This isn't all on Flip. Joe fired RC. The Pistons org and LB couldn't get along. JD had Flip lined up as a ringer well in advance.

Riley took a big chance, and brought in a new stable of horses. It took them all season, but they jelled at the same time that Wade has started to ascend.

It was a risky move, but so was trading for Sheed. You can't sit on your hands and expect a different result. That is the definition of insanity.

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Nov 13 LW Milan Lucic had an active night. He scored his first goal in eight games since his Oct. 25 hat trick and also pounded Michael Komisarek in a third-period fight. Lucic cut his hand in a fight with Michael Komisarek. "I'll be fine," he said. "(X-rays are) negative, but there's so many broken bones in there from before you can't really tell."

I am not saying we will lose but if we do lose then you have to look at replacing Flip. He appears to be losing control of the team and the Pistons right now are not a very confident team. Ben Wallace is critisizing him in the press and all players appear to be doubting the team and are confused about what the Pistons currently stand for. "If it ain't ruff it ain't right" is not the ideal viewpoint to have.

Used to be that if the score was close going into the 4th you knew they would at least be right in there to the end. Since game 2 of Clev the Pistons have had problems in the 4th quarter which is a totally new problem plaquing this team. A lot of that has to be on Flip.

yes if the Pistons lose then it will give LB a lot of credit for his 2 seasons here. Then again what if Miami was not banged up in the 05 post-season? The LB era could have eneded in Miami. At least the team would have lost and not apparenly folded like this series is going.

LB is not going to happen. Not after what Davison said about him its just not a realistic possibility. Besides it looks like neither side is blinking in NY and LB appears on his way back for his 2nd season there.

Just curious...what has Flip done this season to earn your respect?

Yea, the Pistons starting getting out-played. Coaching can be questioned at time, but ultimately, the players are responsible for the recent crappy play.

Actually, the only thing worse than the game management (which has been horrible), is the play of the starters excusing Tay and on occasion Rip.

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Nov 13 LW Milan Lucic had an active night. He scored his first goal in eight games since his Oct. 25 hat trick and also pounded Michael Komisarek in a third-period fight. Lucic cut his hand in a fight with Michael Komisarek. "I'll be fine," he said. "(X-rays are) negative, but there's so many broken bones in there from before you can't really tell."

Yeah...the players are responsible for the play...but the coach is responsible for keeping their team head in the game. From day one, I don't think Flip commanded team respect.

Who knew? at the time on the Flip hiring ecept we all read that his post season x's and o's were supsect. But after the big start, nobody cared. game 2 of the cavs series is where something changed...our big 4th quarter lead was shaved down to a 5 point lead and we have not played consistent offense since then.

I heard the Joe interview after the Darko trade and he said "we have enough to get it done, I am not worried" Well Joe...back to the drawing board win or lose this Ring.

how about Chuck Daly with Bill Laimbeer as his lead assistant and protege? With the idea being Bill takes the reigns a couple years out.

I know Chuck is old as dirt, but he's a genius, and he's a PISTON.

Otherwise, it's got to be somebody like the Little General or Nate McMillan. Both are inferior to Chuck D. YEEEEEEEEEEAH BOY!

I think Flip will get another year. But who will go to appease the gods?

Micro, you're right about Riley taking a gamble on Shaq and the other major changes to his team, and the gamble having (apparently) paid off. I think we may also have underestimated the way in which the ending to last year's conference finals gave the Heat (and especially Shaq and Wade) an enormous incentive for payback this year. Assuming the Heat is able to win one more game in this series, how good do you think they are, and how far can they go? Would they be your favorite to win it all?

I run the board (with help) so I'm not supposed to bury the team.

So if we're speaking strictly in hypotheticals, the Heat would be my smart money favorite to win it all.

They're tougher than either west squad, I don't see a bonafide stopper for Wade (or Shaq), and Riley is much more experienced than Johnson or D'Antoni, both of which have already exhausted their bag of tricks.

The thing about coaches like Pop, Phil Jackson, Riley, LB, even maybe Adelman is that they have a lot of experience to draw on. You can't really buy a coach like that. It's probably more valuable than a good 6th man in the playoffs.

That said, I'm pulling for the Suns if the Pistons succumb to the Heat (pun intended). I just like the way Steve Nash plays, and Boris Diaw is pretty cool too. I don't think Tim Thomas is good enough to put them over the top, but if they had Amare, they would be waiting for the Finals to start right now.

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Nov 13 LW Milan Lucic had an active night. He scored his first goal in eight games since his Oct. 25 hat trick and also pounded Michael Komisarek in a third-period fight. Lucic cut his hand in a fight with Michael Komisarek. "I'll be fine," he said. "(X-rays are) negative, but there's so many broken bones in there from before you can't really tell."