Starting at forward for the Eastern Conference All-Stars?

"I'm leaning toward Vince," Flip Saunders announced last night -- unofficially perhaps, but following it up with an ironclad endorsement.

The Pistons coach came up with numerous reasons to select Vince Carter to replace the injured Jermaine O'Neal in the starting lineup at Houston on Sunday -- starting with the fact that he wants to bring all four of his own players (Ben Wallace, Rasheed Wallace, Chauncey Billups, Rip Hamilton) off the bench at the same time.

Besides, "I think he deserves it," the Pistons coach said of Carter. "He's a guy who's had a great first half of the season. I'm not as concerned with just putting guys in by position -- you know, because O'Neal's a big guy, put a big guy in there."

Carter was delighted by the news.

"Really? No kidding?" he said before last night's Nets-Pistons game at The Palace. "Wow, that's a surprise. That's a big surprise. I think that's great. I've got to go over there and thank him."