ducks
02-08-2006, 09:18 AM
Pistons Don't Miss Larry Brown
http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/...40344/-1/NEWS01
By MARTIN FRANK
The News Journal
02/04/2006
PHILADELPHIA -- The Detroit Pistons are at least one team that didn't have a significant drop-off after Larry Brown left, unlike the 76ers.
In fact, the Pistons are thriving and on a pace to challenge the Chicago Bulls' record of most wins in a season when they went 72-10 in 1995-96. The Pistons are 39-6 after their win against the 76ers on Friday, which is three games behind the Bulls' record at this point.
It is better than any record under Brown. But Brown did lead the Pistons to the NBA championship in 2004 and to the Finals last season, where they lost in seven games to the San Antonio Spurs.
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Flip Saunders, who replaced Brown, knows his success will be determined by how far Detroit goes in the playoffs. Still, he has endeared himself to the players by allowing them more freedom on offense -- the Pistons are averaging 99.3 points per game this season, up from 93.3 per game last season --while still playing their similar style of stifling defense (allowing 90.2 points per game this season as opposed to 89.5 last season) under Brown.
"It's a big difference," Pistons center Ben Wallace said about the change in coaches. "Flip lets you go out and play and doesn't take you out after every mistake. Coach Brown loved to coach every possession."
When asked if that meant Brown overcoached, Wallace smiled and said: "Larry just likes to coach."
Still, Wallace insisted that there wasn't any extra motivation this season to prove the Pistons could win without Brown.
"Game 7 is all the motivation we needed," he said. "If we had Game 7 in our building, it would have made a difference. That's what we're playing for, not who's coaching."
It doesn't hurt that the Pistons have had very little turnover on their roster. The starting five is exactly the same as last season, and they've all been healthy.
"They're continuing to do what they've done; they're just doing it better," 76ers coach Maurice Cheeks said. "[Saunders] looked at some things they did before, and put some things in that he knows and got some input from the players themselves."
It is obviously working.
http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/...40344/-1/NEWS01
By MARTIN FRANK
The News Journal
02/04/2006
PHILADELPHIA -- The Detroit Pistons are at least one team that didn't have a significant drop-off after Larry Brown left, unlike the 76ers.
In fact, the Pistons are thriving and on a pace to challenge the Chicago Bulls' record of most wins in a season when they went 72-10 in 1995-96. The Pistons are 39-6 after their win against the 76ers on Friday, which is three games behind the Bulls' record at this point.
It is better than any record under Brown. But Brown did lead the Pistons to the NBA championship in 2004 and to the Finals last season, where they lost in seven games to the San Antonio Spurs.
Advertisement
Flip Saunders, who replaced Brown, knows his success will be determined by how far Detroit goes in the playoffs. Still, he has endeared himself to the players by allowing them more freedom on offense -- the Pistons are averaging 99.3 points per game this season, up from 93.3 per game last season --while still playing their similar style of stifling defense (allowing 90.2 points per game this season as opposed to 89.5 last season) under Brown.
"It's a big difference," Pistons center Ben Wallace said about the change in coaches. "Flip lets you go out and play and doesn't take you out after every mistake. Coach Brown loved to coach every possession."
When asked if that meant Brown overcoached, Wallace smiled and said: "Larry just likes to coach."
Still, Wallace insisted that there wasn't any extra motivation this season to prove the Pistons could win without Brown.
"Game 7 is all the motivation we needed," he said. "If we had Game 7 in our building, it would have made a difference. That's what we're playing for, not who's coaching."
It doesn't hurt that the Pistons have had very little turnover on their roster. The starting five is exactly the same as last season, and they've all been healthy.
"They're continuing to do what they've done; they're just doing it better," 76ers coach Maurice Cheeks said. "[Saunders] looked at some things they did before, and put some things in that he knows and got some input from the players themselves."
It is obviously working.