miami_fan
05-22-2006, 05:30 AM
Pretty simple. Pat Riley blew up a team that was arguably minutes away from winning Game 7 last year. He then IMO set the stage for his own return to the bench. I feel like if this team does not win the conference finals, the season is a failure and Riley gets the lion's share of the blame.
On the other hand, Detroit had been preordained as the preseason conference champions and by most accounts the NBA champions. They are essentially the same team that won the championship in 2004 and was arguably minutes away from winning the title last year. The only change? Flip Saunders. If the Pistons lose, then Flip Saunders goes from a good coach to an average coach in a heartbeat.
On the other hand, Detroit had been preordained as the preseason conference champions and by most accounts the NBA champions. They are essentially the same team that won the championship in 2004 and was arguably minutes away from winning the title last year. The only change? Flip Saunders. If the Pistons lose, then Flip Saunders goes from a good coach to an average coach in a heartbeat.