"I'm just hoping not to pass the ball to him, that's what I'm hoping," said McDyess with a laugh last weekend. "Just being on his team for so long and just looking at the face and looking at the uniform ... it's so different."

While the reunion with Billups highlights this week's games, the game with the Nuggets is just one of three against quality Western Conference teams that could announce to the rest of the league that the streaking Pistons are back in their customary role of Eastern Conference contender after some struggles upon acquiring Allen Iverson for Billups, McDyess and Cheikh Samb in November.

The first test will be Wednesday night at Portland, which stands eighth in the Western Conference playoff race and beat the Pistons at the Palace on Nov. 30.

The Blazers have struggled recently, splitting their past 10 games, and star Brandon Roy's hamstring injury is expected to sideline him for up to 10 days. They still boast a talented and youthful nucleus with power forward LaMarcus Aldridge and rookie shooting guard Rudy Fernandez.

The next test will be a Friday date at the Pepsi Center against Billups and the Nuggets, who have roared to the fourth-best record in the West and boast a 22-9 record entering Monday since the guard was acquired from the Pistons.

And while the focus is on Billups, you can never forget Carmelo Anthony, leading the team with 21.1 points per game.

To close the week, the Pistons face the Jazz in Utah on Saturday. The Jazz, which would miss the playoffs if the season ended today, beat the Pistons in double overtime at the Palace on Dec. 19.

Utah has injury problems, including power forward Carlos Boozer, whose return is uncertain after arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Friday.

But the Jazz has one of the league's top point guards in Deron Williams, and former Piston Mehmet Okur has owned the Pistons since he left following the NBA title in 2004.

Yeah, we hear you out there saying it: What's the big deal if the Pistons can beat a couple of teams missing arguably their best players?

But pardon the Pistons if they don't have much sympathy for the Blazers and Jazz. They also have injury issues, with power forward Rasheed Wallace (sore right foot) and shooting guard Rip Hamilton (slight left groin tear) hurting.

These games will be good measuring sticks. The Pistons have won seven in a row and nine of 11. More important, the last what-the-heck loss was almost a month ago, Dec. 9 at Washington.

But aside from beating the Magic at home on Dec. 29, much of the win streak includes games against league doormats like the Clippers and Oklahoma City.

Let's say they win two of three or all three.

National pundits might start talking about the Pistons, who have stopped being mentioned in discussions about the elite teams in the Eastern Conference.

When asked about the upcoming week following Sunday's victory over the Clippers, Pistons coach Michael Curry said his concern was focused squarely on the Blazers, whom he was planning to scout personally when the Blazers lost to the Lakers in the nightcap of the Staples Center doubleheader.

Then he said something that would be accurate for all three opponents.

"Those are the type teams in those type games that our guys really get up for, and we just want to continue to grow and get better as a team," Curry said.

Contact VINCE ELLIS at 313-222-6479 or vellis@freepress.com

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