<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Denny Crane @ Dec 24 2007, 01:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>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.</div> The first thing I thought after I saw that Skiles was fired was, how much do you want to bet Wallace gets traded for a mid-round draft pick. Now that Paxson is a little more on the hot seat, he's almost guaranteed to hedge it by buying time with some unrefined talent with mediocre upside. Oh yeah. (vomit.)
My read on the situation is that Paxson wants Wallace to play, not sit on the bench. This is contrary to what people have been saying, but it makes sense if you think about it. Paxson is particular about "his" guys (won't trade Deng for Gasol :/) and Wallace probably qualifies. Skiles was really good with players who were ready to play, but I don't see it that he's helped any really develop to their full potential. In fact, I think he's ultimately held everyone back (Gordon by using him as a bench and role player, for example). I would not be surprised if guys like Gordon and Deng don't really break out under a new coach, an offense designed to take advantage of their skills, and increased confidence (they won't get benched for making a mistake or two).
I thought this was a sick joke, until I saw a Suns fan made it. Rack this up in another reason why Paxson should be fired. What a ****ing jerk, scrooge, firing a guy on Christmas eve. Paxson is the epitome of a dirtbag in the NBA. Why not fire him during that talk after the Rockets game? I think this puts the writing on the wall for Gordon/Hinrich/Wallace. Both are going to be gone probably now. Hopefully they hire Jeff Van Gundy to coach. I think he would be the coach who finally moves Gordon to point guard. (since he's mentioned it a ton on every tv broadcast he does for us).
Really, really shocking. At least to me. Skiles is a very good coach. It's the roster/GM that is flawed, not Skiles. The key question is: was Skiles fired because he wasn't developing TT/Noah, or because Paxson expects this team to win games? Or both? I guess Paxson has a somewhat legitimate basis if he decided TT/Noah weren't getting enough playing time. But... eh. Can't say I'm very happy with this move or think that it will change anything. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>The first thing I thought after I saw that Skiles was fired was, how much do you want to bet Wallace gets traded for a mid-round draft pick. Now that Paxson is a little more on the hot seat, he's almost guaranteed to hedge it by buying time with some unrefined talent with mediocre upside. Oh yeah. (vomit.)</div> I would be extremely happy if Wallace was traded. I think Noah is a better player right now. Wallace has negative trade value because of his gigantic contract. If Paxson could get a mid first rounder for him that would be pretty brilliant.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BG7 Lavigne @ Dec 24 2007, 02:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I thought this was a sick joke, until I saw a Suns fan made it. Rack this up in another reason why Paxson should be fired. What a ****ing jerk, scrooge, firing a guy on Christmas eve. Paxson is the epitome of a dirtbag in the NBA. Why not fire him during that talk after the Rockets game? I think this puts the writing on the wall for Gordon/Hinrich/Wallace. Both are going to be gone probably now. Hopefully they hire Jeff Van Gundy to coach. I think he would be the coach who finally moves Gordon to point guard. (since he's mentioned it a ton on every tv broadcast he does for us).</div> Van Gundy would be a decent choice. Houston certainly hasn't done well without him. I'm not in favor of a Saunders or Adelman-type of coach. I think you need an elite defensive coach with the Bulls' roster since we have so many undersized, skinny players.
The early word on the radio is that Pete Myers will coach the team for the rest of the year. It sounds like Paxson has decided to tank this season to get a top draft pick. Obviously keeping Skiles would signify making something out of this year. Firing him and then not going out and hiring a new guy doesn't signify Paxson is going to try to make anything of this year. No Carlisle or Van Gundy this season would be a major disappointment. Paxson's a coward, and a coward shouldn't be a GM of a team.
Schuster (on the Score) is saying that Paxson didn't plan on firing Skiles this morning, but fired him because Skiles essentially told Paxson that his roster is crap, go get a powerforward.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BG7 Lavigne @ Dec 24 2007, 02:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The early word on the radio is that Pete Myers will coach the team for the rest of the year.</div> Hm. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>It sounds like Paxson has decided to tank this season to get a top draft pick. Obviously keeping Skiles would signify making something out of this year. Firing him and then not going out and hiring a new guy doesn't signify Paxson is going to try to make anything of this year.</div> I agree. I'm actually happy with tanking. This team needs more talent. I think this team has too much talent/too many hardworking players to tank effectively though. At the end of the year we're still a 40 win team. We need to sit Deng and possibly Hinrich or Gordon to get to 30 wins.
Pete Meyers is your typical interim coach. He's clearly going to coach for a little while, until another coach is hired. I don't see the point in keeping him as coach the rest of the season. He's basically cut his teeth under Skiles and would probably just run Skiles' system - which hasn't been very good, especially lately. Though another benefit to tanking is that Gordon/Deng are in contract years and the worse they do, the cheaper Pax is going to be able to sign them. The bastard.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BG7 Lavigne @ Dec 24 2007, 03:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Schuster (on the Score) is saying that Paxson didn't plan on firing Skiles this morning, but fired him because Skiles essentially told Paxson that his roster is crap, go get a powerforward.</div> Good. At least they're keeping this in house and saving the franchise the embarassment of bickering through the press.
I disagree with this move because of its abruptness. We had a coach that obviously did us some good for the whole time he's been our coach and then we fire him because of a few lost games. I am sure "Wallace is not playing enough" is also a reason, but a stupid one to say the least. If Wallace was a more effective player, he would play every game, but it is because of his careless mistakes which keeps him benched. He will occasionally get laxed on his defense or do some ugly fade away shot that he knows he doesn't have training or skill to make. I like Ben Wallace, but he simply isn't performing like the Ben Wallace we knew from the Pistons, no where close. One would expect more from a 16 million dollar, name brand, and 'elite' player as Ben Wallace, but he just hasn't stepped up to the plate. Ben Wallace is an eroding rock on the court. Lets get into the "Ben Gordon hasn't been properly utilized" reason that I am sure is part of Skiles being abruptly fired. Ben Gordon has been utilized for as much as he is good for at the time, offense. What else could we use Gordon for? He lacks a defensive game, get him a defense coach, you make enough f**cking money, pay for it. From what I could see, Skiles used Gordon every game, but Gordon hasn't performed. Gordon hasn't brought it to the table, Gordon is a great shooter with a great stroke, but it isn't consistent. Gordon had the talent to make it to the NBA, he has the talent to make his shot more consistent. He needs to work on timing and the only way for him to master timing is to get out on the court and relax, he is too tense. Gordon needs to work on his passing, he is an atrocious passer, he makes terrible passing decisions, and sometimes bites off more than he can chew with the jumping up in the air Steve Nash like passing. Skiles fault? I don't think so, Gordon just needs to play more effectively. Firing Skiles so abruptly was a stupid move. Lets talk about T.T. and his slow development.....part of or even most of this blame has to go on T.T. himself. Only T.T. can make himself better. Look at the retired greats of the NBA: Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Charles Barkley, Reggie Miller, Julius Erving, Moses Malone, Karl Malone, John Stockton, Scottie Pippen, Patrick Ewing, Bill Russell, Magic, Kareem A.J., Kevin McHale, etc....How did they become great? did they sit around and pout about slow development? N O. They pushed themselves to be what they were and that is that, if Paxson wants to get on someone for slow development, get on Tyrus Thomas because all T.T. is good for is showboat dunks and occasional mid range shooting, not good enough. Paxson, get your sh!* straight before you go off firing the wrong people. "Well Scott is supposed to motivate the team" the team must motivate themselves first. Stupid abrupt move. It should be interesting seeing where our season goes. If he is tanking this season for a top draft pick.....We have young, playoff making, and talented players work on progressing them. We cannot progress if we keep dropping and drafting. With this team, we can get a ring.
MJordan Since the dynasty was broken up, the Bulls have been a minor league team. They draft and develop players only to see them move up to the big league teams. FWIW If the Bulls stuck Gordon at PG from day 1 and stuck with him for the 20 games it would have taken for him to master the position, he'd remind us all of Baron Davis. Skiles has been miserable at running an offense that really takes advantage of him, so no matter how much work Gordon does in the gym, it was never going to show much on the court. Gordon's fine on defense, and always has been. Skiles' plays for Gordon consistently had him getting the ball on the left wing and dribbling across the top of the key into triple teams. Or just curling off screens as a shooter. Or just standing in the corner hoping the defense breaks down and leaves him open for a good look at a 3. The guy was a mad dunker in college, and had nearly as many assists as Hinrich as a college player. Deng is silky smooth to watch, yet he's an afterthought in Skiles' offense. His job is to stand in the corner and wait for the defense to break down, as well. Gordon in the right corner, Deng in the left. I don't think there's a play in the playbook designed to get him shots. Paxson is a white PG. Skiles is a white PG. The team was built and run for a white PG. Most of the players play the game glued to the floor, because that's how Paxson and Skiles played in their day. I'm not suggesting it's racist, just that there is an ABA style of play (playground style, with flair and individuality and creativity) and the old NBA style of play (like the old Celtics) that is reliant on coaching and playing indoors and less creativity. I personally prefer the ABA style, and I do like the players to stand out. The NBA style is stodgy and boring to watch, exactly what the Bulls have been the past 4 seasons. Michael Jordan was able to do both, and he stood out. Let's hope that with Skiles gone, the next coach lets the players have some fun. When the players are having fun, it's more fun for me as a fan.
Well, gee, Merry Christmas everyone! I said it earlier today before the news hit and I'll stick by it. This team wasn't brought down by Skiles and getting rid of him isn't going to provide any sort of meaningful lift. Despite the fact that I'm pretty sure he was a jackass to more than a few players, I can't even say with much certainty that I think he really deserved to be canned. It'll be interesting to see how much the players walk all over the next coach. My guess is quite a bit, and not a whole lot will get improved in terms of winning, although some guys' numbers will improve. From what I can tell, there's a pretty fair amount of dissension on this team between the old high paid guy and everyone else, and the guy who didn't get paid and everyone else. I have know idea how bringing a new coach in to keep the lid on that kettle helps. Nor do I have any idea who that coach will be except that if we get Pete Myers for the rest of the season it will surely result in a regular batch of empty seats in the UC by the end of the year.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Denny Crane @ Dec 24 2007, 01:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>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).</div> Jeff Bzdelik is at Colorado I believe Too bad Ben Wallace is making max deal or else you could trade him to Utah for Memo I bet.....
Buzz (as we called him) was a really good guy when I knew him. Last I saw, he was fired by Air Force in March or April. I'm happy for him if he's now at Colorado!
Nice work, Paxson. You're team is having heart problems, and your solution is to amputate the head. How about dumping the so-called leaders on the floor who decided to "quit" on their coach.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (such sweet thunder @ Dec 24 2007, 02:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Denny Crane @ Dec 24 2007, 01:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>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.</div> The first thing I thought after I saw that Skiles was fired was, how much do you want to bet Wallace gets traded for a mid-round draft pick. Now that Paxson is a little more on the hot seat, he's almost guaranteed to hedge it by buying time with some unrefined talent with mediocre upside. Oh yeah. (vomit.) </div> I truly hope so. I look at the Bulls and think something like that needs to happen. It's not that I want to take a step back, but in the grand scheme of things we aren't going to get anywhere with a rapidly aging Wallace and an otherwise young team. Plus a great amount of the stuff that's come out in his role in all of this is pretty disturbing. He's a coach killer. Maybe on any team, but certainly on a team like the Bulls. He needs to be gone by the deadline.
My initial reaction was shock, but usually the coach is the first to go in these situations. Skiles had enough of the selfishness of this team and clearly had some issues with the way Paxson was constructing this team.
