Link</p> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>For Scott Skiles, honesty always is the best policy. Unlike many a coach who has passed through town, Skiles does not put on Bulls-colored glasses when assessing his team. And his comments can be as sharp as a well-placed elbow in the paint.</p> So when Skiles took exception to rookie Joakim Noah's blunt analysis that these 0-4 Bulls were not in sync in their latest loss, 97-91 to the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday at the United Center, it seemed as out of character as the team's play has been so far this season.</p> ''If I had just played my first pro game, I'd probably keep my mouth shut, to be honest with you,'' Skiles said. ''It's obvious we're not playing to our ability, there's no doubt about that.</p> ''I may have some problem with the phrasing of that, but the point is probably spot-on. Again, it probably should be somebody else speaking for the group.''</p> Noah's points, which he volunteered again Wednesday before being told Skiles' response to them, are indeed spot-on. There is little excuse to lose at home to the Clippers without Elton Brand or the starless Philadelphia 76ers.</div></p> Ouch. Frustration seems to be getting to the Bulls.</p>
The Clippers have been beating Chicago in Chicago the last 4 or 5 times haven't they? I know Brand isn't on the team, but you can always count on one key player not available for the Clippers.</p> Someone needs to remind Noah about the slow start Chicago got off to last year. Luol Deng is finally starting to come around, Gordon's been their best player through 4 games, and Hinrich will eventually come around.</p> The guy I'm seeing a huge dropoff from is Ben Wallace though. His highest rebounding effort was in the Clippers game grabbing a measely 6 rebounds. He's only averaging 4.3 boards per game in the first four games.</p>
Yeah, Wallace is the killer for a couple reasons. First, the other guys always start out pretty sucky, and you can figure on them to come around. At his age, I'm concerned it's just a sign that Big Ben is done. For once in my life I was right about something, and that was that he was falling apart last year. This year makes it look like I was right at least.</p> Their shooting will come around, but they don't have anyone that remotely replaces him. Smith and Tyrus Thomas are both skinny guys that get muscled a lot, and Noah is a rookie, but he probably fits into that category too.</p> </p>
The Bulls are overly reliant upon internal improvements while having Ben fighting a battle against father time.</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan)</div><div class='quotemain'>The Bulls are overly reliant upon internal improvements while having Ben fighting a battle against father time.</div></p> Tyson, is that you?</p> </p> </p> </p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MikeDC)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan)</div><div class='quotemain'>The Bulls are overly reliant upon internal improvements while having Ben fighting a battle against father time.</div></p> Tyson, is that you?</p> </p> </p> </p> </div></p> >>>>>>>>>> </p> </p>
Oh how the media likes to get it started...</p> <h2 class="subhead">Final word</h2> Skiles chastised some media reports for falsely portraying a rift between himself and Joakim Noah. Skiles had said Wednesday that Noah, as a rookie, should keep his mouth shut about what's ailing the Bulls. "That's the kind of thing that makes someone like me not really like most [reporters] to be honest," Skiles said. "I said it in a very light-hearted manner, just taking a little jab at the rookie. So I had to call Joakim this morning and make it perfectly clear that I want him to say whatever he wants to say. I love his personality. And really for one of the first times since I've been here, I felt I was treated unfairly [by the media]."</p> http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sp...bulls-headlines</p> </p> </p>
