Mike Brudenell

Detroit Free Press

Big Ben rang loud and true for the Pistons when it counted.

Now he expects the team’s current group, led by Andre Drummond, to fire on all cylinders this season.

Ben Wallace, now 42 and still in super shape, helped the Pistons to the NBA championship in 2004.

He was in town Friday night to be inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame.

Wallace said he thinks Detroit can improve on its stout performance against Cleveland in last season’s first-round of the playoffs.

“I expect a lot of great things from this team,” Wallace said. “We know we’ve got a young team that’s growing and learning on the fly. But they are going to have an opportunity to grow up and become young men together on the court. That’s what we did as Pistons when we won the championship, and I think the same of them.”

Coach Stan Van Gundy hopes Drummond will make the team his this season — take over and lead each and every night.

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Wallace thinks Drummond can be that player.

“That kid has got an unbelievable amount of talent,” said Wallace, a four-time NBA All-Star. “He’s young, he’s hungry, and he’s got talent. Now he’s just got to go out there night in and night out and find that comfort zone and wreak havoc on the floor.”

Wallace said he keeps close tabs on Drummond.

“I’ve talked to him over the years,” Wallace said. “Each time I come in we talk things on the court, things he needs to be doing, just trying to encourage him and let him know, ‘Just keep working hard, and anything is possible.’ ”

Wallace believes the Pistons have the right attitude to take a step or two further in 2016-17.

“They have a lot of pieces,” said Wallace, the Pistons’ all-time leader in blocks. “They’ve got young, scrappy guys who come in and work hard day in and day out.

“I think the job is to stay healthy and put the time in the gym when nobody is watching and come together as a team before they take the court at night.

“I think the talent is there. It’s just getting to know each other and how fast they can jell together as a unit.”

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Contact Mike Brudenell: mbrudenell@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @mikebrudenell.

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