Detroit against Cleveland was a magnificent series back in 2007. LeBron James raised his game to a new level to overpower a Pistons team containing proven winners like Chauncey Billups and Rip Hamilton. It was one of the best Eastern Conference Finals of the decade.
Yet watching the Cavaliers win in Detroit 113-101 on Tuesday night, it was hard not to think once again about how far the Pistons have fallen. James' 29 points were a reminder that he and the Pistons are heading in opposite directions.
The trade that sent Billups to Denver was the catalyst for a decline that was already in progress. Without their leader, the Pistons have collapsed. Joe Dumars' deals for Charlie Villanueva and Ben Gordon have been equally disappointing thus far, leaving Detroit scrambling at the bottom of the Eastern Conference and thinking about the lottery.
From championship contenders to lottery team in two seasons (Detroit reached the Conference Finals in 2008) is a sad and frightening fall. It will be a fair while before the Pistons recover.
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