Re: Flip Saunders GONE!
Carlisle couldn't get it done in the postseason, either.
And I thought this was interesting...
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playof...pistons-080603
Carlisle couldn't get it done in the postseason, either.
And I thought this was interesting...
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playof...pistons-080603
Understand, the end for Saunders may have officially come Tuesday, but his days have been numbered since Game 5 of last season's conference finals, when he allowed LeBron James to erupt for 29 of Cleveland's final 30 points.
In that game, Saunders never double-teamed James, wearing his veterans down in the process. The tactic failed so badly that Rasheed Wallace, irate after the loss to the Cavaliers, erupted with a profanity-laced tirade in the locker room, vehemently lamenting Saunders' refusal to place faith in younger players on the squad.
After the Pistons lost that series in the ensuing Game 6, Wallace pulled a reporter to the side and begged for the return of none other than Larry Brown, who all the players profoundly respected and wanted to play for. They understood Brown's return was impossible because Pistons owner Bill Davidson wasn't about to forgive Brown for his reported pursuit of the Cleveland Cavaliers head coaching job while still a member of the Pistons' payroll. Still, that didn't diminish the team's ache for the Hall of Fame coach.
In that game, Saunders never double-teamed James, wearing his veterans down in the process. The tactic failed so badly that Rasheed Wallace, irate after the loss to the Cavaliers, erupted with a profanity-laced tirade in the locker room, vehemently lamenting Saunders' refusal to place faith in younger players on the squad.
After the Pistons lost that series in the ensuing Game 6, Wallace pulled a reporter to the side and begged for the return of none other than Larry Brown, who all the players profoundly respected and wanted to play for. They understood Brown's return was impossible because Pistons owner Bill Davidson wasn't about to forgive Brown for his reported pursuit of the Cleveland Cavaliers head coaching job while still a member of the Pistons' payroll. Still, that didn't diminish the team's ache for the Hall of Fame coach.
What the players couldn't respect was his unwillingness -- despite the prodding of Dumars and several veterans -- to trust younger players such as Jason Maxiell and Amir Johnson because of the toll that it was visibly taking on Wallace, Antonio McDyess and others.
Plus, Saunders wasn't Larry Brown.
"We still love LB," one player said, requesting anonymity. "LB was something special. He knew his stuff but also knew us to a tee.
"I remember one game [Pistons guard Chauncey Billups] put up like 28 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists. He was one assist away from a triple-double, and ecstatic. Then LB walks up to him and says, 'You don't have a clue how to play point guard for me, do you?' [Billups] just bowed his head like a lost puppy.
Plus, Saunders wasn't Larry Brown.
"We still love LB," one player said, requesting anonymity. "LB was something special. He knew his stuff but also knew us to a tee.
"I remember one game [Pistons guard Chauncey Billups] put up like 28 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists. He was one assist away from a triple-double, and ecstatic. Then LB walks up to him and says, 'You don't have a clue how to play point guard for me, do you?' [Billups] just bowed his head like a lost puppy.
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