Flip's Performance So Far

[Monster]

What kills me about some of these Love trades is that they are for guys other trams took in the draft and or developed and now we are discussing trading a legit star player for a guy like Parsons who was a 2nd round pick. The point is the Wolves have screwed up the draft and that's why we are in the mess we are in. The only way to really build a good team you have to do well in the draft. We don't know if Flip is gonna be successful there or not its too early to say even with the positive things Dieng showed last year. I know I am saying the obvious but I don't know if dumping Love for the type of guy we should have drafted and developed on our own really works either.

One other thing I think Lip explains pretty well how I feel about Flip's qulifications to lead this franchise but it comes out a little more negative than maybe its intended. Flip is qualified to run a franchise. He coached here for years (my guess he was very invloved in everything with McHale) ran teams in the lower leagues coached 2 other NBA teams and was a short-term consultant for the Celtics. I'm not sure what checklist you need to have to be qualified to be the head man of a franchise. It would be a crazy list but I'm sure Flip has plenty of experience to check those boxes. Another former coach is trying his hand at doing just that in Phil Jackson who obviously is a much more successful HC than Flip, but will he really be able to run a franchise? We don't know. Like Lip says Flip is a basketball guy he isn't stupid and I think we know he isn't going to screw up really bad because of that but will that be enough? Idk Like I said earlier the draft is big if he can't draft we are screwed.

[thedoper]

What kills me about some of these Love trades is that they are for guys other trams took in the draft and or developed and now we are discussing trading a legit star player for a guy like Parsons who was a 2nd round pick. The point is the Wolves have screwed up the draft and that's why we are in the mess we are in. The only way to really build a good team you have to do well in the draft. We don't know if Flip is gonna be successful there or not its too early to say even with the positive things Dieng showed last year. I know I am saying the obvious but I don't know if dumping Love for the type of guy we should have drafted and developed on our own really works either.

One other thing I think Lip explains pretty well how I feel about Flip's qulifications to lead this franchise but it comes out a little more negative than maybe its intended. Flip is qualified to run a franchise. He coached here for years (my guess he was very invloved in everything with McHale) ran teams in the lower leagues coached 2 other NBA teams and was a short-term consultant for the Celtics. I'm not sure what checklist you need to have to be qualified to be the head man of a franchise. It would be a crazy list but I'm sure Flip has plenty of experience to check those boxes. Another former coach is trying his hand at doing just that in Phil Jackson who obviously is a much more successful HC than Flip, but will he really be able to run a franchise? We don't know. Like Lip says Flip is a basketball guy he isn't stupid and I think we know he isn't going to screw up really bad because of that but will that be enough? Idk Like I said earlier the draft is big if he can't draft we are screwed.

I think that Flips drafting has definitely gone towards the high risk, high reward profile. I think there are certain skill based qualities Flip looks for that way. I am intrigued by his choices so far and excited about each player's potential. The GM side of contracts, free agents etc has been where I have questions so far. But that would be a challenge for any GM in the Minneapolis market for a winter sport that is not hockey.

[Eitan]

Lip, in your first post you mentioned that you would have preferred signing Blat as a coach, and I`m totally disagree with you on that.

I`m from Israel where Blat had played and coached most of his career, I know Blat now (not in person) for 25 years now. don`t get me wrong he is a good guy and know Europe basketball, but I don`t think he has the skills to be a head coach in the N.B.A.

Blat has got a new agent this summer that sold him in a very good way to the U.S., you all think that he is rising star, and that offensively he is genius (which he is not, far from that to say the least), and that he is a winner (which he is not - his Israeli team has a budget that is 50 times bigger than the next team in the league, the team he was coached in Israel win almost the last 40 championships consecutively. Last year history was made when Blat succeed to lose the championship in Israel to other team in Israel). In my opinion, he can only have credit from winning with Russia (one tournament).

I was really happy to hear that Blat is not coming to the T-wolves (that would have been really ugly for you Lip). Let see how long he will stay with the Cavs.

In my opinion the Houston trade (Parsons) is really bad for us and I think we can do better then that.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

It's too early to judge Flip's performance. I actually think he put together a good team last year. The early injuries to Budinger and Turiaf really hurt our bench and Adelman didn't seem sharp in his rotational decisions and defensive strategy. The close game losses gets a lot of attention, but folks seem to forget that we went 6-2 over our last 8 close games (as defined by a game decided by 4 points or less). Remember the wins at Miami and Dallas later in the year? Those were close games against teams that had something to play for.

[Mstermisty [enjin:6864008]]

I haven't even read most of this thread as I'm trying to give myself a needed sanity break as a fan of this team. But I think Flip's legacy may come down to what he gets in this Love trade and how he incorporates that into what he already has (i.e. Rubio, Dieng, Pek, Bazz etc.). I think he's more than capable as a coach and I actually really like him as far as being good for Rubio. Hearing him talk on the radio I just get the feeling he's far more in tune with Rubio's strengths than Adelman ever was. And lets face it, if this team is going to do anything Rubio has to take the next step. But in the meantime we need to extend his contract for what he's worth right now, which I think should be 10 to 11 million per year.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

I think Pek is worth 12 million next to a 4 in the like of an Ibaka or Davis. He's a very good PnR big offensively and crashes the offensive boards well. He wears down the opposing frontline and gets them in foul trouble which is valuable come the 4th quarter. 18 and 9 is production a lot of bigs can't provide anymore. The fit has just never been here with Love defensively. They are the best scoring duo at the 4 and 5 in the league, they just can't defend well together and the frontline is the most important defensive duo because they are the primary help defenders in the paint and can cover up for mistakes on the perimeter. He's worth 12 million, just not here.

[Monster]

I think Pek is worth 12 million next to a 4 in the like of an Ibaka or Davis. He's a very good PnR big offensively and crashes the offensive boards well. He wears down the opposing frontline and gets them in foul trouble which is valuable come the 4th quarter. 18 and 9 is production a lot of bigs can't provide anymore. The fit has just never been here with Love defensively. They are the best scoring duo at the 4 and 5 in the league, they just can't defend well together and the frontline is the most important defensive duo because they are the primary help defenders in the paint and can cover up for mistakes on the perimeter. He's worth 12 million, just not here.

This is why Dieng can be so important to this team going forward. He may be the guy this team has needed for nearly 10 years to solve the PF/C defensive problem. Imagine if this team would have had a Chris Anderson type guy for a couple years that could have made the pairings this team has had at PF/C work because you would be able to bring a complimentary player off the bench. Instead we have guys like Ryan Hollins Darko, Stiemsma and probably some guys I am forgetting before the Kahn era be that piece or part of the solution. If Dieng can be the type of impact guy Anderson has been the last number of years it will be MASSIVE for this team and make the Pek signing look even better.

[Lipoli390]

Eitan -- Thanks for your insight on Blat. You have a a more informed perspective on Blat than I do. I wanted someone new and fresh, but sounds like Blat may not have been the best choice. In any event, I'm high in Flip's coaching ability.

[WildWolf2813]

I can't get over the fact the best move Flip made (drafting Shabazz and Dieng) were moves he didn't like to the point where he needed to cop a plea for it.

That alone lets me know he doesn't know what the hell he's doing.

I'd love to evaluate Milt Newton but honestly, I don't think he does anything on this team except sharpen pencils.

[Eitan]

Quote from Eitan mention above:

"Lip, in your first post you mentioned that you would have preferred signing Blat as a coach, and I`m totally disagree with you on that.

I`m from Israel where Blat had played and coached most of his career, I know Blat now (not in person) for 25 years now. don`t get me wrong he is a good guy and know Europe basketball, but I don`t think he has the skills to be a head coach in the N.B.A.

Blat has got a new agent this summer that sold him in a very good way to the U.S., you all think that he is rising star, and that offensively he is genius (which he is not, far from that to say the least), and that he is a winner (which he is not - his Israeli team has a budget that is 50 times bigger than the next team in the league, the team he was coached in Israel win almost the last 40 championships consecutively. Last year history was made when Blat succeed to lose the championship in Israel to other team in Israel). In my opinion, he can only have credit from winning with Russia (one tournament).

I was really happy to hear that Blat is not coming to the T-wolves (that would have been really ugly for you Lip). Let see how long he will stay with the Cavs."

Eitan -- Thanks for your insight on Blat. You have a a more informed perspective on Blat than I do. I wanted someone new and fresh, but sounds like Blat may not have been the best choice. In any event, I'm high in Flip's coaching ability.

I saw the highlight of the Cavs game today and I`m so glad we didn`t sign Blatt as our head coach this summer, Flip is a much better choise as coach for our young team.