There are two critical differencies,

Using the players you have: A large edge goes to LB, especially where RIP is concerned. I only want to see RIP traded because I know Flip will never use him right, and if he doesn't, we're better off without him. RIP is a catch and shoot player. Whenever he has to put the ball on the floor, tunovers are likely to ensue. As the old saying goes, in a battle between an alligator an a bear, the winner is determined by the terrain. Rip's terrain isn't dribbling.

Game Theory: This is the BIGGEST difference. Flip comes from the school where you believe that you have to out execute your opponent. Believing this, he focuses on precise timing and making plays.

Unfortunately, executing plays, while necessary, is not sufficient. LB not only demanded execution, he recognized that he was also playing a game of chess. You also have to out think your opponent, lay traps for the opponent, and spring those traps at game critical times.

The only problem with Flip, is that he never learned how to play chess, which is why his teams need overwhelming fire power to even contend. Unfortunately, he is who he is, which puts the pressure on the players to not only execute, but somehow see the bigger game picture, which never works.

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Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. — Arthur C. Clarke

When you say "plays chess" and "sets them up" what do you mean?

I agree on all counts Oracle.

Rip is not a ball handler. He is a catch and shooter, not a penetrator, not a finisher, and certainly not a gut that creates his own shot off the dribble. For the life of me, I don't understand that everyone else on the planet can see that, but Flip can't.

Which leads right into the other point about LB and the chess analogy. He was always thinking, strategizing, planning his next move. He made in-game adjustments, he maximized his rotations and match-ups, he played to his strengths, he killed the other team's momentum (through his use of timeouts and followed by his trademark guaranteed points coming out of the timeout).

Flip does NONE of this.

He doesn't make in-game adjustments, he doesn't maximize his rotations or match-ups, he doesn't play to his strengths, he doesn't effectively use his timeouts and his play calls out of a timeout are horrible.

As far as I'm concerned, there were 2 major problems with LB.

1. Because he can be so tough on his players (especially young guys) and because he's such a perfectionist, after a while (especially if things aren't going well) his players can start to tune him out. It's a case of diminishing returns with LB.

2. His Ego. He needs to be the centre of attention all the time. He has to feel "wanted" and needs constant praise. Otherwise, he becomes a distraction.

Probably not all together coincidentally, Flip is the exact opposite. He isn't tough on his players and he doesn't have an ego (infact, I'd say that he's the opposite, a bit too scared, timid, twitchy).

So in conclusion, I think that we got the most we could out of LB while we could and then the organization panicked and chose someone that was the polar opposite to LB when they hired Twitch Saunders, when what they should have done IMO, was found someone that was as close to LB as they could get without the Ego.

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This is exactly what I was saying in Dolphin's first season here when he just abandoned going inside at all costs, using the excuse that with Ben Wallace on the floor, teams would double Sheed relentlessly thus eliminating opportunities to score in the post.

What LB did magnificently was use this theory AGAINST the opposing team, by tricking opposing teams into doubling Sheed (as a decoy) and then using Chauncey, Rip, and Tayshaun (as finally Ben) as off the ball cutters to the front of the rim resulting in endless easy buckets.

That's all gone now.

What gets me is that people refer to LB as defensive minded coach vis a vis Flip. His offense was 1000 times more effective than this clown.

I must admit though that I love watching this team come out of a timeout, pass the ball without a purpose and fire up at least a 22' J that has about a 5-10% chance of going in. The regular season is but a prelude for the playoffs. This is especially true for this squad. When, and I don't think it is an if at this point, this team goes down this is how it will look.

LB's teams:
In 2004, Pistons scored 90.1 ppg
In 2005, Pistons scored 93.3 ppg

Flip's teams:
In 2006, Pistons scored 96.8 ppg
In 2007, Pistons scored 96.0 ppg
So far this year, Pistons are scoring 99.2 ppg


How is scoring much fewer points "1000 times more effective"?

That's an easy answer. All you have to do is list the end result of the season.

LB's teams:
In 2004, Pistons scored 90.1 ppg - (NBA Title)
In 2005, Pistons scored 93.3 ppg - (NBA Finals)

Flip's teams:
In 2006, Pistons scored 96.8 ppg - (Lost in ECF to a MIA team they could have beaten)
In 2007, Pistons scored 96.0 ppg (Lost in ECF to a CLE team they should have beaten)
So far this year, Pistons are scoring 99.2 ppg - (Nothing so far from this team that leads me to believe they are headed for a title)

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LB's offense did produce some awful dry spells. In fact the ugliest game I can think of that typifies this: The 69-65 win against the Pacers in the 2004 EC Finals. Pure ugliness and Indy was never the same.

LB's coaching wore thin at times because of his intensity but Flip wears thin at times too..particularly with Rasheed. But LB coached for success in the playoffs...throw out all the regular season stats unless you consider the regular season important for some reason.

I agree Oracle...LB was a far superior coach.

I was just responding to the point about offensive efficiency, not about who is the better coach.

Not with the current coach. As big a pain in the azz as LB was, the guy was a WINNER. I'm glad he's gone but was never glad with who Joe D brought in.

And what about our assistant coaches? Lots of NBA experience there. Do they have any influence over the Offensive Genuis?