Dumars: Pistons' defense won't rest
Mohammed, Murray, new pieces to puzzle, will shore up the team on both ends of the court.
Chris McCosky / The Detroit News
AUBURN HILLS -- As he was introducing two new pieces to the Pistons' puzzle Tuesday -- center Nazr Mohammed and guard Flip Murray -- president Joe Dumars took time to clear up a couple misperceptions.
He's heard talk that the Pistons, without Ben Wallace, were no longer going to be a great defensive team.
"It's such a misnomer about who we are," he said. "If you look at the year before last and last year, we gave up almost the exact same amount of points (90.2 in 2005-06, 89.5 in 2004-05). We didn't have a big dropoff. What I am saying is, you have to have versatility.
"Both of these guys we're adding here are good defensive players, but they are also very good offensive players. We're not getting away from defense, but you do have to be versatile."
Coach Flip Saunders took that point a step further.
"We have a chance to be a better defensive team," he said. "I know that sounds crazy. But the No. 1 thing you have to be able to do is stop perimeter penetration and I am excited about (Murray's) ability to defend on the perimeter. When he came into the league, he was known as a defensive player."
Dumars also heard talk that the Pistons, by not re-signing Wallace, were lowering expectations for the 2006-07 season.
"Our goals are the same," he said. "I am not going to sit up here and say we're playing for second place. We brought these two guys in here to help us win a championship.
"I'll tell you what, when the other guys come back for training camp, make sure you ask them if they think our goals have changed. Those guys will have something to say about that because that's selling them short."
The news conference Tuesday essentially concludes the Pistons' summer shopping.
Mohammed signed a four-year contract guaranteed for $23.3 million with a player option for a fifth year that would take it up over $30 million. He likely will replace Wallace at center.
"None whatsoever," Mohammed said when asked if he felt any trepidation about replacing a player as iconic as Wallace was in Detroit. "Now that I've got a couple of years under my belt, people know who I am and what to expect -- even though I think I am better than some people may think. But I had no hesitation. Ben is a great player. He did what he did and he was great for this organization.
"I am a different player. I can do some of the things he did, but I can also do things he didn't do."
Mohammed will provide more of an inside threat offensively, and Saunders and Dumars said his defensive play was underrated.
"We had to have a better inside presence offensively," Saunders said. "It's a proven fact that if you want to beat Miami, you have to have a center who can score against Shaq (O'Neal). If you don't, what happens is, Shaq gets to rest so much on defense that he's that much better on offense. No matter if Ben was here or not, we were going to have to address that."
Mohammed, who is close friends with fellow Kentucky alum Tayshaun Prince, said he was excited about fitting in with the Pistons' four established starters.
Murray, who signed a two-year deal worth $3.5 million, is expected to be the first perimeter player off the bench and provide the consistent scoring punch the Pistons lacked off the bench last season.
"The minute we got beat in Miami, we walked into the locker room and Joe was there and we said right then, we've got to get better," Saunders said. "One of the areas we needed to get better was on the perimeter, our ability to get somebody to the hole and our ability to defend on the perimeter. Those are two things (Murray) can do."
Murray has been somewhat of an enigma his first three seasons. When he has gotten the chance to start or play big minutes, he has produced. But when he's been asked to come off the bench in spot minutes, like he did against the Pistons during the playoffs when he shot 27 percent, he's struggled.
"It's not about him starting or coming off the bench, it's about how he was utilized," Saunders said. "As a starter, he was the focus of the offense. Coming off the bench, he's not the go-to guy and plays aren't called for him. That's why his numbers are so different."
With the Pistons, Murray's role is clear -- provide instant offense off the bench.
"Once it was official that Detroit had interest in me, it wasn't a choice any more for me," he said. "I was in. This is somewhere I've always wanted to be. I respect everything here. It's all about winning and that's what I am looking forward to."
Murray will have to play both guard positions and is looking forward to learning behind Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton.
The Pistons also made official the signings of small forward Ronald Dupree (two years, $1.5 million) and guard Lindsey Hunter (two years, $4.5 million).
"This isn't like building a fantasy league team," Dumars said. "There's more to it than just looking at statistics. For me, it's always been about finding guys who fit, and these guys, because of the type of people they are and the type of players they are, fit perfectly. I think it's going to be a seamless transition for these guys."
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