Moments after Rasheed Wallace's final tirade, the music at Kicker's Sports Bar began thumping, and the sound from the Pistons game was shut off completely. Management knew it was time to turn the page and give the dancers and romancers their moments. For sports fans, it was time to order another shot a nd try to put this jolt behind them. The Pistons fell hard during a 98-82 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. The fellas came here to root the Pistons one last time, but even before LeBron James was officially crowned king of the Eastern Conference, dates were being dragged reluctantly to the dance floor. The Pistons are done, and now comes the hard reality of losing. This must be the conclusion of the Pistons as we know it. This has been a nice run of five straight Eastern Conference finals, two NBA Finals and an NBA title in 2004. But all good things must come to an end. The "Show Time" Los Angeles Lakers are no more. The Boston Celtics of Larry Bird, Robert Parrish and Kevin McHale are no more. Even Michael Jordan is gone. The Pistons didn't just lose a series. They were destroyed Saturday night, never to be the same again. Tough moment This was a tough moment for Greg Balteff of Canton. He tried to sum his thoughts up in words as he sat at a table near the bar. But the words were hard to come by. "Where do I begin," he said over the loud music. "I would break it up. It is not working anymore. It just isn't working. I don't think they had legs. I really think they are tired." They were tired. They were tired mentally and physically, and it showed. The Pistons might not be ready for a total break up, but Pistons president Joe Dumars must shock and awe us before the summer is over. The current Pistons are running on fumes and might have another run if they are lucky. If Dumars brings this team intact, they will be a leading contender during the regular season. They might win 50 to 55 games and make us think they are on the verge of winning another title. But they will be undressed during the playoffs, losing to a team they have no business losing to. That is why the time for change is now. The "Bad Boy" Pistons stuck around too long. They got an extra year because of two championships, but in hindsight it was not the right thing for the organization. Dumars was part of that as a player, and I'd bet he'd be willing to admit that his team should have vanished before losing to the New York Knicks in the first round of the 1992 playoffs. General Manager Jack McCloskey kept looking for magic in wild trade after wild trade, but he could not find it. Dumars cannot make the same mistake. I know he loves this starting five because it has given him so much. This Pistons team gave us joy. "I hope people just don't say this team stunk. They gave us a great run, and they should be remembered for that," said Jay Chavey of Livonia, who watched the game at Kickers. "Everything has its time. And now this is their time. I hope people praise them and not rip them." Of course fans will rip them. That is human nature, especially after the meltdown. It was officially over with 7:44 remaining, when Rasheed Wallace could not keep his cool and was kicked out of the game. When the emotional leader imploded, it signaled the end of the Pistons and the coronation of the James era. A new era It is time to usher in a new era of Pistons basketball, but it is not time to blow up the entire franchise. The Pistons should try to sign Chauncey Billups. They need to keep him with Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince. This is the nucleus. But everybody else, and everything else is up for grabs. This might be a risk because of a troubled past. But the Pistons should turn to Portland to see if they can bring in big man Zach Randolph. Yeah, he is a pain, and he is immature. But the dude has soft hands and can score inside with the best of them when he is focused. He is a risk. But perhaps the risk isn't as risky if his former coach at Michigan State, Tom Izzo, steps in and helps guide him. The Pistons need something new, and you can stop your wish list at Kevin Garnett. He is not coming here. The Pistons need new blood and a new direction. You must also examine coach F lip Saunders, who never gained control of this team. There were players only meetings and disagreements with his guidance and strategy. You can only bring him back if there is an overhaul. But the bottom line is he never gained control of an out-of-control dressing room from the Larry Brown era. The players always believed they could win it on their own. And perhaps they realize that is not possible. They either need a new coach or they need to listen to Saunders. Pistons no longer mesh This group no longer works, and it was painful to see the end come among sports fans, dancers and cigar smokers. "This is terrible," one man screamed. But people here were forgiving. They moaned and groaned and shook their heads, but they did not want to let go of the embrace of the Pistons. Miles Brown of Southfield admitted the Pistons could use another big man because he expects Chris Webber to either retire or leave the team. "I still see guys who are in their prime, and I still think they've got another two or three years left in them," Brown said. "When you look at their average ages, it is about 30 something." I am going to disagree with Brown. The NBA works this way. Champions are not beaten. They are destroyed. When a team has a long run and is swept out of the playoffs in this manner it is very difficult for them to return. The Celtics destroyed the Philadelphia 76ers. The Pistons destroyed the Celtics. The Chicago Bulls destroyed the Pistons. The Pistons destroyed the Lakers, and now we witnessed the Cavaliers destroy the Pistons. This team will never be the same mentally and physically. They just did not lose a series. They lost four games in a row, and all of the blemishes that we saw haunt the Pistons all season bubbled to the surface. They were undisciplined, fought with one another and their coach, could not shoot and fell apart. So long live the Pistons. It was a nice run that is over even if the organization does not admit it. This franchise won't rebound from this as San Antonio has done time and again. It is time for fresh blood. Maybe the patrons here at Kickers don't see it. But hopefully Dumars will. http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070603/SPORTS08/706030343/1127/SPORTS0102 --

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