Poll: Was Flip Saunders out of line to criticize Andray Blatche for his altercation with Kevin Garnett?

Flip should have defended his guy. And his statement was even worse in the sense that he basically implied Blatche can’t compete with Garnett. What? That’s your starting PF for the forseeable future playing against a guy who has lost two steps! That’s a BS statement from a coach considering his guy has been playing like a hall of famer lately. I personally think Blatche is better than Garnett right now.

However, Garnett is making great use of the superstar treatment officials give him. Blatche needs to recognize how the league works and keep his composure — his day will come and if he’s smart he’ll pull the same shit.

One other thing. How do you “wolf” at somebody? I’ve heard of ‘woofing’, which makes sense, but was Blatche eating really fast in Garnett’s general direction? Did he turn into a werewolf? What the hell is wolfing?

after the whistle was blown. He’s just bitter cause AB worked him like a rib.

in situations like this. C’mon Flip, Blatche is busting his butt for you.

but privately is appropriate.

Dray was perfect in my eyes. I need him to be that fiery, physical, intense, prideful player.

Kobe, Wade, Lebron, Jordon all have things in common = intensity and sense of pride!

Flip should’ve used his status as KG’s old coach and Blatche’s new coach to mediate the dispute and tell KG to back off lol

but jokes aside, it comes down to a matter of point of view. From Andray’s point of view, responding to Garnett’s trash talk and taunting is standing up for his manhood. However, I could also see from the coach’s point of view that a mature player should be above all of that trashtalk BS and blatche should be the bigger man and take the moral high ground and not let it affect his game and mental state. What’s out of line was Flip saying KG getting in Blatche’s head cost them the game, which was not totally not true. Blatche had a good game, the problem was mainly Randy making bad decisions and Mike Miller getting owned on defense and not being assertive on offense. thoser were the things that cost us the game. Also some really questionable officiating.

If what Blatche is saying is true, that he just told Garnett to get out of his face, then, yeah, it’s an overreaction by Saunders to call him out in the media. But we all know that when someone gets angry and it backfires in his face, he’s going to alter the story and maybe omit details to make himself seem more favorable.
On the other hand, I can’t help but wonder why Flip won’t defend his current players against his most famous former player. Seems like he’s leaving Blatche hanging and his admiration for Garnett is helping out.
So like I said, I don’t know who I side with here. I think it would have been best for Saunders to not comment on that, though.

But one of things I’ve always loved about KG is this part of his game. Bird used to do his absolute best to get in the other guy’s head. MJ was notorious for trying to embarass guys. Rodman (enough said). Reggie Miller openly invited the booing in MSG. Right or wrong, I love that stuff. I have no problem with what Blatche did (even though, yeah, he should have been smart enough to realize the situation and either walk away or just laugh it off) but I also have no problem with what KG did. If the refs are going to let him get away with it, then it’s just part of the game. Just like Jordan’s push on Bryon Russell. The only one wrong in the whole thing, really, is Flip. That was some bullshit.

hate that he’s a front-runner and trash talker. i know a lot of people say trash talking and in general acting like a dick is part of the game, but grown men acting like immature kids on a playground never really appealed to me. real professionals keep it classy without being assholes.

On a random note. I am having insane success with out current team, with no injury to Josh Howard, and the addition of Bosch at Center, and Pietrus at shooting guard instead of Miller. Crazy success.

So question, whats the chances we could get Bosch, I know Pietrus isnt available.

A coach can be right in principle, wrong in execution. Of course, Blatche should have kept his composure. If Flip had said that, and just that, no problem. But the coach accomplishes NOTHING by attacking, or even berating his player to the press. You’ll never catch Doc Rivers doing that, ever… even if he’s mad at somebody. Because it’s pointless. It instills resentment and anger, which can last FOREVER… and can certainly poison a team.

Bottom line: it’s more complicated than a simple up or down vote. The best answer to the poll is actually: All Of The Above.

Especially against Garnett. Flip should be happy someone’s showing some fire after this year-long debacle.

no other excuse. Dray day!!!!!!