Ecstatic Basketball

Joe Dumars, architect of the recent stretch of great Piston squads, has fire Flip Saunders for failing to deliver a championship to Detroit. Perhaps the Pistons could have looked a bit more interested at times, what with their 4th quarter collapse in game 6 against the Celtics and their on again off again defense throughout the season, but Flip Saunders is not fully to blame here. The Pistons have been to the Conference Finals every year under Saunders, and they lost to an excellent Celtics squad in a competitive series, so Saunders has obviously been doing something right. There is only so much control a coach can have over a free spirited squad of grizzled veterans without alienating them, but still having enough control to keep the youth in check and the victories  rolling. If Dumar brings in a strict tyrant, his starters will grow tired quickly, and frankly, his needs that talent to win. Dumars has publicly put his entire starting lineup on the trading block, but he knows he needs the support of at least 3 of his current starters to have the talent and continuity to continue to stay competitive. Saunders on the other hand will be employed almost immediately.

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