Flipped Out

For the second consecutive time in his career, Flip Saunders has been fired as head coach of an NBA team. This time, Saunders will say goodbye to the Palace at Auburn Hills and the annual NBA title-contending Detroit Pistons.

And, honestly, it is no surprise. Sure, he's a player's coach and everybody loves Saunders, but you can't lose the Eastern Conference Finals three years in a row and keep your job! It is not that the Pistons can't win with Saunders, they simply can't win in the playoffs with him at the helm. These Pistons players take themselves to the conference finals every year and need Coach to take them over the top. He isn't defensive-minded, controlling and strong enough to keep them together as a cohesive unit. This thing was over when he lost Game 5 to the Cleveland Cavaliers last year...Joe Dumars just didn't want to admit it.

In my opinion, Dumars should have known better. This was obvious from the get-go, considering Saunders' history of falling short with Kevin Garnett and the Minnesota Timberwolves. He made the playoffs eight consecutive times with Minnesota--seven first round exits and the 2004 Finals appearance. He was a questionable hire in the first place and even more questionable now.

The Pistons need a mature, strong and calming influence with sound basketball strategy to get them to that next level that they achieved twice under former coach Larry Brown. Someone to take the reigns of Rasheed Wallace and prevent him from getting six technical fouls, make sure there is no lull or lapse in desire just because you are probably going to win a series and to take this team to the level it is talented enough to be--the perennially contending San Antonio Spurs of the Eastern Conference.

If this was a perfect world, Brown would not have taken the Charlotte Bobcats job and would be returning to the Pistons. But, it isn't, and now Dumars is left to decide if he is going to promote from within or go scour the barren wasteland of free agent NBA head coaches like Avery Johnson. My suggestion? Jeff Van Gundy.