Both Booth Newspapers and now the Detroit Free Press are reporting that Flip Saunders has been fired.

Michael Curry to be named Head Coach later in the week.

Mlive
Free Press

Here is the official Pistons release

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – Detroit Pistons President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars announced today that Flip Saunders will not return next season as the team’s head coach.

“Decisions like this are difficult to make, especially with the success we have had throughout the last three regular-seasons,” Dumars said. “However, at this time, I feel it is necessary to make a change. I thank Flip for his hard work and dedication, but it is time for a new voice to lead our team.”

Saunders, who was named head coach on July 21, 2005, tallied a regular-season record of 176-70 in three seasons with the Pistons. In three trips to the NBA Playoffs under Saunders the Pistons were 30-21, losing in the Eastern Conference Finals each year.

H/T: WOI reader Maddog for the heads up

I’m really getting sick of people using Flip Saunders as the scapegoat for every single Pistons loss. In most peoples minds, you’d think that the Piston players haven’t lost a game since the George Irvine era.

STOP IT RIGHT NOW!

This one is on the players. These are not two evenly matched up teams. There is a reason the 76ers went 40-42 on the season.

They aren’t good. They may play good in stretches but over time, they are a poor basketball team.

If the teams were evenly matched, then you could nitpick at certain plays or certain substitutions. But the way the Eastern Conference is looking, the only team that matches that criteria for the Pistons is the Celtics.

So shut your trap until then.

Start blaming guys for not playing hard for 48 minutes. Start blaming guys for blowing wide open layups. Start blaming guys for missed free throws in the 4th quarter.

I’m not panicking. I am probably one of the few people who picked the Sixers to steal a game at the Palace.

But the incessant bitching from Pistons fans has gone overboard.