Posted by nixluva:
Its hard to use the Pistions in any of these discussions. Detroit was a 50 win team already and don't forget that LB got a BIG break when Dumars got him Rasheed. That move is the single biggest reason for the Pistons being able to win a title and make a 2nd trip to the finals. It may well be that Carlisle could've done the same thing if he had Rasheed. In 2002 they went 50-32 and lost in the East Conf. Semis. In 2003 they also went 50-32, but lost in the East Conf. Finals. In 2004 under LB, they went 54-28 and won the NBA Finals. In 2005 they also went 54-28 but lost in the NBA Finals. When you look at the progression it makes sense. I wouldn't say that LB was the biggest reason they won 4 more games and an NBA title. Rasheed could easily be considered the biggest improvement to that team. Last year they lost in the East Finals, not because of Flip, but just remember that they've never had a huge edge over the other top teams. They had to tough out their wins. They also were very fortunate that the Lakers were having major internal problems. The Next year they again fought tough, but with LB's antics I believe they were a little less focused. Mental Error brought them down. LB to me helps bad teams more than he does good teams. In comparison, Phil Jackson REALLY helps good teams, but I don't think he could build up a bad team as well as LB.
I think that LB's record is his worst enemy. It shows that its very unlikely that he would have such a bad result as he did this year, UNLESS he somehow did things differently. I and MANY professionals believe he tanked the season. His own record works against him in this regard.
All this may be true, but it's coincidental to my point, which was most teams struggle with brown in the beginning and then turn it up after his teachings click in.
Now one can argue that the Pistons were on course with destiny to become champions, with or without brown, but I don't think championships come so easily. I like Carlisle as a coach, and he may have been able to take them there, but he wasn't allowed to. Davidson and Dumars are always cast as the benevolent patrons of good will in Detroit, but they DUMPED Carlisle for Brown at the first available opportunity. No loyalty there. And you just don't hear the same respect or reverence for him from those Pistons players as you do about Brown (or I've not anyway.) At a minimum one has to give Brown credit for wanting Sheed desperately and knowing how best to utilize him.
And it's easy to say that it's not Flip's fault the Piston's were less successful in the post season but I dispute that. First of all, that great regular season offense was devolving into rushing and chucking in the playoffs. They looked nothing like the poised, confident and methodical machine we had come to know under brown. And they were openly questioning his approach and leadership during the playoffs. The players were openly questioning the wisdom of changing their focus from defense to offense. Sheed was rarely in the post anymore, instead launching from the perimeter in the way Garnett's critics also assail him for in his post seasons under Flip. And Big Ben actually went to Chicago and specified he wanted a tougher style of coaching!!! It's not every veteran who wants to play the season from the massage table or between the 3pt lines.
So yes, Sheed helped. Carlisle may have had continued success but the players didn't love him and management FIRED him so as to sign Brown. Brown was instrumental in bringing out their best and the players generally revered him. Brown had unquestionable success in his two seasons there. But some believe he felt insecure there, that Davidson and Dumars were eager to flip him for Flip the way they did Carlisle for him, so he entertained other offers. Then Flip came in and had good regular season success but with a style that many believed would not serve them as well in the post season, which proved to be true. The players questioned his strategy, chemistry broke down, his future even seemed uncertain, they lost a key core player (Ben) who happened to dislike him, and now it's anybody's guess how elite their future will be. All in one season without LB.
And look at how Philly has unraveled without Brown. They even brought in cheeks to try to revive them because he's a Brown disciple. I think the argument could be made their present incarnation is a more "talented" squad than what Brown took to the finals, what with AI, Webber, Iggy, Dally, and Korver, yet their mired in perpetual 30-something win seasons. And it's no coincidence that guys like Snow, Ratliff, and McKie, who were instrumental in Philly's success under Brown have shown up as nobodies for the rest of their careers.
[Edited by - blueSeats on 09-24-2006 1:54 PM]
9/24/2006 7:16 AM
