In a survey conducted by NBA.com, the GM's of the league have elected Ron Artest as best defender.

He was also voted the toughest player in the league.

Ben Wallace of the defending champion Detroit Pistons was the runner-up in both polls.

Ben Wallace, Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess will play some minutes together this season.  McDyess will be the first player off the bench and if he subs for Tayshaun Prince, Rasheed will slide to the small forward, creating a monster frontline.

"There are going to be times, if we want to play a big lineup, or play some zone, that we might use all three of them," Brown said. "That's the plan. But I don't think it's a good thing now until Rasheed gets in great shape."

Rasheed Wallace came off the bench against Utah, at his request, which enabled Brown to see him and McDyess together. That it was only their second game together was hard to tell; they looked like they'd been mates for ages. McDyess smiled when asked about playing next to Rasheed Wallace.

"Oh, man," he said. "Playing with Rasheed definitely makes the game easier for myself. Before I came here I never knew that Rasheed knew the game as well as he does. I mean, he really knows how to play ball, and he makes the game easier for the other big guys."

The frontcourt lineup when the Pistons start the regular season in one week will have Ben Wallace starting at center, Rasheed Wallace at power forward and Tayshaun Prince at small forward. McDyess will be the first big man off the bench. But Brown said he suspects the three big men are going to get close to equal minutes, which means McDyess could sub for Prince and take over as power forward, with Rasheed Wallace moving to small forward.

Not only would that cause nightmare defensive matchups for opponents -- both Rasheed Wallace and McDyess are scoring threats -- but the chances of scoring on them would be minimal.

"I couldn't imagine no one trying to come in the paint, trying to get a shot up," McDyess said with a grin. "It'd be fun to watch."

Derrick Coleman might be released by the Detroit Pistons before the season begins.  The former Syracuse star and overall number one pick of the NBA Draft is 37 years old and it is possible that he doesn't have the physical ability to play any longer.

The Pistons traded Corliss Williamson for Coleman's expiring contract and they never legitimately had plans for utizlizing him.

If you're glad to see good people prevail, then you're delighted to see Grant Hill's line from Orlando's exhibition game against Dallas this week -- 26 minutes, 20 points, six rebounds, five assists, one steal, zero ankle pain.

It was a liberating summer in many respects for the star-crossed NBA player. A fourth operation in four years on his injured left ankle may finally have healed the wound that dropped him from the game's megastar stratosphere. And the Pistons' stunning drive to the NBA championship may have taken care of any residual self-inflicted emotional scars from his unceremonious free-agency exit.

There won't be a championship ring awaiting Hill when the Magic comes to town this season -- nor should there be. Yet in Hill's mind, he deserves a small measure of ownership in the Pistons' return to the NBA penthouse after a 14-year absence.

Hill credits his departure for giving newly ordained team president Joe Dumars "more power" in righting a rudderless organization four years ago.

Detroit Pistons President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars released center Nigel Dixon and forward Terrence Shannon from the training camp roster today, leaving the team with 15 players. Dumars typically likes to enter the season with 14 players under contract, although teams are permitted to carry only 12 active players.

Point guards Horace Jenkins and William "Smush" Parker are battling it out for the final roster spot. Jenkins has a partially guaranteed one year contract after a strong summer league showing for Detroit. Parker, who has lead Detroit in scoring in all three of their preseason games, has no contract.

Dixon, who may figure into Detroit's plans later down the road, played in all three preseason games, averaging 1.3 points and 4.0 rebounds in 12.7 minutes.

Shannon played in two preseason games, averaging 2.0 points and 3.0 rebounds in 12.0 minutes. He missed one game due to injury.

Larry Brown is giving  Darko Milicic a chance to play during this preseason.  Milicic, the second overall selection in the 2003 draft, played very little last season during the Pistons' title run.

There were some ugly stats in Darko Milicic's first preseason game against Miami on Saturday night. He shot 2-for-6 from the field, committed four turnovers and fouled out.

"We wanted to play him 40 minutes and he fouled out in 19," Brown said.

Milicic did show some signs of development - a post move here, a high-low pass there and a handful of defensive rebounds. In other words, he didn't look as clueless as he did as a rookie.

"I thought he looked more at home than obviously last year at this time, but this is what exhibitions are for," Brown said.

Larry Brown remained back in Detroit yesterday as his champion Pistons faced a familiar foe, albeit in a new uniform, in Shaquille O'Neal as the Pistons took on the Miami Heat in preseason action yesterday.

Brown, who coached the Pistons to a title in his first year, skipped the trip to Arkansas because of illness. Pistons representative Kevin Grigg said Brown would return for today?s game at home against Minnesota.

?We felt we could come down here and take care of things ourselves,? said assistant coach Gar Heard, who took over for Brown.

Despite pleading that he wants to play, it looks like Pistons forward Darko Milicic is set for another long season riding the bench.  When asked if, given the veteran depth of the Pistons frontcourt, there would be any playing time left for Milicic, 19, Pistons coach Larry Brown said, ?No. Unless he earns it.?

As often was the case last season, Brown didn?t mince words about Milicic.

?I read all his comments that he wants to play, and I love that,? Brown said. ?But he still has to earn it. That?s going to be a big factor for him.?

?He?s come so far,? Brown said. ?It?s night and day, the difference between his first three days this year and his first three days last year.?

Regardless of progress Milicic faces an uphill battle for playing time with names such as Ben Wallace, Rasheed Wallace, Antonio McDyess, Derrick Coleman and Elden Campbell ahead of him in the rotation.

?Playing against guys that good every day is going to help him,? Brown said. ?They all cheer for him. They all want him to do well. But, you know, I have never had anybody tell me that I had to play Darko before he?s ready.?

"Donnie" Darko Milicic had a very disappointing year last season, despite being part of an NBA championship club.  His playing time was very scarce, amounting mostly to scrapping away during garbage time.  He even broke his hand during the limited time he saw during the Finals versus the Lakers.

"I need 15 minutes in the first couple of games to show what I can do," Milicic said of the exhibition season. "I can't play two minutes like I did last year. Give me that, and coaches can then do what they need to do."

"We know that he's the future of this organization," said Ben Wallace, "but he's got to understand that nothing is given with this team. He found out that was the case as a rookie. It doesn't change now that he's had a year to get accustomed to the NBA and living over here."

With Mehmet Okur departed to Utah, his playing time should increase, but remaining frontcourt players are the Wallace's, Elden Campbell, Derrick Coleman and Antonio McDyess, five solid professionals.

An NBA player's body is his livelihood.  Peak physical condition is a fundamental requirement.

Carlons Delfino apparently didn't get that memo, as he reported to camp in Detroit out of shape.

"I am out of shape," he said after finishing his first official practice as a member of the Pistons Tuesday morning.

"Ginobili told me he thought Carlos had a huge upside," Coach Larry Brown said, referring to Delfino?s Argentina teammate and San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili. "He just needed to learn how to play hard and play with great enthusiasm. I think (Ginobili) was right on the money.

"Carlos has great skills. He?s really athletic and has a good feel for the game. My big thing is how he competes and how hard he?ll play."

Delfino has been on high holiday since the Olympics.