2005–06 Detroit Pistons season

2005–06 Detroit Pistons season
Division champions
Head coach	Flip Saunders
General manager	Joe Dumars
President	Joe Dumars
Owner(s)	Bill Davidson
Arena	The Palace of Auburn Hills
Results
Record	64–18 (.780)
Place	Division: 1st (Central) Conference: 1st (Eastern)
Playoff finish	Eastern Conference Finals (lost to Heat 2–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	WMYD WDIV-TV FSN Detroit
Radio	WDFN

The 2005–06 Detroit Pistons season was the 65th season of the franchise, the 58th in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and the 49th in the Detroit area. The team entered the season as the two-time defending Eastern Conference champions. The Pistons began the season hoping to improve upon their 54–28 output from the previous season and have another chance of going to the NBA Finals after losing to the San Antonio Spurs in last season's NBA Finals in seven games. They bested it by ten games, finishing 64–18—their best record in franchise history—and qualifying for the playoff for the fifth straight season. The Pistons defeated the Milwaukee Bucks in five games in the first round, and the Cleveland Cavaliers in a tough, hard-fought seven-game series to reach the Eastern Conference finals for the fourth consecutive year before losing to the eventual NBA champions Miami Heat, whom they had beaten in a seven-game playoff series the year before. Detroit's offseason was soon marked by the departure of star defensive player Ben Wallace, who signed a free-agent deal with the Chicago Bulls.

For the season, the Pistons had a new logo, and, though they kept the uniforms, the horse logo was replaced by the letter 'P' on the left side of the shorts, they added new red road alternate uniforms with blue side panels to their jerseys and shorts, their alternate uniforms remained in used until 2009, while the logo and uniforms lasted until 2017.

Ben Wallace won his fourth and final Defensive Player of the Year Award and he along with Rasheed Wallace, Richard Hamilton, and Chauncey Billups were selected as reserves for the 2006 NBA All-Star Game.

Draft picks

Main article: 2005 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	26	Jason Maxiell	PF	United States	Cincinnati
2	56	Amir Johnson	PF	United States
2	60	Alex Acker	SG	United States	Pepperdine

Roster

2005–06 Detroit Pistons roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From SG 6 Acker, Alex (DL) 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1983-01-21 Pepperdine PG 1 Billups, Chauncey (C) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 202 lb (92 kg) 1976-09-25 Colorado C 13 Cato, Kelvin 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 255 lb (116 kg) 1974-08-26 Iowa State C 34 Davis, Dale 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 252 lb (114 kg) 1969-03-25 Clemson SG 20 Delfino, Carlos 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1982-08-29 Argentina PG 00 Delk, Tony 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 189 lb (86 kg) 1974-01-28 Kentucky SG 5 Evans, Maurice 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1978-11-08 Texas SG 32 Hamilton, Richard 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 193 lb (88 kg) 1978-02-14 Connecticut PG 10 Hunter, Lindsey 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1970-12-03 Jackson State SF 25 Johnson, Amir (DL) 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1987-05-01 Westchester HS (CA) PF 54 Maxiell, Jason 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 260 lb (118 kg) 1983-02-18 Cincinnati PF 24 McDyess, Antonio 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1974-09-07 Alabama SF 22 Prince, Tayshaun 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1980-02-28 Kentucky C 3 Wallace, Ben (C) 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1974-09-10 Virginia Union PF 36 Wallace, Rasheed 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1974-09-17 North Carolina

Head coach Flip Saunders Assistant coach(es) Igor Kokoškov Sidney Lowe Don Zierden Mike Abdenour (trainer) Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended (DL) On assignment to D-League affiliate Injured Roster Last transaction: April 17, 2006

Regular season

Season standings

Central Division	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Detroit Pistons	64	18	.780	-	37–4	27–14	13–3
x-Cleveland Cavaliers	50	32	.610	14	31–10	19–22	11–5
x-Indiana Pacers	41	41	.500	23	27–14	14–27	6–10
x-Chicago Bulls	41	41	.500	23	21–20	20–21	4–12
x-Milwaukee Bucks	40	42	.488	24	25–16	15–26	6–10

Eastern Conference
#	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	z-Detroit Pistons	64	18	.780	-
2	y-Miami Heat	52	30	.634	12
3	y-New Jersey Nets	49	33	.598	15
4	x-Cleveland Cavaliers	50	32	.610	14
5	x-Washington Wizards	42	40	.512	22
6	x-Indiana Pacers	41	41	.500	23
7	x-Chicago Bulls	41	41	.500	23
8	x-Milwaukee Bucks	40	42	.488	24
9	Philadelphia 76ers	38	44	.463	26
10	Orlando Magic	36	46	.439	28
11	Boston Celtics	33	49	.402	31
12	Toronto Raptors	27	55	.329	37
13	Charlotte Bobcats	26	56	.317	38
14	Atlanta Hawks	26	56	.317	38
15	New York Knicks	23	59	.280	41

Record vs. opponents

2005-06 NBA Records
Team	ATL	BOS	CHA	CHI	CLE	DAL	DEN	DET	GSW	HOU	IND	LAC	LAL	MEM	MIA	MIL	MIN	NJN	NOK	NYK	ORL	PHI	PHO	POR	SAC	SAS	SEA	TOR	UTA	WAS
Atlanta	—	2–1	1–3	0–3	1–2	0–2	1–1	1–3	1–1	1–1	4–0	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–3	1–3	1–1	1–3	1–1	2–2	2–2	1–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–3	0–2	1–3
Boston	1–2	—	2–1	0–4	0–4	0–2	1–1	0–3	1–1	1–1	3–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–3	0–3	1–1	1–3	2–0	3–1	1–3	3–1	0–2	2–0	1–1	0–2	0–2	3–1	2–0	1–3
Charlotte	3–1	1–2	—	2–2	0–3	0–2	0–2	0–4	1–1	1–1	2–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–4	0–3	1–1	1–3	0–2	3–0	1–3	3–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–3	1–1	1–3
Chicago	3–0	4–0	2–2	—	0–4	0–2	1–1	0–4	1–1	1–1	2–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–2	2–2	1–1	2–1	1–1	2–1	3–1	2–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	4–0	1–1	3–1
Cleveland	2–1	4–0	3–0	4–0	—	1–1	1–1	1–3	0–2	1–1	3–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–2	3–1	1–1	2–2	2–0	1–2	3–1	2–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–0	2–0	1–3
Dallas	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–1	—	3–1	1–1	1–3	4–0	2–0	3–1	1–2	3–1	2–0	1–1	2–1	1–1	4–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–2	4–0	2–1	2–2	3–0	2–0	3–1	2–0
Denver	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–3	—	1–1	2–1	2–2	2–0	1–3	1–2	2–1	2–0	1–1	3–1	0–2	2–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–3	4–0	1–3	2–2	2–2	2–0	1–3	1–1
Detroit	3–1	3–0	4–0	4–0	3–1	1–1	1–1	—	2–0	2–0	3–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	3–1	3–1	2–0	2–2	2–0	3–1	2–1	3–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	3–1	0–2	0–3
Golden State	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	3–1	1–2	0–2	—	1–3	0–2	1–3	0–4	0–3	1–1	1–1	2–2	1–1	1–2	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–3	4–0	2–2	0–4	2–1	2–0	1–3	0–2
Houston	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–4	2–2	0–2	3–1	—	1–1	2–2	1–2	0–4	0–2	2–0	2–2	1–1	1–3	2–0	1–1	1–1	0–3	2–1	2–2	0–4	3–1	0–2	1–2	2–0
Indiana	0–4	1–3	2–2	2–2	1–3	0–2	0–2	1–3	2–0	1–1	—	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–1	2–2	1–1	2–1	2–0	2–2	3–0	2–1	0–2	2–0	2–0	0–2	1–1	2–2	2–0	2–2
L.A. Clippers	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–3	3–1	0–2	3–1	2–2	0–2	—	2–2	1–3	1–1	2–0	3–1	1–1	1–2	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–2	3–0	0–4	1–2	3–1	2–0	2–1	2–0
L.A. Lakers	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–1	2–1	1–1	4–0	2–1	1–1	2–2	—	1–3	1–1	2–0	1–3	0–2	3–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–3	2–2	2–2	1–3	2–1	2–0	2–2	1–1
Memphis	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–3	1–2	0–2	3–0	4–0	1–1	3–1	3–1	—	0–2	1–1	3–1	1–1	1–3	2–0	2–0	0–2	2–1	2–1	2–2	0–4	3–1	2–0	3–1	2–0
Miami	3–1	3–1	4–0	2–1	2–2	0–2	0–2	1–3	1–1	2–0	1–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	—	3–1	1–1	1–3	1–1	3–0	2–2	3–0	0–2	2–0	2–0	0–2	2–0	3–1	2–0	4–0
Milwaukee	3–1	3–0	3–0	2–2	1–3	1–1	1–1	1–3	1–1	0–2	2–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–3	—	1–1	1–3	1–1	3–1	2–2	3–1	1–1	2–0	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–1	0–2	2–1
Minnesota	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–2	1–3	0–2	2–2	2–2	1–1	1–3	3–1	1–3	1–1	1–1	—	1–1	1–2	2–0	1–1	0–2	1–2	2–2	2–1	0–4	2–2	0–2	1–3	1–1
New Jersey	3–1	3–1	3–1	1–2	2–2	1–1	2–0	2–2	1–1	1–1	1–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	3–1	3–1	1–1	—	2–0	3–1	3–0	1–3	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	3–1	1–1	2–1
New Orleans/Oklahoma City	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–1	0–2	0–4	1–2	0–2	2–1	3–1	0–2	2–1	1–3	3–1	1–1	1–1	2–1	0–2	—	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–3	3–1	2–2	1–3	3–1	2–0	1–3	1–1
New York	2–2	1–3	0–3	1–2	2–1	1–1	0–2	1–3	0–2	0–2	2–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–3	1–3	0–2	1–3	0–2	—	1–3	1–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–3	2–0	1–3
Orlando	2–2	3–1	3–1	1–3	1–3	1–1	1–1	1–2	1–1	1–1	0–3	0–2	0–2	0–2	2–2	2–2	1–1	0–3	1–1	3–1	—	3–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–2	1–1	2–2
Philadelphia	2–1	1–3	1–3	2–2	2–2	1–1	1–1	0–3	1–1	1–1	1–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	0–3	1–3	2–0	3–1	1–1	3–1	1–3	—	0–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	3–1	0–2	2–2
Phoenix	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–2	3–1	0–2	3–1	3–0	2–0	2–2	3–1	1–2	2–0	1–1	2–1	1–1	3–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	—	3–1	2–2	1–3	2–2	2–0	2–1	1–1
Portland	2–0	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–4	0–4	0–2	0–4	1–2	0–2	0–3	2–2	1–2	0–2	0–2	2–2	1–1	1–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–3	—	1–2	0–4	1–3	1–1	0–4	1–1
Sacramento	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–2	3–1	0–2	2–2	2–2	0–2	4–0	2–2	2–2	0–2	2–0	1–2	2–0	2–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	2–2	2–1	—	1–2	3–1	1–1	3–1	0–2
San Antonio	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–2	2–2	0–2	4–0	4–0	2–0	2–1	3–1	4–0	2–0	1–1	4–0	2–0	3–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	3–1	4–0	2–1	—	2–1	2–0	3–0	1–1
Seattle	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	0–3	2–2	0–2	1–2	1–3	1–1	1–3	1–2	1–3	0–2	1–1	2–2	1–1	1–3	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–2	3–1	1–3	1–2	—	1–1	3–1	1–1
Toronto	3–1	1–3	3–1	0–4	0–3	0–2	0–2	1–3	0–2	2–0	2–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–3	1–2	2–0	1–3	0–2	3–1	2–1	1–3	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	—	0–2	1–2
Utah	2–0	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–3	3–1	2–0	3–1	2–1	0–2	1–2	2–2	1–3	0–2	2–0	3–1	1–1	3–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	1–2	4–0	1–3	0–3	1–3	2–0	—	1–1
Washington	3–1	3–1	3–1	1–3	3–1	0–2	1–1	3–0	2–0	0–2	2–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–4	1–2	1–1	1–2	1–1	3–1	2–2	2–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–1	1–1	—

Playoffs

2006 playoff game log
First Round: 4–1 (home: 3–0; road: 1–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 April 23 Milwaukee W 92–74 Rasheed Wallace (22) Ben Wallace (17) Chauncey Billups (7) The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076 1–0 2 April 26 Milwaukee W 109–98 Tayshaun Prince (22) Ben Wallace (11) Richard Hamilton (8) The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076 2–0 3 April 29 @ Milwaukee L 104–124 Chauncey Billups (26) Antonio McDyess (8) Chauncey Billups (6) Bradley Center 18,717 2–1 4 May 1 @ Milwaukee W 109–99 Chauncey Billups (34) Antonio McDyess (11) Tayshaun Prince (7) Bradley Center 16,296 3–1 5 May 3 Milwaukee W 122–93 Richard Hamilton (40) Ben Wallace (14) Chauncey Billups (8) The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076 4–1
Conference Semifinals: 4–3 (home: 3–1; road: 1–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 May 7 Cleveland W 113–86 Tayshaun Prince (24) Ben Wallace (11) Chauncey Billups (10) The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076 1–0 2 May 9 Cleveland W 97–91 Rasheed Wallace (29) Ben Wallace (15) Chauncey Billups (7) The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076 2–0 3 May 13 @ Cleveland L 77–86 Richard Hamilton (22) Ben Wallace (13) Billups, Hamilton (5) Gund Arena 20,562 2–1 4 May 15 @ Cleveland L 72–74 Richard Hamilton (30) Ben Wallace (10) Chauncey Billups (7) Gund Arena 20,562 2–2 5 May 17 Cleveland L 84–86 Tayshaun Prince (21) Ben Wallace (13) Chauncey Billups (5) The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076 2–3 6 May 19 @ Cleveland W 84–82 Rasheed Wallace (24) Ben Wallace (10) Billups, Wallace (4) Gund Arena 20,562 3–3 7 May 21 Cleveland W 79–61 Tayshaun Prince (20) Ben Wallace (9) Billups, Prince (3) The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076 4–3
Conference Finals: 2–4 (home: 2–1; road: 0–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 May 23 Miami L 86–91 Richard Hamilton (22) Ben Wallace (14) Chauncey Billups (7) The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076 0–1 2 May 25 Miami W 92–88 Tayshaun Prince (24) Ben Wallace (12) Chauncey Billups (8) The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076 1–1 3 May 27 @ Miami L 83–98 Chauncey Billups (31) Rasheed Wallace (10) Tayshaun Prince (4) American Airlines Arena 20,245 1–2 4 May 29 @ Miami L 78–89 Tayshaun Prince (15) Ben Wallace (11) Chauncey Billups (7) American Airlines Arena 20,248 1–3 5 May 31 Miami W 91–78 Tayshaun Prince (29) Richard Hamilton (10) Chauncey Billups (10) The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076 2–3 6 June 2 @ Miami L 78–95 Richard Hamilton (33) Rasheed Wallace (8) Chauncey Billups (8) American Airlines Arena 20,258 2–4
2006 schedule

Player statistics

Legend

GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field-goal percentage	3P%	3-point field-goal percentage	FT%	Free-throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game

Awards and records

• Ben Wallace, NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award
• Ben Wallace, All-NBA Second Team
• Chauncey Billups, All-NBA Second Team
• Ben Wallace, NBA All-Defensive First Team
• Chauncey Billups, NBA All-Defensive Second Team
• Tayshaun Prince, NBA All-Defensive Second Team
• Ben Wallace, Allstar reserve
• Chauncey Billups, Allstar reserve
• Richard Hamilton, Allstar reserve
• Rasheed Wallace, Allstar reserve