Wolves fire Saunders

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ESPN reporting Wolves fire Saunders

[westkoast]

One part of me wants to say "Idiots" and the other is saying that its a coaches job to help keep the whole team on the same page.  No matter how hard it is with players who are struggling to feed their families on the McDonalds-like NBA salary.  No matter if the top point guard is injured.  That is Flip's job.  The question is how much is this his fault and how much of the blame should fall onto the shoulders of players not named KG?  Maybe because no one wants to acquire Spree, Cassell, Hudson, or Wally for various reasons?

[Guest_Randy]

I mentioned this the other day -- and I truly believed the TWolves were looking to hang this dismal season on ANYONE other than the people truly responsible -- the players!  Flip is the SAME coach who has taken the TWolves to where they were before -- I don't think that Flip is in the same league as Rick Carlisle, Larry Brown, etc. but I do think he is at the next level with Pop, PJ, etc.  It is REALLY hard to believe that they are hanging all of this on Flip -- however, I don't believe anything is going to change because personell isn't going to change.

I made the comment the other day that I truly believe that IF they pulled the trigger on firing Saunders that I felt there was a very REAL possibility that KG would force the TWolves to trade him.  I think that possibility just became MUCH bigger.  I don't think KG is going to like the firing of Saunders -- and I think he becomes MUCH more unhappy in Minny.  

It's hard to imagine Minnesota trading KG but I think that if things don't change, they may not have much choice!

[Guest_spursfan101]

JN, your thoughts??

The wrong guy got fired, it should have been pinned the long legged Celtic wonder himself.  He didn't do what he needed to do in the offseason.

Flip will land on his feet though.

[SPURSX3]

flip may just be the next laker coach...interesting.

 

[rickortreat]

Well, if it's the players, then it's McHale's fault.  But since he's going to be the coach for the rest of the season, if the Wolves don't turn it around He'll have no one else to blame.

I don't know if he was unhappy with Flip, or just thought that the players weren't responding to him anymore.  The players should have a little more incentive to listen to Kevin.  If they don't perform up to his expectations, he'll send them packing.

I think McHale will be a good coach.  Very smart player.  

[Joe Vancil]

SpursX3,

When Saunders was fired, I was thinking the same thing:  "There's the next Laker coach."

If you were to install Saunders' ball-movement offense in LA, with Bryant, Butler, and Odom, you're talking three players who might just have career years.  

Saunders *IS* a big name, and DOES have some credibility with the players.  And as to whether he can handle the LA soap opera or not, this year's Minnesota team has been just as much chaos, if not more.

I'm thinking Saunders is a PERFECT fit for LA.  And considering he's top-notch in the X's and O's department, I think the LA fans will worship the guy.  And if Garnett became unhappy in Minnesota, might he wish to join his old coach - the only coach to ever coach Minnesota to a playoff game?

Hey, Kupchak - CALL SAUNDERS NOW!

 

[JoMal]

As least this year, Saunders did a poor job of coaching.

It started with his players, of course, but that disagreement fell to McHale to resolve and that would be where the blame for the initial disgruntled news blurbs coming out of Minnesota has to fall - on McHale.

But once the season started, Saunders got the players to perform, at least on the court, for the first quarter of the season, and nothing looked out of the ordinary. It was only when things went south that the focus went to what Flip was doing. His rotation ideas, to try to find the right mix, we were told, made even players from other teams scratch their heads and wonder what he was up to. It looked confused, and it never worked.

Saunders would have been better off deciding on a rotation and then sticking to it. His in-game decision-making was not solving the problem, but adding to it by confusing the players and making it hard for the players to have that continuity and chemistry on the court needed to win consistently in the League.

And if anyone thinks THIS type of showing as a couch trying to work out the problems for a troubled franchise would appeal to the Lakers and THEIR issues, I have news for you. Even the Lakers should know better.

[Guest_Randy]

Where is jn at?  I would love to see his response on the firing of Flip but he seems to have been a no-show for a long time?  

Is everyone losing interest in this board?

[SPURSX3]

Where is jn at?  I would love to see his response on the firing of Flip but he seems to have been a no-show for a long time?  

Is everyone losing interest in this board?

well there isnt much to say about the wolves this season, so i can understand why he hasnt been here...

[jn]

Hey all,

Half of my department at work has been out.   Unbelievably busy.  I'll try and post about Saunders next week.  

For now I'll just say, no, Flip was not the main problem but it's always easier to fire a coach than to fire a team.  That's just the way it works.  

[WayOutWest]

Where is jn at?  I would love to see his response on the firing of Flip but he seems to have been a no-show for a long time?  

Is everyone losing interest in this board?

Not very interested in b-ball this year except for the Clippers.  The drama in L.A. has really turned me off, I'm a bigger fan of Shaq than the Lakers right now.