AUBURN HILLS -- It took two extra months, but the sounds of the NBA have finally returned.
With the lockout settled, teams were allowed to open their practice facilities to players on Thursday morning, and two Pistons took advantage. Ben Wallace arrived late in the morning, and Charlie Villanueva showed up about 90 minutes later.
"I didn't know who was going to be here, but as soon as I pulled into the parking lot, I saw Ben's Maybach," Villanueva said. "That wasn't a surprise. No one works as hard as Ben. This is his life."
Wallace, who has spent much of the extended offseason dealing with a drunk-driving arrest that also included weapons charges, did not speak to the media, but Villanueva was happy to talk.
"It's just great to be back," he said. "The lockout is done, and I'm putting it behind me. I can't speak for the rest of the guys, but I'm not even thinking about any of that. I just want to play ball again."
Villanueva said that he has talked to many of his teammates and ...
