By all appearances, Flip Saunders will be back for a
third straight season as head coach. There has plenty
of speculation since the Pistons' playoff flop he
might be fired. When Saunders left without speaking to
reporters after the players' postseason meeting
Monday, more red flags went up. But Saunders wasn't
fired and the upper management is inclined to make
personnel changes instead, which is the right
approach.
There's no one on the coaching market who would bring
more credibility than Saunders. And if Billups had
made that 3-pointer at the end of regulation in Game
5, chances are the Pistons would have made it to the
Finals despite all their offensive problems during the
Cleveland series.
The Rick Carlisle situation four years ago was
different because A. Bill Davidson didn't like him; B.
A Hall of Famer was available.
Look at whom the other teams are interviewing: Would
Stan Van Gundy get them over the hump? Be serious.