Flip Saunders is out as head coach

AUBURN HILLS The team made the announcement Tuesday in a news release with president of basketball operations Joe Dumars saying he feels it is necessary to make a change despite Saunders' successes.

In his three seasons, the Pistons were 176-70 in the regular season and 30-21 in the postseason, but they lost in the conference finals each year.

Saunders had a year left on a four-year deal that he signed in 2005. He replaced Larry Brown, who won a title in two trips to the NBA Finals.