WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND ABOUT FLIP SAUNDERS

The recent Houston-Detroit matchup - which resulted in a Houston win - illustrates a issue that comes up over and over with the Pistons under Saunders.

The Pistons starters started off in a funk. They got way behind. Slowly, but surely, with a big assist from the bench, they got back into the game.

Almost as though he does it without looking at the game or the flow of the action, Saunders inserted his starters back into the game.

The result? The gap grows again and by the time the first half ends, the Pistons are down by 13 points.

The second half starts the same way the first half ends.

Yao Ming is just too big for Webber. He can shoot over him without challenge. The Rockets announcers - the game is on NBATV and I am in Portland, Or - question why the Pistons have gone away from a defensive approach that had worked well for them when the subs were in the game. (Mysteriously, on offense, the Pistons only occasionally try to get Ming in a pick and roll on the perimeter. When they try this it is obvious that Yao cannot play more than about 10 feet from the hoop. At least defensively.)

The Pistons get down by at least 19 and the Houston lead hovers around 17 or 19 points for most of the 3rd quarter.

Here is what I don't get. Despite the obvious deficit and the fact that it ain't workin', Saunders does nothing to try to put a line-up on the court that might be more effective. He lets the game unfold, he lets the lead stand, as though he is just waiting for something to gel with his starters. The only sub for the entire quarter is McDyess for Webber.

Why doesn't Saunders go to his bench? Why not go back to the combinations in the second quarter that worked well? Or at least a line-up that did a more effective job than the starters. Try something!

The Pistons are in a stretch where they are playing a bunch of games in a short period of time. This would appear to be the perfect time to utilize a bench as much as possible. Give the starters a bit of rest and let the bench guys build up some confidence. There has been a lot of lip service to developing the bench, looking for spots where he can rest his starters. Instead, Saunders dies with the starters and doesn't give the bench a sniff.

Why? It cannot be to build chemistry. The starters, except for Webber have been together for ages. Will the bench do worse than the starters? 19 points down?

Unfortunately, this is an old pattern with Saunders as a coach. I think this is the reason he had so little success in Minnesota, despite having the best player in the league for a good part of his tenure there.

There doesn't appear to be a reason other than the fact that Saunders looks to his starters as his security blanket. If they lose, with the starters, well, Houston just played a better game. If he goes to his bench and they lose, then his coaching decisions may be questioned.

This writer can guarantee a particular scenario in this year's playoffs.

The Pistons will be having a problem with a team. They will encounter problems and circumstances where an answer appears obvious to most observers. Will he pull the trigger and insert Delfino for his defense or Maxiell for his defense or shotblocking? Will he be bold enough to sit an ineffective starter and play Flip Murray for 35 minutes because he is hot? I do not think so.

No. Saunders will do nothing, except crouch on the sidelines, contort his face and chew his fingernails. The Pistons will struggle and they may or may not pull together for a win. You can bet, however, that his reluctance or refusal to take quick, decisive action during a game will mystify anyone closely examining the team's performance.

I'd be willing to bet that this reluctance will be exactly why the Pistons do not win a championship this year.