The Pistons have replaced Jonas Jerebko in the starting lineup with 37-year old Ben Wallace at power forward. This move doesn’t make much sense as Jerebko (24 years old) and Jason Maxiell (28 years old) are part of the Pistons’ future and they should be playing more minutes than Wallace at this point, as they are clearly rebuilding. In his first 8 starts this year, Wallace is averaging 0.8 points, 2.9 rebounds, 0.5 assists and 1.3 blocked shots. Those are pretty awful numbers. Wallace has now played in 21 games (8 starts) for the Pistons so far this year and he is averaging 15.3 minutes, 1.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game. The Pistons don’t need to be playing the older guys right now, so I think that Jerebko and Maxiell should be getting all the work at power forward, with Wallace backing up Greg Monroe at center.

Count me in as one of the guys that thought the Pistons should not have brought back Tayshaun Prince as I think he is very overrated. Prince has played in 18 games (all starts) for the Pistons so far this year and he is averaging 33.3 minutes, 12.0 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. This lack on production shouldn’t be too shocking as his career numbers are average for a small forward at best. Prince has now played in 679 games (640 starts) in his first 10 years with the Pistons and he is averaging 33.4 minutes, 12.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game.

26-year old “power” forward Charlie Villanueva stunk it up once again for the Pistons last year. He played in 76 games (11 starts) for the Pistons last year and he averaged 21.9 minutes, 11.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game. Villanueva has now played in 154 games (27 starts) in his first two years with the Pistons and he is averaging 22.8 minutes, 11.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game. Despite being a big guy, Villanueva has only shot 44.1% from the floor and that’s pathetic. Villanueva is a coach and GM killer.

56-year old John Kuester might be one of those guys who is a great basketball coach, while not being much of a head coach. The Pistons were 30-52 last season in a year marred by almost a mutiny by the players, who decided to blow off a lot of practice. Kuester handled it by not using the guys and it really hampered any chance the Pistons had of winning those games. The Pistons are now 57-107 (34.8%) in two years under Kuester, and that’s just not going to cut it. If I were running the team, he would be getting fired right after the lockout (if the NBA has one) is over.

UPDATE: (6/5/2011) - The Pistons have fired John Kuester and for good reason. He had no control of his team and he was overmatched as a head coach in the NBA.

26-year old “power” forward Charlie Villanueva has been suspended for 5 games by the NBA after his altercation with Ryan Hollins of the Cavaliers the other night. Villanueva served the first game of his suspension last night against the Sixers and he will miss the first four games of the 2011-12 season. Villanueva finally showed some heart in the game in which he was suspended in as he is one of the softest 6′11″, 240 pound players on the planet. He played in 76 games (11 starts) for the Pistons this year and he averaged 21.9 minutes, 11.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game. Villanueva has now played in 154 games (27 starts) in his first two years with the Pistons and he has averaged 22.8 minutes, 11.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game. Villanueva flat out stinks as his signing was one of the biggest mistakes that Pistons’ GM Joe Dumars has ever made.