We all know that Detroit didn’t make any major moves this summer and will be starting the season on Wednesday with very familiar faces. With that said, when you look at what Detroit has at the end of the bench are you more confident in this team than you have been in the past?

Personally I am looking at this season in a very positive way. As much as we all like the usual suspects, I’m looking forward to seeing more of Detroit’s youth movement. I have been on the Amir and Maxiell bandwagon since it’s first trip and can’t wait to see more of both of them this season. Rodney Stuckey has proven what he can do, so that’s another glimmer of hope for this season. And Afflalo has proven (to me at least) that he’s even better than expected when drafted. The big question here is the rest of Detroit’s bench?

Do the Walters’, Samb, Brown, Bynum and Acker have what it takes to help Detroit make another run at the title?  Blaha and Kelser broke it down for us the other night on the FSN Broadcast.

7 ft 1 inCheikh
245 LBS Cheikh
Manute Bol body typeCheikh
Can put up a Triple-Double Cheikh
Can drain the threeCheikh

Enjoy this clip, we may not see Cheikh attempt this shot in the regular season.

The Pistons will take the floor for the last time this pre-season tonight against The Atlanta Hawks at The Palace. The Pistons topped the Calavliers 97-79 last night with the help of Rodney Stuckey’s 20 points and a Cheikh Samb 3.

And then there was AMIR….

“Most definitely,” he nodded. “He was way bigger than me. I was about 215 and he was like 245 or 250. So I was a little intimidated by him. But now it’s no problem. I just treat him like a regular guy.” Amir on Ben Wallace

“The truth is, Amir got the better of Big Ben in Wednesday’s preseason game, though to be fair, a 34-year-old four-time Defensive Player of the Year nursing a tender back is going to approach a preseason game with a tad less fervor than a kid trying to prove his coach was right to thrust him into a starting lineup composed of four virtual All-Stars.” Via Keith Langlois at True Blue Pistons

Expect some rest tonight:

“Pistons Backup center Kwame Brown (right shoulder strain) missed the game and Curry said he expects Brown to miss tonight’s game against the Atlanta Hawks. … Curry said he expects to rest Rasheed Wallace, Chauncey Billups, Prince, Hamilton and Antonio McDyess in the second half of tonight’s exhibition finale.” Via The Detroit Free Press

Tip off is at 7:30 PM and WILL be broadcast on FSN Detroit. You can also follow the NBA.com live stream or listen to 1130 AM WDFN The Fan.

I’m trying out a new Chat Room for those of you who like to talk live during the games. I put a link to it at the top of the page but here it is if you want to try it out tonight during the Hawks game, or any other time for that matter. I can even add it to the each game tread, so give me some feedback if you can.
Let the countdown to the regular season begin!