link <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Bulls coach Scott Skiles has lost his job as a result of his team's slow start. The Bulls have lost three of their last four games and were booed throughout Saturday's home loss to the Rockets. Despite high expectations, the Bulls (9-16) have the third worst record in the Eastern Conference. "This was a difficult decision to make, but one that was necessary at this time," general manager John Paxson said in a statement Monday. "Scott helped us in many ways during his time with the Bulls; most importantly, he helped this franchise get back to respectability. I am appreciative of his hard work and the imprint that he left on our team." The Bulls said no decision has been made on a replacement for Skiles. Ben Wallace said Saturday he would welcome personnel changes if it would help the club.</div>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan @ Dec 24 2007, 12:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Great news for the Bulls It also clears the way for them to go all out and try to trade for Kidd </div> Kidd would take this team to the ECF minimum, if they don't give away too much trying to get him.
at this point, there is no other choice. there is no set lineup, and nothing going right. I hope now guys like TT will get more playing time and progress.
How about Skiles as the new Knicks coach? I don't see how this helps the Bulls. Most of them have been playing for Skiles their entire career and developed a relationship with him. The Bulls record isn't a testament to Skiles' coaching, but rather the players' responsibility, or lack thereof. Is Skiles the reason why Hinrich is performing so poorly this season? Is Skiles to blame for Ben Gordon's poor shooting (38% from the field, 34% from downtown)? Is Skiles to blame for Tyrus Thomas' slow development? I don't know why the Bulls are not doing well this season, but firing Skiles seems like a decision that will actually hinder the Bulls more than it will help. Besides, isn't there a certain, perhaps "obligation" the Bulls owe him. One of respect, certainly. For years after the Jordan Era, the Bulls have been the laughing stock of the league; moreso than the current Knicks (maybe). Skiles delivered them from their nadir and made them a respectable basketball team. A feat which warrants more loyalty from the Bulls organization. In fact, over the past couple of years, haven't the Bulls struggled early into the season? As the season progressed, they always improved. Always. Getting rid of Skiles was a mistake.
The Bulls had a poorly constructed roster that was poorly coached. Skiles deserved to be fired, but that alone won't fix the Bulls
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Mr. J @ Dec 24 2007, 01:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Is Skiles to blame for Tyrus Thomas' slow development?</div> Hell yes. Just like Skiles is to blame for Tyson Chandler becoming a much better player as soon as he got away from Skiles "coaching"
with the type of season they are having i dont see how it was a mistake. One could argue that skiles is to blame for someone like Tyrus Thomas not progressing. I think Skiles is the kind of coach who will get you to be a good team, but not a guy who will win a title. Same type of deal the bulls had with Doug Collins, then got PJ to take them to the next level.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan @ Dec 24 2007, 01:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The Bulls had a poorly constructed roster that was poorly coached. Skiles deserved to be fired, but that alone won't fix the Bulls</div> I wouldn't say it was poorly constructed. Bulls fans were not saying that last year and it is virtually the same roster.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Fred @ Dec 24 2007, 01:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>with the type of season they are having i dont see how it was a mistake. One could argue that skiles is to blame for someone like Tyrus Thomas not progressing. I think Skiles is the kind of coach who will get you to be a good team, but not a guy who will win a title. Same type of deal the bulls had with Doug Collins, then got PJ to take them to the next level.</div> But the Bulls have always started off slow. They started off 3-9 last year, 12-19 the year before, and 0-9 the year before that. 9-16 is not a good record to start with, but with the condition of the East and with the team early in the year, there is more than enough time to improve and establish a playoff position. I think you also have to consider the Kobe rumors and how that could have distracted this young team. You also have to think about the coaches on the market, also. Who is a better option to replace the coach who took you to the playoffs three consecutive years in midseason? I don't know about Thomas' development, but if Skiles has slowed it, that is still not the reason, or a main one, why the Bulls have been struggling.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Mr. J @ Dec 24 2007, 01:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan @ Dec 24 2007, 01:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The Bulls had a poorly constructed roster that was poorly coached. Skiles deserved to be fired, but that alone won't fix the Bulls</div> I wouldn't say it was poorly constructed. Bulls fans were not saying that last year and it is virtually the same roster. </div> I have to disagree with your smaller point. All of us were arguing the team was poorly constructed last year, and every year since we traded away Curry. But I agree with your larger argument. I mean what the **** are the Bulls going to do? When do mid-season coaching changes ever work? Especially when your dealing with a coach of Skiles' caliber? It doesn't. This falls squarely on the shoulders of Paxson, and the way he handled contract negotiations this off season. Well. Here it is. A GM gets to fire two coaches. Paxson now has one strike against him. One more, and then he's next to go.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (such sweet thunder @ Dec 24 2007, 01:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Mr. J @ Dec 24 2007, 01:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan @ Dec 24 2007, 01:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The Bulls had a poorly constructed roster that was poorly coached. Skiles deserved to be fired, but that alone won't fix the Bulls</div> I wouldn't say it was poorly constructed. Bulls fans were not saying that last year and it is virtually the same roster. </div> I have to disagree with your smaller point. All of us were arguing the team was poorly constructed last year, and every year since we traded away Curry. But I agree with your larger argument. I mean what the **** are the Bulls going to do? When do mid-season coaching changes ever work? Especially when your dealing with a coach of Skiles' caliber? It doesn't. This falls squarely on the shoulders of Paxson, and the way he handled contract negotiations this off season. Well. Here it is. A GM gets to fire two coaches. Paxson now has one strike against him. One more, and then he's next to go. </div> Nets went on a 14 game winning streak after a coaching change, from Scott to Frank. They might have made it further into the playoffs, too, had it not been for injuries. So I'd say that worked pretty well.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (peg182 @ Dec 24 2007, 01:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Nets went on a 14 game winning streak after a coaching change, from Scott to Frank. They might have made it further into the playoffs, too, had it not been for injuries. So I'd say that worked pretty well.</div> Scott isn't near the caliber of coach Skiles is. And the Bulsl are not going to find a coach as good as Frank to replace him.
This is just terrific news! Kareem for coach. NAO. Time to rag on Paxon now. What a scrooge move. Firing the coach on Christmas Eve. Talk about Merry Christmas! Reminiscent of cutting Corey Blount the day after he could have signed with a playoff team (and likely would have been demand for his services).
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (such sweet thunder @ Dec 24 2007, 01:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (peg182 @ Dec 24 2007, 01:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Nets went on a 14 game winning streak after a coaching change, from Scott to Frank. They might have made it further into the playoffs, too, had it not been for injuries. So I'd say that worked pretty well.</div> Scott isn't near the caliber of coach Skiles is. And the Bulsl are not going to find a coach as good as Frank to replace him. </div> Yeah, I guess that coaching change was helped alot by the fact that the Nets winning had much more to do with the assistant coaches and Jason Kidd than Byron Scott.
Skiles would make a fine college coach. Four years is just about right before his act wears thin on the players. My old HS coach is looking for a job these days - Jeff Bzdelik. He coached the Nuggets to winning seasons, but management wanted a more upbeat offensive scheme to take advantage of Melo's game so they fired him. He then went on to coach at Air Force, which is a losing proposition (who wants to be recruited by Air Force when you have to serve after graduation and can't play in the NBA right away - see David Robinson). Teams usually get a short-term bump from a mid-season coaching change. It could carry over for the Bulls unless Paxson decides to blow up the team and rebuild again. It's not unlikely since he'd rather pay rookie scale contracts than pay guys like Deng and Gordon big bucks when their time comes.
