Sam Smith writes: <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>The Bulls had a bit of a run and looked as if they were turning things around after the circus trip, when they won five of seven, including one in Detroit. But the team has regressed badly since. Not just with four losses in the last six games, but with the manner of the losses. They haven't been competitive in blowouts, in which they appeared to be either intimidated or disinterested. Selfish play has crept in with less ball movement and players looking off teammates to get shots up. The defense, though respectable at 11th in opponents' field-goal percentage, has been declining in recent weeks. One particularly worrisome sign is the poor coverage of three-point shooting. The Bulls don't double-team much, yet teams have dominated them shooting threes, which suggests a lack of effort and hustle to the perimeter to close out on shooters. Luther Head and Shane Battier blitzed them with threes Saturday, even when center Yao Ming was sitting.</div> Smith summarizes a lot of the negatives but I tend to think he's most pointing the blame toward the perimeter guys who seem to be terrifyingly slow on defense lately. (That's Ben, Lou and Kirk if you're wondering)
i agree, there should be some urgency at this point. The season is long but i really don't see signs of improvement or hope at this point.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Smith writes: @ Dec 24 2007, 11:50 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>But thanks to Artis Gilmore, no one is about to be fired, cut, traded or released. It was 20 years ago Monday when one of the most popular players in Bulls history was released on Christmas Eve because of then-NBA rules that forced teams to waive players Dec. 24 or pay them for a full season. The so-called guarantee date subsequently was moved into January. The organization was overwhelmed with negative publicity and community condemnation for dumping Gilmore, which makes the Bulls organization perhaps the most sensitive to the personal aspect of the holiday season. Hey, guys, continue with your holiday shopping, but no one should relax. * * * * * Maybe 10 to 15 more games and then the Gilmore Rule will have expired and someone could be out the door.</div> Well, no ones right all of the time. And Smith is (definiately definiately definately) no exception.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Denny Crane @ Dec 24 2007, 02:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>This Christmas, the players got the best present of all. It sucks for Skiles' Christmas tho. </div> Did he get lucky or does he have really good sources?
It's pretty obvious that Skiles was going to go. You can't fire the players, and Pax isn't going to fire himself. Pax is unwilling to pull the trigger on a trade of any consequence. So what else is there to do but fire the coach?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Denny Crane @ Dec 24 2007, 03:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>It's pretty obvious that Skiles was going to go. You can't fire the players, and Pax isn't going to fire himself. Pax is unwilling to pull the trigger on a trade of any consequence. So what else is there to do but fire the coach? </div> Rearrange the deck chairs and strike up the band?
