Yeah I actually remmeber quite abit of RIP not looking happy being taken out of games last season, he better get used to it because like the article said its gonna be much of the same this season, although I think Rip plaing abit at the 3 spot will get his minutes.

It is a little annoying to hear Rip (and Sheed) bag on Flip. However, Rip did also say he wants to move on and focus on this team with MC as the coach. I always think you should be able to put forth the same amount of profesionalism and effort no matter who the coach is, but that just isn’t the way it always works.

The good news is that IF Curry can hold them more accountable and demand more from the players then we have a chance to be a better team then last year.

Basketball is a running game just like soccer. In soccer there are only 3 subs allowed at the top level and you see top players subbed out ALL THE TIME with like 15 minuts left in a 90 minute game because they are gassed. Very few fans question it and the player who leaves the match is usually given an ovation by the fans. The implication is give me 100% for as long as you’ve got it and if you burn everything in your tank, you come off. Basketball should be like soccer crossed with boxing. Three minute round, rest. Three minute round, rest. Go until you can’t go full speed. Rest. Repeat.

Look at these world record times in mens’s track.

400 M – 43.18
1500 M – 48.75 (x 3.75)
5000 M – 61.61 (x 12.5)

Longer minutes = lower physical performance.

The simplest, easist way for a deep teams to exploit their depth is to play more intense basketball and shorten up the minutes. That means the less deep opposition has NO CHANCE to match the intensity. It’s great to have depth for matchups and in case of injury but the best use of depth is to run the other team off the court. You do that with 9 guys playing short minutes, not playing 5 guys 35 minutes a game.

I see the temptation, and that temptation is, “wwwwweelllll, we got Carlisle, Brown, and Saunders fired.”

hahahaha

this is the man that 90% of me told me I was stupid for wanting to trade

what an asshat

Here’s to hoping Rodney Stuckey develops a sick perimeter game that allows Joe D to deal this joke

90% of you*

my bad

Did anyone not know that Flip’s players didn’t respect him? Going public with this isn’t much of a shock, but Sheed and Rip should have been bigger than that.

What’s more shocking to me is Rasheed EMPHATICALLY saying that Kwame’s a baller (if anyone remembers he said Darko could play too.) He makes some reference to expectations and Kwame’s teams running their offense through him. Ya, I forgot how the Lakers “ran the offense through Kwame” over Fischer, Odom, Bynum, or Kobe ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5-A8Ao47nU .) I’ll be ECSTATIC if KB gets Nazr Mohammad numbers.

@Boney:
Where you been, brother?

I hate to say I’m in that 90%, even though we’re on the same (tag) team. I’m proud to have that guy wearing our colors, and I’m hoping that in this season any weaknesses you feel about him won’t be able to hide in the light of a new coach with a heavy mandate.

Rip was apparently frustrated b/c “everyone wasn’t held accountable” according to Curry which i can totally see. Say what you want about Rip, but for the most he always plays hard.

I don’t know… I never thought the main squad liked Flip too much. I mean, I think they were mature enough to just go with the flow, but the energy just seemed sketchy.

So, so easy to blame the guy that’s gone for all the ills that plagued the Pistons last year.

Hey, when nothing else changes (players), you need a reason to be optimistic. Although I thought this last year, this should be the year that the players catch the blame for their shortcomings (or successes). When LB left, it was like, “now we can prove that it was the players that won the title, not LB”. And now, it’s “well, now that Flip’s gone, we can get back to playing detroit basketball”. Let’s see if Joe actually holds players accountable this year.

What!?! There’s another DaveJ here. 2 DaveJ’s on 1 forum is 1 too many. I’ll take the lead on this one and change my name.

Some of these guys need to go. The existing team is better than most and Rip is a good “character guy,” but this pattern of coach scapegoating seems rooted in the group. It is very hard to see them going all the way until that weakness is broken up.

I think it’s not professional to rip (no pun intended) on someone when they aren’t there to defend themselves. But I also understand biting your tongue at various times for the sake of harmony. And given their reg season record last year, it would have been tough to come out and start blastinig Flip.

The main problem I have is when he alludes to Flip not holding other players accountable, which I think he didn’t. But given that the core roster hasn’t changed much, it means that “somebody” is probably still there. That could cause a problem.

As for Darko, I think if the pistons had approached him the way they have developed Amir, we’d be seeing a totally different player, hands down. Say what you will about LB, Joe D. should have stepped in and handled that situation differently given LB’s system of veterans, coaching tactics, etc. You go overseas and work for a company and your boss is some sort of wunderkind in that country and he’s riding your ass 24/7/365, it’s bound to affect your performance, regardless of his past success and your abilities.

I do like the fact that Curry does have NBA playing experience. Given his career he got every ounce out of his ability and I think that puts him in an unique position in terms of what he believes their effort should be. There’s alot of coaxing and stroking egos at that level, but I can also see MC in a timeout say, “Been there. Done that. Get your sh!t together. Break.”

Craig: “Let’s see if Joe actually holds players accountable this year.”

By saying everyone’s on the block, isn’t he holding the players accountable. I agree that his actions since then (ie. firing flip & not making any moves) run contrary to that thought, but he has always been quick to move a coach and we haven’t reached the trade deadline. I don’t share your skepticism of Joe’s willingness to make a move. He’s made big name moves in the past (G.Hill, a former #2pick, Jerry Stackhouse) and I fully expect this roster to change before the trade deadline.

As for Darko, I think if the pistons had approached him the way they have developed Amir,>>

Flipper did not develop Amir at all.

They were 3 wasted years except for 2 months when Amir was allowed in the rotation because Joe D. threatened Flipper.

Flipper is a jerk and all Pistons personnel and fans are better off that he is gone.

As far as defending himself. He can easily defend himself. All he has to do is call a press conference at least a few reporters will show up.

Honestly, I blame it all on Flip’s wardrobe though. LB could dress. Flip? With his pinstripes and horrible ties? No wonder…

And there must have been way too much starch in his collars, too, since he was always playing with that shit and making those goofy faces.

Mike: I am referring to the first year Amir (I believe) spent in the NBDL, but I don’t think it was around in 03 for Darko.

Having LB barking down your back is going to affect you way more negatively. Do you think Amir develops (or in essence your words) undevelops differently if LB was barking down Amir’s back?

You basically got two 18 year old kids, one from another country and I’m willing to bet if you pull a “trading places” scenario, more people are talking about Darko’s potential at 23 than they would be Amir’s. That’s the point of my post.

Mike, BTW, calling a news conference is just as petty as someone calling you out when you’re not there.

Some of these guys gotta put the Conference dissapointments on themselves more than Flip (especially last season, where I think Flip did all he could).
I doubt Rip even took what he meant seriously or considered the ramifications of it thought. Not that it makes it any less douchey per say.

The thing is, about defending one’s self…

I laugh at Helen Keller jokes. I see no problem with ripping a man when he’s not there. Flip’s got eyes and ears, doesn’t he? He can turn on ESPN and find a reporter to fire back if he cares.

Man. I remember when we hired Flip hearing about how him and Chauncey were on such a similar wavelength, how we’d have a top offense to go along with our dominant defense, how lucky we were to nab him.

Just saying.