Remember looking forward to late spring/early summer and watching the Pistons and/or Red Wings embark on a drive for another title? Ah yes, the summertime in Detroit, even gives Kid Rock goose bumps. Well, bad news folks (aside from the Wings) it just ain't gonna happen for the Pistons. The funeral recession is in motion and unless you're in complete denial - you should realize this "Bad Boys Part II" era is O-V-E-R.

Then again, the writing has been on the wall for quite sometime. Before we are ready to crucify Joe Dumars for the Allen Iverson/Chauncey Billups trade, let's collect ourselves. I've said it over and over, the Pistons weren't gonna win the NBA title with Billups and they knew that. As excited as some got for Iverson, I knew they had no shot of winning it with Iverson.

The trade in essence has been the final push on a crumbling deck of cards. The veterans are tired of the same old, same old - they want to do it their way. Meanwhile, the youngsters have had enough of this "we've been here and know what to do" shit. That routine is played out. Yes, I'm talking about you 'Sheed, Rip and Prince.

On the flip side, you've got Allen Iverson thinking to himself "gee, what the hell did I get myself into?" No, Iverson hasn't exactly meshed well or been the "answer" the Pistons were looking for. However, anyone who fails to realize this was the first domino in Joe Dumars rebuilding process...you're blind. The Pistons are in full blow it up, rebuild it mode. There are no sacred cows left (sans Rodney Stuckey).

Does it hurt to see Billups yacking it up with Carmelo in Denver...absolutely. Is it a slap in the face when Billups goes onto PTI and says the Pistons would've won multiple championships had they drafted Carmelo instead of Darko? You betcha ass it does. However, that's the nature of this business. We can properly remove the genius tag from Joe D's throne now.

However, that's not to say Dumars is an idiot. For every bad draft pick or trade...he's had one equal as impressive and/or he's taken care of his mistakes. He's got a hole to dig out of right now, but you have to think he knew this was coming. Championship teams only have a certain lifespan and window for greatness. Just look at teams like the Suns and Mavs who are slowly watching their window close.

If anything, we should be grateful the Pistons were able to keep the momentum going for so long. It remains to be seen what Dumars does with this squad from here on out this season. Trading Rasheed seems logical, but are they going to get anything in return to make them immediately better? I say...nope. And trading Iverson would admit failure, plus it would be going against the whole point of trading Chauncey and that was to clear cap space.

So, my best guess is the Pistons stand pat this year. It won't be pretty to watch as they split open and melt down the stretch to a first round exit in the Playoffs. However, that's just the price of trying to hold onto greatness for a tad too long with hope. Let's be thankful for what they gave us over the years instead of crying about what's become of this team.

It's rebuild and re-load and time to usher in a new era of Pistons basketball. It might not be the same, but then again is it ever?Subscribe to us