Michael Rosenberg got a chance to talk to Chauncey Billups while he was in Cleveland yesterday. He reflects back on the trade that sent him to Denver in exchange for Allen Iverson.

I’ve higlighted a few things from the article, but I STRONGLY recommend you click on over and check read the whole thing for yourself.

On whether he’d have signed his contract knowing then what he knows now: “No way,” he said. “No way. I don’t think anybody would. If anybody told you that if hindsight was 20/20 and they knew a year later they were going to get traded from the place that they signed, they wouldn’t sign.”

Seeing his jersey with Iverson’s name on the back: “I will admit, that shocked me,” he said. “It’s kind of surreal when you first get traded. But when I saw that No. 1 on TV with a different name, that’s when I said, ‘It’s official.’ ”

The results of the team’s discord with Flip Saunders: “I think that cost us at least one championship.”

What could have been: “I felt like if it’s not for my injury, (even) with Flip, we win the championship last year,” he said. “I think we win it all and that No. 1 has still got BILLUPS on the back of it.”

The timing of Rip’s extension announcement: “If Rip would have knew that this deal was going on, I just don’t know that he would have signed that extension,” Billups said. “It was kind of funny to me that they announced this trade the same day that he signed. I really don’t know. … It just seemed weird to me. He signed that extension three days before the trade. … I think it might have been a little different if all this was exposed early.”

The interview really drove home the human element of the trade.  While reading it I never thought to myself, “yeah, but what about the money we’ll save”.  Even with all the time this squad had to get it done it still feels like one more shot wouldn’t have been too much to ask.  But, I guess that’s maybe the one draw back of having management won’t settle for just being “good”.  Joe has a job to do.

Detroit Free Press: Chauncey Billups talk about the trade, Flip

So the first shot has been fired, or should I say the coach has been fired. If you read the first line of the linked Detroit News article it’s a mandate straight from Bill Davidson, who apparently is lucid enough to name a scapegoat. This is sure to be the first of many changes for this team. Expect some player accountability to come.

As for a replacement, are we to assume Michael Curry is the front runner?

Flip Saunders talking some Pistons playoff basketball with Jim Rome.

Via: Dallas News

League tampering rules prohibit teams from contacting or talking about another team’s personnel, but an NBA source said Detroit’s Flip Saunders is believed to be a coach the Mavericks would have interest in should he part ways with the Pistons after the team’s playoff run.

That’s a step up from the Minnesota Golden Gophers. So, the Pistons continued success in the postseason keeps Flip from becoming Mark Cuban’s puppet. Anyhow, it’s gotta feel good for Flip to have his name to come up for a high-profile gig after all the bashings he takes when the ‘Stonz underwhelm the fans.

But then again…

If the Mavs had waited on Flip Saunders, only to find out that he wouldn’t end up being freed by Detroit, they might have lost out on “sure thing’’ Rick Carlisle. DallasBasketball.com learned late Friday that Carlisle will be the Mavs’ next head coach, and the dynamics involved in the availability of those two candidates is a primary reason why.

“It’s safe to say it’s going to happen,’’ a source told us late Friday. “Rick’s the guy.’’

Rick Carlisle is not the perfect pick. The Mavs know that.

This is not “Mr. Right.’’ This is “Mr. Right Now.’’

Thanks to PN reader, Chris, for pointing this Tube out to me. The dude who hits Vinnie (hopefully not Johnson) on the head with the shovel in this TVBoss.org commercial bears a striking resemblance to Philip Saunders. Remember our other Piston tv commercial separated at birth?


So Rasheed Wallace has made it clear that he’d rather not be voted in by the coaches this Thursday as an all-star reserve. Preferring rather to use all-star four day weekend for R&R, to which Flip Saunder’s had the following to say:

“They can say all that they want,” Saunders said. “But all our players get played a lot of money to play this game. You have an obligation. And the reason you get paid is people want to see you.” (via DFP)

“Being selected as an All-Star is an honor,” Saunders said. “And it’s more of an honor when you’re selected by the coaches. You’ve got to realize, ‘Sheed’s the only guy ever to get kicked out of the McDonald’s All-Star Game.” (via DFP)

Now, I don’t know exactly what context Flip made the above quotes, I only read them in the paper. But, it does sound like he’s awfully critical of Rasheed’s all-star angst. You think he’d have more of a “that’s just Sheed” stance about the whole thing.

Personally I’d kinda like to see Rasheed Wallace represent the Pistons in that game. Even without Sheed I suspect we’ll probably be well represented by our backcourt of Chauncey and Rip again this year which would be fitting because they are a huge reason for our success so far with their superb consistent play.

As for the game itself, eh? it’s not that great anymore to me. Everything was better when you were younger, including the midseason classic.

I know I’m probably asking for it with this one…

From Chris McCosky’s blog:

We were talking to Flip Saunders today, and Sherrod Blakely asked him if he has thought about the idea of bringing Richard Hamilton off the bench. Remember, I had suggested this in a recent column as a bail-out plan if Hamilton’s struggles were to continue for another 30 games or so. Here’s what Flip said.

“No… We are trying to get Rip focused, but he’s just not in a rhythm right now. He hasn’t been healthy, and when he got healthy, then he got sick. You can’t totally judge him now. If a guy’s healthy and he’s been playing, that’s one thing. But if a guy is not healthy and you do something, then you are making an adjustment that you might not need to make. I am not going to overreact to this.”

Hamilton did not practice again Monday. He’s still fighting the flu, but Saunders expects both Hamilton and Rasheed Wallace to be in the lineup for the Cavs game Wednesday. Wallace (sore left knee) did a little bit, but not much, at practice Monday.

I have to agree with McCosky on this one. If not for Rip missing games with injury and the birth of Richard Clay Hamilton II and now battling the flu then it might be something worth maybe thinking about with the way Rip has played.

I’ve read a lot of fans wanting the Pistons to use Rip off the bench like San Antonio uses Manu or Jason Terry in Dallas. That’s fine if it’s done before the season starts as a way to bolster the bench scoring and not as a demotion for poor play 13 games into the season. Rip has earned his starter’s role with this team and deserves to be given the chance to play his way out of this funk. It’s way to early to have hands all over the panic button. We’re in no threat of missing the playoffs right now.

We’ve all been frustrated with Rip’s play but benching him in the first month of the season would send the wrong message and would potentially do more harm than help.

Remember the comments Phil Jackson made last season about the Pistons zone defense (or lack there of)?

It took Flip a complete season, but he finally had a comeback. Who knew Flip was so witty?