Pistons say Flip Saunders won't return as coach

[ColoRider303]

Updated: June 3, 2008, 11:38 AM ET
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AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- The Detroit Pistons say Flip Saunders will not be back as coach next season.


"Decisions like this are difficult to make," team president Joe Dumars said on the team's Web site. "However, at this time, I feel it is necessary to make a change."


In his three seasons, the Pistons were 176-70 in the regular season and 30-21 in the postseason, but they lost in the conference finals each year.



Saunders had a year left on a four-year deal he signed in 2005. He replaced Larry Brown, who won a title in two trips to the NBA Finals.



He has a career record of 587-296 in 13 years with the Pistons and Minnesota Timberwolves.



The Associated Press contributed to this story.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3423956

 

[MacRyzle]

They should make Rasheed a player/coach.

 

[Doberman]

I think it's the wrong move! Look the regular season and post season records. Conference finals THREE times? Come on. I think these near misses lay with the players and the management who drafted or didn't draft trade the right people. I think as a coach he's done what he's supposed to do. Straight up scape goat. GO LAKERS!

Pistons fire Saunders after another Finals miss Coach led Detroit to Eastern Conference finals in each of his 3 seasons
The Associated Press
updated 9:41 a.m. PT, Tues., June. 3, 2008

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - Flip Saunders was fired as Detroit Pistons coach Tuesday, four days after his team was eliminated by the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals.
President of basketball operations Joe Dumars said it’s “time for a new voice to lead our team.” Saunders had a year left on a four-year deal he signed in 2005. The decision comes three years after Saunders took over for Larry Brown, who led the Pistons to two straight NBA finals.
“Decisions like this are difficult to make, especially with the success we have had throughout the last three regular seasons,” Dumars said in a statement. “However, at this time, I feel it is necessary to make a change.”
A message left for Saunders was not immediately returned. Dumars was to speak Tuesday at the team’s practice facility.
Assistant coach Michael Curry appears to be the leading candidate to replace Saunders. Other possible candidates include Detroit assistant coach Terry Porter and former Dallas Mavericks coach Avery Johnson.
In Saunders’ three seasons, the Pistons were 176-70 in the regular season and 30-21 in the postseason, but they lost in the Eastern Conference finals each year.
The Pistons have appeared in six straight conference finals, the first franchise to do so since the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1980s. But they also are the second team in league history to lose in the round before the NBA finals three years in a row, joining the Celtics from 1953-55.
Dumars decided a year ago to bring back key players who have been together since the 2004 championship season, as well as Saunders, while infusing energy with rookies and young reserves. But after the loss in Game 6 of the East finals to Boston on Friday, the likelihood of change grew.
Before coming to Detroit, Saunders was 411-326 with the Minnesota Timberwolves from 1995-05. He led them to eight straight postseason appearances — seven first-round exits and an appearance in the 2004 conference finals. After leading Minnesota to a franchise-high 58 wins, he was fired with a 25-26 mark in the 2004-05 season.
© 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
URL: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/24949745/

 

[Robby2Slobby]

He needed to be gone. Dude has never been past a conference finals in his life. And the teams that he's taken to conference finals (04 T'Wolves, 06, 07, 08 Pistons) all should've gone further in the playoffs. He doesn't have the respect of the players. He's a great Xs and Os guy, but he doesn't stick up for his players enough at all. He is too quiet during games. The Pistons need somebody to coach them who can fire them up.

 

[Dirty Nappy]

He needed to be gone. Dude has never been past a conference finals in his life. And the teams that he's taken to conference finals (04 T'Wolves, 06, 07, 08 Pistons) all should've gone further in the playoffs. .

First off the '04 Wolves definatly would have won it all if Sam Cassell didn't get injured in the conference finals.

But this is sad. Flips cool, what about Rasheed Wallace camping out at the 3 point line for the entire series vs. Boston? Joe Dumars trying to take the heat off himself for not adding a few more options to this team.

 

[KrazeeRDM]

i'm lking the pistons all over again lol. now my squad needs to take doc out of the head coaching job and put in tibado or something