[xstreaminsanity]

well dont expect much will dumars is running the show.. Great player Horrible GM/Pres.. Caught lightning in a bottle with the championship team but couldnt sustain it.

Unfair assessment. Here's why I think so...

7 straight 50+ win seasons
6 straight trips to the Eastern Conference Finals or further (2 Finals appearances)
1 Championship (same amount as Boston, , cause they ain't getting one this year)

Why did the team fall apart? Here's why...

Ben Wallace left in 2006-07 because he was butting heads with Flip Saunders and Chicago offered him $60 million when Detroit could only offer $48 million (cap issues).

Chauncey Billups left in what was supposed to be a cap clearing move and Rodney Stuckey was supposed to continue his progress. Failed experiment, but trying to get youthful and clear cap space is always a good thing.

Rasheed Wallace left because of money, bad coaching moves, and he was on his way out.

Larry Brown left because of the following:

Brown has also drawn criticism for searching publicly for other jobs while still employed. This happened most recently in May 2005, when rumors surfaced that Brown would become the Cleveland Cavaliers' team president as soon as the Detroit Pistons finished their postseason. The rumor, which was not dispelled by Brown, became a major distraction as the Pistons lost to the San Antonio Spurs in seven games in the 2005 NBA Finals.

On July 19, 2005, the Pistons, displeased with Brown's public flirtations with other teams, bought out the remaining years of Brown's contract, allowing him to sign with another team.[5][6] A week later, on July 28, Brown became the head coach of the New York Knicks,[7] with a 5-year contract reportedly worth between $50 million and $60 million, making him the highest-paid coach in NBA history.

After that, Joe D tried out coaches that were willing, but in the end, didn't get the job done (Michael Curry, John Kuester) and a coach that really butted heads with some of the players (Flip Saunders).

And of course, everyone wants to get on Joe D about drafting Darko over Carmelo or Wade. Honestly, I have no problem with that move as we won the championship that year. Bringing in Wade or Anthony would have been kind of redundant with Hamilton already there who was at the peak of his career. Also, I'm not fond (hope I don't offend anyone) of Wade or Anthony's character, I don't think it would have meshed with the team. I read an article about how the 2004 Championship team could get on the plane after a win or loss and look at each other and actually discuss what each one did wrong without hurting any feelings. Sorry, but the characters I've seen from Wade and Anthony suggest (at least to me) that they wouldn't have gotten along there, but I could be wrong. Anyways, he's draft's Darko, picks up Rasheed and we win the championship. Still made it to the ECF 4 straight years after that.

Now we're in rebuilding mode. Has picked up Greg Monroe in the draft, Brandon Knight in the draft and we have the 9th pick this year. Joe D was very limited in what he could do for two years while Karen Davidson (the late Piston's owner Bill Davidson's wife) was trying to sell the team (he wasn't really able to make many moves). Now we have a new owner who has already put a few million into accommodations for the players (breakfast and lunch at practice facility, $3 million on the new locker room, etc.) and has given Joe D the reins to bring in whomever we need if it's the right move.

So, I wouldn't necessarily fault Joe D for the 2004 team falling apart. He got us to a championship after only being in the position for 4 years, they maintained it for another 4-5 years after that, and now we're in rebuilding mode. Started 4-20 after the lockout (new coach, new rookie PG, new owner, played the most games in the shortest amount of time, Stuckey not signing until just before the season, and some lockout enduced injuries) but went 21-21 down the stretch. So, we're pointed in the right direction, just have to hope that direction brings us in one more big and we'll be able to make the playoffs at least as an 8th seed.