Will Bynum was out of the lineup Friday night with a right hamstring injury. Bynum missed the final two preseason games with the hamstring injury and re-aggravated the injury in the Pistons season opener at New Jersey.

“I think on one of those moves at the end of the game out in New Jersey I kind re-injured it,” Bynum said before Friday’s game. “The same thing I did up in Charlotte. I really can’t run right now, hopefully in a couple days or so I’ll be able to.”

The injury to Bynum leaves the Pistons really thin at point guard. Rookie Terrico White is already out indefinitely with a broken foot.

With Bynum and White both out, Prince will serve as the team’s backup point guard. It also means starting point guard Rodney Stuckey will have to play extended minutes.

Pistons coach John Kuester is confident Stuckey can handle the load, but doesn’t want his point guard to hold back at all.

“You don’t pace yourself ever,” Kuester said. “That’s why you have to play hard all the time. You play until we feel like you need a break, and then we give him a break and recover should occur. Our whole idea for basketball is to play 48 minutes. You can’t always play 48 like we want you to, but in the same token for us to have success, we’re going to have to play at a high level every time we step on the court.”

Kuester doesn’t mind hack-a-Ben
The New Jersey Nets used the hack-a-Ben Wallace strategy to help make their fourth quarter comeback on Wednesday.

Several teams used the strategy last season, but Pistons coach John Kuester made it clear he won’t be taking Wallace out of the game if teams go to the strategy.

“Let me tell you this, Ben Wallace is going to play for us. Period,” Kuester said. “Ben Wallace has won so many basketball games for the Detroit Pistons, I’m not even concerned about it.

“I’ll tell you why I’m not concerned about it, I have confidence in Ben. Hopefully they’ll make a mistake and a guy will foul him and realize he has five fouls and foul out.

“Do I think it’s healthy for the game? No. Is it a strategy? Yes. That’s the other teams thought process, but Ben is going to play for us.”

Unclear when Monroe will play
Pistons rookie and No. 7 overall pick Greg Monroe did not play in Wednesday’s season opener because of a coaching decision. Before Friday’s game Kuester was asked if Monroe would play and while he didn’t directly say no, it appears Monroe might not play unless someone is in foul trouble or the game gets out of hand.

“Greg is going to be a big part of this picture,” Kuester said. “(Jason Maxiell) did a great job, I thought, in New Jersey. We will look and see where we can fit him in. I’ve got confidence in him so I’m excited about getting him in also. But I’m not sure when it will happen.”

Tracy McGrady shed a little more light on what has been keeping him out of the preseason.

McGrady missed the Pistons final seven preseason games after playing just eight minutes in the preseason opener at Miami. McGrady said it was a decision he made with Pistons strength and conditioning coach Arnie Kander to help prepare him for the regular season.

“I should have never really went through (training camp),” McGrady said. “I should have took the time to stay with Arnie the whole preseason. But I wanted to go through training camp just to see how my body was going to respond after doing two-a-days.

“I wanted to test to see how it was going to move the first preseason game. I really didn’t care about getting up shots or nothing like that, I was just working on my movement. I didn’t like where I was so ... I talked to Arnie and he’s like, the best thing to do was to get with him and work with him the remainder of the preseason, which was a good idea. I’ve seen the change in my body, my movement, my explosion.

“Something I was always scared to do for two years is going to the basket and having to gather myself, plant off two feet and explode up. I’m doing that with no hesitation. I couldn’t do that at the start of training camp.”

Kander and McGrady have been working together during every practice. Kander has unique methods and McGrady feels they are working.

“Working on strengthening areas, not necessarily my knee, but areas that are around my knee. My quads, my hips, places I’ve been lacking as far as strength. Places that kind of take pressure off of my knee, so far it’s been working,” McGrady said. “I can feel the difference in my body, (between) now and when I first started in training camp."

McGrady is confident he will be ready to go when the Pistons open the season on Wednesday at New Jersey.

“Our next practice, I’m out there,” McGrady said.

“I haven’t felt this good in two years. What I’ve been through the last two years trying to get my body back in good shape. I’m feeling good mentally, physically. It’s something I’ve struggled with for two years. To have the opportunity to start this season off feeling good. Hopefully I can gradually get better as far my explosion, my timing, rhythm, everything that I need, that makes me, me. I’m excited about it. It’s definitely a challenge. I’m just looking forward to it.”

Pistons coach John Kuester is hopeful he can see McGrady in a five-on-five situation before McGrady plays in a game and doesn’t want to rush anything.

“Arnie and Tracy have worked extremely hard, but he has not been in a five-on-five environment since the Miami game,” Kuester said. “The most important thing for him and for us is to get him right.

“I love the fact that he wants to project that opener, but I think the most important thing right now is, let's get this thing right and make sure that you're on track for the long haul, not the short-term.”

The Pistons are searching for their 50 biggest fans and are awarding season tickets to the winners. The Pistons will hold tryouts for “The Pistons Power Plant,” which will be a special section in the 100-level of The Palace designated for their most hardcore fans.

Tryouts will be held on Oct. 20 and will be a three-part process. The first part, fans will have a one minute opportunity to show creativity in cheering, dancing, energy and appearance. Second, fans will be brought together in groups of 10 and will come up with a cheer that they will perform. Finally, all fans making it to the finals will be seated in a section in the arena and give the chance to work together in a group.

Candidates should enter through the West Atrium. The Pistons ask that fans only try out if they will be able to commit to attending all 41 home games.