Enemy Lines An Opposing Team's Scout Sizes Up The Pistons

This is a true team with depth at every position—but when all is said and done, I don't see the Pistons getting past New Jersey in the East....

It was mind-boggling when management decided that Rick Carlisle couldn't take them to the next level after he got the most out of this team in the last two years. At least Larry Brown is the one guy who could replace a highly successful coach and still get the players to listen and believe....

Rick and Larry have a lot in common, beginning with their commitment to defense. I can see Larry making a couple of minor changes: He'll let them freelance in their early offense a little more than Rick did, and he'll do more to establish Richard Hamilton as a go-to scorer by setting screens and posting him up against smaller guards. The one thing they might miss is Carlisle's energy. At 63 Larry will be trying to win NBA and Olympic championships back-to-back without a break over the next II months....

They're hoping to solve their big weakness-rebounding—with Darko Milicic, but he's an 18-year-old who has to adapt to a new language, a new culture and a coach who runs a ton of stuff. I'll be surprised if he doesn't develop paralysis by analysis....

Overall the center position is a strength for them in the East, though I don't understand why they gave 35-year-old Elden Campbell a big contract [two years, $8.4 million] to be their starter. He all but vanished last year with New Orleans and Seattle. At least they can use Ben Wallace at center, and Mehmet Okur can help out. When Okur learns to draw the double team, he'll become dangerous because he's a good passer....

Though Chauncey Billups is a clutch shooter and a winner, I don't see him as a bona fide point guard. Still, he's the kind of guy who improves as he gets more opportunities.