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Originally Posted by DarkAngel
What is the real scoop here ET..........obviously Dumars and Brown had a fall out and perhaps some players vioced concerns. I know Pistons were not pleased with Brown talking to other teams before season ended, but there must be some other issues here, What?
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The scuttlebut here in the Detroit area is that, though they didn't say anything about it at the time, the players were VERY pissed about this whole Cleveland thing occurring in the middle of the playoffs. The owner was also pissed about it, as he IMHO was justified in feeling that Brown did nothing to discourage these rumors...on the contrary, he seems to bask in that sort of light.
Management in Detroit was also understandably concerned about how year #3 of the Brown regime would have worked out. IMHO, the team would have imploded at some point.
Brown strikes me as being similar to Billy Martin. Teams used to bring Billy in, get good or better right away, and let him go in fairly short order. He seemed to have a shelf-life with teams he managed...I see Larry Brown as being similar to Billy in that regard.
Quote:
Originally Posted by DarkAngel
How can you release coach with his record last 2 years? (looks like NY Knicks will hire Brown)
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Rick Carlisle had the Pistons in the Eastern Conference finals, without Rasheed Wallace, in the year before Brown was hired. One could have said the same thing about that firing, which reportedly occurred because of similar issues that led to Brown's dismissal.
Bill Davidson (Piston's owner) is one of the best owners in sports. Last year, his Pistons (NBA), Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL), and Detroit Shock (WNBA) teams won their league championships. I trust him to do the appropriate thing...a LOT more than a coach with a LONG history of exactly this kind of flakiness. I'm thinking Mr. Davidson felt like he brought Brown into a situation where the one thing missing from his record - an NBA championship - was very much in play. One would think that might, just might, inspire some loyalty (to say nothing of appropriate behavior during the playoffs).
Everyone talks about what Brown did for the Pistons. What about what the Pistons did for Brown?
As for NY getting him, they can have him. Be careful what you wish for, however...
Quote:
Originally Posted by DarkAngel
Flip Saunders gets job after dismal job he did with Timberwolves last year? What?
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Saunders had the Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals last year. I don't know a lot about why they fell apart this year, but I gather that there were certainly some issues with injuries.
Word is he's good at developing young talent, which the Pistons are going to need a LOT of help (cough...Darko...cough!!) doing in very short order. Chauncy Billups thinks he's a terriffic coach, and is looking forward to working with him again. Finally, given Billups' feelings about Saunders, you never know who ELSE might enjoy the prospect of rejoining their former coach (cough...Kevin Garnet...cough!!) in Detroit.
We'll know a lot more this time next year, but IMHO he was the best available coach. That pretty much sums it up.