AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Flip Saunders doesn’t sound like a coach worried about his future.
The Boston Celtics won Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals Wednesday, pushing the Detroit Pistons to the brink of elimination and a possible shakeup.
Saunders has already outlasted his predecessors, Larry Brown and Rick Carlisle, both of whom lasted just two years.
But if Detroit loses in the conference finals for a third straight season, there’s a chance Saunders won’t be back for a fourth.
The Pistons’ nucleus, which has been together since winning a title in 2004, might also get broken up with another loss.
Saunders shrugged off the pressure on him going into a win-or-go-home matchup tonight at home, saying he’s excited about the opportunity.
“I really believe if we get Game 6, that we’re going to have a good opportunity in Game 7,” Saunders said.
If Boston falls to 0-3 in Game 6s this postseason, it will host its third Game 7 on Sunday night.
Paul Pierce said the last thing he and the Celtics are thinking about is being tired from their grueling run.
“The only thing on my mind is getting a win, getting a step closer to being in the NBA finals,” Pierce said after helping Boston beat Detroit 106-102 to take a 3-2 lead in the series. “I don’t think fatigue is going to be a factor for the rest of this series. The guys physically for the most part are feeling good, and it’s all about mental toughness right now.”
Even though the Celtics have the cushion of another home game, coach Doc Rivers wants his team to play with a sense of urgency.
“We don’t want to go to a Game 7,” Rivers said. “We want to win this now if we can. They’re not going to let us win it. We’re going to have to come in and take it.
“They’ve been in situations before. They’re a mentally tough team, and we’re going to have to play the game of our lives to go up there and win. But I think we’re capable of doing that.”
The Pistons’ past two seasons under Saunders have ended on the road in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Miami Heat, respectively.
The two previous years, under Brown, Detroit didn’t have home-court advantage when it advanced past the Indiana Pacers to win the NBA title in 2004 and Miami the next year before coming up just short of repeating against the San Antonio Spurs.
Less than a day after Detroit’s divorce with Brown was completed, Saunders agreed to a four-year contract worth up to $26 million.
Rivers said it would be “a shame” if Saunders lost his job this offseason.
“He’s one of the best coaches in our league,” Rivers said.
That description also fits Brown and Carlisle, but both were not welcomed back for a third season with the Pistons despite having success.
Saunders inherited a job with pluses, including championship-caliber players, and minuses such as strong-minded veterans, such as Rasheed Wallace, who respected and liked Brown.
