AUBURN HILLS -- It was the end of a grueling three-hour practice, and other than his sweat-drenched T-shirt, you'd never know it based on Rasheed Wallace's upbeat demeanor afterward.
The timing of it, just hours after a 106-80 loss to a bad Minnesota Timberwolves team, made it even more notable. "I'm cool," Wallace said. "Can't be tired; can't be lagging behind."
And maybe more importantly, players and coaches are doing their best to avoid getting caught up in the results of these early season games.
"We know it's going to be a long season," Pistons guard Richard Hamilton said. "We just want to keep getting better, and hopefully be playing our best Basketball of the season in the playoffs."
"It was just one of those nights you wish you never have, but they happen," said Pistons guard Allen Iverson said.
Bad performances, such as when the Timberwolves came into the Palace on Sunday and handed the Pistons one of their worst home losses in franchise history, are bound to happen to teams that are in transition the way Detroit has been following the Iverson trade.
Pistons coach Michael Curry is pleased with the improvement in practice.
"The next thing is to take it out on the court in the game, and continue to get better in the game," he said.
Curry understands that it is going to take some time.
This is going to be a process. I understand the end result is what we're looking at, and I understand we have to try and grow everyday," Curry said.
CURRY WILL ROTATE Kwame Brown and Amir Johnson into the starting lineup at center.
