I’ve explained this quite a few times, I’m not sure where the miscommunication is. The Pistons are very consistent, but their ceiling isn’t championship caliber. For example, if you were to rank teams on how good they were, I might project Detroit as a 60-65, whereas a team like Philadelphia might be 55-70. Detroit is more consistent, but the Sixers have the higher ceiling. I’m concerned with the teams I think can contend. The Pistons will almost certainly finish higher than 6th, but they’re built for consistency and regular season success, they’re not nearly as good in the postseason.

You’re just tired of Detroit and feel they’re not for real. I get it. I can understand why you’d write them off.

But for them to finish sixth in the East is wrong. You have to realize that. Just analyze the records and you’ll see that I’m right. The sixth-placed team in the East is usually, what, a 44-win team? The Pistons will win 50 again… easily. Just think where 50 wins places you in the East. Even if the Cavs, Celtics, Sixers and Magic all win 50 games, that would place the Pistons fifth.

I just don’t understand how you think Mo Williams (I’m laughing) is going to be such a difference-maker in Cleveland, and they’re going to win 50+, and how Rodney Stuckey, Amir Johnson and Jason Maxiell aren’t going to push a 50-win team in Detroit to 50 wins again. That makes zero sense.

Maybe I’m missing something… when you say 1st or 6th in the East, are you talking about 6th-best team overall, and not “they’ll finish 6th in the conference?” Because if that’s the case, Ok, I can understand where you’re coming from with the Cavs. But if you’re talking about predicted order of finish, then to pick the Cavs first is ridiculous. The top team in the East will win close to 60 games, if not more, and if you think the mediocre–yes, that’s what they are–Cavs are jumping to 60 wins, pass the joint this way.

Please clear that up for me because it’s troubling. Five teams in the East will not be better than the Pistons in terms of regular season record.

Friendly wager? Seriously. I’ll bet you X amount of dollars the Pistons will finish with a better record than the Cavs.

“Pistons are going to be tough. They have won at least 50 games seven years in a row. The same core group of guys are back.”

Which could, in fact, be said of the last three seasons, when they’ve fallen short.

“They all respect Mike Curry, who is a no-nonsense guy. He has already said Sheed is going to play more in the post.”

Please, don’t give me the “the new coach is going to change everything” argument. Coaching is the single most overrated factor in the NBA. Example A: Doc Rivers.

“6th in the East? I mean, really… you know they’re going to win at least 50 games, right? You think six teams in the East will win 50?”

No, I don’t. However, as I’ve explained quite a few times, I don’t particularly care about where a team finishes the regular season. I do care about which teams could possibly contend. I don’t think Detroit is a contender anymore, while I think the teams ranked above them have a chance at that.

It’s simple–one plays in a good situation and one doesn’t. Stuckey will be a key factor in giving his team something it lacks and pushing it over the edge into reaching the Finals. Foye will be an afterthought because regardless of how good he plays, his effort will be all for naught. Nobody is going to be saying, “hey, if they good just surround that Foye kid with a better supportive cast…” but they will be saying, “that Stuckey kid they bring off the bench is incredible.”

And that’s all it really is. You’re right that Stuckey isn’t that much better than Foye–if at all–but if the roles were reversed, we’d all–at least me–be talking about how Foye is going to push the Pistons over the edge.

Stuckey plays a little bigger, I think. He’s a legit 6-5 where I think Foye is closer to 6-3. That could be something as well. But basically, it’s situational. Both players have immense talent.

Pistons are going to be tough. They have won at least 50 games seven years in a row. The same core group of guys are back. Prince will be better after getting some Olympics experience. Amir Johnson and Maxiell will lighten the load for Sheed and McDyess, and keep them fresh down the stretch. Stuckey will give them a dynamic scorer off the bench.

They all respect Mike Curry, who is a no-nonsense guy. He has already said Sheed is going to play more in the post.

The Pistons aren’t stupid. They know their clock is ticking. No team, aside from Spurs, has a better understanding of what’s needed to win a title. I expect them to be more focused this year.

6th in the East? I mean, really… you know they’re going to win at least 50 games, right? You think six teams in the East will win 50? Doubtful. Magic, Celtics, and Pistons will win 50, and after that, it gets iffy. Sixers could, Cavs could… but then who would be the sixth team? The Raptors? Eh.

I’d bet a testicle they finish better than sixth.