Bye Bye, Flip...Hello, Avery?

Despite a 64-18 record (and an Eastern Conference Finals exit) in 2007-2008, the Detroit Pistons decided to part ways with Flip Saunders today. While with the Pistons, Saunders had 176 wins to only 70 losses, but lost in the Eastern Conference Finals each year. Apparently he couldn't quite stack up to his predecessor, Larry Brown, who made - and once won - the NBA Finals in two years as head coach. Wouldn't it make sense for the Pistons to bring Avery Johnson on board? He brings the discipline of Larry Brown, but without the constantly changing mailing address. Like Flip Saunders before him, he knows how to win games in the regular season (264-194). However, also like Flip Saunders, Avery's had a hard time getting his team over the proverbial hump. But wouldn't Avery be a better position to succeed in Detroit than he was in Dallas? I understand Dallas had a pretty good roster for a few years, but perhaps Avery's biggest problem was a big German who liked to disappear in big games. In Detroit, Avery's got a bunch of guys who come up big. Plus, the competition just isn't as fierce in the Eastern Conference as it is in the Western Conference (for now, at least). Detroit has a very good roster right now, and there's no reason they shouldn't be perennial contenders to represent the Eastern Conference in the Finals (though they will need some new blood sooner than later). Avery's the kind of guy who can light a fire under their asses and maybe get them over the hump that Saunders couldn't.