Should we respect the Vinny-Gordon spat?

In 10 years of following the Bulls closely, I've seen plenty of player-coach spats during the heat of a game, but nothing quite like what happened after Thursday's practice at the Berto Center.

I didn't have a great view of what happened, being on the opposite side of the media hoard that surrounded Vinny Del Negro. But shortly after Del Negro finished the interview session, an agitated Ben Gordon approached the Bulls coach holding a single piece of paper.

The rest of the story came from witnesses. Gordon used some profanity while asking for an explanation of what was apparently a fine for violating a team rule. Del Negro offered to talk in a different location and the pair eventually retreated toward the locker room.

A player-coach confrontation may not be an unusual occurrence, but Gordon obviously knew there were about a dozen reporters in the vicinity when he approached Del Negro.

Oddly enough, one of the questions posed to Del Negro on Thursday was whether he had the respect of his players. Then an incident happened in plain view that could be seen as an act of disrespect.

I don't know if that's really a fair question, since there's only one way it can be answered, but here's how Del Negro responded:

“Why don’t you ask them that?” he said. “They should. They better. But you ask the players that.”

Two players spoke to the media on Thursday and both were asked about the players' attitude toward the coaching staff.

“Of course we do,” Luol Deng said. “We respect them. We just all have to be on the same page. I just don’t feel we’re all on one page in terms of injuries and guys coming back and guys not knowing what’s going on. We have to do a better job.”

Derrick Rose was next and he's obviously experiencing his first NBA season, but answered the respect question without hesitation. Actually, it was a series of three questions.

Q: Where is your confidence level and support for staff?
“It’s real high,” Rose said. “I trust in them. They trust in me. I think it’s alright right now.”

Q: Do you listen to coaches?
“Of course. I know a lot of us do. The people who are not, coaches are trying to get to them and talk to them and have meetings with them.

Q: Are you saying some players don’t listen?
“I’m talking about during the games, like, following game plans. I’m not saying players are being rebellious or doing it their way. It’s just miscommunication on the court.”

I think what Rose meant was guys who are having trouble learning the plays (there are surely a few) are getting extra help from the coaching staff. So he probably took the question a little differently than it meant. But that hardly matters. Few players would ever admit to not respecting their coaches.

The only real proof is on the court. I thought the Bulls played with a lot of spirit at the start of the regular season and seemed energized by the emergence of Rose as a potential star. That spirit seemed to fade in December. Injuries played a part, but so did self-centered play and the frustration of silly mistakes.

Have the players bought into Del Negro's system? Not entirely, I'd say. Del Negro said on the day he was hired that defense would be the top priority and the Bulls rank 24th in points allowed.

Then again, the defense is obviously handicapped by having so many young players at the inside positions. It's no big secret: Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah are capable of playing solid defense, but both of them just don't get themselves involved in as many plays as they could.

The Bulls knew when they hired a first-time coach there would be a learning curve for Del Negro. I would imagine John Paxson will try to make personnel changes so there is more of a fresh start next fall.