<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Coaching was not the Bulls' problem at the start of the season. Their problems were injuries and key players not coming in with the right mindset. Eddy Curry, Scottie Pippen, Tyson Chandler and Jalen Rose all missed significant preseason and/or early season time due to physical ailments. This hurt chemistry and timing coming into the season. Missing time in the preseason also can lead to a player coming in with less conditioning than his teammates. A lack of timing and chemistry with teammates can cause hesitancy. Add that to low energy levels from poor conditioning, and the result can look a lot like a lack of intensity and effort. Curry expected more attention this season, but I don't think he expected it to be as severe as it has been. He was shell-shocked by the intensity teams dedicated to him at the start of the season. That, along with his missed preseason time led to very slow start. In Jamal Crawford's case, the loss of Jay Williams led to a loss of urgency on Crawford's part. He reverted to the style that lost him the starting job to Williams at the start of last season. He had some solid shooting performances right after Skiles took over, but then the new coach is starting to say the same things that Cartwright said about him: he needs to take better shots and penetrate more. Crawford wasn't listening to Cartwright and blamed the triangle. Now that he can't use that excuse, he's finally publicly admitting to the things that Cartwright had been saying all along. And guess what, Crawford had a couple of great games recently. Chandler, Curry, Crawford and Pippen were supposed to be the offensive and defensive anchors for the resurgence of the Bulls, so it should come as no surprise that their lack of performance ? because of mental and physical setbacks ? had a trickle-down effect on the entire team. It will soon become evident that Cartwright was not the problem. The Bulls will be all right eventually, but it will be more a function of time and health, not coaching. </div> ...
