<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'></p> <div class="bi">Noah Out Of Order?</div> <div> <span style="font-style: italic">Nov 8</span> - ''If I had just played my first pro game, I'd probably keep my mouth shut, to be honest with you,'' Scott Skiles said. ''It's obvious we're not playing to our ability, there's no doubt about that.</p> </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> </p> The reaction was interesting considering that after drafting Joakim Noah from Florida last June, both Skiles and GM John Paxson said how much the Bulls were a ''quiet'' group which could use a dose of an extroverted personality.</p> </p> ''I just felt that we didn't play in sync,'' Noah said after being told of Skiles' reaction. ''Is that ... I don't want to say anything. I don't have a problem with coach Skiles. OK, if he feels that way, then I'll shut up.'' -- <font color="#000000">Chicago Sun-Times</font></p> </p> </p> [*]Don't you hate it when young rabble-rousers become hypocritical old men? I remember many times when Scott Skiles, an opinionated party animal back in the day, spoke freely about basketball and life. He once peppered a teammate named Shaquille O'Neal with enough well-placed insults --- a ``p----,'' he reportedly called Shaq --- that the two nearly came to blows while wrestling on a practice court. </p> So why was Skiles peeved Wednesday after rookie Joakim Noah, such a free spirit that he criticized President Bush's war policies before reluctantly visiting the White House, issued an honest commentary about the woes of the 0-4 Bulls? I also should mention it was an accurate take about a soft, distracted, defensively listless team that is shooting 37 percent, averaging 87 points and still looks mired in a post-Kobe Bryant hangover. -- <font color="#000000">Chicago Sun-Times</font></p></div> </div>
