper" pick to win the finals?

17) The Champion contenders are obvious with Cleveland and LA leading the pack, but my sleeper is Miami or Phoenix. #CV31REPLIES

18

@christinelam: whats your favorite tv show?

18) My favorite TV show has to be The First 48. I love the reality solving of the homicide cases. It’s deep.#CV31REPLIES

19

@MrStamm: what is your biggest need this off season to not only make the playoffs but to contend

19) It’s likely a move may be done this summer but I honestly think with the team we have know we can find success.#CV31REPLIES

20

@dvnmtthws: wats yo fav car u own

20) I’m not crazy into cars but I do have 3 of them. My favorite by far is the Bentley GTC convertible. It’s sweet.#CV31REPLIES

21

@nfbp77: What is your greatest moment as a piston (so far)

21) My greatest experience as a Pistons has to be the bonding I’ve developed with my teammates. We went through it all.#CV31REPLIES

22

@easyskanking28: fav rapper?

22) My favorite rappers right now, likely a cross between Jay-Z and Lil’ Wayne. I listen to whatever is good.#CV31REPLIES

23

@iwaslikeuknow: aside from the disappointment of having a losing season [bc of injuries] how was the team chemistry off court?

23) Our team chemistry off-the-court was great. I love my teammates. I get along with all of them. Mi familia.#CV31REPLIES

24

@killercore: Do you think Twitter has caused more problems than positives for you this year?

24) Twitter causing problems? Not at all. Twitter gives us athletes direct connection with the fans. I value it.#CV31REPLIES

25

@dodo95: who is your favorite actor?

25) My favorite actor continues to be Denzel Washington, even though I wasn’t a big fan of that "Book of Eli" movie. #CV31REPLIES

26

@lon1617: Can you call this your lowest point of your bball career?How do you plan to turn this thing around next season?

26) Yea this has been my lowest career year terms of production (pts, rbs, min) but it has been a learning experience.#CV31REPLIES

27

@matthewllondon: I heard somewhere you have alopecia. Is that true? If so, how long have you had it?

27) Yea I’ve had alopecia areata (complete hair-loss) since like 12. Its was tough then, but I embrace it now.#CV31REPLIES

28

@kasha831: did you now if Joe is come back or no the are say the Joe is do now

28) I have complete respect for Joe Dumars. I think he’s the best, genius. I would be shocked if he goes anywhere.#CV31REPLIES

29

@injektilu: who would you choose to be the starting Point Guard for the Dominican National team if you where Head Coach?

29) Hmm that’s a tough question, pur Dominican Rep. team does need a purer point guard. I don’t know, R.Stuckey LOL#CV31REPLIES

30

@abosch927: Do you and the rest of the UConn guys on the team get together on game day to catch the old alma mater play?

30) I always try to get together with my former UConn guys. We’re like any other family, love for all. UCONN4LIFE#CV31REPLIES

31

@Need4Sheed_com: Who would win in a Cage Match – Tayshaun Price or Austin @Adaye5

31) Who will win a cage match btw Tayshaun Prince & Austin Daye, LOL, Hum, hmm… Prince! Cuz AD still a rookie #CV31REPLIES

Which answer do you find most interesting? Share your thoughts in the comments.

• Dave Pemberton, The Oakland Press
• Chris Iott, MLive.com/ Booth Newspapers
• Vince Ellis, Detroit Free Press
• Jamie Samuelsen, Detroit Free Press
• Keith Langlois, True Blue Pistons
• Eli Zaret, Detroit Pistons
• Patrick Hayes, Full-Court Press
• Justin Rogers, Full-Court Press
• Natalie Sitto, Need4Sheed
• Brian Packey, Detroit Bad Boys
• Kevin Sawyer, Detroit Bad Boys
• Mike Payne, Detroit Bad Boys
• Jesse Murphy, Pistons Nation
• Jon Young, Flagrant2
• Dan Feldman, PistonPowered

I  want to thank everyone listed above for participating. I think this year’s roundtable has gone great and the bar is set very high for next year.

For the final question, I ask each roundtable participant a separate question. So, please give your thoughts on the questions that interest you in the comments.

Dave Pemberton, The Oakland Press

A lot of Pistons fans want to draft Keith Benson. How do you evaluate his NBA potential? (Pemberton used to cover the Oakland men’s basketball team for The Oakland Press.

The two big knacks on Benson are strength and defense. Benson has to add strength to his 6-foot-11, 225-pound frame to be affective at the NBA level. Defensively, he can come up with the highlight-reel block, but has trouble defending stronger players one-on-one. He averaged 10.5 rebounds per game, but will have trouble getting in good position against NBA talent unless he adds strength.

Benson’s offensive game showed a lot of improvement this past season. He has good footwork and a nice touch around the basket. He has a solid mid-range game and shot 72.4 percent from the free-throw line. The one knack again is strength and being able to get good position against NBA talent.

Head-to-head against likely lottery pick Cole Aldrich of Kansas, Benson had 20 points, six rebounds and four blocks, while Aldrich had four points, nine rebounds and three blocks. The two were roommates at the Amar’e Stoudemire skills camp last summer.

My guess is Benson will return for his senior season, but if he comes out and is available in the second round he might prove to be a good pick. I don’t see him as an early lottery pick this season, which is where Detroit will be picking.

Chris Iott, MLive.com/ Booth Newspapers

What has surprised you most about your first season covering the Pistons?

It is shocking how good the chocolate chip cookies that get delivered each game to Rick Mahorn are, but I have had only one, so further testing is needed. The Pistons’ locker room is substantially smaller than I expected, especially when compared with the Tigers’ clubhouse. The officials yell at the coaches a lot more than I thought they did. Ben Wallace had a much bigger impact on the team than I thought he would.

Vince Ellis, Detroit Free Press

Which of the new Pistons is the best interview and why?

I actually like Ben Wallace. When he has something to say, he is very insightful and is a lot more gregarious than he lets on.

Jamie Samuelsen, Detroit Free Press

You’ve written that Pistons fans have become apathetic. Does it surprise you how disinterested they’ve been this year, and do you think their enthusiasm has room to go lower?

I’m not surprised. This was the convergence of a lot of different forces. The first and most obvious is the economy which has affected all of the local teams. The second is the long, sustained run of success that the team had. It was a terrific decade, but by the end, it had grown stale to the point where fans actually complained that the winning had gotten boring. Third was the wildly unpopular trade for Allen Iverson. Joe Dumars traded away the most popular player on the team (and maybe in the state) for a malcontent who submarined everything. And now we’re left with a bad team where the effort is easy to question on any given night. Can it go lower? I suppose anything is possible. What is there here to root for? There are no stars. There is no excitement. There is no trademark for the team. If ESPN were promoting a game, how would they do it? Come see Richard Hamilton and the Detroit Pistons? That won’t sell any seats.

Keith Langlois, Detroit Pistons

Who in the organization do you think has taken this season’s struggles the hardest?

Anybody who hates losing has absorbed the agony of this season, but John Kuester has to be the one who’s endured the most anguish. Veterans like Wallace, Prince and Hamilton haven’t experienced losing of this magnitude for years, if ever, but the success they’ve experienced has to mitigate this season’s disappointment to some degree. Joe Dumars knows the ebb and flow of the business. The rookies and young veterans have to focus as much on finding their niche as on the bigger picture of team success. But Kuester waited a long time for his shot at being a head coach and he knows this goes on his record. To have his shot undermined so thoroughly by injuries clearly has worn on him.

Eli Zaret, Detroit Pistons

Which current Piston do you think would make the best broadcaster after he retires and why?

Autin Daye wants to be a broadcaster and has a great grasp of the language; has an high basketball IQ and comes from a basketball family (Darren). He’s the obvious choice,seeing as he’s already doing man on the street interviews for the team website and in-arena show.

Patrick Hayes, Full-Court Press

As you’ve researched rookies for your Draft Dreams series, who has impressed you most compared to your initial impression and why?

Wall and Turner are obviously amazing and getting either of those guys could be potentially franchise-altering for Detroit. But there are a few less heralded players who I really like.

Feldman’s already made fun of me for this (I think it’s just the jilted UM fan inside him), so others will probably follow suit, but I love Ekpe Udoh. The knock on him as a prospect was the fact that his offensive game is not NBA ready. After watching about four Baylor games late in the season, including their tourney game against Duke, I think he’s much better offensively than people give him credit for. He’s a very good passer for a big man — Baylor was running their offense through him at times. He can turn and face up, put the ball on the floor a bit and he has range out to the college three-point line, something he didn’t have at Michigan. Udoh’s surged up draft projections as the season’s went on because of this.

Defensively, he’ll block shots. He needs to get stronger if he’s going to be the biggest player on a NBA team, but he’ll really help a team picking in the 10-15 range. The Big 12 was a good league for big men this year, and Udoh held his own.

I also love Georgetown’s Greg Monroe and Xavier Henry of Kansas. Monroe is one of the more polished bigs offensively in recent drafts and is a great passer. His defense is iffy, but he’s the most NBA-ready offensively of any college big.
Henry is raw, but he’s going to develop into an insanely good, physical and intense perimeter defender. He’s quick, he’s strong, he’s athletic and he’s competitive, all the traits in a lockdown defensive guy. I’m not as sold on his offense as his defense, but he’ll be a very good NBA player for a long time.
I like Patrick Patterson a lot as a late lottery/mid first round big who’s just solid in several facets of the game. Basically, I love everyone except Cole Aldrich.

Justin Rogers, Full-Court Press

Who will be a better defender with the Pistons, Ben Gordon or Charlie Villanueva?

This is a tough question to answer, but I’m leaning toward Gordon. He’s fairly strong for his size and he’s quick. If the Pistons offer solid help defense, Gordon’s deficiencies can be covered up. For his size and skill set it always surprises me how painfully slow Villanueva moves. His only serviceable defensive skill is the occasional blocked shot.

The number one thing I’d like to see both players work on is their pick-and-roll defense. Gordon has to be more physical working through screens and Villanueva has to be more efficient at both showing on the ball handler and recovering to his man.

Natalie Sitto, Need4Sheed

If you were going to reconstruct Sheed using elements of current Pistons, what traits would you take from whom?

I would rather focus on the Swede than Sheed right now, but here goes.

The new and improved Sheed would have:

• Jonas Jerebko’s heart and hustle.
• Ben Wallace’s shot blocking.
• Jason Maxiell’s ability to take on anyone and go after every board.
• Tayshaun’s wingspan.
• Will Bynum’s speed.
• Ben Gordon’s shot (from last season).
• Rip Hamilton’s training techniques.
• Austin Daye’s temperament.
• And nothing from Charlie Villanueva.

Brian Packey, Detroit Bad Boys

Your bio (on the left sidebar) says you took a charge from Shane Battier. What’s the story there?

There is no story – it’s just a joke. Battier went to my high school and was friends with my older brothers (he was a baseball teammate of one of my brothers). I played AAU basketball through ninth grade and attended the Duke basketball camp in 8th grade because Battier went there. We talked a lot and played one-on-one, but I never took a charge from him. In fact, I was terrified of him (6′8" vs. 5′10") and he blocked A LOT of my shots. I think I lost like 21-1. I know some people don’t like Duke very much, but there’s nothing to dislike about Battier – he’s an all-around class-act, a smart basketball player, and an even smarter person.

Kevin Sawyer, Detroit Bad Boys

You wrote at midseason, "I don’t think the Pistons are a playoff team with Jerebko playing 30 mpg." Do you still think that’s the case and why?

I do. First, I think he needs to grow into his role as a sort of enforcer on the defensive end. Second, I think he’s going to need those three fouls a game in order to maintain his effectiveness. He’s new to the league, so his profile could change, but I think he’s going to bring the bulk of his value at the defensive end. Again, I’ll cite Varejao as a comparison point.

Mike Payne, Detroit Bad Boys

Do you think Charlie Villanueva realizes how good he is inside? After writing that post, is it even more infuriating watching how he plays?

I think Charlie’s confidence has taken quite a hit, but I’m sure he realizes how good his inside game is (hey, he shared my article on Facebook).  Personally, I’m not bothered by Charlie’s offense.  Some may complain about his three point attempts, but this is as much a result of coaching as it is about Charlie’s preference on offense.  Pistons fans are still scarred from the Ways of Rasheed, and Charlie’s three point shots are not as welcome as a result.  If Kuester didn’t want Charlie taking perimeter shots, he’d draft plays accordingly.

The infuriating part about Charlie’s play is obviously his defense.  It’s absolutely painful to watch.  His non-existent D and bad fouls have led John Kuester to pull him out of the starting lineup and then limit him to less than 18 minutes a game.  Kuester’s philosophy with Charlie is that you can earn minutes and shot attempts by playing solid defense.  What’s ironic, however, is that Villanueva earned solid minutes under stern, defensive stalwart Scott Skiles.  Now, Villanueva has begun earning DNP-CDs and no one really notices.

I’m hoping, as he likely is as well, that Charlie can turn it around next year.  In a perfect world, Villanueva would spend the summer in Ben Wallace’s weight room, drinking Myoplex and guarding pick-and-rolls.  With our luck, he’ll likely end up in Sean May’s kitchen drinking mayo and eating dinner rolls.

Jesse Murphy, Pistons Nation

You always seem to enjoy highlighting former fringe Pistons. Who is your favorite and why?

Never thought about it that way. I guess more than anything I enjoy being a fan of Pistons basketball and the team’s history. It’s easy to root for players like Grant Hill, Chauncey Billups, Ben Wallace, etc., but real fans know that the stars need guys to fill roles to help the team excel.

I don’t know if I can point to a clear favorite but one guy I feel that was pretty underrated that I enjoyed was Zeljko Rebraca. Zelly was a rugged low post player who had a nice touch down low. Plus he had that cool Silver Surfer tatt on his left arm.

Jon Young, Flagrant2

With a relatively new blog, what do you add to the Pistons blogosphere?

I do a weekly top-5 countdown on Mondays. It can range from anywhere to top 5 ugliest players to top-5 dunks, blocks etc. I mix it up and do something different every week. I try to have a recap of each game before the morning, and give insight to every game.

Previous

• How good would the Pistons have been this season if they weren’t hit with so many injuries?
• If you had to build a team around a current Piston besides Rodney Stuckey or Jonas Jerebko, whom would it be and why? (Please note if you’d rather build around this player than Stuckey or Jerebko.)
• Rodney Stuckey has been a key part of the Pistons’ long-term plans. Should that status change?
• If you were Joe Dumars, would you be on a one-year plan, two-year plan, three-year plan, etc.? What does your answer mean for this offseason?

Like with the other questions, please post your answers in the comments. I’d like this roundtable to involve everyone reading, too.

• Dave Pemberton, The Oakland Press
• Chris Iott, MLive.com/ Booth Newspapers
• Vince Ellis, Detroit Free Press
• Jamie Samuelsen, Detroit Free Press
• Keith Langlois, True Blue Pistons
• Eli Zaret, Detroit Pistons
• Patrick Hayes, Full-Court Press
• Justin Rogers, Full-Court Press
• Natalie Sitto, Need4Sheed
• Brian Packey, Detroit Bad Boys
• Kevin Sawyer, Detroit Bad Boys
• Mike Payne, Detroit Bad Boys
• Jesse Murphy, Pistons Nation
• Jon Young, Flagrant2
• Dan Feldman, PistonPowered

I  want to thank everyone listed above for participating. But I don’t want to hear just from them. Please post your answers to the question in the comments.  We can make this an even larger collection of thoughts about the Pistons.

Here’s today’s question:

If you were Joe Dumars, would you be on a one-year plan, two-year plan, three-year plan, etc.? What does your answer mean for this offseason?

Dave Pemberton, The Oakland Press

My top priority this offseason would be to bolster the Pistons frontcourt and help get the team in position to compete for a playoff spot next season. Whether it be in the draft, free agency or a trade, the Pistons have to improve up front. It’s frightening to think how bad Detroit’s frontcourt would have been without Ben Wallace this season.

This all starts with the draft and depending on the pick is likely the best option. Free agency won’t bring anything more than a temporary solution. Signing someone like Brad Miller, Erick Dampier or Brendan Haywood would be an improvement, but not a long-term solution. Bringing back Wallace would be among my plans, but only with a deal similar to the one he had this season.
Re-signing Will Bynum would also be a priority this offseason. Bynum’s a young player that has shown he can provide a nice spark off the bench and fill in as the starting point guard if needed.

Adding young talent this offseason or during next season would be part of my long-term plan because I would be looking to compete for a championship two or three years down the road.

Tayshaun Prince will be an attractive option in trades because of his expiring contract, but I wouldn’t give him away. He’s shown he can still play and with the motivation of getting a new contract could be a nice piece for Detroit next season. I would actively shop other veterans, but make sure I get some value in return.

Chris Iott, MLive.com/ Booth Newspapers

Joe Dumars has to be on an "every-year plan." Championship teams are not built overnight or even an offseason. Dumars has his work cut out for him, but no matter what he does, the Pistons are not going to win the 2010-11 NBA title. The Pistons can make a leap forward and make the playoffs next season, but Dumars will have to make one really good to great move in free agency and via a trade in addition to getting it right when it comes to the draft. But even a perfect offseason will leave another year or two of work to do. This truly is a team in transition.

Vince Ellis, Detroit Free Press

I wouldn’t necessarily put a time frame on when the Pistons could return to challenging for a title. I would just treat this season as hitting rock bottom and work from there. If it takes one, two, three or however long, that’s how I would treat it. As for this off-season, without even making a move you are looking at a top-five pick, a high second-rounder and the midlevel exception. That offers the potential for three nice pieces (two of those slots should be big guys). And you assume Rip or Tay will be moved so who knows how many more new players will be around.  I will say this off-season will be huge for the future.

Jamie Samuelsen, Detroit Free Press

It’s impossible to define how long a plan can be. Dumars made it clear last off-season that he wasn’t content to allow for a long rebuild. So he got aggressive and signed Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva to awful contracts. And with the future of the franchise so unclear, I wonder how aggressive Dumars will be allowed to be. But I’m sure he’d love to unload some contracts, so there will be a lot of proposals and phone calls and offers. But in this economy, what team is going to want Rip Hamilton for three more years at 12.6 mil per year? Dumars has had a very good run as the Pistons GM. And I think he deserves the chance to fix this mess. But he did create the mess. And I don’t see many ways out. At least not in the short term.

Keith Langlois, Detroit Pistons

My answer would be that I won’t limit the possibilities for next season but I also won’t do anything that limits the possibilities beyond next season. I think he’d say his intent is to put the Pistons in the best position to win as many games as possible next season without damaging their future beyond that. Get better now, but avoid the quick fix. He’s more likely to trade veterans for younger talent than vice versa, but I don’t think he’d rule out anything that would improve the Pistons now without recklessly endangering their future. As for what will shape his off-season, I think where the May 18 lottery places them will be a big piece of the picture.

Eli Zaret, Detroit Pistons

I think it’ll be at least a 2- if not a 3-year plan. This offseason he’ll get a top 5 pick; will probably try to trade some of his assets that need a change of scenery, like Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince and use his midlevel exception wisely. Billups was a midlevel back in ‘02-’03 and that worked out pretty well.

Patrick Hayes, Full-Court Press

The Pistons aren’t far off. They need what most teams do – a star playmaker, regardless of position. You can’t win in the NBA right now without a guy who can get his own shot on any possession. If the Pistons luck out in the draft and end up with Wall or Turner, then sign a serviceable big for part of the midlevel or make a trade for one, they’ll be a middle of the pack playoff team in the East next year.

This rebuilding project is going to take as long as it takes for the Pistons to get a top two pick in the draft. If that happens this year, they’ll be back soon. If it doesn’t, next year they should be better with improved health, but not significantly enough to become a playoff threat.

Justin Rogers, Full-Court Press

The Pistons are at least two years away, but they can make significant strides this offseason. First and foremost the Pistons can start the turnaround process in the NBA draft.The team is likely to have a top-six-or-seven pick, hopefully top three. Second, Tayshaun Prince’s value is starting to peak again. He’s been fantastic on the last third of the season and he’s entering in the final year of his contract. Dumars should be able to get pretty good value in a trade. Finally, the MLE must be used wisely. Free agency is flooded with superstars, so Dumars should be able to find a bargain on the market. Obviously the goal is to find another player like Billups, a younger player who is hasn’t met their potential, but is willing to work hard. Clearly that’s easier said than done.

Natalie Sitto, Need4Sheed

Right now you want to get better every season. You don’t ever want to be on a two- or three-year plan. You focus around making your team the best you can every season. If it takes three years to make a championship push, so be it, but you need to go all out each year if you think you have the pieces that might work together.

As far as the offseason, Dumars needs size. Kwame Brown is gone, Ben Wallace might retire, and Chris Wilcox was like a ghost all season. That just leaves the undersized Jason Maxiell. If Austin Daye doesn’t go on a weightlifting, eating binge during the summer or gets blasted with whatever Bruce Banner did, the Pistons are in serious trouble.

Dumars also either needs to resign Will Bynum, who will get much more than his $825,000 salary next season, or find a point guard to take his place.

As for the current duo of Tayshaun and Rip, I’m sure he’ll take calls on both. Rip has a difficult contract to move, but Tayshaun’s 12 million will come off the books after the 2011 season, so the Pistons could get someone to make that deal.

Brian Packey, Detroit Bad Boys

Presumably, the Pistons are going to add 2-3 quality talents this off-season with the draft and the MLE. Hopefully, one of those will be the big-man, paint presence the Pistons so desperately need. Of course, whether this year was a result of all the injuries, or a true indication of the talent on this team will also affect Joe’s plan significantly.

Kevin Sawyer, Detroit Bad Boys

I’d look toward 2011-2012. Gordon and Villanueva will still be in their 20s, Stuckey will be hitting his stride, Austin Daye should be a major player and our lottery pick will have a year under his belt. I think Dumars needs to think about what he can do to move Hamilton. If that means moving an asset (like Jerebko, or even a draft pick), I think that he should consider doing so.

That said, economics being what they are, I wouldn’t hesitate to spend a few million toward a playoff push next year.   

Mike Payne, Detroit Bad Boys

Although I’d love to see Joe Dumars turn this ship around in one, two or even three years, I remain pessimistic about the future. The Pistons are locked into some serious contracts with under-performing players and a roster with no real identity. Sadly, my hope for this team’s future is entirely dependent on numbered balls in a lottery machine.

If Detroit winds up with any of the top three picks, the future will again be bright. I like DeMarcus Cousins and Evan Turner a lot more than I like John Wall, and would prefer either going forward. If we draft 4th or beyond, we’ll likely snag a role player and a longer wait for a turn-around.

Should we draft after the top three are taken, and Minnesota nets DeMarcus Cousins, we could find a trade partner in Wolves GM David Kahn. I suggested a trade scenario with Minny back in January, moving Tayshaun and Stuckey for Jefferson and Sessions. If Minnesota drafts Cousins they will most certainly move Jefferson, and Detroit should do whatever it can to bring him to Detroit. A starting line of Sessions, Gordon, Jerebko, Jefferson and Aldrich sounds quite attractive to me (well, any lineup with Jerebko is attractive, of course). Although some may question giving Sessions the keys at the point, he is precisely the kind of rare player that ends up making a GM look brilliant – just like Chauncey did of Dumars many years ago.

Jesse Murphy, Pistons Nation

That’s a tough question because of the salary commitments that Joe has made the past few seasons, see question #2.

Jon Young, Flagrant2

If I was Joe Dumars I would be on a one-year plan.

The Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva contracts look real bad right now, and the chance of shedding them is unlikely. If they could find any team willing to trade an above average big man for Rip I would jump on it.

The offseason depends a lot on the draft. If the Pistons get the #1 pick I think they would get John Wall at point guard and move Stuckey to the 2 guard. That would make trading Rip a lot easier. If they get a big man in the draft they could cut Chucky Atkins and go for a veteran point guard, not even necessary to start but to help run the team and manage the offense (Jason Williams for example).

The Pistons need to find a big man this offseason, preferably one who can shoot the ball maybe a Brad Miller type. The post has been very weak this year. I don’t see any point in resigning Kwame Brown, Chris Wilcox hasn’t done nearly as much as expected and Ben Wallace isn’t going to give you a scoring option. If the Pistons can draft a solid big man and keep Ben Wallace around for defense, the post situation will at the very least upgrade from this year. Tayshaun has been playing good lately and he might be the best option for acquiring a big man through trade, which if you’re Joe Dumars you have to be looking for.

Jonas is most likely going to improve next year, Charlie V has something to prove, and Ben Gordon can’t be any worse than this season. Through the draft, hopefully a trade, and development of the current roster the Pistons should improve in the next few seasons.

Dan Feldman, PistonPowered

I’d be on a one-year plan – almost completely.

I’d still draft the best player available rather than someone with limited upside who’s more apt to contribute right away. And I wouldn’t trade Rodney Stuckey, Jonas Jerebko or Austin Daye for someone much older.

But I’d be willing to trade Charlie Villanueva, Ben Gordon or Will Bynum for someone with less upside, but who would be better right now.

I’d also go for need over luxury in free agency – not what Joe Dumars did with Ben Gordon last summer.

Dumars isn’t stupid. He knows Gordon plays a similar role to Richard Hamilton. But I think he saw Gordon as the type of special player on whom you don’t pass. (Whether he’s right remains to be seen.)

I’d use the mid-level exception on the big man who can help Detroit most right now – regardless of his age. Luis Scola or Marcus Camby would be ideal, but they’re probably a stretch. Someone like Jermaine O’Neal, Udonis Haslem or Drew Gooden would likely make more sense.

The goal should be to get good right away, especially because it will increase the value of the expensive players the Pistons already have. Detroit’s high-priced players are good, but if they play for a loser too long, their value will plummet.

Look at Andre Iguodala, Elton Brandon and Samuel Dalembert in Philadelphia. They’re overpaid, but all three can still play. Their trade value is shot because the 76ers have been so miserable.

On the other hand, check out Rashard Lewis in Orlando or Kenyon Martin in Denver. They’re overpaid and productive, too. But their trade value is much higher than it should be because their teams are so good.

Winning masks a lot of issues, and the Pistons have plenty of those. Winning won’t make the problems completely disappear, but it will make them a lot easier to fix.

Previous

• How good would the Pistons have been this season if they weren’t hit with so many injuries?
• If you had to build a team around a current Piston besides Rodney Stuckey or Jonas Jerebko, whom would it be and why? (Please note if you’d rather build around this player than Stuckey or Jerebko.)
• Rodney Stuckey has been a key part of the Pistons’ long-term plans. Should that status change?

Like with the other questions, please post your answer in the comments. I’d like this roundtable to involve everyone reading, too.

A source at the airport has confirmed to 97.1 The Ticket’s Matt Dery that Charlie Villenueva also missed the team plane yesterday to Philadelphia and had to fly commercial. Villenueva would not elaborate on his tweets from yesterday at today’s shootaround before the Pistons game with the 76ers.

Yikes.

Update

Austin Daye missed the flight, too, according to Chris Iott of MLive. Daye had also been fine for being late to team event earlier in the season.

Because there are so many participants, I’ve decided to split each question into a separate post. So, check back for four more installments later this week.

Here’s this year’s panel (subject to change):

• Dave Pemberton, The Oakland Press
• Chris Iott, MLive
• Vince Ellis, Detroit Free Press
• Jamie Samuelsen, Detroit Free Press
• Keith Langlois, True Blue Pistons
• Eli Zaret, Detroit Pistons
• Patrick Hayes, Full-Court Press
• Justin Rogers, Full-Court Press
• Natalie Sitto, Need4Sheed
• Brian Packey, Detroit Bad Boys
• Kevin Sawyer, Detroit Bad Boys
• Mike Payne, Detroit Bad Boys
• Jesse Murphy, Pistons Nation
• Jon Young, Flagrant2
• Dan Feldman, PistonPowered

I  want to thank everyone listed above for participating. But I don’t want to hear just from them. Please post your answers to the question in the comments.  We can make this an even larger collection of thoughts about the Pistons.

So, without further ado, here’s the first question of the 2010 Detroit Pistons roundtable:

How good would the Pistons have been this season if they weren’t hit with so many injuries?

Dave Pemberton, The Oakland Press

Before the season I thought the Pistons would be a playoff team or the last team out in the East. After watching them all season I’m not sure that is the case, even without all the injuries. Let’s say with everyone healthy (which never happens) the Pistons would have won 10-15 more games this season. Even with those wins Detroit is the No. 8 seed at best and likely still out of the playoffs.

The fact is the Pistons are a flawed team with no identity. If you don’t believe me just ask yourself two questions. First, what are the Pistons real strengths? Takes a minute to think of something, at least it did for me. Second, what are the Pistons flaws? The answers are endless. Where do you start, the poor frontline play, terrible defense, no outside shooting, lack of leadership, the list goes on.

To answer the question, I think even without all the injuries the Pistons would be right where they are now: out of the playoffs, just with a better record.

Chris Iott, MLive

Heading into the season, the Pistons appeared to be a borderline playoff team that wouldn’t be able to make much noise in the postseason. With all the injuries the Pistons had early and the twists and turns the season took after that, that original assessment appears to be right on. There is no guarantee the Pistons would have finished above .500 or made the playoffs, but they very likely would have been in the playoff hunt until the end had they not had to deal with so many injuries.

Vince Ellis, Detroit Free Press

Up until the latest losing streak I would have said it’s a no-brainer that the Pistons would have made the playoffs if not for the injuries.

Now, I’m not so sure. The problems are well-documented. But to answer your question, I will stay yes. I will buy the theory that the injuries robbed them of their mojo.

Jamie Samuelsen, Detroit Free Press

There is a good chance they would have had a better record for the simple reason that they would have gotten off to a better start. When you get off to a good start, it’s easier for players to stay interested and motivated. But when you are up against it early on, some players tend to check out and this team checked out big time. But even if they had been healthy, the best case scenario would have been sneaking into the playoffs and losing in the first round. There is no interior scoring. I thought Ben Wallace was a publicity stunt when he signed, and he ended up being the team’s most valuable big man. That is alarming!

Keith Langlois, Detroit Pistons

Coming into the season, I had the Pistons solidly in the middle of the East’s "middle class" – a group I thought would consist of Washington (ouch!), Miami, Toronto, Chicago and Philadelphia (oops!) in addition to Detroit – behind the big four of Cleveland, Orlando, Boston and Atlanta. (Charlotte’s success surprised me a little, Milwaukee’s a lot.) I felt after the preseason and the season opener the Pistons would be somewhere in the upper end of that group, a team that would win at least in the upper 30s and possibly into the mid 40s. I would have given them about a 65-75 percent chance of making the playoffs.

Eli Zaret, Detroit Pistons

Obviously, much better. They still would have lacked the low post presence they need so badly, but even as a guard-laden team they could have been a lower rung playoff team.

Patrick Hayes, Full-Court Press

I had them down for low 40s win total, somewhere between a 5 and 8 seed in the East. It’s not that I necessarily thought they were that good, it’s just that I thought the East was even worse than it’s been lately. In reality, I probably underrated the East a bit (particularly Milwaukee, Atlanta and Miami). But I still think the Pistons would’ve been a contender for a low playoff seed had everyone been healthy. Injuries were simply devastating for this team. When everyone finally came back healthy, there was no cohesion and no time left to develop it on the fly.

Justin Rogers, Full-Court Press

At the start of the season I would have said 45 wins, but I’m not so sure now.  I’m guessing Detroit would be around .500 right now and competing with Chicago and Toronto for the final playoff spot.  On the bright side, the injuries opened the door for the emergence of Jonas Jerebko.

Natalie Sitto, Need4Sheed

They would have made the playoffs for one. They would be jockeying for playoff position rather than lottery position. They most likely wouldn’t have gone on a double-digit losing streak. Ben Gordon would have probably been the player we know he can be.

I don’t think they would be in the running for the championship, but they could at least get past the first round of post-season play. It would have been very different.

Brian Packey, Detroit Bad Boys

I was in the overly optimistic minority before the season started – I felt the Pistons were going to be a lot better than a lot of critics were predicting. There’s really no telling how good they would have been this season without the injuries, though. They weren’t good when finally healthy, but I kind of think that by the time they were completely healthy, the feeling in the air was that this season was already a major disappointment because of those injuries. By that time, the Pistons were probably not even close to where they were mentally on opening night (when they destroyed Memphis on the road) and that might have played a bigger role in their futility than some people might think.

Kevin Sawyer, Detroit Bad Boys

Prior to the season starting, I put the Pistons down for 43-47 wins. What’s strange is that I thought that rebounding and defense would be the biggest problems, while I expected a strong perimeter game. As it happened, rebounding was an area of relative strength, the Pistons were stronger up front than anyone could have expected, but the Pistons were the worst three-point shooting team in the league. As such, I think 43 wins would be the high end, were I to recalibrate.

Mike Payne, Detroit Bad Boys

To borrow the phrase from Nicholson, "What if this is as good as it gets?"  Before this season began, I suggested that the Pistons would not eclipse the 39 win record of the 2008-09 season. This roster, as currently constructed, does not have the scoring balance or defensive identity necessary to reach the playoffs, let alone contend. These injuries may serve only to mask how truly bad this Pistons team is, an unfortunate excuse for players, coaches and management to explain this season’s woes.

Jesse Murphy, Pistons Nation

Really I can’t see the Pistons being more than 10-15 wins better if not hampered by all the injuries. We’ve conceded that we’re not going to be that team that "goes to work" on defense, but the problem with that is that we’re not a team that wears out a scoreboard either. This team has no identity and the long season has revealed some gaping needs to have to be addressed.

Jon Young, Flagrant2

I think a healthy Pistons squad would have been in the playoff race somewhere around the Bulls or Raptors fighting for a spot. With Tayshaun and Rip being out at the beginning of the year it messed up the entire season. Stuckey had to shoulder the scoring load instead of focusing on running the point. Will Bynum started out this season strong, scoring fast and getting into the lane, but with all the injuries he was forced to play on bad ankles before missing 19 games. Since his return he has not had nearly the same impact and you can tell the injuries are still there. The preseason lineup looked like it had all the chances to be great offensively but injuries and a lack of rhythm have the team at the bottom of the league offensively. Ben Gordon and Charlie V are both playing below their career averages and Rip is shooting the worst field goal percentage of his career.

Even if healthy the Pistons would still be bad defensively, but would have looked a lot better on the offensive end. They have shown some signs of what they could have done. They beat the Magic, Celtics, and Spurs once and gave the Cavs a run. If Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva played up to their career numbers and stayed healthy you have to believe the Pistons would be at least competing. It’s easy to blame a bad season on injuries but if anyone had that excuse this year it would be the Pistons.

Dan Feldman, PistonPowered

Before the season, I thought the Pistons would win 44 games. I had them getting a bottom-half seed in the playoffs, probably closer to the No. 5 seed.

But even if they were healthy, I now think that’s too high.

Being healthy would’ve fixed a lot of flaws. Ben Gordon would be a good shooter. Charlie Villanueva would be a good rebounder. Tayshaun Prince would’ve played with more enthusiasm. And most importantly, the team’s defense would’ve been more cohesive.

And that all outweighs the one benefit of the injuries – getting Jonas Jerebko in the lineup.

But this team is just too flawed, too backcourt dependent. Besides Ben Wallace, they don’t have much inside. And he’s only valuable inside on defense.

I think the Pistons would have won 40 games, which puts them right on the edge of the eighth seed.