Saunders deserves credit - Page 3 - Detroit Pistons Fan Community

The Low · #21 (**permalink**) 05-13-2008, 05:08 PM

Sorry...no dice. I love the suggestion that he should get credit for making them "fun to watch," but actually not winning anything.

I'll take 17th place and a title any day.

TaShawn · #22 (**permalink**) 05-13-2008, 10:29 PM

I just like Flip because he is a nice man.

Classy press conference by him. Mentioning Dice's G-Ma's death and almost tearing up himself. Then he made sure to give credit to Bill Davidson, Joe D, Stuckey, and many others as he reflected on the organization and the game.

He's pressing 90% of the right buttons so far this post season. The team is playing extremely hard and smart.

max · #23 (**permalink**) 05-13-2008, 10:43 PM

Flip has coached a great series; however, it still does remain that he has never gotten past the 10th square on our playoff win count meter. Will this be the year we can mark off #16? I sure hope so, and I don't think anyone is being realistic if they say it can't happen. It can.

Darth Tater · #24 (**permalink**) 05-14-2008, 09:34 AM

How about we give Dumars the credit? GREAT article, IMO.

Pistons' brightest star might be their GM - NBA - Yahoo! Sports

Nemo · #25 (**permalink**) 05-14-2008, 09:44 AM

"Dumars’ best attribute may just be that empathy. He sees qualities in people others miss."

I like this quote. This is why Flip is our coach and why Joe will sign him to another contract. Many of us here miss the good qualities of Flip Saunders that Joe sees.......

BallDon'tLie · #26 (**permalink**) 05-14-2008, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nemo

"Dumars’ best attribute may just be that empathy. He sees qualities in people others miss."

I like this quote. This is why Flip is our coach and why Joe will sign him to another contract. Many of us here miss the good qualities of Flip Saunders that Joe sees.......

I guess I fall into the catagory of "others" who miss Flip's qualities.

In the interest of giving credit where credit is due though; Overall, I thought that Flip had a good game last night.
...Props to Flip

Ernie the Slow Adult · #27 (**permalink**) 05-14-2008, 06:03 PM

Did anyone else hear Van Gundy's press conference last night? He was talking about how the Pistons had success by putting a smaller guy on Lewis. He said something like, 'We were kind of waiting around for them to do that because it was obvious after the second game that none of their bigs could stay with him.'

It only took Flip another game and 3/4ths to realize that!

mikhail1973 · #28 (**permalink**) 05-14-2008, 06:56 PM

This big debate of who deserves the credit. What buttons had Flipped pushed? The rotation is down to pretty much starting 5 + Stuckey and J-Max. I guess the big question is whether Flip got his guys to play harder or has it been Joe's influence, or possibly the players took it upon themselves to try to stop coasting and try to win it. That's the dilemma.
I also have to agree that Flip has a history of being able to get to the conference finals. What he does there is a big question mark that he's gotta answer.

Lee356 · #29 (**permalink**) 05-14-2008, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pass99

Good article, especially:

Under Saunders, the Pistons have been fourth and sixth (two times) in the NBA in offensive efficiency while retaining their edge on the other end of the floor, ranking fifth, seventh, and fourth over the past three years in defensive efficiency.

Those midrange jumpers are the direct result of some deadly comebacks whereas:

RIP gets free off of multiple screens and isolations.
Tay gets to back down his side with isolations.
Dyess finds some freedom with his 15 ft shots.
Billups continues to drive (as long as he gets fouled)
Sheed backs down his man for a 15 ft. shot.
JMax opens the paint by hitting 15 ft. shots.
Stuckey hits the mid ranges and should stay away (this year) from getting to the rim where he can't finish or get fouled.

All-in-all, when the Pistons stay the mid-range game, they are accurate, have bodies near the rebounding area, contest the free rebounds (which makes the wings play honest defense) and slows the flow of the opposing team when they would rather run after long and uncontested rebounds.

Interesting post. But

1) Rip was 0-11 on his midrange game last night. This is the playoffs. The opposing team finds ways to neutralize things.

2) Tay was 4-17. Same comment.

3) Sheed found lots of freedom, and used it to brick 6 triple tries. Dyess did have a rare good shooting game though in this one.

4) No Billups

5) Actually, Sheed does back down his man, but then fades back to a fifteen footer. No complaints though as he hits them a lot.

6) JMAX, being demoted to the bench again, is not getting enough in-game shots to keep that 15 footer going.

7) The absolute most effective part of Stuckey's game is him driving in to the basket, and picking up fouls. Save for 4 points, Stuck scored 11, driving to the basket, and either making his layups or getting fouled and making his free throws.

Lee356 · #30 (**permalink**) 05-14-2008, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BallDon'tLie

I look at Flip' Xs and Os and I don't see much of a problem. Strategically, I think that Flip is one of the brighter minds in the league (except coming out of time-outs). I think that Flip's strengths lye in the overall design of an offense/defense, watching film, etc.

An NBA head coach needs to be a leader of men though and Flip is seriously deficient in that area. He doesn't have the respect of his players. Most of the time, they don't appear to have confidence in him at all. They always seem to have that look of a team that is "pretending to listen" to their coach. They tune him out!

Another area of concern with Flipper is that IMO he's not a good "game coach". Adjustments, on-the-fly play design, and substitutions/rotations are major weak points with this guy. Some of the things he does (or doesn't do) during games boggles my mind and aren't indicative of an NBA level leadership.

I have high standards for Flip. The Pistons have a championship level roster and I expect championship level coaching to go along with that.

Flip Saunders would make a GREAT top-level assistant!

...Of course I root for the guy each and every game to turn over a new leaf. If he brings home the Larry O'Brien this year I'll ~~eat my words~~ deny ever making this post!

Problem number one, he hates rookies / young players. He hates to play them. So what can he do if his starting unit starts a game off ignoring his wishes and never goes inside, constantly triggers fast breaks for the other team by taking ill advised long shots? Thats right. The vets playing time is sacred, for of course, the alternative is playing a young player, which would just about kill Flip. So the starting unit digs itself a hole, game after game, pretty much like Ground Hog Day. Playing the wrong way. Mind you, there have been games where the Pistons start a game off right, but it is a very rare occurrance. To be a good coach, Flip has to be willing to sit anyone not playing right, and have a bit of a talk to that player before that player reenters the game.