Flip Saunders' Job Is Safe, According To Report
by Mike Prada on Jan 9, 2012 1:08 PM EST
in Wizards news
Email
PrintIt looks like Flip Saunders is not on the chopping block, at least not yet. Michael Lee has the report:
Despite the Wizards being off to a franchise-worst 0-8 start, the organization does not have any intention of firing Coach Flip Saunders at this time, according to two sources with knowledge of the situation.
The logic, according to the report, is that Ted Leonsis is not inclined to immediately shift into "Plan B" of the rebuilding project just eight games into the season. As you probably saw by now, Leonsis had this to say on the blog today:
There is a lot of noise right now – and lots of angst – I have found the best thing to do in times of stress and turmoil is to do research; be analytical; NOT emotional; and try to find ways to improve.
Of course, one could very easily argue that changing coaches is not changing the rebuilding plan, and in fact often enhances it. Nevertheless, it appears the Wizards are staying the course for now.
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Save it for when it can be meaningful…we are about to go into a very hard stretch of the schedule…
I would save the firing, if it occurs, for a longer road stretch…AND…when things settle down…
throwing a coaching change into this chaos now, would be a bit disconcerting to me…
when the next coach comes in, he needs authority and the players need to believe he is in charge of their destiny…
Flip's safe all season as long as they get a win somewhere
the funny thing is they might not
Man - I just LOVE abbreviated "text" speak with no punctuation......
Makes your statement just about impossible to understand….
You must be saving the Internet millions of bits in bandwidth by leaving off all those characters you don’t have to type…
I used to have super powers until my psychiatrist took them away.
by Rook6980 on Jan 9, 2012 3:58 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs
Oh stop whining, before I make you write groovy on the chalkboard 100 times. lol
w.e.=whatever
iono=I don’t know
by jones-y on Jan 9, 2012 4:02 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Hit Z
It goes to the next comment.
I'm a Wizards fan. We've been trying to tell you about Lebron for years. Hated the man before it was cool.
Follow @Dylan___V
by returnofswagger on Jan 9, 2012 4:25 PM EST via Android app up reply actions
fuck this
Research and analysis, now? Shouldn’t they already be doing that, ALL THE TIME?!
Why would it take yesterday’s game to start looking in to what to do? A good franchise is always looking for ways to improve, but we wait until we get blown out like jackasses to minnesota to start looking at our flaws?
Not watching another game until someone gets fired or traded.
by FTT on Jan 9, 2012 1:17 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Ted is about the dollars.
I really don’t think he is interested in firing Flip this year or the next because of the money owed Flip. I also believe that is why Lewis was not amnestied.
He is grossly miscalculating the disgust of the fans, imho. We’re okay with losing during a rebuild, but the way the team is losing is unacceptable. The coach doesn’t appear to be plugged in and the players appear to have no accountability. If Wall bolts the first chance he gets, nobody should blame him.
by Bassanova on Jan 9, 2012 1:22 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
yup.
but he’d really better think long and hard about whether or not Ernie Grunfeld is the right man to make the next set of draft picks and trades.
For this year payroll is as low as possible and we’re guaranteed to be one of if not the worst team in the league….everything going per plan.
I have to agree
Fans are losing faith n belief in the organization, coaches, and players its getting to the point that you can’t even watch the game but yet all ted has to say is were staying the course or ticket sales have gone up drastically its pathetic man.
If it were my team, I'd care about the dollars too.
As fans, we don’t have to
attend the games
watch the games
comment about the games
care about the games
Ted pretty much has to do all of the above. Plus watch the bottom line.
I’m sure he’d like a winning team, since that would help the bottom line.
Since he’s claimed he’s a basketball junkie, I doubt he hasn’t been doing “research and analysis” all along.
Is he doing what you want? Is he doing what I want? Since we fans have so many disparate opinions about what he should be doing, how could he possibly be doing what we all want?
Bottom line: It’s his team, not yours, not mine. We can tune out, he can’t.
Got a question for you:
Are fans (non season-ticket holders) more likely attend the occasional game if the team is competitive (not necessarily winning)? In essence, is it possible that Ted’s losing more money now than he otherwise would if the team merely competed night-in and night-out and fans saw the effort?
This is about dollars for us fans too.
We don’t want to pay to watch this disaster. Heck, the only reason I went to a game last year is because I won free tickets from Truth About It. Thanks again Kyle.
How can anybody be safe
When the team not only is winless but not showing effort and apparently don’t respect coaches
Duck Fallas!!
by believe_the_curse on Jan 9, 2012 1:24 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Probably for the best
I can’t imagine these guys responding to an interim coach and it’s best not to drop a real replacement into this morass. God, we suck.
This quote from Wall really scares me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=-i8jsat7tIY#t=74s
Sounds like a I am checking out quote…also sounds like he feels like he has lost confidence in his shot…not good either way…
I wrote more about it here…
http://www.bulletsforever.com/2012/1/9/2693873/analyzing-the-wizards-season-in-the-players-own-words
"What does 0-8 mean to you?"
“It means we’re losers.” -Chris Singleton
gotta love that
by DCrez on Jan 9, 2012 2:14 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs
I don't think I've seen any of those guys look more dead behind the eyes thatn in that video
This whole situtation sucks ass
Wolves GM Kahn just sent Ted a big bouquet of roses for staying the course...
The Kaahhhnnnnn jokes are so last year…. Fleeeeep and Erneeeee jokes are now….
This is a hail mary
It’s a message to the players. “Listen to Flip, he’s not going anywhere.” If it fails, they can say “we tried.”
Washington got Ted Leonsis as karmic return for Dan Snyder.
There is no Plan B
We’re in the second season of our new franchise player. Wall was the Plan B to Arenas.
Whats plan A?
so far, its to be an expansion team.
by hambonejackson on Jan 9, 2012 4:06 PM EST up reply actions
There were only two options
The topic of Flip’s future is undeniably a common question for the team. They’re 0-8, playing miserably and since you can’t fire the players, that only leaves you with the coach. So unless Ted is going to fire Flip, he has to say that Flip is our guy.
Leonsis also said something along the lines of being “calculated” with his decision making and since the season is only two weeks old, I’m sure Ted wasn’t prepared to be backed into a corner with this question or issue so early into the season.
Finally, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Cassel/Lewis issue didn’t hold up a potential decision on the head coach’s future either. It’s tough to promote an assistant that just got into an altercation with a player.
If Sam has two working brain cells in his head, he'd turn down any interim head coach
offer from the Wizards faster than Leonard Hamilton left town after being taken out of his misery as Wiz head coach under MJ. As to the altercation, we don’t know what Sam said or did…could’ve been completely Rashard’s fault.
Start with replacing Ernie . . .
Then keep working down from their if the stank continues. But this is the team Ernie built, which ought to preclude his continued employment. These clowns couldn’t win in the CAA, the NBA . . . come on . . .
Honestly I think Ernie has been following Ted’s plan. The result of Ted’s plan is to be a very bad team for a while. If there’s any blame to go around, it’s in not anticipating that Blatche would show up out of shape (again), and that Lewis can’t play anymore and would fight with coaching, and that Nick would turn down a contract for around $6M per year. Or maybe they DID anticipate the possibility of these things happening, but they were not willing to mortgage the team’s future by trading draft pics and/or long-term salaries. Just because they might have anticipated these things does not mean it would have been an easy matter to prevent them.
by Tbonebullets on Jan 9, 2012 1:56 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
agreed
Ernie followed Abe’s wished and we sucked. He is now following Ted’s blueprint pretty much flawlessly. I can’t see how firing a GM that’s doing as he’s told makes any sense. Our awfulness is Ted’s design. And Ted is owning up to it with every Ted’s Take post
Vinny Cerrato
Followed Dan Snyder’s plan, and everyone hated him. I don’t understand how Grunfeld keeps getting a pass. I don’t care what the owners “plan” is, the GM is supposed the be the guy with the knowledge. If Ted told EG to pick Jan Vessely, sign Roger Mason, etc, etc, then Ted is as bad an owner as Dan Snyder.
Where do they teach you to talk like this? In some Panama City "Sailor wanna hump-hump" bar, or is it getaway day and your last shot at his whiskey? Sell crazy someplace else, we're all stocked up here.
by CJHutch on Jan 9, 2012 2:19 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
In good organizations....
A GOOD Boss will listen to, and take the advice of employees that provide ideas and suggestions that will make the Organization better…
I used to have super powers until my psychiatrist took them away.
But if you're
CONFIDENT in your job, you tell your boss what’s best. If your brakes go out, do you want the owner of the dealership fixing them, or the mechanic?
Where do they teach you to talk like this? In some Panama City "Sailor wanna hump-hump" bar, or is it getaway day and your last shot at his whiskey? Sell crazy someplace else, we're all stocked up here.
me personally?
I tell him to do it himself. I’m not gonna be responsible for his f&@k up. Of course, my situation may be different.
Regardless of all that, I have a hard time believing that Abe was spending time scouting players that were available for trade.
Where do they teach you to talk like this? In some Panama City "Sailor wanna hump-hump" bar, or is it getaway day and your last shot at his whiskey? Sell crazy someplace else, we're all stocked up here.
by CJHutch on Jan 10, 2012 12:04 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
It's so much more than just getting rid of the coach
If you really want to clean house, it has to involve the GM and some of the players. Firing just the coach rarely works; it’s basically a placebo. And especially while the season is going on; everyone who isn’t kicked out will come away thinking that they were in the right.
If people need to go, just wait until the season’s over to do it. Don’t give them the satisfaction of getting a paycheck here and still being able to find work elsewhere.
by Pryme on Jan 9, 2012 1:55 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
The Oklahoma Thunder looked awful under PJ Carlesimo, but looked better under interim coach
Scott Brooks. Guess what? Brooks is still their coach.
Not knowing how things will turn out is no excuse for inaction, imho.
And who was our interim coach when Eddie was fired?
How’s the guy who replaced Mike Brown from the Cavs doing? What about the guy who replace Jim O’Brien?
Your example is good, but it is more the exception than the rule.
Either way, I’m not the only person to ask this question, and someone actually took the time to figure it out. Bottom line: if your team stinks, changing the coach doesn’t really help.
by Pryme on Jan 9, 2012 2:15 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
but then there are guys like Frank Vogel when he replaced whoever that guy was in Pacer-land
O’Brien i think, or something like that
Yeah it was Vogel
But as the article says, a history of playoff appearances is a big factor.
by Pryme on Jan 9, 2012 2:19 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
that misses the point entirely though
because it’s focusing solely on wins and losses. We are looking for effort and development, measures of progress not necessarily reflected in W-L
Isn't that what people want? Wins?
We can’t have it both ways because we don’t have the talent, so there needs to a choice: wins with little development, or development with few wins.
And if there isn’t any progress being made on the effort/development side, players share just as much blame as coaches.
by Pryme on Jan 9, 2012 2:21 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
And? Just because the players are also to blame doesnt absolve the coach.
Ted himself said it’s the organization’s responsibility to develop the players. Flip hasnt moved them along one iota, they play the exact same way they did 2 years ago. And they’re having the exact same discipline/attitude issues they’ve had since the moment he arrived.
Very easy to make the case he’s doing more harm than good, in which case you have to fire the guy poste haste
The problem is they have no real plan to replace him
If they did, he’d be gone. Leonsis is not Pollin; he’s not prone to making panic moves or changing for the sake of changing.
Everyone is looking at firing Flip as the magic cure here, and I’m just saying it isn’t. The same people calling for his head will be calling for the replacement to be fired in a year or two.
by Pryme on Jan 9, 2012 2:38 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Well, maybe I'm just reading too many posts
with “Flip should go” comments. If so, my apologies. I just don’t see enough convincing evidence that kicking him out will make this team a force to be reckoned with. Would they win some games to spite the guy? Sure. But that doesn’t translate to “progress” for me.
by Pryme on Jan 9, 2012 2:45 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
No you're right
I’ve seen tons of “flip must go” comments that it does seem like the majority. It’s not that wed be much better, but a diff coach might bring more discipline, change offensive focus, preach better defense, etcetera
by jsuh0 on Jan 9, 2012 2:48 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I'm sure a new coach could that
But one bad start and they’ll be calls for that guy’s head too. Plus we’ll be essentially paying Flip to coach/work somewhere else.
Again: it’s not the decision, it’s the timing of the decision.
by Pryme on Jan 9, 2012 2:55 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
The problem isn't that Flip is telling them the wrong things
The problem is that they’re not doing it. Will the hypothetical new coach be able to get through to these players? Not sure if anyone could…
by yop32 on Jan 9, 2012 2:59 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
The problem also
Is that the wrong guys are playing. That is on Flip. If a guy’s not playing hard (Blatche, Lewis), you take him out for someone who will. Especially if you’re in the beginning of a rebuild, and the hardest working players are your young guys.
Where do they teach you to talk like this? In some Panama City "Sailor wanna hump-hump" bar, or is it getaway day and your last shot at his whiskey? Sell crazy someplace else, we're all stocked up here.
Haha
I don’t think ANYONE thinks this team is anywhere near being
a force to be reckoned with
And if you find someone who thinks that, let me know ASAP. I’ve got some land to sell them.
However, most people have come to the conclusion that Flip isn’t the right person for this job. Is he the ONLY problem? Hell no. But you’ve gotta start somewhere. Personally, I’d like to dump him, Ernie, Blatche, and Lewis all in one fell swoop. But that’s just me.
Where do they teach you to talk like this? In some Panama City "Sailor wanna hump-hump" bar, or is it getaway day and your last shot at his whiskey? Sell crazy someplace else, we're all stocked up here.
No magic cure
But I’m squarely in the “never wanted him, anyway” camp and he hasn’t shown me any reason to change my mind thus far.
by imperialme on Jan 9, 2012 2:56 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
He should have left with Arenas
But they didn’t pull the trigger then, so they might as well wait until the season’s over.
by Pryme on Jan 9, 2012 3:01 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
pulling the trigger
I love when people accidentally use firearms cliches when mentioning Gilbert.
As you correctly stated, sometimes interim coaches don't work out,
sometimes they do. That’s why they’re interim coaches.
Yes and they tend not to work out
if the team isn’t playoff-caliber. Which currently, this team is not.
by Pryme on Jan 9, 2012 2:53 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Which again, is no excuse for not taking action given what
Flip has done here.
When Eddie got fired, they didn't promote one of the assistant coaches.
Taps was what, director of player development or something.
As to the Cavs, Byron Scott isn’t coaching the same team that Mike Brown had (no Lebron), so that’s a bad example.
The guy who replaced Jim O’Brien did well. Frank Vogel took the team to the playoffs where they lost to the Bulls (no. 1 seed) in 5 games. Another bad example.
If want to be so specific there's Jim Broveli
Wizard Assistant coach…took over after head coach was fired..did not work out and did not come back.
There’s also Kevin Loughery…he actually managed to do something after he replaced Shue, (when they were a playoff team and therefore good, like the article says) but guess what? A bad start in the following season and he was promptly fired.
But please; tell me which assistant coach is just waiting to take this group all the way.
by Pryme on Jan 9, 2012 2:33 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
who said anything about taking this group all the way?
it shouldnt take hyperbole to justify keeping a good coach right?
So if it isn't proven that the coach can take a team all the way, there's no use
in making the change?
Flip's got playoff coaching experience
If you replace him, you’re either going forward or backward with your gameplan (most likely the later, because I can’t think of any playoff coach who’d want this team).
How much playoff experience did Brooks have?
For that matter, how much NBA playoff experience did Flip have when took the Minny job?
I don’t see anything to suggest that your new criteria (playoff coaching experience) has had any appreciable effect on this team when you look at the job Flip has done. Flip bombed with the “Big 3” and he’s bombing now.
not to mention his postseason record is somewhat abysmal
7 straight 1st round exits for Minny and often considered to have underperformed after being handed a Championship roster in Detroit
The seven straight was in a ridiculously stacked Western Conference.
by yop32 on Jan 9, 2012 3:01 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
True, but he still had an MVP caliber player for all 7 in KG
"Blake Griffin is the American Jan Vesely" - Jan Vesely
by PhenomenalSwag on Jan 9, 2012 3:02 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
so many excuses
Nellie knocked off the Mavs as the 8th seed didnt he? 7 playoff series, 6 total wins…horrible no matter how it’s spun
by DCrez on Jan 9, 2012 3:06 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
And I'm sure Nellie was rewarded with a long-term contract
extension for that accomplishment, right? Man, it’s like those people who can’t give Ewing his props because “he should have been able to beat Jordan at least in one season.”
Money's still a factor
Why pay him to fish or bad-mouth the team as a commentator? Keep him for the season and let him sweat it out. Then dump him.
Meanwhile let dysfunction marinate throughout the roster
and watch our young players seemingly learn nothing.
Not acceptable, imho.
In that case
Flip’s either the cause or he’s an enabler.
If he was the cause, there would be leaked stories from staff regarding things he’s done, ala Isiah Thomas. Have there been any?
If he’s an enabler, most likely he’s doing it for the same reason any coach enables: to keep his meal ticket happy, ala Doug Collins.
(I don’t currently see Flip as either)
by Pryme on Jan 9, 2012 3:16 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Your either/or premise aside,
what do you see Flip as?
He's a playoff-team coach
coaching a rebuilding team. But too many people do not want to admit this. Flip should have left after Arenas, Butler and Jamison left, but the higher-ups didn’t want to lose him and Flip probably thought that he could make something happen with Wall.
Ernie should have brought in some still-young vets (who were hungry and have something to prove) instead of keeping parts of the Arenas-Butler-Jamison Era around. Despite the changes we’ve made, it’s still a frankenteam, and that is as much the cause of their woes as Flip.
by Pryme on Jan 9, 2012 3:24 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Playoff-team coach coaching a rebuilding team.
So he’s not a good fit for this team. Never has been.
IMO, before the Arenas gun incident, Flip’s Wizards were underperforming. That team had more talent than the Jordan teams ever had and never got going. We can say they were adjusting to Flip’s system and all that stuff but that team suffered some pretty good beatdowns before Arenas imploded and Flip made some very questionable calls late in games (like DeShawn guarding Dunleavy in the post in the final seconds after a timeout) resulting in tough, tough losses. Not impressed.
Flip has not ONCE won 3 games in a row since he's been here
after 172 games that is an abject failure.
All the way where?
I just want someone to hold the players accountable, and give the young guys minutes to develop.
Where do they teach you to talk like this? In some Panama City "Sailor wanna hump-hump" bar, or is it getaway day and your last shot at his whiskey? Sell crazy someplace else, we're all stocked up here.
Something has got to give...
I figured Flip would stay, there is really no one to replace him with. Players, on the other hand, can be shipped out. If there is no one worth picking up in tradeville, then I’m all for shipping people out for draft picks in this upcoming draft.
And now you may commence the wailing and gnashing of teeth...
Although I guess in the big picture I want Ernie gone first so that way the new GM can bring in the coach he wants… I guess that counts for looking fot the silver lining, right?
Isn't Ernie in the last year of his contract?
There’s no way he’s brought back. If I see him near this team next year, I’m done.
Still has another year after this one, I think
Flip’s contract expires this year though, which is another factor in not firing him and paying two people to man the position from Ted’s point of view.
My thing with flip is
He hasn’t been able to produce a team that plays hard here. He’s had two distinctly different teams here in Washington and both of them played without much fight.
The pre gun gate team severely underachieved and came out lackadaisical most nights. He was able to use the gun thing as an excuse for that year but I don’t think that he should be given a pass for the play before that incident.
The same exact thing can be said for this Wall-led crop of players. They just don’t seem to play with a lot of passion.
Flip is the common denominator. He wasn’t right for the Gilbert Wizards and I don’t think he’s right for the Wall Wizards.
by SkinsWizStangs on Jan 9, 2012 2:01 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions
Firing Flip
never a fan of anyone losing their job. But firing Flip would have the two benefits: 1) relieving Flip of dealing with this team; 2) shaking things because the sense of entitlement and complacency is because their have been no changes
On the bright side: there is a plan B!
Who won? Who lost? Who cares?! The NBA is Back! - David Aldridge
What seems to be the officer, problem? - Randy Marsh
As in, the alternative contraceptive you can get at the local drug store?
Yes, that exists :)
Front page Yahoo!Sports: Washington still winless. John Wall outplayed by Ricky Rubio as the Wizards fell to 0-8. Fans Boo
My god this is embarissing…..
Who won? Who lost? Who cares?! The NBA is Back! - David Aldridge
What seems to be the officer, problem? - Randy Marsh
by Dutch Hoopfan on Jan 9, 2012 2:26 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Failed player development
and players with league’s lowest bb IQs.
Booker really should be in the starting lineup at this point
I would even go so far as to sit Rashard Lewis at the far end of the bench and forget about him. He obviously has never enjoyed being a Wizard. besides, Booker’s production is much needed. He pretty much matches or exceeds Lewis’ production in half the minutes.
by TheRealBigMike on Jan 10, 2012 2:07 PM EST up reply actions
Since Teddy Loves To Cite The OKC Model As Inspiration...
…he should be aware that the Thunder didn’t really take off until they got rid of their veteran also-ran coach (PJ Carlesimo) and replaced him with an unproven ex-player assistant who’d won a title as a Houston Rockets point guard.
Sound familiar?
Refusing to make the most obvious change (coaching) is essentially a sign that this team has no concept of locker room chemistry. My 3 year old could tell you the players have tuned Flip out, and that there’s zero accountability.
Ted’s essentially putting his middle finger up to the fan base, and saying “you’re gonna show up anyway, so no need to pay two coaches right now”.
I’d already purchased tix for tomorrow night’s game. It will most likely be the final time I’m at Verizon Center this season.
AverageBro.com - @AverageBro
by averagebro on Jan 9, 2012 2:26 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
The difference with OKC is this
KD #2
The beard #3
RWB #4
That’s 3 top 5 picks to go with 3 solid mid to late first rounders in Ibaka, Collison and Maynor and a trade for Perkins.
We have John Wall. THAT’S IT TED!!! WTF!
Who won? Who lost? Who cares?! The NBA is Back! - David Aldridge
What seems to be the officer, problem? - Randy Marsh
by Dutch Hoopfan on Jan 9, 2012 2:30 PM EST up reply actions
AND
Let’s not forget that OKC (Seattle) was lucky enough to end up drafting in a year when a top 10 player was available….
Nobody from the 2011 draft will become a top-10 player…
Only John Wall has a remote chance to become a top-10 player.
Only Blake Griffin from the 2009 has the potential to become a top-10 player… (extreme long shot = Rubio)
In 2008 the only potential top-10 player was Derrick Rose.
In 2007 it was Durant (and potentially Oden)
In 2006 there was no one…
OKC (Seattle) picked a top 10 player, and two All-Star quality guys in three consecutive drafts… There’s just NO WAY to duplicate that.
Trying to follow the OKC model is like trying to capture lightning…. First you have to know WHEN the lightning is going to be available (the right draft year)…. Then you have to be fortunate enough to be in the exact right place (ping pong balls) to grab it…. And then you can’t make a mistake (Oden) or you’ll get burned….
I used to have super powers until my psychiatrist took them away.
Duplicating a team that has never been to the finals is dubious
but this is where Ted and Abe converge. Lets do it on the cheap. That not how most teams get to a championship. They spend money and a lot of it. That’s the most likely scenario for this team if getting to the finals is Teds goal.
by hambonejackson on Jan 9, 2012 6:19 PM EST up reply actions
Well, Abe spent
I can’t say about Ted but Abe definitely opened his wallet on occasion. Let’s not forget who signed the albatross of a contract with Gilbert Arenas. He paid big bucks to Jamison. And MJ didn’t exactly come to us on the cheap either. “Spending money and lots of it” only works if you spend it intelligently. Paying Arenas a maximum contract after he just had major knee surgery was the opposite of intelligent.
by Koperro on Jan 9, 2012 8:52 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
PJ got canned after a 2-12 start
will Flip do better than 2-12
It would be a miracle if we could go 2-4 in our next 6
"Blake Griffin is the American Jan Vesely" - Jan Vesely
by PhenomenalSwag on Jan 9, 2012 3:03 PM EST up reply actions
Keeping the players safe is only gonna stir team discontent beause its the players who will have to answer for this thing more and more
this could cause serious interal strife this is a young and immature team who are gonna look around and start blaming each other. I expect more incidens to occur in the next couple weeks. They will grow tired of answering the same questions it will be miserable coming to work hearing Flips tired message and tempers are gonna flare.
I also expect Flip to start singling out players as well. This thing is gonna get even more ugly.
Firing flip would refresh things and create a different climate. It would ease some tensions.
keeping Flip is putting the top down on a very hot steaming pot. something or someone is gonna blow soon.
what's "funny" is that since Flip took over the young group after gun gate
two of their top efforts have been vs Pacers last year and Cs the 2nd time this season….both games Saunders missed. Hmm…
by DCrez on Jan 9, 2012 2:43 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
everyone here is part of the problem!
From owner down to the players! Our owner thinks that wizard fans enjoy suffering! Our gm backs players instead of coach. Our coach is clueless! Our players have no pride or direction! While what has happened is not the fault of one person, SOMEBODY HAS TO PAY! That’s just the way shit goes! Ted, THIS AIN’T HOCKEY!
by Objdadon on Jan 9, 2012 3:04 PM EST via mobile reply actions
What a great sitcom this would make...
if only it were fiction.
Shoot me in the face
“IN THE FAAAAAACE!!!”
Ahh man, that's extremely funny
Who won? Who lost? Who cares?! The NBA is Back! - David Aldridge
What seems to be the officer, problem? - Randy Marsh
by Dutch Hoopfan on Jan 10, 2012 5:01 AM EST up reply actions
Trade Blatche and Javale ...NOW!!!!
Two weeks ago I suggested trading Javale and Blatche and received no responses so I’ll try again.
Houston is still thin upfront. Houston will not get D12, nor will they get Gasol, and Nene is now locked up in Denver. I’d take back Patrick Paterson, Chase Budinger, and one of their 2 2012 1st rounders. If they think Javale can be their future 5 take him so long as they take Blatche also….please.
I will throw in Young with Blatche and McGee
They should all be on the block. At least get 2 of them moved.
by hambonejackson on Jan 9, 2012 4:54 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Do you somehow think
This is up to us?
Where do they teach you to talk like this? In some Panama City "Sailor wanna hump-hump" bar, or is it getaway day and your last shot at his whiskey? Sell crazy someplace else, we're all stocked up here.
Do you wait until the players have zero value?
I can see where Ted would not let Ernie make any more personnel decisions but will not fire him until there is a replacement. Hence no trades can occur.
Saying that I am just looking for reaction if you believe the proposal offers fair value for both teams.
seriously...what??
why do you want to trade McGee? He’s the best player on our team right now, (or at least he has played the best so far). Shit makes no sense.
by Wizards Khalifa on Jan 9, 2012 9:45 PM EST up reply actions
Note the quotation marks...
I agree with you.
But trading them has limitations
McGees contract isn’t very big so what are you getting back? And if both Blatche and McGee get traded who is the teams center? There is that problem. I do think that Blatche, McGee and Young together is a problem. All 3 are one on one players. Having all 3 on the floor is creating problems for Wall. Basically, they aren’t good enough. They started last season and this season and they have Wall and they are awful. A 7 year player, a 5 year player and a 4 year player. Their 3rd season with Saunders and they just cannot play together. They have no leadership ability. They do not help Wall. Young can, but he is probably on the way out anyway so he might as well get moved along with Blatche or McGee. They have to get better players for Wall.
by hambonejackson on Jan 9, 2012 6:04 PM EST up reply actions
McGee is up for a $10million + extension this summer
His trade value might never be higher.
I’m not sold on him being our franchise center for the Wall era. It seems to change every day or so haha
Who won? Who lost? Who cares?! The NBA is Back! - David Aldridge
What seems to be the officer, problem? - Randy Marsh
by Dutch Hoopfan on Jan 10, 2012 5:03 AM EST up reply actions
sorry bud
I was just messin with you. Seemed you were upset that we (the fans) didn’t “act” on your “proposal”.
Personally, I don’t think anyone….ANYONE on our team is “untouchable”. That said, I would not make any rash decisions based on our current record. While we knew we would probably be bad, I really think it is compounded by the fact that Flip is still the coach.
Oh, and, by the way, I do NOT think trading Blatche for ANYTHING would qualify as a rash decision. I think it would qualify as addition by subtraction.
Where do they teach you to talk like this? In some Panama City "Sailor wanna hump-hump" bar, or is it getaway day and your last shot at his whiskey? Sell crazy someplace else, we're all stocked up here.
by CJHutch on Jan 10, 2012 11:49 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Blatche can go, but i'd hold on to McGee
It’s been a slow process, but McGee seems to have turned a corner somewhat this year and has shown steady improvement every year. We just need a center who can play defense and be able to get points without plays being run for him consistently. I still think JaVale can be that guy. I would’ve said the same for Blatche last year, but he is now in year 7 and still dosen’t quite get it. At this point I dont see him as anything but a good role player on whatever team he ends up with. He will never see minutes like he has here in DC.
by TheRealBigMike on Jan 10, 2012 2:14 PM EST up reply actions
This is not a great example, given the team's record, but
I would really like to see Flip manage PT the way Shanahan has with the Skins. Which is to say, if you’re going to talk about accountability, then sit the guys who are playing poorly NO MATTER HOW MUCH MONEY THEY MAKE, and play the guys who are giving high energy night in and out!
As many have pointed out, Flip does not seem to be able to coach up this team as a unit — he seems too hands off, too “everyone should be an adult” when this crew clearly needs someone to lay down the law. You saw that with the Skins prior to Shanahan coming in; the inmates ran the asylum prior to his arrival, and they all praised the discipline and structure that Shanahan demanded.
The problem is, you generally can’t flip a switch and suddenly become a disciplinarian if you were just a laid back guy before. Which is another reason Flip is not going to be successful here.
All that having been said, I don’t think Ted cares because his team is playing its way into another #1 pick, and if he fires Flip midseason he still has to pay the guy. What happens if he fires Flip, eats the salary, then some new guy comes in and wins just enough to screw up the chance of getting a great pick? This is probably what Ted is thinking.
And truthfully it’s smart. It just sucks for us as fans.
I was discussing the Wiz with my daughter
who is a big Caps fan. She said the Caps didn’t clean house until the trade deadline and then a lot of players went. Maybe this is Ted’s plan here.
I really hope so
Something has got to give. I would definitely be happy with high draft picks and low rent veterans to try and school some of these young guys on the team.
by TheRealBigMike on Jan 10, 2012 2:17 PM EST up reply actions
Just wondering if there's a certain logical explanation to which words you capitalize?
"Blake Griffin is the American Jan Vesely" - Jan Vesely
by PhenomenalSwag on Jan 10, 2012 1:20 AM EST up reply actions
I think its an iphone problem
Who won? Who lost? Who cares?! The NBA is Back! - David Aldridge
What seems to be the officer, problem? - Randy Marsh
by Dutch Hoopfan on Jan 10, 2012 5:05 AM EST up reply actions
well hell, looks like
none of us got a xmas, new years, mlk day, presidents day, valentines day or any other day gift the way this is going…..but we will get atleast a 4th draft pick and free cap space….half empty or half full
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