Regarding Flip, I’m not a staunch hater, I’m just conditioned to recalling that Larry won us a title doing things his way. The Miami game was textbook Larry and the Orlando game was textbook Flip. Both games were won comfortably, the former was way more boring, but to me, way more dominant/impressive in so many ways. That’s all I’m expressing in regards to uneasiness with Flip and the team. Will we be switching identities/strategies or will we settle on one, and if so, which? A win is a win, but I get nostalgic and feel more confident when we win Larry-style.

Jarvis has been sick, and it’ll probably continue. Let’s at least hope it does. And yes, that’s a huge key to our success. I wouldn’t crown Tay and all-star yet, but he rules, no doubt. I will say that the fact that Sheed has no techs now, doesn’t mean he won’t get them in the future. He averages about 1 tech/4 games, so if we’re well into next week and he doesn’t have any, I might be swayed that he’s turned over a new leaf. Hopefully that’s the case, but it’s way too early to tell especially when he could’ve very easily been called for one in the Orlando game had the refs been running a tight ship.

I agree with a lot of what you said in your 5 points, and I absolutely love what you said about Joe D. and found it to be a wise insight that I had lost track of to some degree as of late. Thanks for the reassuring reminder.

Gotta love our teams now.

Unrelated but am I the ONLY one having trouble rationalizing the fact that the Lions are about to be 6-2?

You can tell how well a team is rebounding by looking at their offensive and defensive rebound percentages. For offensive Reb%, you take the team’s offensive rebounds divided by the sum of the team’s offensive rebounds and the opponent’s defensive rebounds. For defensive Reb%, it is the team’s defensive rebounds divided by the sum of the team’s defensive rebounds and the opponent’s offensive rebounds. It’s almost as easy as field goal percentage, which we see on a very frequent basis during games.

It’d also be nice to see the number of o-rebs that were converted to baskets…

No, we are not better without Rip.

If Bogans is their best on ball-defender, than that gives an explanation to the horrible defensive play by the Magic as a team…makes sense.

1. We won without Rip. Yeah this does not mean much against the Heat, but it means a ton against the Magic. This is a team that added Lewis and has one of the best big men in the game. What did we do we out rebounded them 42 to 34.

2. We are much deeper than last year. We are getting everything we need from Jarvis Hayes that Mo Evans and Delfino could not over the years. 11pts 6rebs 2stls against the Magic. Flip Murray seems to know his role this year and is playing well.

3. Joe D. We all know if we are not doing well he will make a move. I think however the best moves are always the ones you don’t make. Just think if he made the Smith trade for Flip Murray. We all would be sick with Stuckey out for six weeks.

4. Sheed has no Techs !!!! lol All jokes aside is this a sign that he and Flip have a better relationship or that Joe D put his foot down and showed him how it hurts the team.

5. Tay is playing like an all -star.

Relax LawyerBoy we will be fine. What I love about this year is that everyone is jocking Boston. Guess what I still think we have the better team. While everyone is focusing on the so called big three our big four will be helping a new guys prepare for another run at the Shipp!!!! Plus I think that Sheed is just as good or better at times than the Big Ticket. Hey I will take Rip over Ray Allen. Tay is almost at the same level as Paul but we all know Tay plays way better D than that cat. Mr. Big Shot is way better than Rondo at PG. Stay cool bro !!!

Carey

Come back soon.

Against Orlando, we torched the net off the hoop, but we really didn’t dominate any other facet of the game. We had more turnovers than them and less offensive rebounds. If we don’t shoot an INSANE 59% from the field, we don’t produce a blow out. I really felt perplexed juxtaposing the offensive rhythm of the two games.

In game one, we slowed it down, played excellent defense and won the game using the type of strategy the 03-04 Pistons would’ve imparted. I half expeced to see LB and/or Ben out there when I was watching the season opener. Our victory on Friday seemed textbook Flip Saunders, extremely fruitful offense at the cost of extremely strong defense. I’m not saying this team can’t win doing it Flip’s way, it has before (especially in the regular season), and clearly it did in this game. But when I think of Flip failing to make adjustments, this isn’t the type of “adjustment” that satisfies me. To me, it looked like we got sucked into Orlando’s penchant for uptempo basketball, we just destroyed them at their own game. Anyone care to add their perspective and/or reassure my fears as a result of game 2?

Also, is it possible (it tears me up inside to even suggest this), this team is better without Rip Hamilton?