The only other player involved in the trade was 7-foot C Cheikh Samb, who was not in the Pistons' short-term plans anyway.

"Now, it looks like we just did Chauncey for A.I.," Curry said. "Both of them are very good players but what A.I. brings is something we needed. He's more of a guy in the postseason, as well as the regular season, that can break guys down, regardless of the sets you run. Having Dice back in the mix makes that trade even better for us."

--Opposing point guards have scored 96 points in the last five games against the Pistons. That's mainly Allen Iverson's responsibility. He held New York's point guard, Chris Duhon, to 3-of-8 shooting.

"He's done it in his career but they haven't played any defense out there in Denver the last couple of years," Curry said. "They just want to get up and down the court. That was their style. We're not going to play that way here. What he brings to us is an opportunity to be able to run more, so we'll be playing right into his hands. What he's (also) got to bring to us is an ability to be disciplined in the halfcourt, both offensively and defensively."

--The last time before Wednesday that the Pistons had eight players in double-figures was Jan. 19, 1990 against Golden State.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "These last two days, we came together. We've been beating up on each other and now we've just got to take it to the games and beat up on the other team." -- G Rodney Stuckey, on the Pistons' win over New York after three-hour practices the previous two days.