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Do we need to pray to the saints to intercede for us? Can't we talk directly to God?

We do not pray to saints. We pray to God and ask the saints to pray and intercede on our behalf. We remember their faith and wonderful deeds and praise their love for God. We also pray for them in the Divine Liturgies and celebrate their feasts on the days they had faithfully overcome their struggles on earth and accomplished their missions. Death was but their departure from this world. The saints, living on earth or reposing in paradise, are like us, awaiting the Second Coming of Christ in His Glory. Samuel, the prophet, said to the people, "Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you" (Samuel 12:23). We can also learn the power of intercession from the story of the the healing of the centurion's servant. This man clearly understood that God had an army of delegates who delighted in carrying out His every command, as his own soldiers and servants did for him:
 
"Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, pleading with Him, saying, 'Lord my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.' And Jesus said to him, 'I will come and heal him.' The centurion answered and said, 'Lord I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. For I am also a man under authority, having soldiers under me. and I say to this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it.' When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, 'Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' Then Jesus said to the centurion, 'Go your way; and as you have believed so let it be done for you.' And his servant was healed from that same hour" (Matthew 8:5-13).