Chicago remains a second city

Ira Winderman

Sorry, still not sold--even with Ben Wallace in Chicago and out of Detroit. My money, at least when it comes to the playoffs, remains on the Pistons.

Detroit returns All-Stars Richard Hamilton, Rasheed Wallace and Chauncey Billups, and Tayshaun Prince could add that designation.

If Rasheed Wallace accepts he has to play more at center, he could do plenty to offset the loss of his namesake. Rasheed has shied from the physical, in-the-paint role since his peak years with the Blazers, but when the Pistons' best possible lineup (not necessarily the one they would start games with) is compared with the Bulls', why is it that Chicago is suddenly so universally viewed as the better team?

Go ahead, score at home: Rasheed vs. Ben? Antonio McDyess vs. Andres Nocioni? Prince vs. Luol Deng? Hamilton vs. Kirk Hinrich? Billups vs. Ben Gordon or Chris Duhon?

This judge's card: 4-1 Pistons, with Nocioni getting a slight nod over McDyess at power forward.

Yes, the Bulls have superior depth and the promise of newcomers Tyrus Thomas and Thabo Sefolosha. But in a playoff situation, depth tends to be mitigated and youth almost always takes a back seat.

Could Chicago win more regular-season games than Detroit? Certainly. Then again, so what? Last season, Detroit was 12 games better than the Heat.

Ultimately, Chicago remains an all-or-nothing perimeter proposition that plays off feeds from a well-crafted drive-and-kick game. The Wallace who could have benefited the Bulls the most is Rasheed, with his varied offensive repertoire and defensive length.

No one doubts the energy, commitment and leadership delivered by Ben Wallace. But the reality is his rebounding average has declined the past three years and his blocked shots average has gone down the past four.

The game also is changing. David Stern's push to have defense abolished likely will gain momentum. This certainly is not a time to be playing four on five. (Ben Wallace never has averaged more than 9.7 points and has a career 6.6 scoring average.)

With the $60 million spent on Wallace in a four-year commitment that takes the center up to his 36th birthday, the Bulls essentially purchased hope. Considering where the franchise has been since the Jordan era ended, that is a priceless commodity.

But the ultimate challenge for Chicago has not changed. The growth into a legitimate contender must come from the youthful perimeter players VP John Paxson has collected.

In that respect, Ben Wallace stands as a bridge to the future, a conduit to greater success.

But he hardly is an immediate trigger to a title.

speedread

Figure that Eric Piatkowski will find his own Lourdes in Phoenix and Mike D'Antoni's 3-point-happy system, just as Quentin Richardson, Eddie House and Tim Thomas did. Considering how buried Piatkowski was with Houston and Chicago the past three seasons, he should pay the Suns.

INSIDE DISH

After bemoaning the money squandered on SF Austin Croshere for years, Pacers fans could find a considerable return on that investment in G/F Marquis Daniels, who was acquired from the Mavericks for the final year of Croshere's contract. Daniels will mesh nicely with Indiana's move toward an athletic roster but only if Rick Carlisle is more forgiving than Avery Johnson, who lost patience with Daniels in Dallas. > Yes, Golden State will save the $26.5 million due over the next four seasons to PG Derek Fisher, who was moved to the Jazz in a salary dump. But the Warriors gave up their top 3-point and free throw shooter after ranking 22nd and 26th in those categories last season. The Warriors' primary backup to enigmatic and injury-prone PG Baron Davis is Monta Ellis, who hurt his knee in a summer-league practice last week. > PG Speedy Claxton has been an NBA starter for only one season (2004-05), and he was traded during that season. So it's hard to believe the Hawks have found their answer at point guard. Claxton is an efficient reserve, as is Tyronn Lue. It might prove to be another miscast season at the point for SG Joe Johnson. > Magic G.M. Otis Smith blew off the notion his team had been beaten out for the services of Claxton and free-agent PG Bobby Jackson, who agreed to sign with the Hornets. "I already have four guards under 6-2," Smith says of a roster that includes Jameer Nelson, Carlos Arroyo, Keyon Dooling and Travis Diener. "I need another one like I need a hole in my head."

(S) BLOG ALERT

'If Tim Thomas is motivated, the Clippers will have a good deal. But Thomas may be the least motivated player in the NBA.'

Sean Deveney wasn't taken for a ride by Thomas' late-season salary drive. Were you? Sound off at sportingnews.com.

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