<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Detroit Pistons' reign atop the Eastern Conference is over. This year, for sure. Maybe in the near future, too. The Cleveland Cavaliers beat Detroit 98-82 Saturday night in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals, eliminating the East's top-seeded team with four straight wins that likely will lead to an uncertain offseason. Anything is possible. Coach Flip Saunders might only match the two-year tenure that his predecessors, Larry Brown and Rick Carlisle, had before exiting with a buyout and a firing, respectively. "I feel comfortable," Saunders insisted. Chauncey Billups, who is expected to be one of the NBA's top free agents this summer, may also be elsewhere next season. The All-Star point guard said if Detroit's offer is equal to the best deal he can find on the market, he expects to be back. "Hopefully it all works out, but that's down the road," he said. Chris Webber will be a free agent, too. The 34-year-old center hinted, however, that he might retire. "Right now, it hurts. I don't know," Webber said. "It takes a lot of energy." The Pistons may also decide they're tired of Rasheed Wallace's act. Wallace needed to be restrained from physically going after an official after getting ejected with two technicals early in the fourth quarter as the Cavs pulled away. "It was a tough time for that to happen," Billups said. "He played his heart out, but he kind of lost it. He's very emotional and that's what we love about him." The Pistons used to win games when they faced adversity, but they simply crumbled against the Cavs. On the brink of elimination or with a chance to advance, the Pistons are 20-4 dating to 2003, with three current starters playing key roles. The setbacks in the pressure-packed situations came Saturday night, as defending champions in Game 7 of the 2005 NBA finals against San Antonio, in Game 6 of the conference finals last year to Miami and when New Jersey won the conference finals in a sweep four years ago. When the Cavs took control away early in the fourth quarter, Saunders put his hands on his head and watched in disbelief from the sideline as LeBron James stole a pass and scored at the other end of the court on a three-point play. While Detroit's run might be over, it certainly was one the franchise could be proud of, with five straight conference finals appearances, two NBA finals and one championship. Since 1984, only the Los Angeles Lakers have been more consistent in the playoffs, with a run that ended with a sixth straight conference finals appearance in 1989. "A lot of teams would love to be in this position," Billups said.</div> Source: Yahoo! Sports
I say its finally time to split the team apart. Its been great watching this team the last 5 years. We lost our heart and soul to Chicago and I think after losing again in the ECF its time for a change. I love Rasheed hes what has kept the competitive spirit alive in us the last few years, now I did not mind him getting techs and getting the crowds riled up. However the last 2 seasons it has rubbed off on everybody else and were doing thats that are not characteristic of us. I can see Rasheed in Rip hes changed alot, Tayshaun has been arguing, C-Webb last night, Dice in game 5. Another reason probably has something to do with Flip Saunders, hes got to toughen up on the players. Hes already been disrespected by Rasheed and Ben Wallace in the last 2 seasons. I wouldn't make a good GM I'd probably really screw the team up but I'll just put faith in Joe D. to fix the problem. Nobody before the season started thought we'd be 2 games away from the NBA finals, so I think he'll find away to keep us competing next season.
I think everyone was basically waiting to see what happened with the Cleveland series, and with them losing, it's definately time to go in a different direction. Rip and Tayshaun are guys they need to keep obviously, and Maxiell looks good, while Amir Johnson can do something. I don't think they should force the issue in signing Billups by any means, and after Rasheed's contract expires after 08/09, they need to let him go. Flip Suanders needs to go also, a change needs to be made there, I don't know what change, but it needs to be made.
Changes will be made. What will Billups market value be like? The Pistons do need young talent, especially if they're going to re-up for the future. Would a deal like Bynum (that young talent), Kwame (expiring contract about 9 million), the 19th pick and some fillers cut it?
The good thing is that the Pistons have been getting real good value out of those late first rounders for the past few years, so I don't think they need to blow everything up. But, I would definitely make some changes and it would start around bringing back some professionalism in the locker room and on the court.
I think we need to try and trade for a quality centre, some one like Marcus Camby. In the draft I'd be happy with NBADraft.net predictions of Javaris Crittenton at #15 and Marcus Williams at #27. Amir Johnson needs to be brought up from the D-League and become a full time contributor to this team, I want to see him get at least 15-20 minutes a game off the bench. It's time to start looking at the bigger picture, its time to build a new contending team.
