<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Flip Saunders is out of a job today, but don't be surprised if the toppled Timberwolves coach is back on an NBA sideline soon. Like, perhaps, the one at the Garden down the road.</div> Link Although I respect Flip Saunders, I doubt he'd be able to handle New York pressure...he had trouble in Minnesota. A lot of T'Wolves fans didn't want to see him go, but I think there was pressure placed on him by the organization along with the fans. Also, he had trouble disciplining the Wolves. The Wolves and Knicks have similar situations in terms of players and how they conduct themselves. Maybe this is just the media. No one knows, I will do more research before I post my analysis.
The Knicks could use the change for sure. They haven't been winning with Wilkens, and still lost after Wilkens was fired and Herb Williams took over. The team that started out the season as favorites to win the division is now dead-last. Why not give Flip a chance? Here's a guy who has a good peidgree, and was still able to keep his team about .500 even with his second and third best players playing unfocused. So what if he fails and the team keeps losing? The Knicks fans should be used to it by now.
Not really Trip, if you know NY never gets used to losing. I don't know about him either. He really doesn't impresse me much. His playoffs record with the exception of last season has been...well never out the first round except once. And I still don't know how it is possible to lose like this when you have the reigning MVP on your squad. Whether you have unhappy players or not, there is no way the T'Wolves should be 25-27 losing 2-8. Unacceptable no matter how you cut the cake. I don't really know about him but I don't think he'll be a good fit in NY. I mean as was pointed out if he can't handle the pressure o Minnesota, how in the world is he going to handle the Knicks trying to make the playoffs being last in the division. Just popping out of the blue changing everything with the already shaky chemistry and in the midst of aggravated fans? I don't know. Doesn't seem like a great move in my opinion.
A coach succeeds only when he receives cooperation from his players. In this case, Flip did not. Garnett could win games by himself, but how do you expect him to every night when his teammates decide to play like they're rookies? The problem with that team lies with McHale. He decided to keep Sprewell even though he knew that Spree would not play hard after denied his contract extension. Same goes for Cassell. Flip was just doing his job as a coach, and McHale tried to blame the team's lack of success on him, instead of the players. So Flip was let go, and McHale took over. What did he do? Lose his first game. What's new for Minnesota this year? And the reason for his teams not getting out of the first round of the playoffs is because the only guys he always had were Terell Brandon (and he was oft-injured), Garnett, Marbury and Wally Sczerbiak. You can't win much with that team. At least he made the playoffs in the first place. As for Flip and the job of New York, I'm convinced that he could do a better job than Herb Williams. He has coached Stephon before, so he would probably get some support from NY's star player. Also, what type of pressure will you get if you coach New York? I've never lived there, but pressure is present for every position in the NBA. You might have more pressure being in the Mecca, but how couldn't he handle it in Minny? Flip put the team in a lot of situations to win this season, they just couldn't, or didn't want to. As for you saying that the Knicks are still trying to make the playoffs with a 19-31 record, I find that laughable.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Trip:</div><div class="quote_post">A coach succeeds only when he receives cooperation from his players. In this case, Flip did not. Garnett could win games by himself, but how do you expect him to every night when his teammates decide to play like they're rookies? The problem with that team lies with McHale. He decided to keep Sprewell even though he knew that Spree would not play hard after denied his contract extension. Same goes for Cassell. Flip was just doing his job as a coach, and McHale tried to blame the team's lack of success on him, instead of the players. So Flip was let go, and McHale took over. What did he do? Lose his first game. What's new for Minnesota this year? And the reason for his teams not getting out of the first round of the playoffs is because the only guys he always had were Terell Brandon (and he was oft-injured), Garnett, Marbury and Wally Sczerbiak. You can't win much with that team. At least he made the playoffs in the first place.</div> If that was the case how did they always seem to be successful in the regular season and just choke in the playoffs. That happened just about every single year in their franchises history! None of it was Flip's fault? The contract thing is a factor but do you think that's the reason why they are 2 games below .500 after having the best record in the west? <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">As for Flip and the job of New York, I'm convinced that he could do a better job than Herb Williams. He has coached Stephon before, so he would probably get some support from NY's star player. Also, what type of pressure will you get if you coach New York? I've never lived there, but pressure is present for every position in the NBA. You might have more pressure being in the Mecca, but how couldn't he handle it in Minny? Flip put the team in a lot of situations to win this season, they just couldn't, or didn't want to. As for you saying that the Knicks are still trying to make the playoffs with a 19-31 record, I find that laughable.</div> Why are you? Herb has coached only a few games this season. He also had to adjust Wilkens style with his own. That is very hard to do especially right in the middle of the season. Stephon also got some support from Wilkens last season too. Two Brokklynites and Steph was all for it! Well NY is a tough place to play. Wining is expected every season. If you were to attempt a rebuilding situation, it might cost you your job. That's how expectations are in NY. We're 4.5 back from the 8th seed and we play them tonight. We are 5.5 games back from the Atlantic division. Is it impossible for Boston and Philly to lose with and especially Boston with a tough 5 game schedule, we can get back on our feet. I also never mentioned the other teams schedule so you can imagine how many opportunities we can have. The fact that the Knicks are only a few wins out a playoff position and yet you think they're tanking, I find laughable.
Trip, you simply don't understand New York's pressure. You obviously don't have the foggiest idea. Minnesota was out of whack, it was his job to make it better - he pretty much failed thus far this season. And really, after some of the half-court plays that we Knicks fans finally saw last night, I'm not 100% convinced that when stepping in he could do much better. Herb is familiar with the team and the Knicks are a team that needs to be worked on over time - Flip wouldn't be able to meet the standard unless he had all summer. I say, let's stick with Herb for the rest of this season, then explore options very early into the offseason.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting mrj18:</div><div class="quote_post"> If that was the case how did they always seem to be successful in the regular season and just choke in the playoffs. That happened just about every single year in their franchises history! None of it was Flip's fault? The contract thing is a factor but do you think that's the reason why they are 2 games below .500 after having the best record in the west? </div>I'm not saying that Saunders is a perfect coach did I? If he were then he'd have a new team an hour after he was fired by McHale. The team never did really well in the regular season, except for the last two seasons, and both times they went out to the Lakers. In the years before that, Minnesota never had homecourt, so tanking in the playoffs is actually reasonable. Not every playoff team can play like your Knicks did in 1999. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting mrj18:</div><div class="quote_post">Why are you? Herb has coached only a few games this season. He also had to adjust Wilkens style with his own. That is very hard to do especially right in the middle of the season. Stephon also got some support from Wilkens last season too. Two Brokklynites and Steph was all for it! Well NY is a tough place to play. Wining is expected every season. If you were to attempt a rebuilding situation, it might cost you your job. That's how expectations are in NY. We're 4.5 back from the 8th seed and we play them tonight. We are 5.5 games back from the Atlantic division. Is it impossible for Boston and Philly to lose with and especially Boston with a tough 5 game schedule, we can get back on our feet. I also never mentioned the other teams schedule so you can imagine how many opportunities we can have. The fact that the Knicks are only a few wins out a playoff position and yet you think they're tanking, I find laughable.</div>If you still think that the Knicks have a chance at all of being in the playoffs, then you must be a regular Knicks fan. Come into reality! Toronto has a better record than New York, yet the Raptors are already ready to give this season up. You only have 31 games left in the season, so if you go 16-15 the rest of the way, a reasonable estimate, Boston must go at best 9-21 the rest of their season, Philly 10-21, New Jersey 13-17, and Toronto 14-16. Is it reasonable that the Knicks can play better than .500 ball while all the other four teams in their division tank? If you think so, I'd find that laughable. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Knicks Analyst:</div><div class="quote_post">Trip, you simply don't understand New York's pressure. You obviously don't have the foggiest idea. Minnesota was out of whack, it was his job to make it better - he pretty much failed thus far this season. And really, after some of the half-court plays that we Knicks fans finally saw last night, I'm not 100% convinced that when stepping in he could do much better. Herb is familiar with the team and the Knicks are a team that needs to be worked on over time - Flip wouldn't be able to meet the standard unless he had all summer. I say, let's stick with Herb for the rest of this season, then explore options very early into the offseason.</div>You're right, I didn't say I understood New York's pressure, did I? You're giving me the impression that I said something I did not. According to your friend mrj18, the Knicks are expected to succeed every year, while you clearly are more sane and wise in acknowledging that the Knicks are a team that need to rebuild. However, according to Mr. mrj, whoever tries to rebuild would be fired. Would that be Isiah and Herb's fate if they tried to start anew? If so, I don't see the Knicks being successful for the next thirty years.
flip would consider being coach at new york, but i think isiah would take phil instead of flip if they both were open
Flip is a good coach but he surrenders to the players wants. Wally wanted to start in the offseason and Wallygot what he wanted. He always wants to keep his players happy even when it's hurting the team. He didn't find a small enough rotation in Minnesota. He played almost every active player everynight and that hurt the team because the player's couldn't get into rythm but other than that he's a good coach but not suitable for the Knicks.
i figured it was just a matter of a few hours till flip's name and the knicks came up together. seems like a logical choice to me...flips spent limited time with starbury so there is some kind of relationship there im sure
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Trip:</div><div class="quote_post"> If you still think that the Knicks have a chance at all of being in the playoffs, then you must be a regular Knicks fan. Come into reality! Toronto has a better record than New York, yet the Raptors are already ready to give this season up. You only have 31 games left in the season, so if you go 16-15 the rest of the way, a reasonable estimate, Boston must go at best 9-21 the rest of their season, Philly 10-21, New Jersey 13-17, and Toronto 14-16. Is it reasonable that the Knicks can play better than .500 ball while all the other four teams in their division tank? If you think so, I'd find that laughable. </div> I've said before it's not has close has the "5.5 games back" thing looks. If it was one team or even two that were ahead....i'd say its possible but not likely...but the fact that all 4 teams are ahead, Boston and Philly being comfortably ahead, makes it extremely unlikely. I think the best case scenerio, and by best i mean...very best is for NY is to go 20-11. And even if they do they need Philly AND Boston to win go no better than 13-16. Which while not being impossible, because nothing is, it does make it very very unlikely. Especially when you consider that New Yorks schedule is on the tougher side while also loosing 8 of 10 and the top 3 teams in the division going 7-3, 6-4 and 6-4 respectively. Try for the playoffs, but dont put all your eggs in one basket.
