Drew's quick take: Flip Saunders safe, barring collapse

By DREW SHARP • March 30, 2008

There are national rumblings that Flip Saunders is under a NBA Finals-or-else ultimatum this spring. But that's unlikely if Pistons president Joe Dumars still believes the veteran core of this team still has another season of serious championship contention within it regardless of these playoffs.

If you dump Flip, who's his replacement?

It has to be a veteran coach if the core remains intact, and there aren't any fitting that prerequisite on the unemployment line right now.

Flip's safe unless there's an unquestionable collapse in the second round of the playoffs.
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080330/SPORTS03/80330007/1051


Flip Saunders, who brings his Detroit Pistons to Target Center on Tuesday night to play the Timberwolves, is still considered a future Gophers coach after Tubby Smith decides he's had enough at Minnesota.
http://www.twincities.com/walters/ci_8743292

Interesting. A somewhat positive article from the always pessimistic Drew Sharp...

so who do you think is a significant upgrade to Flip and could be available any time soon?

edit: maybe Avery? Mavs could fire him if they don't get into the playoffs or lose in the first round?

Agreed. I mentioned the idea of it in another thread not too long ago. He's the only guy I can think of that would replace Flip and be an upgrade that may actually be available. What about Van Gundy. I don't know how good he really was before he ended up in the broadcast booth.

No way! I want Van Gundy in the booth! Even if I like him as a coach as well.

The obvious answer is Tom Izzo.

Guys I would consider:

Avery Johnson- defensive minded, he does run lots of different sets, kind of like Carlisle did when he was here, but I think he wouldn't have trouble getting ahold of the players focus...

Mike Woodson- I know for fact that the players here love Woodson, I've seen the Hawks at the Palace 3 times in the last 2 years and you wouldn't believe how much love they give Mike before/after the games, he has been here and comes from the LB coaching tree, I wouldn't judge him on his results in Atlanta, b/c that franchise is always going to be a trainwreck...

Terry Porter- At the very least he deserves an interview, he didn't get much of a fair chance in Milwaukee, he's pretty young, and perhaps the time he's served as an assistant could've helped him grow into his next jig...

Larry Brown- I wish.

Guys I Wouldn't Want

Jeff Van Gundy
anybody who has worked under Mike D'Antoni
Zeke
Dave Cowens
Paul Silas- what the hell ever happened to him?
Garfield Heard

If Flip does get canned, I doubt anyone from the current staff would get a sniff.

I think the pot will be poisoned.

I agree on Woodson, I think he left on very good terms.

If Flip does get canned, I doubt anyone from the current staff would get a sniff.

I think the pot will be poisoned.


I bet Kokoskov would keep his job, that degree from Belgrade University is worth something to this organziation...

If Flip got canned, I think it would be because the players don't respect him more than anything.

Keep Van Gundy in the booth, like I said. Breen is terrific and Van Gundy is great alongside him.

I'm actually only watching the boring ass Rockets-Spurs game because of them.

If Flip got canned, I think it would be because the players don't respect him more than anything.


Which I think is a cop-out, having respect for your coach is more of a reflection of the players attitudes than it is the coach himself...

Not having respect for Flip isn't a reason why we lose a series...players want to win, coaches want to win...regardless of who is coaching/playing for them

Yes, you should respect your coach, and if you don't then it's on you.

We know Sheed doesn't, and you can bet that there are others, too.

Just because you don't respect the coach doesn't mean that you don't want to win, it might just mean that you think he's a dumbass and you are smarter, so you don't follow the play that is called, etc.

Glenn is so MoTown right now.

Just because you don't respect the coach doesn't mean that you don't want to win, it might just mean that you think he's a dumbass and you are smarter, so you don't follow the play that is called, etc.


Your right, I just think it's a bit blown over proportion, I don't doubt that the players don't "buy" into Flip as much as they did to a guy like Larry, but I also don't think that even if that's true, it hinders their play on the court to an extent where it becomes the difference of winning or losing.


Now if Flip had a losing record or we were hovering around .500 and had the same situation, than you have a legit problem, but I think since the results have been there, it's just a bit merky to me as to how how much or how little they respect/disrespect Flipper...

I bet Kokoskov would keep his job, that degree from Belgrade University is worth something to this organziation...
He's made it through a few coaching changes now, no?

He's made it through a few coaching changes now, no?


Somehow, wasn't he like Darko's special coach or something? If thats the case than I don't know how he's kept his job.

Well, Kareem couldn't help Kwame...

We had him before we drafter Darko, I thought. They were just from the same area so we had him work specifically with Darko.

Well, Kareem couldn't help Kwame...


And now they are both Marc Iavaroni's problems...

Don't forget Jason Collins!

Carlisles staff- Kevin O'Neill, i cant think of anybody else who was on that staff

Larry's staff- Hanners, Woodson, Herb Brown, Gar Heard, Kokoskov

Flip's staff- Sid Lowe, Porter, Cowens, Ron Harper, Curry, Kokoskov, Kevin Wilson

Wilson and Harper are gone now, Sid Lowe coaches N.C. State

all had Arnie; all had Abednour

Don't forget Jason Collins!

man, that front court has a whole lot of potential, but a whole lot of nothing else...

Yeah, I agree.