As for the history of slow starts, rest assured that everybody here knows it … just as they know that the last two years have brought diminishing returns, and that the current NBA climate is more hostile to Detroit than in 2004.

The thing I find most surprising is that no one points out a fact like this, or the fact that the other three teams who were conference finalists last year, also have losing records currently. I think it is just too early to pass judgment. We sure are painful to watch, but we were painful then too and people forget quickly.

Am I being blindingly optimistic? Maybe. Do I blame all of it on Flip Saunders and none of it on the departure of a certain ‘Fro-adorned center? I sure do. I also say that time will tell, but if time ends up telling a regrettable story for our men in Blue, I wouldn’t hesitate to make some changes. Has Joe Dumars already started talking to Rick Adelman … or better yet, Pound for Pound?

What irritated me about last night’s game with the Hornets is that after the Pistons finally grabbed a three-point lead in the fourth quarter, they proceded to just jack up ‘threes’ with wild abandon. Forgive me if I’m wrong, but I believe they shot a three-ball on five or six consecutive possessions. Making matters worse, with the game tied and on the line in the final seconds, Sheed tosses up another three rather than get his ass down on the block to dominate inside.

I don’t even want to talk about Hilton Freakin’ Armstrong…he gets 17 stinking points in his first-ever NBA game, and he ends the game by tipping out his own free-throw miss because the Pistons simply forget the elementary task of boxing out the shooter!

I’m still not getting too upset with this ugly start to ‘06′-’07. No panic. Not yet. Winning all those regular-season games last year was exciting, but it was the team that struggled along at the .500 mark for the first quarter of the season that beat us and won the NBA title.

At this point, I’m just hoping the Pistons don’t lay an egg next Friday when I see them play the Bobcats at the Palace. My wife and I will be at that game as part of our annual trip out from Pennsy to take in the Turkey Day Lions contest (now there’s a real joke of a team) and a Pistons matchup.

They’ve got to realize they’re unraveling their legacy and a lot of credit is going straight to Ben and Larry if they don’t turn it around. 48 minutes. What a concept.

There is losing, and then there is getting beat. This team gets beat which means the problems are in their heads and chests. This is not a very good team. They lack energy, hustle and passion.