BTW Low, IMO Flip's neck should be on the line if this team does not get to the Finals.

On that, sir, we agree. He has a "red carpet" of sorts, because while I didn't expect the Bulls to make it easy, we have slacked this series and it should be over and there's no reason for us to lose to CLE.

I only differ with you on minor points. They played up and down with LB, but during the regular season. But, once the playoffs started, they put the peddle down and really only lost games when teams played that much better than them. You didn't get the feeling that, say, Billups took the 1st half off because LB wouldn't allow it. That's why these guys would tire of LB chewing their ears. When he didn't get the effort, he would pound these guys for it. In response, they would slack less often because they got sick of hearing about it (with the exception of Memo and Darko).

Yes, you are right, Billups and/or any players that slack deserve blame. My biggest gripe is with Flip because if you KNOW the players will do it, you have a responsibility as coach to either, 1) Rip them a new one, 2) Bench them when they do it, or 3) admit you don't have the stones to hold your players to a high standard of effort or performance.

You can't coach effort, but when you are not getting it, you are obligated to react. You cannot, as coach, just throw up your arms and say how these guys have to bring the appropriate effort. There HAS to be some form of consequence or alternative approach if you are not getting the effort. Flip fails far too often in this regard. He is content to just shrug and tell you that he can do nothing if the players don't bring the energy.

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You gotta admit Game 5 was just a pathetic display by the team. The lack of energy on defense was really disturbing in a playoff game.

Flip should have started benching them in the regular season, unfortunately the overall bench has not been used enough on a consistent basis for them to give the starters a breather on a nightly basis or be a legitimate threat. That part is largely on the coach and to an extent on the available proven talent. With the current bench you don't what to expect in terms of overall productivity and scoring.They can put 25 pts as easily as 5.

I believe that they tried harder during that playoff season not because of LB, but because they hadn't won anything yet. Their collective mentality wanted to prove to the world they were championship material. Memo and Darko didn't buy into this mentality because they were "outsiders" to the core group of players. Their talents were respected by the core group, but they were on the outside. That's why they're both gone.

I prefer Flip's option 4: Panic only when they face a must win game.
Gotta trust the stars that got you there. Keep coaching the details, but trust the players will come through tonight...........

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"Like in many situations, though, maybe some people don't understand the job you've done until you're gone," Flip Saunders

Thanx Nemo for stayng postitive and I find it really hard to believe that we'll lose the series let alone tonite. I really do believe we will come out like monsters tonite. LETS GET R DONE.

It was definitely pathetic. I was just as upset with the players as the coach.

This is one of the things I think Cola was too rigid on, he wouldn't rely on the bench under any circumstance. I'm not saying LB relied heavily on the bench, but he got major production out of them over the 03/04 reg. season and wouldn't hesitate to yank Rip or Chauncey if they looked like they were fooling around out there. True, this should have been addressed early in the season...it's a little late now.

Uhm... Alternatorz?

That's cool. Lotsa blame to go around.

I'm pretty impressed that this Sour Note has taken off so well. Long overdue respect for the author of an underrated article series.

Yeah man, but you remember all the battles between Cola and Barry with RC %%%%%ing about all the quick shots and not running the offense. Remember Barry getting ready to sign with Indy until he learned that Cola would be taking over?