eastern conference finals

Let's face it; the Detroit Pistons have become a rudderless NBA organization. Before the 2008-09 NBA season this team had made six consecutive trips to the Eastern Conference finals.

Last season they were a pathetic 8th seed and got swept out in the first round by the Cleveland Cavaliers.

SO far in the current NBA season they appear to be a Lottery team, and only one real thing has changed.

No matter what the local spin is, this is a team that is either rebuilding or reloading for anther historic run in the NBA post season.

After reaching six straight Eastern Conference Finals the Pistons were swept out of the first round of last year's playoffs by the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Over the summer there was much second guessing about the trade that sent Chauncey Billups to Denver for one Allen Iverson.

That is a move that clearly did not work, so Piston GM Joe Dumars had to go out and change the way his team is going to play.

The Carolina Hurricanes went 45-30-7 and earned 97 points last year in a season that ended up lasting a lot longer then many thought.

The Hurricanes made it all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals before being swept by the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Hurricanes seemed to be one big move or a few small moves away from being a big time contender again in 2009-10.

However Canes, GM Jim Rutherford thinks his team already made its big moves, and essentially stood pat over much of the off season.

Two big questions will be on the mind of Cleveland Cavalier fans this season. The first being how will Shaquille O'Neil fit in with this team, and will this be the last year Lebron James plays in Cleveland?

While those questions are still to be determined what we have here is a great basketball team, which got a lot better in the off-season.

Remember that this team had the best record in the regular season before losing in the Eastern Conference finals in the post season.

They have added a lot of new pieces to compliment there weapons, but how they all gel remains to be worked out.

LeBron James finally talked about not making the NBA finals, and insists Cleveland's loss to Orlando will not impact his future with the Cavaliers.

James stormed out of Amway Arena without speaking to the media Saturday night after the Cavs were eliminated with a 103-90 loss to the Magic in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals.

Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard had his technical foul from Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals rescinded by the NBA.

Howard was given his sixth technical of the playoffs for taunting Anderson Varejao after a layup in the fourth quarter of the Magic's 116-114 overtime victory Tuesday night.

Cleveland's forward had draped his arms around Howard in a failed attempt to stop him from scoring.

Cleveland Cavaliers center Ben Wallace is upset with Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy for accusing him of flopping.

Van Gundy said Monday he was bothered by the number of times Cleveland guard Mo Williams and Wallace dropped to the floor in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals.

He said the pair fell down more times than a baby.

The NBA has rescinded the flagrant foul against Orlando Magic guard Anthony Johnson for elbowing Cleveland's Mo Williams in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals.

Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said after the team's shootaround Tuesday he was glad the league took back the call.

Johnson drove the lane and extended his elbow in the second quarter of the Magic's victory Sunday.