TheGrey08 wrote:I know what you mean Carlos. Still can't believe it. The more I think about it and see stuff about him in the media I wonder what the hell this team is going to do to replace a guy who did so damn much. With him at the helm as VP I really had faith in the direction of the team. Now they're need to find another great basketball mind to help fill the holes left by his passing.
Granted it's just a game that really doesn't matter in relation to a man's life. It's just all around sad and devastating to lose such a great person. I just don't know.
Obviously basketball is not life or death but the thing is it did matter to Flip, basketball was his. You could tell how much he loved the sport of basketball and specifically the wolves. It would be really cool if this team could come together and make the playoffs since this is the final team Flip would have fully assembled.
Just finished watching the Sports Show...almost all about Flip tonight, as I expected. Some tears, but also some laughs and fond remembrances of a terrific guy. I was golfing with my friend in the ownership group three weeks ago and learned that Flip was on life support at that time, but Sid said tongiht that Flip had actually been in a coma for seven weeks. Kudos to the local media for respecting the Saunders' family and keeping that under wraps for so long. Kind of unusual these days.
Interesting to hear all the Flip/Musselman stories...sounds like it was a real love/hate relationship. Muss brought him here, of course, and loved him as a player. But apparently they had a few spats when they were CBA opposing coaches. All was good in the end, though, because Flip did the eulogy at Muss's funeral...the day after Malik Sealy died. Talk about a tough week for Flip.
Some talk tonight that Flip's death might make Glen more interested in selling the team. Lou Nanne said he has had some good offers, but hasn't really taken any of them seriously up until now. Louie said that at a minimum Glen will be looking for a PBO right away...sounds like Milt isn't considered up to the job.
We'll have to see how the players react this week to losing Flip. It sounds like they have known since the start of training camp that Flip was in a coma, so they have had some time to begin the grieving process. But the news still had to hit them hard today. Perhaps it's best that they will be travelling together this week on a road trip. I suspect that it will be a lot like tonight's Sports Show...tear, laughs, and a lot of stories about a well-loved man.
Flip Saunders orchestrated most of the best moments of Timberwolves basketball. Whether coaching on the sidelines or giving the franchise a sense of professionalism at the top when he returned.
We may quibble about some of his tactics (the three point stuff) but I don't think you could ever listen to Saunders and think that he wasn't an elite basketball mind. I also dig that he didn't seem to take himself or his job TOO seriously. He was a fabulous guest on Barreiro's KFAN radio show. He'd crack wise from time to time and open up about certain topics (while being elusive of course about others...)
The main thing, obviously, is that the guy is leaving behind a family. And friends. From what I could tell from far away, the guy seemed pretty damn cool in my book. I liked Flip Saunders. And I'll miss him in charge of this franchise.
Which brings up the secondary part... the trivial stuff. What happens now? We've discussed the Wolves having arguably (probably) the most overmatched coaching staff in the league. With Saunders and then Mitchell and then the others... it was passable. But, with Mitchell followed by Sidney Lowe of all people? That's a bad thing for such a young team.
And what about the team? The pall of Flip's death is going to be there. When will they be able to turn the corner? I don't think it happens this season, not after what I suspect is a slow start. So, the team has yet another "lost" season. And then it has to replace Mitchell and Newton...
What about Taylor? Is he ready to start all over again with a new GM. New coach. And most importantly... new direction? Flip had a vision for the Wolves. It might not be a vision shared by the next guy.
In any event, it's a sad day for the Saunders family. And for the basketball community, from actual NBA players to a bunch of blowhards on a third-rate message board.
to follow what Abe was talking about, what happens to this organization now? At least there was some sort of idea to one day have a KG /Flip group buy this team and keep it here. Where does that leave this team now?
Keven Glasshands--I know people had criticism for Flip as GM/Coach, but I can't remember a better stretch of successful drafts by the Wolves than what we've had the last 3 years. It's a shame he won't get to see what this team turns into.
Could not agree more. This is the most optimistic period for this team since Flip/McHale drafted KG and Marbury. It is tragic Flip wont see his good work come to fruition
Put his name in the rafters on opening night next to Sealy. He's been the best employee Glenn has ever had since this organization began. He coached our team during their most successful years and as a GM set it up again more than a decade later to be successful again. KG is the player everybody thinks about when they think about the Wolves. Flip is the non-player equivalent based on what he's done for this organization. As far as the next step goes, we have the opportunity to offer full control again going into next season. Izzo or JVG would be the logical attempts based on guys Flip knew and liked. I would be curious to know if they would turn it down as friends of Flip's or if that gives them the push they need to accept the job.
longstrangetrip wrote:Just finished watching the Sports Show...almost all about Flip tonight, as I expected. Some tears, but also some laughs and fond remembrances of a terrific guy. I was golfing with my friend in the ownership group three weeks ago and learned that Flip was on life support at that time, but Sid said tongiht that Flip had actually been in a coma for seven weeks. Kudos to the local media for respecting the Saunders' family and keeping that under wraps for so long. Kind of unusual these days.
Interesting to hear all the Flip/Musselman stories...sounds like it was a real love/hate relationship. Muss brought him here, of course, and loved him as a player. But apparently they had a few spats when they were CBA opposing coaches. All was good in the end, though, because Flip did the eulogy at Muss's funeral...the day after Malik Sealy died. Talk about a tough week for Flip.
Some talk tonight that Flip's death might make Glen more interested in selling the team. Lou Nanne said he has had some good offers, but hasn't really taken any of them seriously up until now. Louie said that at a minimum Glen will be looking for a PBO right away...sounds like Milt isn't considered up to the job.
We'll have to see how the players react this week to losing Flip. It sounds like they have known since the start of training camp that Flip was in a coma, so they have had some time to begin the grieving process. But the news still had to hit them hard today. Perhaps it's best that they will be travelling together this week on a road trip. I suspect that it will be a lot like tonight's Sports Show...tear, laughs, and a lot of stories about a well-loved man.
Best news I've heard all day. A new POBO should mean the new guy brings in his own coach. I was thinking Glen might just elevate Milt and things would just continue as is. This actually gives me some hope.
Would this be a situation that Jeff Van Gundy decides to enter? I'm pretty sure him and Flip were good friends and he was offered the job at one point, but later on said that he felt Flip was the best man for the job. I don't believe he's done coaching at all, but rather still searching for the best opportunity. Not many situations are available where a person could be POBO and the head coach, which I could see being offered to JVG.
JVG: .575 winning percentage. Only one season in his career where he finished below .500. His last head coaching season was in 2006-07 with the Houston Rockets (McGrady, Ming, Alston, Battier, etc.) where they won 52 games and made the playoffs.
I think it could happen and wouldn't be a bad thing if it did happen. I still don't like having POBO and HC as the same person because I believe duties should be split, but we could certainly do a lot worse than JVG.
