Was Chauncey Billups observing some kind of moratorium in regards to talking about The Trade? Or have I just been so focused on Detroit’s side of the deal that I’ve missed all of his previous interviews? I ask because before today I’d yet to come across any substantial comments about the deal since his initial press conference, and then today there’s not one, not two but three different interviews with him in various publications across the country.
Marc Spears of the Boston Globe, who was the first to report the Nuggets and Pistons were even talking, has a solid (if predictably Celtics-centric) piece, and the Cleveland Plain Dealer has a rather superficial Q&A that’s full of PC canned answers.
Ordinarily, I’d probably excerpt a few choice quotes from those articles and call it a post, but not today. No, Billups saved the good stuff for the local guys, opening up to Michael Rosenberg of the Detroit Free Press in a way that will likely put a knot in the stomach of every Pistons fan who reads his column, starting with the opening paragraph:
Chauncey Billups and Rip Hamilton were crying. There they were, two NBA All-Stars, in Billups’ room in the Hilton City Center in Charlotte … crying. And laughing. And crying again.
The Pistons had just traded Billups to the Denver Nuggets for Allen Iverson. Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince had gotten word that morning, when Billups did not attend the team’s shootaround. They got back to the hotel and pounded on Billups’ door.
Billups was on the phone with his wife, Piper. He told her he’d call her back later. It turned out to be much later.
“It was the hardest two or three hours that I’ve had in a long, long time in my life,” Billups said. “We just couldn’t believe that it’s over. It’s over. That’s the thing that’s so tough about trades. No matter what happens, it’s over. So those two or three hours were crazy.”
Remember how surprised you were to see Allen Iverson holding up Billups’ old jersey number? Imagine how Billups felt:
“I will admit, that shocked me,” he said. “It’s kind of surreal when you first get traded. But when I saw that No. 1 on TV with a different name, that’s when I said, ‘It’s official.’ ”
(To be completely honest, I don’t think enough was made about that — Billups deserves to have that jersey retired, and the classy move would have been for the Pistons to inform AI the number wasn’t available. And as shocked as everyone was to see him choose that number, I’m not sure anyone’s bothered to ask him why he picked. But I digress …)
Peppered throughout the column are interesting tidbits that were suspected but never officially confirmed. For instance … Billups revealed that Joe Dumars told him this summer he tried to trade Billups and Tayshaun Prince for Carmelo Anthony, but the Nuggets refused. And apparently the Nuggets offered Iverson for Billups at least once earlier in the summer but Dumars declined.
If this trade was on the table earlier in the summer, why wait until two games into the season to pull the trigger? Only Dumars knows for sure, but I will say this: there wasn’t as much excitement as usual for the first two games at the Palace — despite the official numbers, the games were not sold out, or if they were, there were thousands of paying customers who simply decided not to attend.
There are plenty of reasons to think this trade makes sense (if you remember, I came around) both for the present and future, but all along a tiny bit of me wondered if Dumars decided to pull the trigger only after realizing the fans were so bored with the current team they couldn’t even be bothered to pack the Palace on opening night. I’m sure the economy has played a huge role in declining ticket sales, and it’s not like having AI in town will suddenly revive the auto industry or stop homes from being foreclosed upon, but for those of us that do have a little disposable income, there’s a lot more novelty in seeing a flashy new superstar wearing red, white and blue than the same act that’s been around five years.
Speaking of timing, remember how Rip Hamilton’s three-year extension was announced the evening after the trade?
“If Rip would have knew that this deal was going on, I just don’t know that he would have signed that extension,” Billups said. “It was kind of funny to me that they announced this trade the same day that he signed. I really don’t know. … It just seemed weird to me. He signed that extension three days before the trade. … I think it might have been a little different if all this was exposed early.”
In hindsight, perhaps Rip’s decision not to talk to the press for several days after the trade was rooted in frustration with the front office for not being open as much as it was sadness in losing a teammate. Billups spoke about how badly he wanted to follow in the footsteps of Dumars and Dave Bing by investing in Detroit but admitted he probably wouldn’t have re-signed with the Pistons two summers ago had he known he’d be dealt after one season.
Billups also discussed the Flip Saunders era. He didn’t throw his former coach under the bus but did admit that several of his teammates had grown frustrated — so frustrated, in fact, that it may have cost this team another ring:
“’Sheed was just vocal and visual about his (frustration),” Billups said. “I can’t say it was all Rasheed or it was only Rasheed. But even with that, I just still feel like that should have never come into play. I feel like no matter what the coach is doing, how you feel or whatever, you can’t cheat your teammates and not give maximum effort because you’re mad at the coach.
“I think that cost us at least one championship.”
Hearing that stings — and to be perfectly honest, it makes you wonder if the wrong guy got shipped out of town. Billups is hardly absolved — he was team captain, it was on him to keep his teammates on the same page — but perhaps he felt uncomfortable coming to Saunders’ defense considering his career benefited the most from Flip’s presence. (Rasheed and Ben were already All-Stars before Flip arrived, and while Rip wasn’t, he was already the team’s leading scorer. Chauncey, though, went from being mentioned as a steady point guard to one of the best in the game, and in the 64-win season of 2005-06, a dark horse MVP candidate.)
I could go on, but I’ve pilfered enough — just read the whole thing, and rest assured I’ve left enough material unmentioned to still make it interesting. This trade will go down as one of the biggest in Detroit sports history regardless of how long Iverson stays around, and it’s not often we get such an intimate peek into how these things go down.
wow! so it was all about economics and caving in to the anti pistons media hype that knocks the team that arguably most exemplified selflessness and consistent effort and results for six years. billups must go to make room for a superstar and restore excitement. because real teamwork is just too boring. i love the way there is all this b.s. about teamwork and unselfish play but when the rubber hits the roads, the people don’t give a shit about that stuff and have no respect for it.
the pistons look seriously out of synch right now. i am really worried for them this year. last night at golden state was a struggle. they are lucky they did not lose. i fear they are this years versions of last years mavs and suns…seppaku.
I have a HUGE pit in my stomach after reading that.
I guess it all happened so fast that I didn’t have time to really examine how I “felt” about the move instead of trying to figure out if it was a good move or not.
I think most of us “true believers” tend to forget (or ignore for masculine purposes) the emotional attachment we have with the PEOPLE on this team. They are more than players on our favorite NBA squad. Its not like they are family…but they are more than just numbers on jerseys too.
Fuck. Thanks. I really miss Chauncey now. I’m gonna go think a bunch.
That was a difficult read. I was all about the trade, and still am because I think this gives us a chance to ensure our relevance for the next 5-10 years (which just wasn’t possible with the core that we had). That being said, I think more than any other team in all of professional sports, the Pistons and their fans are emotionally invested. We’ve been rooting for the same 5-8 guys for going on the majority of a decade. I think more than any other team in all of sports, we KNOW all of these players like our friends. We CARE about them like our friends. These aren’t just a bunch of rented superstars (Boston); these guys were castaways from the Island of Misfit Lottery Picks that came together to become a team greater than the sum of their talents ever deserved to be. They were a family, and we as their fans were a part of that extended family. Again, I realize the logic behind the move, and I support it, but so help me this interview makes me feel like a little kid whose parents are getting divorced. I hope for everyone’s sake that all parties involved keep this clean and don’t make it any more painful than it has to be.
By the way, I’ll be happy tonight with a loss by <20 points. The Lakers are RETARDED good.
If I was the Nuggets GM and Dumars offered Billups & Prince for Melo, I would have jumped on that in a heart beat.
Billups, A.I.(bumped over to 2-spot) and Prince all on the floor at the same time? How could you stop that lineup?
Also, I find it weird that Billups would say that about Rasheed. Sure, ’sheed is probably the most guilty of “coasting” or “flipping the switch”, but in my eyes Billups didn’t exactly leave it all on the floor every night either.
I second Joel’s sentiment on being excited about the trade but punched in the stomach at the same time.
I dissent on our matchup with the Lakers, I think we get a decent 1st quarter and make it a tossup at the end.
I don’t really buy the economic angle or conspiracy. Winning games and championships gets bums on seats and this trade kept the team relevant, now and for the future.
I love Chaunce, but retiring his number? I’m not so sure about that one. As for the Stones being out of sync, I will only be concerned if it hasn’t gelled in another two months.
Lakers are going to get their first loss. I can feel it in my bones.
Or at least thats my opinion.
I think that talent-wise, toa man, we match up favorably with the Lakers. But those guys been together. We’re basically running around in Summer Camp mode trying to figure eachother out. They’re like a finely-tuned German luxury sedan. We’re a Camry with a rocket strapped to the back.
TrueHoop article on Tayshaun…
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-36-53/In-Appreciation-of-Tayshaun-Prince.html
Laughton-
How do you not buy the economic angle? You “bought” it in your very next sentence. Economically, this trade keeps us relevent for a long time. That’s the “economic angle.”
Yeah I’m surpised Chauncey sort of through Sheed under the bus like that….. Chauncey was our leader ad our captain, and he was the one who seemed to have developed the “switch the flip” attitude, I remmebr al the interviews before gams where Chaucney just seemed way over confident all the time.
I think this whole situation would be different if the Pistons would’ve withheld Chauncey’s No. 1 jersey.
You can see Chauncey feels betrayed to the core.
Dumars held out for a better deal that never came along. I thought for sure nothing would happen til the trade deadline… but this deal was pretty clever. “Fine, nobody wants to give up a superstar for 2 of my starters… I’ll just create a crater of cap space then take one of those superstars for nothing… AND STILL GET MORE WINS THAN YOU IN THE PROCESS.”
This article was spectacular. I rode Billups emotional rollercoaster, as well as my own. Billups is right though… It’s over. It’s officially over.
Not sure if any of you watched the Cleveland/Denver game, but one thing that reminded me how long its been since we won(not including Ben in a Cleveland uniform and CB in a Nuggets uni) was Ben driving the lane from the free throw line with NOBODY guarding him. He went to dunk and missed. He missed because he barely jumped higher than the rim. Pull out the Pistons Championship DVD… Ben was a high flyer. It was a sad preamble to this article.
On to the here and now… maybe there’s something to this AI, Rip, Afflalo, Tey, Sheed lineup. 5 guys that can drive and hit from anywhere… and play defense.
Oh yeah, one more thing… Dumars come off as being a bit underhanded. Signing Rip days before trading CB, but not releasing the info til after the trade? Also, I remember him talking on WDFN about how the Carmelo rumors were so ridiculous and unfounded… basically an outright bold-faced lie.
In the business world, the term “underhanded” is usually replaced with “shrewd.” As insensetive as it sounds, Joe did the job he gets paid for, and he did it well.
I don’t know, maybe I’m just an insensitive jerk but I don’t see any problem with any of the moves on the Pistons part. First of all, how often do teams retire a jersey before the said player retires? I’m actually glad that AI took #1 - maybe that would help the team move on.
Second, if Chauncey thinks Sheed cost the team a title, the time to mention that would have been to him personally and perhaps during one of the games that he was costing us. Anyone ever remember a story about Chauncey calling Sheed out for coasting? I remember Dyess going nuts on the entire team during a halftime, but not Sheed in particular. Chauncey was our captain, and a good captain only points the finger one direction.
Third, the team had the talent to win a title but hadn’t gotten it done for too long. It’s a manager’s job to make sure that the job gets done. Joe D. just did what a good manager does.
Well, I’m not judging Dumars. Do the ends justify the means? In my opinion in basketball they do… because A) everyone gets paid millions of dollars, and B) it’s freakin’ basketball.
But just remember the next time Dumars says such-and-such is beyond ridiculous… that it’s probably not. Where there’s smoke there’s probably fire.
Surprised Chauncey is putting Roscoe on blast like that. I wouldn’t share that with any media outlet, and it’s like a week or two into the trade. You can tell Chauncey loves Denver, but being shipped out hurts him.
Rasheed is still my favorite player for a couple reasons, but I can clearly state that at certain points his conduct and play have been very detrimental to the pursuit of a Championship that don’t end in 4. The Rasheed rage meter has helped us many times, but also hurt us bad.
Had I the chance I woulda definitely saved the #1. Iverson looks good in red white n blue with the number 6 on each side. But Dumars ain’t as soft as I am.
I was surprised Billups threw Sheed under the bus like that, too.
I’ll be rooting for the Nuggets. Not when they play the Pistons, of course, but you want the best for Chauncey. Now he’s a Piston-in-exile, since he didn’t choose to be traded, but it happened.
I can be overly sentimental at times, but reading this nearly brought ME to tears. I will never, ever forget the Chauncey Billups Pistons era.
Yeah,
I miss smooth. I don’t think I would say he through Sheed under the bus. It seemed like he was responding to a question about tension between Sheed and Flip and he was saying yeah Sheed was the most vocal but it wasn’t just him.
Airing out ‘Sheed in a National Publication right after you left Detroit and saying he cost at least one championship is throwing him under the bus.
i’ll echo all the sentiment here. that’s a tough read and i feel a lot of sympathy for chauncey. i still applaud the deal, but it’s sad that it comes at the expense of a class act like big shot.
the chauncey “calling out rasheed” didn’t bother me, as the evidence was plain before our eyes that sheed gave up on saunders. to say it cost us a championship…well, that wouldn’t be the first sheed cost us (see horry, bob), but i guess that’s the most flammable statement directed at his former teammates.
(i was surprised it was only tay and rip at the hotel. even ben called in. where was sheed?)
it’s the deal parts of the article that seem questionable:
ah) i second the confusion on why wait on the iverson deal? i think we would have had to add someone to make the money work, but if it was dyess all along, why not do it in the summer so we’d have dyess back for the start of the season? did joe think there was a better deal out there? are we settling for this deal?
bah) the rip deal seems the strangest. the terms of the deal time it so he and chauncey’s contract would have ended at the same time. (chauncey’s 5th year was an option. i think team option.) they’re close enough that that’s what they must have talked about and planned. so did rip make that deal with joe under false pretenses? i could see why he’d be pissed. he sure looks like he doesn’t want to be out on that floor. if he doesn’t come around on this, he’s going to be the next one out the door. of course he would have been much easier to deal with an expiring contract than a fresh 3 year deal…
Chauncey didn’t throw him under the bus. He didn’t have a chance. I already did it months ago.
It’s sad. But, it had to end sometime. And after three flame outs some would say it was overdue.
Dumars was up front about wanting to make a trade. For a superstar. Chauncey knew this was a possibility. The timing was suprising, but it was always a possibility.
Like everyone else, I feel bad for CB, but you can’t hide from the fact that he just didn’t play hard every single game! I’ve watched him play his few games in Denver and have seen the Chauncey we used to know and love…the Chauncey that not only knocked down big shots, but the one that could use his size to drive the lane and score easy buckets. Seriously, how many times did we see him do that over the last couple of years? Not many at all and you all know that. There’s no denying his knack for clutch shooting, but with that came those ugly 3-point bricks he’d lay on the fastbreak, etc. Sorry CB, we love you and we wish you well, but you did this to yourself man.
Finally got a chance to see the Pistons play last night.
If Curry can get everyone on the same page, the offense is going to be sick. Talk about points in the paint! Iverson and Bynum got to the basket at will. So will Stuckey. (And Afflalo, Rip and Tay can get there too with a little room).
And man do they attack in transition.
The pick and roll defense was awful (but got better) and the rebounding was atrocious. Dyess’s return will hopefully solve some of that.
I could have used more Maxiell too. He was effective. Once Maxiell, Amir and Kwame get used to how easily our guards can get to the basket, we’ll see a lot more putback dunks.
Yeah i agree for surem since going to denver chauncey is so much more agresssive, thats the chancey we needed, to shoot the open shots not fake and give the ball up for a worse shot.
I say Mason should give him an extended B-B-B-B-B-B-Billups intro when he comes back for the home game.
Ummmmm…. I meant threw not through - I must be getting old or something.
But seriously, did everyone feel he was blaming it on Sheed? I got the vibe that he was saying - yeah everyone knows Sheed acted like a jerk, but it was other people’s fault too.
Chauncey definitely pissed me off plenty during our three ECF flame outs, but I never really felt like he wasn’t trying hard enough. I think he just has some deficiencies as a player that got exploited in the playoffs. I only watched the last bit of the Denver-Cavs game and I saw Chauncey get trapped off the pick and roll more than once. It ate up the shot clock and left the Nuggets with terrible shots. Remind anyone of a certain Eastern Conference Finals series. It remains to be seen if AI will improve our team, but one thing is for sure - you can’t trap him easily.
Chauncey has little room to call out Sheed; he hasn’t exactly exemplified his nickname lately.
And if anyone, Saunders shouldve had the team under control. The NBA is filled with players less than eager to be coached,and if you can’t coach them, you don’t deserve the million dollar contracts.
I was reading this last night and it hurt. I was pretty sure, I wasn’t going to buy an Iverson jersey before reading this article (because it might turn into another C.Webb deal) but after reading this article, there is no way I’m buying an Iverson jersey.
If I have an Iverson jersey it was given to me or it was gift but other than that, Iverson is going to have to win a championship with us for me to re-consider.
No one has mentioned it but
politics …
“I’m definitely for McCain,” he said quickly. “Ordinarily, I wouldn’t say because I’m not a Democrat or a Republican, but to me, it’s pretty clear cut.”
http://www.detroitbadboys.com/archives/tag/bill-davidson/
Billups stumps for Obama
Published by Matt Watson on June 17, 2008 in Alley-Oops. Tags: Chauncey Billups.
Who says athletes today aren’t as political as they used to be? With the Wallace-Kander campaign failing to gain momentum, Chauncey Billups was at Joe Louis Arena stumping for Barack Obama on Monday night. (Thanks to DBB reader joejoejoe for the link)
http://www.detroitbadboys.com/archives/2008-06-17/billups-stumps-for-obama/
========================================================
I am pretty sure that most if not all of the Pistons players support Obama, but I don’t think any of them have been as active or vocal in their support of him as Billups.
Rember that Mr. D. severed his relationship with Zeke for off the court activity that he didn’t agree with. So it wouldn’t surprise me if this trade of Billups came all the way from the top.
I’m putting Mike’s suspicions in the “Dumars hates white players” category. Complete nonsense.
Earlier this year my wife and were coming home from a family fishing trip in the UP, we stopped to get gas and a gentlemen was wearing a Clippers Jersey with BRAND on the back, I asked him if he was a Clips fan or a Brand fan, he replied “Brand, I gotta get me a Philly Jersey now.” Those of you so hung up on Billups, get a Nuggets Jersey sheesh!
As Billups said, its a BUSINESS. All professional atheletes know this, we, as fans, need to accept it. I personally am a diehard Pistons/Lions/Red Wings/U of M fan, I live in Arizona and I am going to the game the Pistons-Suns game Sunday I will be wearing a Pistons shirt. Getting attached to a player is a great thing-it sells jerseys. The BUSINESS of profesional sports knows this hence the near impossibility of getting a jersey with NO NAME on the back, afterall, the majority of fans get a new jersey when the player named on thier current one is traded. We have Cardinals season tickets here and my wife wears a BOLDIN jersey to all the Cardinals games, with all the talk about him wanting a trade she is now looking for a new jersey to wear-another 80 bucks-it is BUSINESS people. Get over it!
I appreciate everything Chauncey did for the Pistons, I honestly believe he was the reason the Pistons won the championship, I also believe he is why we lost to the Cavs. The Cavs ain’t going away, we lost to Celtics because they wanted it more plain and simple, an LB led squad was not going to beat Boston last year.
The AI factor makes this team quicker and faster. The 2 games we won without Billups or AI are proof positive that this team still has a half court game with Stuckey at the point. Starting AI gives us a dimension we have NEVER had before. This will take time to work as seamlessly as the “old Billups led Pistons”, but now we have the ability to slow things down with Stuckey (if Coach Curry wants to) or run run run. This is another brilliant move by Dumars.
the pistosn and davidson are a class act. Don’t forget we traded Billips to where he wanted to go - Denver.
Mike - no way its political (in the real politics sense). See - Sheed at the White House.
Sheed passing out t’s of Obama dunking on McCain.
And ask yourself, where might AI’s political thoughts fall?
“Rember that Mr. D. severed his relationship with Zeke for off the court activity that he didn’t agree with. So it wouldn’t surprise me if this trade of Billups came all the way from the top.”
I was actually wondering how a Republican could sign-off on a trade Chauncey for AI. Oh, and didn’t Sheed refuse to shake Bush’s hand after the Pistons won a championship?
Dumars does hate him some white people though. Imagine his shock when discovered “Darko” was, in fact, white, and that DJ White was black.
From now on, Dumars will insist on actually watching pre-draft workouts.
“Dumars does hate him some white people though. Imagine his shock when discovered “Darko” was, in fact, white, and that DJ White was black.”
Priceless.
Someone call Patric Leahy - we need to investigate the politicization of Pistons Basketball. This is reprehensible!
“Imagine his shock when discovered “Darko” was, in fact, white, and that DJ White was black.”
Same reaction that Celtics fans had when they realized that Patrick O’Bryant wasn’t Irish.
or Memphis fans with Rudy G–
sometimes there is a line… oh never mind!
GAY
Do you think the conservative folks in Salt Lake City were worried about signing a guy named Boozer?
Oh man, this is brutal.
Sorry, one more:
Koko Archibong
el oh el
Okay I’m done.
Did anyone notice that Darko’s barely staying in the rotation in Memphis? It’s sad. I really wanted him to shock the world, even though it became increasingly obvious it just wasn’t meant to be…
Rip and Billups really need to chill. For one Joe D helped both of these guys get where they are now. To say Rip would have not signed a new deal if he knew Mr Big Shot was going to be traded is silly. I don’t think talking about other players plans is part of working out a new deal in the NBA. Maybe its the other way around. Maybe if Joe D did not make a move. Maybe Rip does not get a new deal. I know one thing he needs to start player or he is next.
Joel: What I meant by that remark was that its a real stretch to say that Billups was traded simply because some marketing guru said AI would sell more tickets. I want to believe Joe D has more brains than that. Or thats my opinion.
While I see some problems with the here and now, this trade was about 2010. Remember the four favorite letters of the DBB reader: FPCB.
I believe the organization will remember Chauncey appropriately after he retires. Like I’ve said previously, I’m more than ok with retiring the #1. CB has the right perspective on this: he has his ring, he has his big contract, and he’s back home now.
The real question for the panel is, does this trade get made if they picked up a second ring? I felt that while Flip grew as a coach during his tenure here, most of what happened was on him. Some of it to CB, some of it to Sheed, but Flip’s responsible for managing those guys correctly. They had no business not getting at least another ring, Chauncey’s right. However, I felt like Joe D’s hands were tied by ownership, but maybe also the stars were aligned that Flip was the best possible choice at the time.
It’s still early, but I like what MC is doing so far, and he’s been challenged by the trade. We were sloppy ugly last night, but we still were able to grind out the W. It won’t be so easy tonight.
the celtics beat the pistons last year because they were really, really good. le bron beat them the year before that because he is really, really good. the heat beat them the year before that because wade was really , really good. before that the spurs beat them because they were really, really good. each year, the pistons were really good. just not really, really good. it wasn’t because chauncey or sheed were not playing hard. it was because they were not quite as good as the opponent. all it would have taken last year was one sprained ankle and the pistons could have been champs. this year the pistons have destroyed their team i fear. i sure hope i am wrong. but the last four games have not been inspiring. and davidson is an ass for making that mccain statement. he should buy a hockey team.
@Laughton
Ah, that makes more sense. Thanks for the clarification. And you’re totally right, by the way. People love the Pistons. It’s not Chauncey’s fault the economy is about to implode.
Just in case ANYONE was wondering…
I still hate this trade and that article just made me cry…
Fuck this season man, I can’t even be bothered anymore if it’s just going to keep pissing me off every time I hear about Chauncey in Denver or see AI on TV…
Dear Joe….. You lost me
Pistonsgirlforlyfebutnotthisyearbecausei’mhurtandbetrayed…
I loved the “core” but the trade was passed due. Joe should have pulled the trigger after the cavs debacle. he waiting one year too long with flip and the core.
After reading the article, he did throw sheed under the bus. But he has said things about sheed in the past. Sheed will always get the most negative press because he is the most vocal. It goes with the territory. Everything is out in the open with sheed. An emotional player is easier for the fans to deciper if he is playing hard or has given up. That is sheed’s burden. When sheed is animated, we feel that he is into it, when he is not, he is coasting or has given up. Billups is a little more undercover…a phony in some ways. The article is billups calculating attempt to diss joe and sheed. He should know that pistons fans are not attached to sheed like that. we know that joe will do everything to improve the pistons, even if it is backhanded like signing rip before the trade went down. the article made me appreciate the drive to win that joe must have. Throwing sheed under the bus is okay, because sheed lives under the bus. we have always blamed sheed. But i have even more respect and confidence in joe after the trade..i just wish he had done this one or two years ago.
GO Pistons!!
Ben was vocal about his dislike for flip’s coaching; sheed was vocal about it too.
Im sad for what should have been last year… Im sad Chauncey left and im sad his jersey was paraded on tv right after he left it there. I think they could have held it together with more propping up, but not every team has a kevin garnett.