I didn't take it to mean that Flip was going to let the players do whatever they pleased or that he wouldn't challenge them and stay on them to try something new or a bit different. I think he just meant that certain players are not able to do particular things well or perhaps do certain things in a particular manner.

If I remember correctly, he was referring to playing Darko in the post or something. I think Flip said he would like him there in situations where he could utilize Darko's speed and movement to keep the defender at a disadvantage, but not have Darko play there all the time or try to change his game totally. That would mess him up more than benefit him or the team.

I think Flip is flexible and that could be a big positive. He isn't the type to say "do this and do it like this and only when I say or go sit on the bench". Why force a player into a situation where he will fail? I think Flip's ego is in check and he doesn't need to use that "my way or the highway " mentality. He utilizes players strengths and helps them develop them further.

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"Quite simply captain, I examined the problem from all angles, and it was plainly hopeless. Logic informed me that under the circumstances, the only logical action would have to be one of desperation. Logical decision, logically arrived at." -- Spock

Overall I think he did alright with his answers.Not knowing much of Flip or how he coaches it was interesting to hear his points.But like you guys touched on not making them do something they aren't comfortable with and pushing them I don't know that is a good philosiphy.Unless he is extremely good at over using what everyones comfortable doing.

I don't know if I'm nervous or excited about this season I can't wait for it to get rollin.The bottom line is another ship though and he better know it.

I still don't have that warm & fuzzy feeling yet.

Coming off LB, Flip seems so breezy. I remain very concerned about that.

He sounds like RC in regards to Ben's offense. I'm no genius, but I seem to recall Ben distancing himself from RC because of this. Could it cause a rift between Ben and Flip? This could be bad news.

Also, Rasheed is going to take a record number of three-pointers this season. Why wouldn't he? Flip doesn't sound like he cares. "As long as you're open and you can shoot the three."

I dunno. I guess I should wait for him to get to know the team before I make any judgments. But it seems like he knows so little about the Pistons. He doesn't say Tayshaun's name correctly. Talking about Ben's strengths - I don't fully remember what he said - but I remember feeling like it was a very weak analysis. When Wojo asked him if there would be an adjustment going from a team that revolved around a superstar to a team without a superstar, Flip seemed to miss the point of the question all together, which worries me big time.

Because this guy's a Western Conference guy with a Western Conference mentality. There exists very little proof that he's capable of coaching the gritty and gruesome style of basketball we've come to love and expect in the Eastern Conference. He says he intends to make our defense even better...but he says he's gonna do that with Zone. WTF? Zone is for nancies, generally speaking. It's a lazy defense for lazy defenders. Keeping the D unpredictable is okay with me, and using zone occasionally doesn't sound terrible. But I pray we stick with the brutal man-to-man scheme we're used to seeing. Does Flip understand why that's so important though? I don't get the impression he does.

I'm just deeply afraid that Flip was not the best choice for this job. I think we'll continue to be highly competitive...but.

BUT Larry Brown was a near perfect fit for this group of players and this environment, and without him (or someone in his mold) the Pistons are facing an even greater challenge to snatch the crown away from San An.

I guess what I'm saying is, in my book, and fair or not, Flip is guilty until proven innocent. My gut tells me this season will be fun, but that we will lose somewhere in the middle-to-late playoffs. Probability says you can't beat Indiana every year.

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE, I did like when Flip said he'd like to keep things more unpredictable, especially on offense. Fewer isolations will be great.

One thing that was kind of funny...he seemed to struggle a bit at times with the "we/they" distinctions when discussing the Wolves or Pistons.

See that's the thing that worries me a little. The last guy (Coach YKW) was big on pushing hard and demanding play to his style. Last time I checked, it worked pretty good.

Your players can't fail if you are there to teach and guide them. Can you imagine if we stopped making kids do math because they had a tough time with it? Yeah, the kids not good at math so I won't work with him on it or ask him to do it. Extreme example, I know but you get my point.

Like I said, I don't care if we start Acker, Dupree, Evans, Maxiell and Darko, I just want to win. But some of that stuff was a little unnerving to hear. I'm an ECF guy. I like smash mouth basketball because that is what it takes to be a contender in this conference.

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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."

Hmmm.... How can I say this delicately.

I couldn't disagree more. If LB was the perfect fit for this team and they were so disciplined under him, then why did Sheed come into camp OVERWEIGHT last year. Was he afraid that LB would bench him, or keep him in line? Obviously since he was coming into camp out of shape, he had no fear of losing PT. LB didn't do anyting to Sheed. LB had alot of flaws but apparently most people are either in the LB camp or glad to see him gone.

LB wasn't perfect. He didn't get along with all players and he didn't get the most out of all his players. He just didn't relate to all players on the roster. It's rare for a coach to be liked by everyone and be successful but it sounds as if Flip plans on looking at everyone's games and seeing how they best fit into an offensive scheme.

I'm fairly optimistic that we will reach the FINALS and win the title, but I'm a huge believer in our young guys on the bench too. I may be drinking kool-aid but it sure tastes good.

GO PISTONS !!!!

Yeah but he did win more than any other coach from the East since Phil Jackson. It's not the coach's job to relate or be friends. It's his job to win. That is how Flip will be judged.

I guaransheed that this forum will be an anti-Flip nuthouse if we don't at least make the ECF and compete deep into the series.

Let's hope he does well and it never comes to that. No need to dump on the last coach. The dude was here for the 2 Finals runs and that's a more impressive resume than any Piston coach except Daddy Rich.

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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."

Well, actually your players CAN fail if you are there to teach and guide them. It all depends on whether you actually do teach and guide them and the manner in which you do so.

Also, I know what you are saying about the math, but take that same kid. He is a lefty. You tell him to do it with his right hand because that's the way you are comfortable with and that's the "right way" (no pun intended) to do it. The kid has always written with his left hand, and is so focused on worrying about his writing that he gets all of the problems wrong...plus his penmanship stinks even worse.

Sometimes a teacher needs to know when to adapt.

Will Flip strike the proper balance with the team we all love ? I think so, but that remains to be seen.

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"Quite simply captain, I examined the problem from all angles, and it was plainly hopeless. Logic informed me that under the circumstances, the only logical action would have to be one of desperation. Logical decision, logically arrived at." -- Spock

You're overlooking all of the things Larry Brown did well. I don't know what else to say.

You know, I read this originally as "your players can't fail if you don't try to teach them". I know that's not what you meant, it's indicative of how tired I am.

I'm talking about skills based learning, not biological imperative but I see your point.

That definitely was not LB. I am warming to the idea we needed a "new" coach, I'm just not feeling super good after listening to the interview today. Maybe I am expecting too much. I am trying to give Flip the benefit of the doubt. After all, Mariucci almost sounds like he knows what he is doing and that guy is a clown.

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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."