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For Pistons, 'Time For A New Voice'

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The Associated Press

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 4, 2008

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - Flip Saunders was fired as Detroit Pistons coach Tuesday, four days after his team was eliminated by the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals.

President of basketball operations Joe Dumars said it's "time for a new voice to lead our team." Saunders had a year left on a four-year deal he signed in 2005. The decision comes three years after Saunders took over for Larry Brown, who led the Pistons to two straight NBA finals.

"Decisions like this are difficult to make, especially with the success we have had throughout the last three regular seasons," Dumars said in a statement. "However, at this time, I feel it is necessary to make a change."

A message left for Saunders was not immediately returned.
Assistant coach Michael Curry appears to be the leading candidate to replace Saunders. Other possible candidates include Detroit assistant coach Terry Porter and former Dallas Mavericks coach Avery Johnson.

In Saunders' three seasons, the Pistons were 176-70 in the regular season and 30-21 in the postseason, but they lost in the Eastern Conference finals each year.

CELTICS: Backup guard Tony Allen is back on the practice court as the Celtics prepare for the NBA finals against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Coach Doc Rivers said Allen was only supposed to go through the first part of practice on Tuesday, but he was jumping and dunking.

Allen had some success guarding Lakers star Kobe Bryant in the regular season, holding the NBA MVP to 22 points on 6-for-25 shooting.

Allen missed the last two games of the Eastern Conference finals against Detroit after straining his right Achilles' tendon in practice.

BULLS: Sacramento Kings assistant coach Chuck Person is set to have a second interview with Chicago for its vacant head coaching job. Person joined the Kings last year after spending the previous two as an assistant with Indiana, where he played six of his 13 NBA seasons.

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