And of course the L.A. Lakers, leading the Western Conference, have it, too.

The Pistons used to have it before president Joe Dumars sent veteran point guard Chauncey Billups to Denver for Allen Iverson in November.

Team chemistry, the ultimate goal of all coaches, has been lacking for the Pistons -- especially during the five-game losing streak that ended Monday with an 87-79 win over the Grizzlies.

Two Pistons said so after the team's loss at woeful Oklahoma City on Friday.

"You look at our roster ... the only thing you can attribute it to is chemistry," Iverson said. "It's just the chemistry is not there."

Backup forward Antonio McDyess agreed. "You can see that from the outside," he said. "I don't know what it's going to take to get it going."

But it would be oversimplifying things to say that the Iverson trade has upset the delicate balance of a team that has made the Eastern Conference finals the past six seasons.

It's more that the trade has caused a chain of events that has turned a contender into a 23-17 pretender.

Here are the three things coach Michael Curry and his staff are trying to decipher so they can solve the chemistry problems afflicting this team.

It's all the same

The most obvious issue is that Rip Hamilton and Iverson play the same position.

While Iverson is more of a one-on-one player and Hamilton a shooter who comes off screens looking for open jumpers, they are both shooting guards.

Curry has tried to offset the similarities by playing Hamilton at small forward, but that has led to mismatches on defense.

A glaring example was watching Hamilton try to guard Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant. Standing 6-foot-9 with a long wingspan, Durant could shoot over the 6-7 Hamilton whenever he wanted.

Iverson also has been overwhelmed by bigger shooting guards.

Curry likes using both Hamilton and Iverson because of the offensive potential, and it might work except for one thing.

Shoot first, pass later

Second-year point guard Rodney Stuckey has played well since he became a starter in December.

But at this stage of his career, he is definitely a shoot-first point guard. He is more effective attacking the basket and getting his own shot than setting up teammates.

Iverson said he is having a harder time finding a consistent scoring rhythm because he doesn't have the ball as much as he used to during a 13-year career in which he has averaged more than 27 points.

Second big man

Some fans and pundits think that sending either Iverson or Hamilton to the bench and adding another big man to the lineup -- placing Tayshaun Prince in his natural three-spot -- would solve the Pistons' ills.

They have a point. Before the five-game losing streak, the Pistons were playing some of their best defense of the season; Hamilton was out with a torn left groin tear, and power forward Amir Johnson replaced him in the lineup.

But the only consistent big man besides starting center Rasheed Wallace is McDyess, and Curry is determined not to give him starter's minutes. (Curry appears to be right about this as McDyess has played well off the bench.)

That leaves Johnson, Jason Maxiell and Kwame Brown. All have had good games, but missed assignments and inconsistent play have caused problems.

The Pistons have time to right the ship. The All-Star break is less than a month away, and the Pistons have shown potential with victories over the Lakers, Orlando, Cleveland and San Antonio.

And Dumars could go shopping before the Feb. 19 trade deadline.

But if things don't improve soon, the Pistons are headed toward a failing grade in chemistry class.

Contact VINCE ELLIS at 313-222-6479 or vellis@freepress.com

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