Two of Saunders' best subjects, Billups and Cassell, set to square off

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – An old point guard himself, Flip Saunders designed an offense that consolidates power in the hands of the player manning the position. It comes with equal parts freedom and responsibility. Properly manned, a Saunders point guard will put up big numbers. But it helps to have the right guy running the show. Two of the best Saunders has ever had will square off Monday night at The Palace of Auburn Hills when Chauncey Billups meets Sam Cassell.

They might have met on a much bigger stage three seasons ago if not for a hip injury Sam Cassell suffered that might have changed the course of two franchises – the Minnesota Timberwolves Saunders was coaching at the time, and the Pistons, who won the 2004 NBA title when the Timberwolves, playing without both Cassell and backup point guard Troy Hudson, lost in six games to the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference finals.

With Sam Cassell limited by surgery the following season and upset about his contract status, Minnesota got off to a rocky start and Saunders was fired midway through the season. Sam Cassell became something of a lightning rod in Minnesota, but Saunders absolves him of any blame for his firing.

“He got blamed for a lot of things,” Saunders said Sunday after practice with his Pistons on a six-game winning streak. “That was the farthest from the truth. Sam just wasn’t healthy. He had major surgery on his hip. Sam’s not quick to start with. When he loses any quickness, he’s really behind the eight ball.”

Cassell is in his 14th season and with his sixth franchise, but wherever he’s gone he’s been both a tremendous competitor and a fearless operator in pressure situations, dating to his early days with Houston when he helped put the Rockets over the top as they won championships in his first two seasons.

Saunders sees plenty of similarities between the two – and a difference or two.

“What they share is their ability to want to take games over in the fourth quarter,” Saunders said. “Sam maybe even more so than Chauncey. Chauncey will defer to other players; Sam never will. If there are five guys on the floor, Sam is going to shoot it no matter who else he’s worth. He says he feels there’s a better chance of him making the shot than anybody else. That’s his confidence level. Chauncey will defer and pass to Rip (Hamilton) or somebody else and let them make the play. Sam’s got that confidence he’ll make it – and most of the time, he does.”

“I love playing against Sam,” Billups said. “He’s one of my favorite players. His enthusiasm … you’ve got to play him honest all the time. He can get 30-something on you on any given night. Sam’s got one thing on his mind – he’s trying to score that ball. And he’s trying to win.”

Sam Cassell, 37, has missed 11 games this season and has been coming off the bench for Mike Dunleavy’s Clippers as they try to speed the learning curve of third-year point guard Shaun Livingston, who bypassed Duke and went to the NBA directly from high school. The 6-foot-7 Livingston has star potential – the Clippers turned down the chance to get Allen Iverson when the 76ers insisted he be included in the deal – but it’s still Cassell the Clippers ride in the fourth quarter.

“I loved coaching him,” Saunders said. “He’s a great competitor. To be able to do what he’s doing at his age and still be productive, that says something for him. Sam just loves the game. When I had (Toronto coach) Sam Mitchell, I said he would be a coach. When I had (Pistons assistant and former Milwaukee coach) Terry Porter as a player I said he would be a coach. And if Sam wants that, he’ll be a coach. He’s got a great personality, he’s not afraid to challenge players on the floor, he’s a great competitor and he really does understand the game.”

As of Sunday afternoon, Saunders said the Pistons had not yet been in contact with NBA offices to appeal the technical foul assessed to Rasheed Wallace during the fourth quarter of Saturday night’s win over Toronto.

Antonio McDyess, held to two points Saturday as he continues to be limited by tender ribs, will play in the two games left before the All-Star break, Saunders said. “He doesn’t want to sit,” Saunders said. “A player doesn’t want to sit, you don’t want to do something they’re not comfortable doing.”

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