Take Me to Your Leader
Who’s BG playing for?(Photo. Stephen Hill)
Such a mess in Chicago. Normally when a head coach is fired, picking an interim coach is the easiest part: you either promote the highest-ranking assistant, or you go with whoever the players like the most. But Bulls GM John Paxson can’t even get that part right.
Pete Myers coached last night’s Bulls/Spurs game — b.k.a., There Will Be Blood, starring Tony Parker — even though it had been reported that Jim Boylan (Scott Skiles‘ lead assistant) would be the interim coach.
But according to the Chicago Tribune, Paxson still hasn’t made up his mind on who will coach the Bulls for the time being, and is supposed to meet with Myers and Boylan today. To me, it looks like Paxson (whose free pass from Bulls’ fans via that ‘93 Finals-winning shot is about to expire) is unnecessarily creating a situation where the coaches could become disgruntled, on top of the players trying to get over being miserable while Skiles was around. Good job.
Myers to the Tribune: “I’m not just here to be a great assistant. I would like to run my own show for sure. I think when John feels like I’m ready, he’ll give me the opportunity. I’ve been in this organization for some time now. If they judge me on one game that is unfair. I’ve worked in the front office, with the guys, in practice. Judge me overall.”
How are the players seeing all of this? Ben Gordon told another Chicago paper, “I didn’t understand what that was about. Right now I think guys are going to ride with whoever gets the nod and know that everybody’s in it together. I think whoever is going to be the head coach will still be getting a lot help from the rest of the staff. I don’t know if it will make a major difference.”
Here’s my question: Shouldn’t Paxson have had an interim picked out before he fired Skiles? Or did he fire Skiles at the spur of the moment without figuring out his next move? If that was the case, I’d hate to have my team being run by someone so impulsive. If that wasn’t the case, I’d hate to have my team being run by someone so indecisive.
You can read the rest of the Tribune article HERE.
December 27th, 2007 at 9:59 am
Celts Fan says:
Wow, and to think at this time last year, they were being held up as a model franchise. Shoulda made the Kobe move or put it to bed before the year ever started. What a difference a year makes…
December 27th, 2007 at 10:14 am
Dave Corzine says:
It’s been going downhill in Chi since the Wallace signing. At least Isiah is trying to coach himself out of the roster disaster in NY. Pax is letting some assistant coach take the fall for the roster he assembled – a team that can’t possibly achieve any more than it did last year without another major move. Where’s Tim Floyd when you need him?
December 27th, 2007 at 10:42 am
Myrie in NY says:
This team is chemically imbalanced. Their offense stinks and John Paxson is too shook to make a big trade.
Nevermind the Kobe deal (I never believed in it anyway), but this team had the chance to land a low post player plenty of time and didn’t do it. They had a chance at Pau Gasol and even Zach Randolph (for Tyrus Thomas and #9 draft pick).
They need to address their biggest on-court weakness; low post offensive presence.
On the bench….I’ve never been a fan of Scott Skiles (player or coach), so I am not saddened by his firing. Maybe Jeff Van Gundy for the start of next season is a possibility.
December 27th, 2007 at 10:46 am
Celts Fan says:
Myrie, I really liked the 2nd round pick of Aaron Gray (a potential lottery pick had he come out a year or 2 earlier) and think he could solve SOME of that low-post offense question, but the signing of Ben Wallace, which looked bad at the time, has only gotten worse. I mean, I was never a huge fan of his game in his prime, but to sign a 6′9″ center on the downside of his career to big money like that, then trade a 7′2″ center (Tyson) on the uptick for 2 cents on the dollar just further complicated things.
December 27th, 2007 at 10:58 am
Myrie in NY says:
Celtsfan–
Agreed. They didn’t need Ben Wallace. They were already the best defensive team in the league before they got him (by virtue of opp fg percentage).
Aaron Gray is average, but he will have his share of moments to shine; and he will. But average overall.
They should trade Tyrus Thomas, Joe Smith and Kirk Hinrich to the Pacers for Jamaal Tinsley and Jermaine O’Neal.
December 27th, 2007 at 11:03 am
YOUNGFED says:
You said it Celts Glad we dump BIG BEN, Joe dumars is a genious just look at how he dumped Nazr on the Bobcats. Gotta love it. The Pistons will be nice for quite some time.
Also Myrie the team talent isn’t the problem its finding someone that can make that team work together. Those guys just don’t wanna play there (Deng and BG). You can’t expect them to when your GM is snubbing your best players in a contract year. The Pistons take care of their players thats why they play so hard most of the time above their talent level.
December 27th, 2007 at 11:17 am
Myrie in NY says:
YOUNGFED–
Give us (NY) Joe Dumars and we will give you back Isiah Thomas. Bet?
December 27th, 2007 at 11:37 am
Celts Fan says:
Myrie, I like Aaron Gray. He’s 7′0″, 280, with some low post moves. He’s a nice backup with potential to be a starter someday. The biggest problem w/ Ben Wallace there is that he doesn’t fit. He and Tyrus Thomas are redundant. Both high energy, good defense, no offense type guys. Tyrus Thomas and Aaron Gray could be the low post starters of the future. Don’t hate just cuz he’s white. I saw him make some nice moves and leave KG in the dust a few times last week. I was impressed…
December 27th, 2007 at 11:41 am
Celts Fan says:
and what you lose in defense with a guy like Gray, you can cover up w/ Thomas protecting the rim, and offensively, he’s (potentially) your low post threat. Not saying they should do this immediately, but based on what they have on that roster right now, it seems to be the most viable long-term solution if they don’t get anyone else in the draft/trades that could help.
December 27th, 2007 at 11:44 am
Myrie in NY says:
Celtsfan–
Aaron Gray is ok. I ain’t hating. He’s decent; but nothing to pin long term hopes to. He doesn’t give you anything that you couldn’t find in someone else. Troy Murphy has low post moves too ya know.
Part of the reason (speculated) that Skiles was fired was because the players were not happy with the amount of minutes Gray was getting. They players thought he should be playing more. So….thats a good sign for Gray. His teammates want him on the court.
But unlike you….I am not so impressed. Average. But…when your average, your always at your best.
December 27th, 2007 at 11:54 am
doc says:
The Bulls need a offensive stallion. All that D don’t mean shit if you give up 85 and got 80. Ben Gordon is one of the most overhyped players in the league. Same game since college. They better not give him a lot of change.
December 27th, 2007 at 11:54 am
smity says:
Celts Fan-i agree
Myrie-i agree
youngfed- i agree.
—however, you all shouldnt deny that signing ben wallace at the time wasnt a good idea (as it propelled my chicago’s bulls from “good young team” to “possible contender”)
—i really can’t call it with this team. like i said before and like myrie just said, this team should have gotten that low post scorer (and not just a nazr but a pau) that they needed. but they didnt want to part with some of the players. if the season continues like this maybe the lottery will bring good news and then maybe they could get rid of kirk, wallace and one gordon for another gordon altogether…
December 27th, 2007 at 11:59 am
Celts Fan says:
ya myrie, he’s average now (his rookie year) but give him a chance to develop. I’ve seen more low post moves from him than I’ve seen from anyone else on that roster and I see some potential.
Troy Murphy has more of a face-up, midrange game, big difference. I saw Aaron Gray do a few up and unders and a hook or 2. He’s also 2 inches taller and about 30 pounds bigger than Troy Murphy, which matters a lot when you’re banging down low.
Again, I’m not proclaiming the guy an all star, but he’s a nice piece and a steal in the 2nd round who’s definitely worth giving more minutes to to see if he can fill a role that they have no one else that can fill (long term, Joe Smith can supplement him this year while he gets used to the speed and physicality of the league.)
December 27th, 2007 at 12:24 pm
Youngfed says:
LOL and LMAO at Myrie post#7. I gotta say no thanx to that one. Just keeping it real. Isaih eventually will fix things there in NY. You just gotta believe (LOL).