By Marty Gitlin
Inspin.com/WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Whenever Chris Webber played in Detroit against the Pistons, he was lustily booed.

Why? Because during his days with the “Fab Five” at the University of Michigan, his involvement with a booster led to NCAA sanctions against that program.

Well, his reaction from Detroit fans will now be based strictly on performance. He will certainly be cheered for a while now that he will be wearing a Pistons uniform.

Webber made that official Monday when he spurned offers from several other teams to return to his hometown. In fact, he was greeted with a rousing standing ovation Monday when he appeared at The Palace to watch his new team lose to Minnesota, 94-90, in overtime.

He received a first-hand look at why the Pistons signed him. They are a mess in the middle. Nazr Mohammed, who started nearly all year, has been banished to the bench and has asked to be traded. He managed two points and four rebounds against the Timberwolves, while replacement Dale Davis contributed just three points and three rebounds.

Webber can’t sign until he officially becomes an unrestricted free agent on Tuesday.

“Joining the Pistons will allow me the opportunity to play the game I love in my hometown of Detroit surrounded by my family,” Webber told the Associated Press.

Webber is likely to play before his home fans Wednesday night against Utah. Leading scorer Chauncey Billups, who has been sidelined for eight games by a calf injury, might also return to the backcourt. The Pistons, who have fallen 2 ½ games behind first-place Cleveland in the Central Division, are badly in need of an infusion.

According to one source, Mohammed night be headed to Minnesota for guard Marco Jaric.

STEALING THE SHOW: Folks packed the Staples Center on Monday night to watch the showdown between superstar guards Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade.

They saw plenty. Wade scored a game-high 35 points, and Bryant managed 25 as the Los Angeles Lakers outlasted Miami, 124-118.

But what the fans didn’t expect was the performance of Lakers forward Brian Cook. Cook, who entered averaging seven points a game, played hero against the defending NBA champions with 25 points and 10 rebounds.

The Lakers, however, can’t gain ground in the Pacific Division. They remain 4 ½ games behind the Suns, whose 137-122 victory in Memphis on Monday night was their 10th straight.

Amare Stoudemire exploded for 42 points on 15-of-21 shooting while his team racked up a whopping 36 assists in defeating the hapless Grizzlies. Phoenix starters hit 42 of 70 (60 percent) from the field.

DRIBBLES: Chicago guard Chris Duhon was suspended for Monday’s 99-87 home win over San Antonio after missing a practice. His starting off-guard spot has been threatened by awful shooting since the return of the old leather basketball. Duhon is 6 of 40 from the field, including 2 of 14 from 3-point range, in January. … Dallas hosts Houston in the featured clash Tuesday night. The Rockets have won 9 of 10, but remain 5 ½ games behind the first-place Mavericks in the Southwest Division. WagerWeb.com lists Houston as a 7.5-point underdog. … After a short slump, Washington point guard and early NBA Most Valuable Player candidate Gilbert Arenas broke out Monday in a 114-111 home victory over Utah. Arenas erupted for 51 points, including a 3-pointer at the buzzer that plunged the dagger into the slumping Jazz. Utah center Mehmet Okur did score a career-high 38 points. … Andrew Bogut continued his roll with 27 points and 11 rebounds in leading Milwaukee to a 99-91 win Monday at Charlotte. Bogut and newly acquired point guard Earl Boykins combined for 57 points in the win.



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