:mccosky:


Saunders is on the rise
Pistons coach a hot candidate for other jobs -- not that he's planning on leaving any time soon.

Chris McCosky / The Detroit News

PHILADELPHIA -- A few days ago, after the Pistons had lost Game 3, the buzz in the newspapers, on the message boards and on local sports talk radio was the end was near for Pistons coach Flip Saunders.

Now, the national buzz has Saunders among the candidates for coaching jobs in Dallas, Chicago and perhaps Phoenix. One city's trash is another city's treasure, huh?

"Maybe they know more than I do," Saunders joked.

The reality is, Saunders' contract with the Pistons runs through next season, and any decision regarding his future would be made after the end of the playoffs.

Saunders is also no fool. Despite the team's phenomenal success in the regular season the last three years (276-70), he knows another abbreviated playoff run could put his job in jeopardy.

"It's just the dynamics of this league," he said before Game 6 on Thursday. "Every team has expectations and, right, wrong or indifferent, if those expectations aren't accomplished, then these things (coaches getting fired) happen."

Saunders said he has hardly paid attention to the rumor and innuendo.

"It's been like that from day one," he said. "The main thing for me is to focus with the players we have here and get the job done."

Pistons captain Chauncey Billups has been through this before, with Rick Carlisle, then Larry Brown.

"It's never an issue with us," he said. "People can say what they want. Now, if Flip was to come out in an article saying he was interested in this job or that job, then that can make a difference."

That's what Brown did, saying -- while he was coaching the Pistons -- that coaching the Knicks was his dream job.


Coveted coach Saunders
Read the NBA gossip columns this week, and you're likely to run into Saunders' name in a coaching rumor. Although he's still employed in Detroit, his name has been mentioned in connection with jobs in Dallas, Phoenix and Chicago. The Dallas Morning News and espn.com cited sources saying the Mavericks would be interested in Saunders. If he were available, of course.

"Maybe they know more than I know," Saunders joked Thursday.

The players aren't fazed.

"Now, if Flip was coming out with articles, saying he was interested in this or that, then, you know, that could make a difference," captain Chauncey Billups said. "But you can't control what people write and who people are interested in."

I thought he was a good coach before he got here, I still think he is a good coach, but not a good fit for this bunch.

One city's trash is another city's treasure, huh?

Is he calling him "trash"? That's hilarious.

While I always thought he would ruin this team's defense, they are still among the top 3 in the league. True he is not a good fit, but who would we get that would be better?

What one of those jobs would he want? It's easy to say the Suns because they are offensive but he doesn't want to deal with the West and I can't blame him.

True he is not a good fit, but who would we get that would be better?


Not sure.

Although, Avery Johnson is intriguing. Avery was a product of having a soft superstar. Give him a guy like Sheed who will do some dirty work inside and give you the range Dirk does, it could be an interesting fit. Gives Avery more to work with in a far easier conference.

I just don't want a coach who doesn't preach defense (i.e. D'Antoni)

Who is a good fit? I really have no idea. There might not be anybody. Phil Jackson? I guess Flips about the best.

Not sure.

Although, Avery Johnson is intriguing. Avery was a product of having a soft superstar. Give him a guy like Sheed who will do some dirty work inside and give you the range Dirk does, it could be an interesting fit. Gives Avery more to work with in a far easier conference.

I just don't want a coach who doesn't preach defense (i.e. D'Antoni)

Don't we always complain about Sheed not doing that? lol

jk I know he does 100x more dirty work down low than Dirk, it was just funny to read a post complimenting him for that.

As far as Johnson... our biggest real knock on Flip is him not taking a team as far as he should. Johnson got booted as the 1 seed in the 1st last year, and although NO is a good team there was no doubt that Dallas was getting schooled in that series. I'd have to say that his teams the last couple years underachieved far more than Detroit.

Although, Avery Johnson is intriguing. Avery was a product of having a soft superstar.
I dunno about that. I have a hard time blaming their latest first-round loss on Dirk being soft. Kidd isn't soft, either.

Josh Howard, on the other hand...