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Originally Posted by roscoe36  The other issue is the disconnect between coach Flip Saunders and arguably the most talented Piston, Rasheed Wallace. It’s no secret that Sheed has not been happy of late. Unhappy enough to be late to practice and get benched for it. These sorts of things don’t happen in Detroit and they cannot happen to Sheed if the team expects to develop the cohesion necessary to compete for another NBA title . . .
Yet the Pistons will try to make some moves that will increase the big-name factor with the hope that Wallace will not have to bear the burdens of leadership or production himself. This was never a problem under Larry Brown, and it isn’t a problem with coaches like Pat Riley or Phil Jackson. They have the ego, savoir-faire, and dominating presence to lead a group of strong willed players. The ability to convince their team that the job is not yet done until greatness is achieved. . . .
So when the Pistons talk about adding Webber, Wells and Peterson are they compensating for the lack of intangibles from their own head coach or insulating Rasheed Wallace from unhappiness? I’d say a little of both. But without addressing the root problems of chemistry and leadership on this team, no amount of talent will set things right.
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Roscoe, you have hit the nail on the head. Sheed has enormous talent, but he is a "head case," and is a very difficult player to manage. Larry Brown was able to keep him happy and to get the most out of him, and Riley and Jackson probably could as well. Flip is not even in the same league in his ability to manage players as those coaches. Without Sheed playing at his highest level, I think the Pistons are doomed in the playoffs. And as long as Flip remains the coach, I think Sheed will continue to underperform.