It’s not that the Pistons didn’t try to trap teams before Rasheed Wallace got here; it’s just they weren’t that good at it.
The Pistons would jump pick-and-roll plays with two defenders, or they would try to pick up their defensive pressure upcourt. But more often than not, they ended up giving up open shots or layups. The double-team would get split and poor Ben Wallace would end up having to defend at least two players at the basket.
The 85-69 pasting of Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon was just the most recent example of how things have changed. The Pistons trapped the shorthanded Sixers right out of their offense, forcing 22 turnovers and limiting them to 39 percent shooting.
They also forced the Sixers into four 24-second violations and once prevented them from advancing the basketball into the frontcourt in the allotted eight seconds.
“We are getting teams to play at a frantic pace,” Chauncey Billups said. “They are seeing the rim and they are firing up quick shots trying to get it out of their hand as quick as possible.”
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Pistons trap opponents with gusto
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