Detroit was the toughest team in the league last season (Dallas was the softest). The loss of Williamson at SF will hurt them in that department this upcoming season (I suspect).
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I do not subscribe to the notion that they are allowed to get away with fouling. They are a genuinely skilled defensive team.
Their brand of ball is not the
goonery (is that even a word) of the early to mid 90s Knicks and Heat or the cheap shot tactics of the original Bad Boys. They genuinely play great defense. They block shots and their three frontcourt players (Prince, Wallace and Wallace) play effective defense without fouling.
- Prince is a perimeter stopper that does not initiate contact in order to impede or derail the progress of an offensive player (ala Bowen, Artest). He sags off of his man and uses his length to contest the outside shot (this strategy is not one that typically draws fouls).
- R. Wallace has been an efficient defender in terms of playing tough man-to-man defense and not drawing personal fouls throughout his career. He is long and has a strong fundamental understanding of defensive positioning.
Note:
The key to his denial of low post position is his ability to deny deep position without excessive displays of pressure or force towards the offensive advancement of the opposing player. In other words he is strong enough in his lower base to impede the progress of his opponent without having to excessively use his hands and knees for leverage. His defensive positioning is truly textbook... factor in his length, strength and athleticism and it is easy to see why he would be such an efficient defensive player.
- Ben Wallace is another player who typically does not accrue fouls. He is regularly amongst the league leaders in blocks and steals per foul ratio.
As perhaps the most overlooked aspect of his defensive game... He is a tremendous off the ball, help and weak side defender who does not foul.
This has been true throughout his career.
In Fact: A close look at the Pistons (team) will show that they committed the second fewest fouls of any team in the league last season.
Free throw attempts allowed...
... I (for one) doubt that the conspiracy to mask their fouling as "hard nosed defense" persisted the span of 82 plus ballgames.
the toughest and softest teams
