We're talkin' about getting back on track.

When asked about the Iverson-less Pistons [Iverson left the game in the 1st quarter 3 games ago, and has missed ther last 2 games with his team], the Boston Celtics Paul Pierce spoke The Truth:

"You can tell they're playing the same system they played before Iverson got there. Those guys that are out on the court, they're comfortable with each other. You know when Iverson is out there, they're still trying to figure out how to use each other, how to all be successful."

As hard as it is for me to admit, I agree. The Answer to the Pistons trade, as I've mentioned time and time again, was what I always wanted but never believed would happen, and I loved it. But something has just been off. Lack of chemistry? Sort of. Different styles of play? Definitely.

Curry didn't bench A.I. because he thought he was doing a bad job, because if you have been watching Detroit basketball since the trade, you can clearly see that he is still giving it his all - mind, body, and heart- and playing the same way he has played his entire career.

He has played one way for 13 seasons. The Pistons knew they'd have to change their game when Allen got there, and adjust to him and his style, which is to get the ball, keep the ball, and attempt to take down anyone standing between him and the basket, and score. [Throw in some circus shots and plenty of crossovers.]

But with so many superstars and so much talent in Detroit, it just didn't work. I, for one, can see how much he has tried to change for this team. Just last season, he was 3rd in the league in scoring. Since coming to Detroit, his numbers have dropped, now averaging 18 points per-game.


Curry has tried everything from small-ball to 3 guards to position changes to benching the team captain, and none of it worked in the Pistons favor. So he hopes that this final change will get his team back on the right track and produce W's.

So far, so good.

In the last 2 games, Orlando and Boston, the Pistons played without Iverson and won both games, putting that 8 game losing streak behind them and starting a new streak - a winning one.

And the way the Pistons bench played against the Celtics [J-Max had 8, Walter Herrmann had 11, Will Bynum had 9, Kwame Brown added 2] people are wondering how Iverson will fit in there now.

Rip Hamilton knows how A.I. must be feeling.

"He's a starter in this league, and he's a starter on our team, too." He said.
"When they told me I was coming off the bench, the thing I tried to do was say, 'OK, do this for the team; hopefully we get to where we want to get to.' I believe he's a starter, man, but it is what it is."


As for me, I never gave up on my team, even when everyone around me that claims to be a fan did. I've been hopeful and optimistic when we were being called "lowly" and "sinking", and confident that we would eventually figure things out.

I am just as confident as I was back in November when I got the news telling me that my home team would be acquiring my favorite player - one of the greatest scorers in NBA history.