<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Mike D'Antoni's strong interest in coaching the Chicago Bulls emerged last week. Now it's being officially reciprocated. NBA front-office sources told ESPN.com on Monday night that Bulls general manager John Paxson came away from two interviews with D'Antoni in Phoenix impressed and seriously interested in the coach who wants to leave the Suns in part because of a tense working relationship with Paxson's good friend Steve Kerr. Sources in both organizations openly expect D'Antoni to wind up in Chicago now -- with one Phoenix source going so far as to describe a deal as "imminent" -- but it's believed that financial complications account for the one obstacle that could derail his move from the desert to the Windy City.</div> http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3383366 <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Mike D'Antoni has told John Paxson he wants to be the Bulls' next coach, according to sources. Whether Paxson has the same wish remains to be seen after the Bulls' general manager spent parts of Sunday and Monday with the Suns' coach in Phoenix.</div> Also....let the Kobe to Chicago rumors begin. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>"Jellybean" Joe Bryant's young son, Kobe, lived in Italy at that time. He admired D'Antoni's game so much that he requested the same uniform number, 8, when he reached the NBA. Bryant and D'Antoni are fluent in Italian and could have enjoyed Chicago pizza together if the Bulls had gone after Bryant as hard as they now may be going after the coach.</div> http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sp...,7082353.column
Hey, were hiring the Nuggets defensive assistant it looks like, so we might have defense. (The guys head coaching record is impeccable). Denver was #9 in defensive efficiency. Our players have gotten to an even higher level (I think #1 one year) under Skiles, so I think we definitely have the pieces to be a good defensive team under D'Antoni with a good defensive assistant. Although I'd rather throw a lot of money at Thibodeau to come be our assistant than Dunlap.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BG7 Lavigne @ May 6 2008, 09:20 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Hey, were hiring the Nuggets defensive assistant it looks like, so we might have defense. (The guys head coaching record is impeccable). Denver was #9 in defensive efficiency. Our players have gotten to an even higher level (I think #1 one year) under Skiles, so I think we definitely have the pieces to be a good defensive team under D'Antoni with a good defensive assistant. Although I'd rather throw a lot of money at Thibodeau to come be our assistant than Burlap.</div> You're hiring Mr. Offense in D'Antoni and a defensive coach from the Denver Nuggets (a joke defensively). You'll be lucky to have one decent defensive sequence all season.
I wouldn't get all worried about the bulls players suddenly not playing defense. If D'Antoni became coach of the Pistons, would they stop playing D? Given the makeup of the core of Bulls players, I kinda see Hinrich being Nash-lite, but one who plays much better defense. For example...
Oy Vey! We go from spending 5 years crafting a roster of gritty, dive for loose ball defenders who have "played in the big games" and now the talk is of a coach who has the approach of "defense? what's that?" Guys like Jalen Rose in his prime and Jamal would look great under D'Antoini. There are exactly the guys that supposedly needed to go. Clueless. When I look at the Bulls roster, I'm still not sure what players look good playing Suns-ball and which ones do not. GOOD Noah -- big man that can run, handle OK for a C, pass OK for a C Gordon -- He can put the ball in the hoop and looks good handling the ball in the open court vs half court offense. BAD Hinrich -- Perhaps a better playmaker in an open system, but he still can't shoot or finish. ??? Nocioni – Can slash, hit an open shot, perhaps too lumbering for this system at the 3? Deng -- Too Slow? Does not look comfortable with the ball. TT -- I have no idea. My gut tells me that a more open system would help him and let him use his athleticism more. That and run n gun seems to require less basketball acumen for a 3/4 than running half court sets. Perhaps I'm wrong about this. Anyway, its really funny to see this play out. This would certainly be a "new vibe" no doubt about it. This seems to require a very good PG, which the Bulls certainly don’t have.
The Bulls players didn't play much defense last year. It seems that their inspired defense play over the last couple years had more to do with Skiles and less to do with some kind of ingrained inner spirit. The Suns certainly don't play much defense. Does D’Antoini even care about defense?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Denny Crane @ May 6 2008, 09:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I wouldn't get all worried about the bulls players suddenly not playing defense. If D'Antoni became coach of the Pistons, would they stop playing D? Given the makeup of the core of Bulls players, I kinda see Hinrich being Nash-lite, but one who plays much better defense. For example...</div> Remember when we stopped playing defense under Boylan? All the players complained about us not working on defense (well the players complained about us not working on anything in general). One of the complaints against D'Antoni was that they never practiced defense. We were around #2/3 in defensive efficiency at the beginning of the year with Skiles as coach, and then were down to #13 by the end of the year. I'd definitely be scared of our players not playing defense. Gordon became a better defender than Hinrich last year (and Gordon wasn't reaching close to all NBA levels), our interior defense was pathetic. The only one who played what could be considered good defense was Sefolosha.
Just got a message on my phone. Mark Stein: Sources expect Suns coach Mike D'Antoni to resign and become head coach of the Bulls.
Radio stations are reporting that the Bulls are on hold with D'Antoni over money. Negotiations with the Knicks are going better (more lucrative). This will be just like when we didn't want to sign and trade PJ Brown to get Gasol!
I'm not sure how overly thrilled I am about this. I've always been critical of D'Antoni as a coach and I still think he's seriously overrated.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Moo2K4 @ May 6 2008, 11:01 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I'm not sure how overly thrilled I am about this. I've always been critical of D'Antoni as a coach and I still think he's seriously overrated.</div> Agreed. I could coach a team with Nash, Marion, and Amare and look like a genius too.
This is random but I love how team's who missed the playoffs (like the Bulls) say that their next is NEVER.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Moo2K4 @ May 6 2008, 11:01 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I'm not sure how overly thrilled I am about this. I've always been critical of D'Antoni as a coach and I still think he's seriously overrated.</div> Same, with Avery Johnson interviewing with the Knicks, that shows he is looking to coach next year. I would want Johnson over D'Antoni, and I think Johnson is much closer to Paxson in ideology than D'Antoni. I'm just hoping, if we hire D'Antoni, Paxson has something up his sleeves such as stealing Thibodeau away from Boston to run our defense. Otherwise, this hiring flusters me. Gordon, Sefolosha, Thomas, and Noah are the only 4 players that could work well in D'Antoni's system. Gordon because he can nail pull up jumpers on the break, as well as hit spot up jumpers from players on the break. Noah/Thomas can both dunk and dribble, both are great passers for big men. Outside of that, our team isn't really fit to break. Nocioni and Deng are slow. Aaron Gray...Kirk Hinrich always bricks that pull up jumper and has he ever successfully run a fastbreak in his 5 years here? This seems to be a done deal (I assume Phoenix will then hire Johnson, and Knicks Jackson). It is shocking, who is going to be the point guard, Hinrich or Gordon? If we're going to be fastbreaking, since Hinrich hasn't shown the ability to lead the fastbreak, is there really any harm in switching Gordon to point guard? Maybe this is what Paxson has wanted all along. From all indications, Gordon/Thomas are (or were at least when drafted) Paxson's two prized possessions. Maybe it isn't that big of a stretch to bring in D'Antoni and move Gordon to point guard. Now if we are going to move forward, what pieces do we keep? Our frontcourt is pretty solid for D'Antoni, Tyrus, Noah, and Gooden should be able to stay. I would keep Gray to bang around in the playoffs, and for when we are going to stop fastbreaking (when the main point guard is out) and move to the halfcourt. Would need to get another legit 7 footer than can actually run the break. Deng is an alright fit. Don't see much room for Nocioni/Hughes here. There is a spot for Hinrich if he can show better decision making on the fastbreak. What would we be able to get for Hinrich/Nocioni/Hughes? I'd be looking for guys with three point range. Hinrich and Nocioni for Calderon and Kapono? Then we just need to find a sucker to take on Hughes. Maybe send Hughes and the #9 pick for Brad Miller (same contract length...passing big man). That leaves us with: PG-Jose Calderon/Ben Gordon/Thabo Sefolosha SG- Ben Gordon/Thabo Sefolosha SF-Luol Deng/Jason Kapono PF-Drew Gooden/Tyrus Thomas C- Joakim Noah/Brad Miller Hard to say who starts and who doesn't in the frontcourt though. Hopefully Thomas/Noah just runaway with their starting spots. I am pretty sure Noah will, but I don't have much faith in Thomas to, and would expect Miller/Gooden to start next to Noah. I would feel comfortable with that team with D'Antoni.
Jose Calderon isn't really a fast-break point guard. I'm not saying he can't push the tempo, but he doesn't like to and, more often than not, he tends to wait for everyone to cross the court so he can run a halfcourt set. If you're looking for an uptempo PG, TJ Ford's your man.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Chutney @ May 6 2008, 04:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Jose Calderon isn't really a fast-break point guard. I'm not saying he can't push the tempo, but he doesn't like to and, more often than not, he tends to wait for everyone to cross the court so he can run a halfcourt set. If you're looking for an uptempo PG, TJ Ford's your man.</div> Heh, going for the soft-sell there Chutney? I don't disagree, but that's not enough to make me want TJ Ford on my team.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MikeDC @ May 7 2008, 02:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Chutney @ May 6 2008, 04:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Jose Calderon isn't really a fast-break point guard. I'm not saying he can't push the tempo, but he doesn't like to and, more often than not, he tends to wait for everyone to cross the court so he can run a halfcourt set. If you're looking for an uptempo PG, TJ Ford's your man.</div> Heh, going for the soft-sell there Chutney? I don't disagree, but that's not enough to make me want TJ Ford on my team. </div> I thought if I was subtle enough... I don't blame you for not wanting TJ. What I really wonder, though, is what type of coach D'Antoni was prior to the Phoenix Suns. I think a lot of the time people make assumptions about what a coach can or can't do from just one stint. D'Antoni ran the run-and-gun with the Suns, but who knows if thats the only type of offensive philosophy that he's committed to. It very well may have just been him getting the most out of the roster he was given.
D'Antoni is expected to be hired in the next 48 hours. Hopefully its with the Knicks. Mike Dunlap is also out of the picture, he is going to be coaching college next year. Hopefully Avery is our man. Reindsorf was on the radio saying that the next coach is going to have to follow their defensive first philosophy, so D'Antoni doesn't seem to fit that.
