Maybe they should rename the building, "The Palace King James Tore Down." The Cavaliers took no time in putting their foot to the throat of the Detroit Pistons, closing them out in the third quarter with 16-6 run. The Pistons, a powerhouse over the last seven years, will not reach the conference finals for the first time in seven years. The cause of their downfall? The only man with less fear of the Palace than Ron Artest.
LeBron James had 36 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists to again create the majority of the punch for the Cavs, who will now have up to a week of off time before facing the winner of the Atlanta-Miami showdown.
With the way the Cavaliers are playing, those teams might want to put off facing the Cavs as long as possible.
For the Pistons, it's got to sting considerably for their fans. By the end of the game, James was being serenaded with MVP chants, on the road in a playoff game. There were chants of "Let's Go Cavs" that were loudly apparent on television.
Antonio McDyess went down swinging, with 26 points, while the Pistons as a team shot just 40 percent from the field. Mo Williams poured in 24 for the Cavs, who pretty much just rolled over the Pistons.
The Pistons head into the offseason with two huge contracts (Allen Iverson and Rasheed Wallace) coming off the books, a young core, and a general manager who will never stand pat. But it's going to take some serious Joe Dumars magic to bring this team back to title contention. They're not miles out, they can see it on the horizon, but it's time for a new identity.
Of course, as long as the King is holding court, it may not matter.
Latest NBA Playoff Photos
Detroit Pistons' Richard Hamilton (32) guards Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference playoffs at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan, on Sunday, April 26, 2009. Cleveland defeated Detroit, 99-78. (Rashaun Rucker/Detroit Free Press/MCT)
MCT
Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James and Anderson Varejao celebrate a defensive stop during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference playoffs against the Detroit Pistons at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan, on Sunday, April 26, 2009. Cleveland defeated Detroit, 99-78. (Rashaun Rucker/Detroit Free Press/MCT)
MCT
Detroit Pistons Tayshaun Prince, left, Richard Hamilton, right, and Cleveland Cavaliers' Ben Wallace talk at the end of Game 4 of the Eastern Conference playoffs at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan, on Sunday, April 26, 2009. Cleveland defeated Detroit, 99-78. (Rashaun Rucker/Detroit Free Press/MCT)
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Cleveland Cavaliers starters Anderson Varejao, left, and Delonte West joke around towards the end of regulation during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference playoffs against the Detroit Pistons at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan, on Sunday, April 26, 2009. Cleveland defeated Detroit, 99-78. (Rashaun Rucker/Detroit Free Press/MCT)
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Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron James dunks against the Detroit Pistons during second half action in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference playoffs against the Detroit Pistons at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan, on Sunday, April 26, 2009. Cleveland defeated Detroit, 99-78. (Kirthmon F. Dozier/Detroit Free Press/MCT)
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Philadelphia 76ers forward Thaddeus Young (21) loses the ball to the Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard (12) and Magic forward Rashard Lewis (9) during the first quarter of Game 4 of their NBA Eastern Conference playoff series in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, April 26, 2009. REUTERS/Tim Shaffer (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL)
Reuters
Detroit Pistons starters Tayshaun Prince (3rd L), Richard Hamilton (4th L), Antonio McDyess and Rasheed Wallace (R) sit on the bench during the final minutes of their loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers during Game 4 of their NBA Eastern Conference playoff series in Auburn Hills, Michigan April 26, 2009. REUTERS/Rebecca Cook (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL)
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PHILADELPHIA - APRIL 26: Dwight Howard #12 of the Orlando Magic shoots against Samuel Dalembert #1 of the Philadelphia 76ers in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs on April 26, 2009 at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Dwight Howard;Samuel Dalembert
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PHILADELPHIA - APRIL 26: Courtney Lee #11 of the Orlando Magic dunks against Samuel Dalembert #1 of the Philadelphia 76ers in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs on April 26, 2009 at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Courtney Lee;Samuel Dalembert
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PHILADELPHIA - APRIL 26: Musicians, who's band is known as the Kings of Leon, take the court for a photo before the Orlando Magic face off against the Philadelphia 76ers in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs on April 26, 2009 at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kings of Leon
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Comments (Page 1 of 1)
as a cavs fan I felt sorry for detroit, what were they thinking when the let billups go? get ready for a fire sale in the off season
Gee, that Iverson/Billups trade just looks better and better all the time... Great job, Joe! Threw away the entire season... What an embarassment! Thank God for the Red Wings!!
You forget so quickly Plau. First of all, Joe Dumars trading Chaucey Billups did turn out quite badly, however Allen Iverson didn't exactly help by constantly complaiming about playing time and running his mouth constantly. I'm proud of the way the Pistons sucked it up and made it to the playoffs in spit of injuries to Tayshaun Prince and Richard Hamilton.
This was the first bad trade that Jooe Dumars has made. It happens The fact that you forgot so quickly apparently that Joe dumars was able to trade Grant Hill for Ben Wallace and Chucky Atkins means you are either a fly0by-night Pistons fan, very forgetful, or just plain stupid.
The Pistons will be back!!
Complaiming; There will be no fire side sale Vander, just an improved Pistons team minus Allen Iverson and Rasheed Wallace next year. Unfortunately it appears however that Antonio Mcdyess will probably retire as well. He's had a great career!
Correction: Complaining. Geez.
You wrote: "Allen Iverson didn't exactly help by constantly complaining about playing time and running his mouth constantly."
Did you expect anything different? Dumars should have known better. I'm not saying this in hindsight. From the first day of the trade, most people were worried about AI's attitude and the bad chemistry he would bring to the team.
Having said that, it should also be noted (as the article states)letting Billups go will create a lot of salary space next year. And they still have Stuckey to play point. So, it may not have been as bad a trade as it looks.
Practice?
Obama,and Geithner should claw back Rasheed's salary. What a waste of 6'11"..
As soon they Traded Chancey Billups for Allen Iverson I knew this Detroit Pistons Team would never be the same now it's time to do some spring cleaning an get ready for next season lets see what Joe has in mind all we can do is wait and see
cavs all the way
Lakers will always RULE !!!!
LAKERS ......YES.......!
KOBE is better than that ...king dude!
GO KOBE.....GO LAKERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRS !
I LOVE BEING A LAKER FAN!
let see when the play boston
Detroit goofed they traded Chauncey Billups to Denver for Allen Thug, er, I mean Iverson. Denver got the best of that transaction by far.