Pistons players, coach say talk of sale not a distraction

Auburn Hills -- The Pistons ownership situation could easily be a distraction.

But, coach John Kuester said after Thursday's practice it hasn't been, and won't be.

"Not for me personally," he said. "All I'm focused on is what we're doing with this group, trying to give all of my efforts for the players, for what Joe (Dumars, president and general manager) wants, and for the people of Detroit. We're trying to give them a product they can be proud of."

If and when a new owner is found, personnel might be affected. But that's probably a long, long ways away.

"We play basketball, that's all we do, we just come out and play," said Richard Hamilton, who first heard about the possibility of a sale Wednesday. "When you hear about the team being sold, it's business, just business. You don't get into it, just hope for the best."

Prince update

Tayshaun Prince (knee) initially felt he could've played Wednesday against the Celtics.

"But it was a situation where I pushed myself pretty hard and there was a little bit of stiffness," said Prince, who hasn't played since Jan. 9. "It wasn't a game I could push it. My team ended up playing pretty well anyway, and it gives me a couple of games."

With back-to-back games Friday and Saturday, don't be surprised if Prince waits until Detroit's following game against Memphis on Wednesday.

When he returns, don't expect Prince to be play more than 30 minutes right away, as he did when he returned from a back injury this season.

"By no means," he said. "We're not going to do that."

Twilight zone

Don't expect the Pistons to use a zone defense every game, but it was a timely tool against the Celtics in the second half.

"A change of pace," Kuester said.

The Pistons work on the zone in practice and had been ineffective with it before Thursday.

"Everyone seemed to be making threes," Kuester said. "This time, we got stops out of it, and what was real healthy about it was our rebounding was good."

Slam dunks

Ben Wallace enjoyed playing against former teammate Rasheed Wallace , and particularly enjoyed a key block he had on Rasheed late.

He could do without Rasheed's endless talking, though.

"I'd be surprised if 'Sheed doesn't talk when he's eating," Ben Wallace said. "I'll have to talk to his wife. I bet he talks when he sleeps."

... Will Bynum (left ankle) is out for today's game against Indiana, and Prince (knee) and Ben Gordon (groin) are game-time decisions.