Pistons Preview Part II: Flip Saunders possibly the next Joe Torre
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by Oneflydude
The Pistons season gets underway November 1st, so that means its time to share Part II of the 2007, Pistons Preview.
Then came the new head coach, Flip Saunders. In his first year, Flip looked like a genius. He coached the 2005-06 Eastern Conference All Star Team, which also contained four All Stars from the Pistons. By the end of the year, the Pistons finished with best record in the league (64-18). As a number 1 seed in the 05-06 playoffs, Detroit was expected to win it all.
That didn't happen...
They struggled in the second round against the Cleveland Cavaliers, but still managed to beat them in Game 7. After that, they faced the Miami Heat for the Eastern Conference Title, but lost in six games. Over the offseason, they lost C Ben Wallace who was a big factor in the Pistons success. They ended up signing Nazr Mohammed who was no bit of help in the next season. So they went after Chris Webber in the middle of the season who helped the Pistons make the playoffs once again. Unfortunatly, they got the same result as the season before. They lost in the Eastern Conference finals to the Cleveland Cavaliers, who ended up getting swept by the Spurs.
After the Pistons revived their franchise by winning the Championship in 2004, Flip Saunders hasn't brought an NBA Title back to the Pistons franchise. There is no doubt that the Pistons still have the team that can win a title, but do they have the coach?
Joe Torre had a team full of great players, but he hasn't won the World
Series since 2000. George Steinbrenner gave Torre a team that was
capable of winning the World Series every year. If it wasn't for the
Yankees, Torre wouldn't be who he is now. He wasn't crap when he was
managing the New York Mets, the Atlanta Braves or the St. Louis
Cardinals.
Its just the same for Flip Saunders. He may have went 411-326 as the head coach for the Minnesota Timberwolves, but he didn't win a championship. He hasn't even been to the to the NBA Finals as the Pistons head coach. He has a team that is dominant enough to win it every year, but he just hasn't done his job. If the Pistons can’t learn from their past season’s playoff meltdown, it’s time for Joe Dumars to shake things up.
OK, I know what you are thinking...
Maybe Flip Saunders isn't like Joe Torre because he has only been with the Pistons for 3 years.
Maybe Flip Saunders isn't like Joe Torre because he hasn't won as many championships as Torre has.
Maybe Flip Saunders hasn't had 14 consecutive playoff appearences.
Maybe Flip Saunders isn't like Joe Torre because Torre flipped the script on the Yankees by turning down their offer after having his job threatened...
But this isn't the MLB. This is the NBA and if you come to a team that is with equipped with Champions and All Stars, you're expected to bring that team another Championship.
President of operations, Joe Dumars says that Saunders coaching job is safe for now, but don't think that Dumars won't get rid of him if he doesn't get what he wants. Just look at what happened to Rick Carlisle.
Carlisle helped lead the Pistons to their first 50-win season since 1997, and their first playoff series victory since 1991. In the summer of 2002, Dumars upgraded the Pistons' roster by signing Chauncey Billups, acquiring Richard Hamilton and by drafting Tayshaun Prince from Kentucky. The Pistons had another 50-win seasons and went to the 2003 Eastern Conference Finals, for the first time since 1991. There, however, they were swept in four games by the New Jersey Nets.
Despite the rebuilding of the team, Carlisle was fired in the offseason.
Now, the team is already built for Flip Saunders to go to the Finals. There are no excuses that he can make. Sure you can call it harsh if Saunders is fired, but when the Yankees threatened Torre's job even after making the postseason in every year as a Yankee, do you think that was harsh? It doesn't matter who you are. If you have the tools to make a team capable of winning an NBA Title (or the World Series for that matter), you have to come through with that.
How Flip can keep his job...
- He must make it to the NBA Finals
He has to at LEAST make it to the Finals this year. He has to prove to Dumars that he can take this team far, he just needs some time to work with the team.
- He must give the younger players more minutes
Last season, Flip had Amir Johnson and Jason Maxiell see their minutes cut short. They didn't get a lot of playing time and if Flip wants to stay in Detroit, playing the youth is a key to going back to the Finals.
- He must make is team play better defensively
Saunders is known for being an offensive guru, he doesn't put as much emphasis on the defensive side. In the Conference Finals last season, Lebron James crapped all over the defense. Playing the youth will also help out on the defensive side.
- He must improve his chemistry with Rasheed Wallace
Rasheed Wallace is playing a big role in the 2007 season. He is the veteran starter and he will need to bring the energy to the court this year. You see what happened with Ben Wallace in '06. Ben didn't look enthusiastic in the playoffs, and the same could happen with Sheed.
Pistons Beat #2
Oct.31.07
