Yes or no. Comments welcome. Obviously Flip wasn't the only reason they didn't advance and his possible firing isn't the only move Detroit will make. But should they keep him as coach next year? to me IMO, right or wrong, it seems like he is gone.
I agree, hes not the sole reason the Pistons lost but I think its time for a change there. I'll be very suprised if he stuck around for another year.
I really don't think it's on him at all. In my opinion, ever since the Pistons won their championships they've acted like they don't have to play hard to win. They act like they're so much better than the rest of the league that they just have to show up to the games and they'll get another trophy. They have to ship out Wallace and Billups and preferably get players that actually care in return. Anything short of that won't make any difference. Hell, I don't even think Rip and Prince play with the passion they once did. Maybe if they were forced into the leadership role they'd start hustling again. Maybe not.
I've always gotten the impression that the players don't respect Flip. I think if the Pistons are confident they can get Avery Johnson or JVG then yes they should. Otherwise no. I think the Pistons need a new voice but you only fire a coach if you know there is someone out there better or at minimum a lateral move.
it was more rasheed and prince's fault than flip's. they were both MIA for most of the series. tayshaun struggled but at least played hard, rasheed didnt really play with any intesity and the pistons really need that from him.
Yes but I'm not sure he is the problem. Maybe it's age or maybe it's the egos every guy on that team seems to have but something has to change and I don't see a single one of those starters being moved. If you're Joe Dumars you have to change something on that team and we all know the coach is usually the first to go. I think if any player goes that it has to be Prince. He has good value, is relatively young and seems to be the only underachiever in the playoffs on that team. Makes me wonder how the hell Larry "Benedict Arnold" Brown was able to fire those guys up and get 100% from them. Or maybe they got fat and happy after winning one ring.
In his first year, LB's personality was so strong he was able to dominate those guys. Also remember they hadn't won a championship yet. In LB's 2nd year, none of the players wanted to rock the boat on the way to a (hopeful) repeat championship. I'm convinced the only reason they lost to the Spurs was LB's late season distraction with the Cavs. Remember that? Name another time an NBA team was IN a Finals run and their head coach was exposed as having conversations about moving to a division rival. The Pistons players were sick and tired of LB and Coach Psycho knew he had to leave. After he left, the Pistons players (allegedly) were anxious to prove they could win without LB so they could prove it wasn't all about him. Problem was, in his 2 years there, his constant nagging and harping over every little detail pushed them to their limits and got them to 2 Finals. After taking over, Flip couldn't ignite the same fire during the playoffs and they haven't had the same success. If LB had stayed, the Pistons still wouldn't have had the same success because the players were fed up with him. I think your "fat and happy" comment about the Pistons veterans goes too far but you have the right idea. It ain't been the same since.
Rip is the only Piston who showed up for every game this playoffs. Well Billups had an excuse, Sheed and my boy Tayshaud did not.
I'm going to love it next year when Flip is canned, Curry takes over, and the Pistons players actually deign to play hard for more than 80 percent of the season. Then Curry gets all the credit, and possibly a COY award that he wouldn't deserve. You know it's going to happen, because life is about as fair as a pro wrestling match. These guys take entire weeks off. That's not on the coach. It's not Saunders' fault that Ben Wallace stunk balls in Game 6 of 2006, or that Rasheed refused to double team in Game 5 of 2007, or that Rasheed went 2-12 and grabbed five fouls in Game 6 this year. Not his fault Rip Hamilton decides to foul Paul Pierce needlessly with 90 seconds to go. But he'll be canned, and unduly wronged when Curry has this team on top of the East in March of 2009. Life sucks.
But isn't motivating the players part of a coach's job? Why do they take so many games off for Flip yet Curry will get them to play harder (next year or whenever)? You think part of the problem is the 4 main guys need to be broken up? That's what I think.
