detnews:The NBA officially suspended Rasheed Wallace on Monday, after he picked up his 16th technical foul, Sunday against Phoenix. Wallace also will draw a one-game suspension for every other subsequent technical.
The Pistons' NBA record streak for games with the same starting lineup ends at 73.
"Nah, it is what it is," Chauncey Billups said, when asked if losing the streak bothered him. "We'll just start another one."
Truth is, the streak might have ended soon anyway. For one, Wallace's lower back stiffened Sunday. He only went through half of Monday's practice. Second, coach Flip Saunders planned on resting certain starters eventually.
"Were they going to play 82 straight games?" Saunders said. "No. I doubt it. You know, when they broke the record, I wasn't even aware of the streak. It's not really a concern."
In all probability, Saunders said 15-year veteran Dale Davis will get the start tonight against the Hornets.
"It's going to be a big difference," Billups said. "We're used to playing with Sheed and all the things he does. But the fortunate thing is, we have played together with guys in different stretches. We'll be fine."
Saunders said he would "more than likely" start Davis and not sixth man Antonio McDyess.
"There's a different temperament to being a starter than a guy that comes off the bench," he said. "When you are talking about something short-term like this, you don't want to get anybody out of their rhythm."
Earlier in the season Saunders had said Davis would be someone he would start in the event of an injury to Rasheed or Ben Wallace.
"We know what we have in Dale," Saunders said. "He's a guy that could step in and be a starter and you would feel good about it … I have a lot of confidence in him, and the players have a lot of confidence in him. He'll step in, and we'll keep rolling."
Davis is just happy to get some extended playing time.
"I haven't had the opportunity to play, and this will give me an opportunity to get out there, get into the action and contribute," he said. "From my standpoint, that's really all I've been looking for."
The technical madness is starting to cost Wallace some serious money. The suspension costs him 1/82nd of his salary, which is $125,122. The 16 technicals cost him $23,000. So, in total, Wallace has given back $148,122 this season.
