WilliamTell Posted February 12, 2005 Share Posted February 12, 2005 I didn't see a thread about this, but it's not surprising about him getting axed. Up here it's been getting talked about. It's too bad he got fired, but they did need a change of direction. Players like Spreewell and Cassell weren't helping the cause. Hopefully he'll get another coaching job, he's a good coach. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngelasDaddy0427 Posted February 12, 2005 Share Posted February 12, 2005 Anyone want to fill me in on who Flip Saunders is...? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greasywheels121 Posted February 12, 2005 Share Posted February 12, 2005 QUOTE(Jeckle2000 @ Feb 12, 2005 -> 06:16 PM) Anyone want to fill me in on who Flip Saunders is...? Used to be the Minnesota T-Wolves head coach... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoxFanForever Posted February 12, 2005 Share Posted February 12, 2005 T-Wolves Coach Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goldmember Posted February 13, 2005 Share Posted February 13, 2005 http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylc=X3oD...ov=ap&type=lgns T-Wolves fire Saunders McHale takes over coaching duties By JON KRAWCZYNSKI, AP Sports Writer February 12, 2005 MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Kevin McHale shook up the struggling Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday, firing longtime friend Flip Saunders and taking over the coaching duties for the rest of the season. McHale, the team's vice president of basketball operations, called Saunders on Saturday morning to break the news. ``We talked this morning, and it was very, very hard,'' McHale said. ``We've known each other for a long time, but our last 32 games we're 12-20, and just not playing at a level that's acceptable, energy-wise. "Maybe a new voice will help. I'm going to do my best to get these guys competing at a higher level." Saunders, who had the second-longest tenure among NBA coaches, will be reassigned within the organization, the team said. Minnesota is 25-26 this season, a disappointment after last season's franchise-best 58-24 mark. Spurred on by Kevin Garnett's MVP season, the Wolves reached the Western Conference finals for the first time, creating optimism heading into this season. It hasn't been as easy. Saunders has used 12 different starting lineups this season and bewildered his players at times with his substitution patterns, all in an effort to become successful again. But nothing seemed to work. The Timberwolves have dropped seven of their last eight, and McHale was frustrated with their listless play in the first half of the season. "Our effort level is just not there, and I said, 'Glen, it's on me,' and he said, 'Do something about it,'" McHale said, referring to owner Glen Taylor. So the Hall of Famer called his old college pal from the University of Minnesota and delivered the news. In more than nine seasons, Saunders was 411-326. He was hired on Dec. 18, 1995, taking over for Bill Blair and helped turn one of the NBA's most lackluster franchises into a legitimate contender. Last season, Saunders became the eighth person in NBA history to have coached his first 700 games with the same organization. He led Timberwolves to eight straight postseason appearances, but that included seven first-round exits before the breakthrough to the Western Conference finals last season. Only Jerry Sloan, who has coached the Utah Jazz since 1988, had a longer tenure than Saunders among current NBA coaches. McHale has been with Minnesota since 1993, serving as a special assistant to the coaching staff, broadcast analyst, and assistant general manager before becoming vice president of basketball operations in May 1995. Saunders' firing is the fifth coaching change in the NBA this season. Saunders has been mystified by his team's lack of energy and desire this season, and general manager Jim Stack said it just seemed like time for a change. "Flip's been here a long time and in the history of pro sports, sometimes when you're here for that long, your voice starts to fall on deaf ears," Stack said. "I'm not sure if that's what happened here. It's an issue of underachieving." McHale, the hard-nosed workhorse from the Celtics' championship teams of the 1980s, said he hopes he can infuse some energy and enthusiasm into a group that has so often lacked both this season. "There have been nights where it has been embarrassing to watch," McHale said of his team's performance, including a 29-point home loss to Phoenix. "I have to do what I can do to get guys playing at a more confident level, and I thought I could do that better from the bench." That said, McHale has no designs on being the permanent solution. "I don't want to be a long-term coach," McHale said. While he made the decision to replace Saunders, McHale was quick to say that the players also need to be held accountable. "This is a players league,'' McHale said. "We have to get our players playing at a higher level." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwerty Posted February 13, 2005 Share Posted February 13, 2005 f***ing bulls***. Not his fault they have a team full of underachieving cry babies that need more money to pay their families. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHarris1 Posted February 13, 2005 Share Posted February 13, 2005 QUOTE(qwerty @ Feb 12, 2005 -> 06:30 PM) f***ing bulls***. Not his fault they have a team full of underachieving cry babies that need more money to pay their families. Couldn't possibly agree more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mplssoxfan Posted February 13, 2005 Share Posted February 13, 2005 QUOTE(qwerty @ Feb 12, 2005 -> 07:30 PM) f***ing bulls***. Not his fault they have a team full of underachieving cry babies that need more money to pay their families. Right-o! Flip is a very good coach who normally gets his teams to overachieve. But because Spree and Cassell think that they are as important as KG to the Wolves and the Community, Flip has to take the fall. It's too bad, really. McHale won't pull them into the playoffs. On a slightly related note, how many times have we seen a guy say that a contract offer is an "insult", and then sign for much less than the original offer. Spree was "insulted" by a 3yr/$21M offer. Now he'll be damn lucky to sign with someone for the mid-level exemption. Douchebag. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knightni Posted February 13, 2005 Share Posted February 13, 2005 QUOTE(qwerty @ Feb 12, 2005 -> 07:30 PM) f***ing bulls***. Not his fault they have a team full of underachieving cry babies that need more money to pay their families. If anyone deserves to be fired it's McHale for his player personnel decisions. Wasn't he also at fault for the Joe Smith tampering situation? :headshake Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBAHO Posted February 13, 2005 Share Posted February 13, 2005 If John Weisbrod is smart, he's on the phone to him right now. I'm sick of this no defense, and no Dwight Howard in the 4th quarter coaching under Johnny Davis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soxhawks Posted February 13, 2005 Share Posted February 13, 2005 well i think the twolves told mchale the only way to save your job is to make the playoffs, so he decided to step in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwerty Posted February 13, 2005 Share Posted February 13, 2005 QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Feb 12, 2005 -> 07:31 PM) If John Weisbrod is smart, he's on the phone to him right now. I'm sick of this no defense, and no Dwight Howard in the 4th quarter coaching under Johnny Davis. All that i know i howard is gonna be a superstar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WilliamTell Posted February 13, 2005 Author Share Posted February 13, 2005 Yeah it wasn't Flip's fault, when at least 4 players want the ball every time down the court, team chemistry won't work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LowerCaseRepublican Posted February 13, 2005 Share Posted February 13, 2005 But now how is Flip going to feed his family? /obvious? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T R U Posted February 13, 2005 Share Posted February 13, 2005 wonder where he will end up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBAHO Posted February 13, 2005 Share Posted February 13, 2005 QUOTE(Mr. X @ Feb 13, 2005 -> 03:40 PM) wonder where he will end up Stephon Marbury wants him in New York ASAP. I'd say he's most likely headed there, although I think if the Lakers went after him also, he could possibly go there. I'm hopeful the Magic could get him, but I think Eric Musselman is still more likely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witesoxfan Posted February 13, 2005 Share Posted February 13, 2005 So is this the beginning of a rebuilding period for the TWolves? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBAHO Posted February 13, 2005 Share Posted February 13, 2005 QUOTE(witesoxfan @ Feb 13, 2005 -> 04:50 PM) So is this the beginning of a rebuilding period for the TWolves? Not really. McHale pretty much has to get this team to make the playoffs othawise Glen Taylor is going to can his ass too. If they miss out however, and start rebuilding, the Bulls could seriously have a long look at Garnett. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spod=Ratings Posted February 13, 2005 Share Posted February 13, 2005 I tihkn Flip may end up in LA and Phil will end up in minnesota... maybe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witesoxfan Posted February 13, 2005 Share Posted February 13, 2005 QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Feb 13, 2005 -> 12:06 AM) Not really. McHale pretty much has to get this team to make the playoffs othawise Glen Taylor is going to can his ass too. If they miss out however, and start rebuilding, the Bulls could seriously have a long look at Garnett. If Flip couldn't get the TWolves going, I don't know how the hell McHale is going to. This is your very basic case of the New York Mets 2002...too many egos results in too many L's. It worked last year, but not so much this year. They need some addition by subtraction badly. Also...I'd imagine it would take one hell of an offer to get Garnett away from Minnesota. I am trying to invision the type of package it would take, and I can't think of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwerty Posted February 13, 2005 Share Posted February 13, 2005 QUOTE(witesoxfan @ Feb 13, 2005 -> 02:58 PM) If Flip couldn't get the TWolves going, I don't know how the hell McHale is going to. This is your very basic case of the New York Mets 2002...too many egos results in too many L's. It worked last year, but not so much this year. They need some addition by subtraction badly. Also...I'd imagine it would take one hell of an offer to get Garnett away from Minnesota. I am trying to invision the type of package it would take, and I can't think of it. Curry, chandler, hinrich/gordon, and a draft pick or two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witesoxfan Posted February 13, 2005 Share Posted February 13, 2005 QUOTE(qwerty @ Feb 13, 2005 -> 03:04 PM) Curry, chandler, hinrich/gordon, and a draft pick or two. That is a hell of a lot, and I'm not sure, as an outsider looking in, if the Bulls would want to give up that much. I am not looking at Curry, FWIW, when saying it is too much. More or less Chandler and Hinrich/Gordon...it is really hard to trade fan favorites. Maybe if they do end up rebuilding(which I think they will), you make a trade then...like as in 06-07. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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