Comments on: Flip on Amir: “We made a mistake”

By: Amir will start at PF - Page 6 - Detroit Pistons Fan Community - PistonsForum.com

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 22:06:48 +0000

[…] actually good to hear. When Amir plays, good things happen — keep giving this guy some burn! Flip Saunders, two days later, following a loss in Utah in which Amir didn’t play: “But we made a mistake — we […]

By: Are the Pistons really playing fewer minutes? | Detroit Bad Boys

Are the Pistons really playing fewer minutes? | Detroit Bad Boys — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 09:58:05 +0000

[…] in and make a huge impact. (This isn’t news: it’s what was behind the mini fan-uproar when Flip Saunders didn’t play Amir Johnson in Utah.) Jarvis and Maxiell had this impact on Sunday, Amir has done it in the past, and Rodney Stuckey […]

By: Taco John

Taco John — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 18:44:56 +0000

I simply don’t think it’s worth it at this point to risk breaking up the starting lineup, which has been fine, just to see if Amir would make it better. That’s the type of needless tinkering that can kill team chemistry.

I think the handling of Amir has been spectacular to this point, considering he suffered an injury at the worse possible time. He’s in the rotation, playing well, contributing, which is what we all expected. If he beats out McDyess in practice for a starting spot, fine. But I think the idea of throwing him against the starting wall to see if he sticks is too high of a risk for what might be a marginal upgrade.

By: Brad

Brad — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 13:21:16 +0000

You surely have proof that inconsistent starting rotations “kills” teams. Bad teams have inconsistent starting rotations… not the other way round. Daly messed with the starting lineup all the time, and I’m sure you don’t think that “killed” our team. Gamble? What are you risking? Its not like McDyess is being released if you start Amir.

Lets say Amir starts, gets 33 minutes, 15 rebounds, 10 points, and 5 blocked shots. That would be awesome, and quite an achievement… too bad we don’t know FOR SURE what those numbers would be, because Flip hasn’t explored that option. None of us know DEFINITELY that Amir wouldn’t play better than McDyess as a starter, given the chance.

Amir can definitely fit in with the starting lineup. He’s gotta play that Ben Wallace role, (which HE’S even said that’s what he’s gotta do) except in a way he can be better because he’s not such a liability on offense. Being able to run like a gazelle is never a liability… if anything that gives the starters one more dimension to leverage.

Of course I’d rather be analyzing real stats than speculating… its too bad we don’t know for sure what they are.

By: Taco John

Taco John — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 23:22:52 +0000

Inconsistent starting rotations kill teams. This team has a very clear identity. The starters are steady, halfcourt guys who wear you down with execution. The bench is an energy unit which provides sparks, takes risks, gambles, and gets out on the break. Amir fits with the second group, not the first.

There’s no reason to gamble with one of the team’s greatest strengths, it’s continuity and the definitive identity it’s built over the last few years.

By: Brad

Brad — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 23:08:44 +0000

For all the people that don’t want to see Amir start, let me point out something that you, I, Flip, or Joe don’t know: We don’t know that the team will be worse with Amir in the starting lineup. To find that out you have to start him and see how he reacts. Amir has hurdled every challenge so far, so why not throw another one at him?

Me wanting to see Amir start isn’t about who’s definitely better between the 2, its about exploring options so that when we do get to the playoffs we can put the best team out on the court. You gotta test the young guys boundaries to know what your getting come playoff time.

The only point I think Flip has about Amir not starting is the foul trouble he gets into. Other than that I see no reason to prevent us from seeing what the kid can do against other starters.

By: UTEP2STEP

UTEP2STEP — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 22:22:19 +0000

Flip is a clown. People are upset because in the ho-hum reality of the regular season fans look forward to a decent match up that we haven’t seen in a while, ie the Jazz game. If we had gotten beat in all facets of the game I think fans would find it easier to swallow than watching Paul Miilsap tear us apart for an entire quarter and the head coach not responding with an adjustment (such as matching him with a guy who can cause problems like Amir). It goes beyond just one game and it isn’t about just Amir. We’ve seen this before and I just hope this isn’t another prelude to the playoffs when Flip’s sphincter and rotation do the same thing, tighten up. He’s terrible. Nice analogy earlier….like a blind man driving a cadillac.

By: Mike

Mike — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 20:28:51 +0000

Another stat

Hollinger’s Efficiency Rating on ESPN

Looking at Power Forwards
————————————
AJ is 12th with a rating of 19.25
Sheed is 14th with a rating of 17.79
Maxiell is 24th with a rating of 15.80
Dyess is 29th (listed as a center) with a rating 14.66

By: Diablo

Diablo — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 20:09:03 +0000

I’m not understanding all the hype behind Amir not playing one game, I like Amir and I really think he is the future of this Franchise but not seeing him play ONE game doesn’t really bother me. Now if it was consecutive games then I might start to worry a bit but I don’t think it’s nothing to get all butt-hurt about.

As for him starting over Mcdyess: I think that is just ridiculous, if anybody deserves to start it would automatically be Maxiell. Let Amir get his feet under him before we can start talking about giving him major minutes.

By: JackDutch

JackDutch — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 17:22:38 +0000

first off, i love amir, but him starting over mcdyess with the way dyess is playing is laughable. he can’t even buy a beer yet.

i don’t want to get a flip-bash rolling. i just want to voice my feelings that it’s a little unsettling that flip’s making bonehead decisions like this in game situations. everybody makes them. (hell, chauncey fouled jr smith on a 3 point shot with 6 seconds left with the pistons up 3.) i just need to believe that flip knows what he’s doing behind the wheel of this cadillac. and when s*** like this happens, i am less certain of his driving abilities.

By: Toledo Joe

Toledo Joe — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 16:44:08 +0000

All this was especially predictable given that maybe the most “familiar kneejerk reaction that follows any loss” is to blame Flip’s coaching. Although as to this particular objection in general, I wouldn’t say “kneejerk” always = “wrong.”

By: Mike

Mike — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 15:31:19 +0000

Leaving Dyess in as a starter works.

Flip just needs to be more aware of mismatches.

When Okur got hot AJ would have been a better choice to defend him out at the arc then Dyess

By: KC

KC — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 14:33:12 +0000

On virtually every board I have visited fans want to start Amir and bring Dice back off the bench so I think Flip has a definite point about the fans calling for Amir to start.

By: Kyle

Kyle — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 13:34:59 +0000

do not start amir. dyess is the unsung hero of that starting unit and he’s earned that spot for reals. go back to the rotation that was blowing cats out of the water. sheed and amir dominate together.

By: Kyle

Kyle — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 13:27:26 +0000

i was totally ready to accept that amir may be hurt and i’d been making a jackass of myself for two days.

instead:

BOOSH!