http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?name=nba Pistons' offense struggles by: Jim O'Brien posted: Monday, May 28, 2007 | Feedback | Print Entry I have to admit to being more than a little surprised at how badly Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince have looked at different times throughout this series against the Cleveland Cavaliers. It makes me scratch my head and wonder what the heck is going on with the Pistons' three-man perimeter juggernaut. It is not surprising that Detroit was overtaken by the Cavs when you look at Billups' and Hamilton's numbers: 6-for-22 from the floor with a negative assist-to-turnover ratio. The first two games could have gone either way in no small part to the horrific shooting struggles of Prince (1-for-19). Anyone can see that the offensive flow, of arguably the best three-man outside combo, is way off. So what's up? Nobody knows the players on a team better than the coach. Flip Saunders, who is one of the best offensive coaches in the game, will figure it out and the Pistons should win this series and advance to the Finals. I have a bit of a theory on this subject. I reported in my blog some time back that Chris Webber made what I consider one of the most startling comments I have ever heard. Shortly after we traded for him when I coached Philadelphia I was discussing our playbook with him. One play had Kyle Korver coming from under the basket and our power forward (Webber) screening for him on the box and posting up for a low-post opportunity. Webber looked at me and very politely said, "Coach, I don't do the low-post thing anymore." His point was that at that stage of his career he was best utilized at the elbow with the ball in his hands. If everyone moved when he had the ball he would hit cutters if they were open for a layup or an open jumper. When Detroit picked up Webber after the Sixers let him go, I wrote that the Pistons were the perfect fit for him at this point in his career. When Saunders called his number to receive the ball at the elbow, Webber had the best four-man combination in basketball as potential receivers. The basket area would be open and the combination of Billups, Hamilton, Prince and Rasheed Wallace were equally effective as inside-outside threats. Webber, who many believe is the best passing big man since Bill Walton, has enormous hands and the ability to thread the needle if someone cuts hard and is open. During the regular season Webber averaged three assists per game and although it took some tinkering the rest of the starters, including Billlups, seemed to grow comfortable with some of the offense running through Webber on occasions. It also opened up the low box for post ups for others versus any mismatch that presented itself. During his time with the Pistons, Webber has shown that he still has some abilities in the low post and Saunders is utilizing his talents down low with mixed results. If you throw out Webber's Game 2 stats from the Chicago series when he torched the Bulls by shooting 10-for-11 from the floor, he is only shooting 20-for-55 from the floor in the last two series. As coaches we all like to establish an inside presence early in the game. Mike Brown does it with Big Z even though the coach has better weapons in his arsenal. It just makes sense. Putting Webber down low for long stretches of the first quarter clogs things up a bit because it limits post-up chances for the perimeter guys, it hurts movement and the rhythm of their backcourt can be stymied. There are also more lanes to drive if the low post is cleared out. In addition, Webber is not the passing threat down low that he is at the elbow. There just are not enough places for cutters to go when the ball is in the low post. During the playoffs, Webber's assists are down from three a game to 1.6 a game and he has a negative assist-to-turnover ratio. When Webber rests in the second quarter it is also the time when Saunders gives Billups a blow. Sunday night he gave Billups a long rest because Ronald Murray was playing really well at the point. At halftime one of the announcers made the comment that the Pistons have to feel pretty good only being down three points with Billups and Hamilton going 0-for-7 from the floor. I think not. -- "I've got a busted lip and a black eye. But you do what you have to do." -- Ben Wallace --

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