Exciting win last night over Houston, wasn’t it? Tracy McGrady is always a pleasure to watch and for a change lately, Piston fans could remain engaged until the final moments. Blowouts are fine, but late game tension is thrilling.
Meanwhile, I’m excited to do our telecast in Minnesota Tuesday to experience the return of Flip Saunders. The Timberwolves fired him a little less than a year ago, on February 11, 2005.
The Timberwolves stood at 25-26 when Flip’s boss and old University of Minnesota teammate Kevin McHale canned him. This year, under new coach Dwane Casey, the T’Wolves remain a mediocre 19-18.
I asked assistant coach Sidney Lowe, who followed Flip to Detroit, what he thought the reaction would be when Flip is introduced Tuesday, and Sid said, “I’d be surprised if he doesn’t get a standing ovation. People loved him there. Flip’s humble, worked in the community and gave the Timberwolves the best years in franchise history.”
Don Zierden has known Flip for 30 years and has coached with him for 13 years in college, the CBA and Minnesota. Like Lowe, Zierden also came with Flip to Detroit and was reflecting on the wacky world of NBA coaching, where the T’Wolves win 58 games, most in the West, make it to the conference finals, yet they all get fired half a season later.
“I’d be lyin’ if I didn’t admit that we talk about it,” Zierden says smiling. “We are the same coaching staff that we were in Minnesota. Flip is the same coach coaching the Eastern All Stars that he was coaching the Western All Stars two years ago. A lot of times it’s situations and circumstances out of our control. Turned out to be a blessing for us.”
The Pistons have great players and the perfect coach, who allows them creative freedom while maintaining their ultimate respect. Flip manages to be extremely likable and flexible while still maintaining control. If it comes time to pull in the reins on the free-flowing offense, he knows he can do it. The maturity of his squad, along with Flip’s well-deserved respect, has the league desperately groping to crack the Piston’s code.
Back in the day, I really liked the Bad Boys because they dripped with swagger and personality, and had that intimidating toughness that so angered everyone outside of Detroit. They were the ultimate “Us against them team” – loved at home and hated everywhere else.
Contrarily, I really like this Piston team because they are the polar opposite personality – they act like gentlemen – never taunt, preen or put on attitudes and airs. The Bad Boys intimidated with elbows and flagrant fouls and won with consummate skill. Unlike the Bad Boys, these Pistons are soft-spoken, lack show bizz aspirations and are impossible to dislike -- and maybe that’s why they still feel they aren’t taken seriously despite a 33-5 start.
My first pop on Tuesday’s telecast comes right around introductions – right after Minnesota fans will have told Flip how much they miss him. Will he smile? Will he wave? Will he be choked up?
It's funny, that Kobe's 81, and however many he eclipses that by, are the big news. It's an amazing stat, but what is the team record? How many other guys are involved when he scores that many, or even half that many? Almost all of the Piston's starters could score more every night, but they figured out a while ago that individual stats are not what team ball is about. Team ball wins. You are living the dream, covering a great team, having a great year. Good for you, sir.
Posted by: Tom Allred | January 23, 2006 at 04:04 PM