A Prince in The Palace

The Pistons, winners of seven in a row, are 4-0 so far on a five-game homestand and will wrap it up on Wednesday versus the San Antonio Spurs. The usual suspects are getting the job done for Detroit, which owns a 2 1/2-game lead over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Central Division.

All-Stars Rip Hamilton and Chauncey Billups and Chris Webber have been doing their job nightly for head coach Flip Saunders, while Tayshaun Prince is much like a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Prince, the wiry lefty and starting forward, is enjoying a solid homestand, averaging 14.5 points per game on the stand. Prince posted 14 points in a win over the Clippers on Monday, and competed in his 298th consecutive regular-season game. Saunders has to love this guy’s durability since Prince has played in all 82 regular-season games over the past three years.

The sweet-stroking Prince is averaging 15.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 50 games (50 starts) this season. He will have his hands full defensively against the Spurs, especially guarding the perimeter where Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Michael Finley earn the big bucks.

Speaking of big bucks, Webber is certainly leaving a mark on his hometown Pistons and is averaging 13.9 points and 7.6 rebounds in 13 games as a starter. Detroit is 11-2 with Webber in the starting lineup and 11-3 overall.

Over his last five games, Webber is averaging 15.4 points per game and was a rebound short of his fourth double-double (19 points, 9 rebounds) as a Piston in the win over the Clippers.

After hosting the Spurs this evening, the Pistons will play four of their next six games on the road where they are 15-9 this season. Detroit is the only team in the Eastern Conference with a winning road record, and has the fourth best mark in the NBA away from home (Dallas, San Antonio, Phoenix).

On an All-Star Game note, Pistons public address announcer Mason will cover the 56th annual event on Sunday in Las Vegas. Usually the host announcer handles the microphone, but there is no NBA team in Vegas.

Mason will not announce tonight’s game versus San Antonio, handing the duties to former PA announcer Ken Calvert.