Pistons' window may have closed

CLEVELAND -- The Detroit Pistons' reign atop the Eastern Conference is over.

This year, for sure.

Maybe in the near future, too.

The Cleveland Cavaliers beat Detroit 98-82 Saturday night in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals, eliminating the East's top- seeded team with four straight wins that likely will lead to an uncertain offseason.

Anything is possible.

Coach Flip Saunders might only match the two-year tenure that his predecessors, Larry Brown and Rick Carlisle, had before exiting with a buyout and a firing, respectively.

"I feel comfortable," Saunders insisted.

Chauncey Billups, who is expected to be one of the NBA's top free agents this summer, may also be elsewhere next season.

The All-Star point guard said if Detroit's offer is equal to the best deal he can find on the market, he expects to be back.

"Hopefully it all works out, but that's down the road," he said.

Chris Webber will be a free agent, too.

The Pistons may also decide they're tired of Rasheed Wallace's act.

Wallace needed to be restrained from physically going after an official after getting ejected with two technicals early in the fourth quarter as the Cavs pulled away.

"It was a tough time for that to happen," Billups said. "He played his heart out, but he kind of lost it. He's very emotional and that's what we love about him."

The Pistons used to win games when they faced adversity, but they simply crumbled against the Cavs.

On the brink of elimination or with a chance to advance, the Pistons are 20-3 dating to 2003, with three current starters playing key roles.

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