I agree with you!! Joe Dumars should look in the mirror. Everyone says this is "Joes Team" Well Joe you should take your own words to heart and fire yourself!!! You are the one who choose the coach, choose the players, keeps the players. Well you should look in the mirror and say...."Joe I have not done a very good job and I AM FIRED." I am sorry Flip is an excellent coach and desrves so much better. Dumars I am no longer a fan of yours. I have lost respect for you. I hope at your little press conference you have enough guts to shoulder most of the blame!!! Fire Wallace and Prince not Flip

I am a Detroit Sports fan 100% all day & every day.  I of course know sports is a business and sometimes change is unpopular.  However, this time I think that Flip Saunders got a raw deal!  When teams wins, it is automatically a team effort.  But when a team loses somebody becomes the GOAT!  In this case Flip is the goat.  Now, we all know that most times as humans we're not perfect and yes he (Flip) might not be perfect in his coaching style, but how many are?  And I understand and respect where Joe Dumars is on this subject.  But shouldn't the whole team be held accountable for their Eastern Conference breakdowns in the last (3) seasons, including Joe.  After all, if Flip was doing something so wrong, (like not playing a well developed bench this year after the Pistons got past Philadelphia in the first round) shouldn't Joe have suggested playing that bench and see what could have happened instead of waiting around to see them fail again and then only to make Flip the "Goat" and fire him anyway?  Who will be next Joe?  I still love the Pistons and look forward to them moving on and becoming a winning dynasty in the future however near or far.

Sincerely a little broken hearted, 

Kim Suber-Tate 

Thank you Joe Dumars,  Yes Flip had an excellent regular season record!  But just as in Minnesota when it came down to COACHING he did not have the solutions or make the adjustments necessary in regards to offensive, defensive schemes or chemistry on the court.  The other problem I see is a big dose of complacency by the majority of the starters.  This bleep of hanging on for three and a half quarters and then turning it on in the fourth quarter just enough to overcome the level of competition were playing has to stop.  I,m sure the changes are not going stop at Flip.

Complacency has become the norm for this team.  I applaud Joe for recognizing it and taking steps to put this organization on the right track again.

I agree with Joe's decision as well. Flip was the first "adjustment" that absolutely had to be made. Don't get me wrong, Flip is a good coach. But unfortunately his track record for getting his teams to the NBA Finals is a big fat 0. He's had 3 yrs to get our guys to the finals and he didn't do it. I believe our guys were talented enough those 3 yrs to get it done, but it just didn't happen.

Also in regards to Flip let's not forget his 10 yrs in Minnesota. He had good enough rosters with KG and he only got them out of the first round *one* time.

In regards to the players, Joe did express his disappointment in his guys not being hungry and focused enough. He said point blank he will make some changes. Which guys he moves is yet to be seen. It'll be interesting to see who he moves and if he's able to steal a deal or two.

-Audrey

I think Flip is a great guy - so sad for him - hope he goes out with good feelings about Detroit!!!  Maybe he didn't get the job done, but neither did the players!!!   I hope he stops in Rochester for a coney on his way out.  We love ya Flip!

How many coaches are the Pistons going to get rid of???  Maybe it is time to make some changes on the bench.   Get R Done Dumars, Get R Done.

It is my opinion, that Flip Saunders, did a great job during the regular season.  He did a great job developing the bench.  As I sit and watch each Piston game, I literally fall on the floor, when we finally get that go to guy making the shots, and all of a sudden they are sitting on the bench, after putting the team up some 10 points.  I was livid to see Rip sitting on the bench in Fridays must win situation, with 8 plus minutes left in the game.   I was literally screaming for Joe Dumars to come down out of those stands and take over.  I think Flip just needed a little guidance,  but actually the announcer, heard me, and couldn't understand the logic as well.

I think this was Flip's main problem when it came to the playoffs.  In my opinion, whether your a starter or not, if your not putting the ball in the basket, you need to sit down and re-group, as a coach, just don't let um hang out there. 

Other than the statement mentioned above, I think Flip was great, and wish him all the best in his endeavors.

 

 

 

This decision is way overdue. No one should be fired however this is nature of the business. There is nothing personal about this decision. There is no escape goat mentality here. If you do not get it done someone is sitting in the bullpen hungry and ready to lead these warriors to the mountain top. We should have gon the finals 4 years in a row. The players were not hearing Flip.  there is no reason why we should have lost any games to the Celtics, Heat and Cleveland.

 We need to establish more than hunger that the 89 and 90 Piston's endured. We lost the sight on the Big Picture. We have a bench that can start on any team. If apply that defense, and keep the bigs in the box and not shooting 3's at 6'10.  Love you Sheed, Lets hugs that box and give me 15-20 rebounds a game in the Playoffs.

We there are friends in every league yes, but my Elementary Baseball Coach always taught us that once get in between those two white lines you give me 110% and you do not them until then game is over and then you can be friends in the park in lot. These guys took their eyes off the the Big Picture. The Pistons are My Team.

No team.. I  repeat no team should come into our house (The Palace) and take over especially in the playoffs.  Far as his replacement lets not get caught up with race, be it Avery Johnson, or Billy Donovan, Curry whoever just get us someone to come Detroit and give us the Fans what we need. If we are all are on the same page Front Office, Fans, Cheerleaders, The Spare Tires, Announcer, down to the towel boys we will be force to recon with.  We have face of the future Stuckey, J. Max, Amir, I love these guys energy and I believe in these guys to take us to another level of dominance in the league. Once i see who the next coach will be will determine my season ticket decision. thank you

 

Yes I agree with the firing, we should had kept Rick Carlisle. He was a good coach and got the best out of each player. Flip never had that headcoach ability, too much talent on that team....but face it, this is pro ball, the NBA only looks at how to get the big sell....they pushed the championship series the first week Boston stepped on the floor. Talk started then Lakers vs. Boston....Thats Pro Ball for ya...

Flip is a good coach but not the coach for the Pistons.
He was not able to get the best out of his players.

Joe Dumars put it best, the team seems too content! They were satisfied ... striving for excellence has to start at the top ...  On the floor it starts with the coach

Kajun

Joe's overpaid players didn't come through in the playoffs. So why did he fire Flip Saunders, it was not his fault. Maybe its time for Joe to go!

Lets not get carried away ...  Joe Dumar was the architect of the team that won it all back in 2004.

He made the right decision to get Larry Brown though it meant firing their current coach ...

Now it's time to get someone who can put the fire back in the players ... those that are still here next year ... Wallace may be the next casualty

Get rid of Billups and Wallace, Get some real leaders. Someone who has the mental capacity to get the job done, unlike Big Sh#@!

I think Joe made the right decision in firing Flip.  He just wasn't a strong enough coach/personality for this team.  Either Avery Johnson or Michael Curry would, in my opinion, be more suited to this group of players.  I think the core should be left intact, but have McDyess go back to being the Sixth Man and Joe find a true Center to complete this Pistons team.   The backcourt of Billips and Hamilton is one of the best in the league, Tayshaun played well all season  (except at the very end--maybe tired?) and 'Sheed, no matter if you like him or not; is too good in the post and overall to trade.   

It Time....It been time to fire flip saunders

If it wasnt for joe dumars and the detroit pistons players flip saunders would not have been coach of the year in 2005 or won the games he wons in detroit(176-70) in regular season and (30-21) in the post season and making it to the eastern conference finals.Flip saunders should be thanking joe dumars and the detroit pistons players every chance he get....(when he isnt fishing) Flip Saunders didnt do  anythings for us like joe dumars said dont sugarcoat it look what flip did in detroit that the pistons players could have did by there self. if you look at what flip did in minnesota (411-326) seven first round exits it speak for it self flip didnot get better as a coach if so he would have been able to get the pistons past the eastern conference finals.It time also to get rid of prince(On the court he ok and off the court you hate him he think he better that everybody) Joe Dumars i have so much more respect for you keep up the good work you are doing a good job. some people dont know how  hard your job is until you have done it.