The End of an Era for the Pistons

It's no secret I am a fan of all Michigan sports teams. Heck, I even like the Detroit Lions - even though they have been pathetic for years. I was raised to like all Michigan sports teams, as they are whom my parents rooted for after all these years. And it's kind of funny because my mom grew up in a family where they loved the Chicago Cubs and the Green Bay Packers. My dad's family didn't seem to be all that big into sports, although there was some excitement over the Red Wings and Tigers. So it's kind of nice to see in my immediate family at least, we all root for the same teams. And if you live in the state of Michigan, you probably know that the University of Michigan and Michigan State have a pretty big rivalry between them. I root for both schools when it comes to sports (except for their respective division one hockey programs, who face off against my alma mater Northern Michigan University Wildcats) because I believe we're all in this together. I mean, it was incredible to see the Michigan State Spartans make it to the championship game just last month in the NCAA men's basketball tournament. Too bad they fell one game shy.

Being the big Michigan sports fan that I am, I am inclined to comment on the rise and fall of the Detroit Pistons. I didn't have my blog around the time when they won their last NBA championship in 2004 (man, five years ago already). But if I did, you can probably bet you'd see a few blogs regarding that championship run. What an incredible team that was - and they were never expected to beat the L.A. Lakers in the NBA Finals. There were many predictions of them being swept or losing in five games to the Lakers. But who ended up almost being swept out of the finals that year? I would say the 2004 Piston team were a group of overachievers. Most of that team was made up of individuals who nobody had heard of before. But boy, did they know their names once that season was over. The Pistons were known for their stellar defense that crushed the competition. Even those high offense teams were stymied by the Pistons that year. And now five years later, that era in Pistons basketball has officially come to a close.

Yesterday the Pistons were swept out of their first round series against the Cleveland Caveliers. The Pistons honestly had no answer to Lebron James and the rest of the Cavs team. They seemed to keep pace with the Cavs for awhile, only to be overwhelmed and completely blown out in the third and fourth quarters. Many people are likening the close of this era to the one that ended in the 1990's to the Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordan when the Pistons were swept in a playoff series during the 1990-91 season. Back then, the Pistons were coming off back-to-back championships but they faced an almighty challenge against that up-and-coming Bulls team. And we all know how many championships the Bulls were able to rack up in the decade of the '90's. This season, after six consecutive Eastern Conference Finals appearances and playing in over 100 playoff games - the latest and greatest era in Pistons basketball came to an end at the hands of the new NBA superstar Lebron James and the upstart Cavs. I mean sure, the Cavs were in the NBA Finals two years ago, only to be swept in four games by the San Antonio Spurs. This year's Cavs team is far more experienced now and more hungry than ever. If they don't make it to the Finals this season, I'll be shocked. And whoever they play in the Finals, they will give that team one heck of a series.

It remains to be seen exactly what will happen to the nucleus of players that make up the current Pistons roster. Allen Iverson definitely won't be back after a nightmare of a half-season with his new team. I honestly thought it would work out better for A.I. and the Pistons than it did. I wasn't one of those people to question the trade that Joe Dumars pulled earlier in the season. But oh how wrong I was. Just look at how exceptional Chauncey Billups is doing with the Denver Nuggets now. As for Rasheed Wallace - I don't expect him to be back, either. He is getting older and I think the Pistons have grown tired of his tirades. He acts like he doesn't care anymore and is due a fresh start in a new city. Antonio McDyess is rumored to be out as well, which is especially sad because he never got to experience winning an NBA championship in Detroit which he was really hoping to get. They came awfully close in 2005 against the Spurs, only to be ousted in seven games. Tayshaun Prince is also being rumored to be traded so the Pistons can pick up a more offensive player. Whatever happens, this season is definitely the last of the current Pistons team. It was a great ride and hopefully the Pistons will be able to return to their championship form sooner, rather than later.