Coaching change doesn't appear imminent
From the Bulls’ perspective, the worst part of Tuesday’s 103-101 loss to the Nets at the United Center wasn’t New Jersey’s 1-19 record, I don’t think.
Injuries played a huge part in the Nets’ awful start. The team that took the floor against the Bulls is a long, long way from the worst in NBA history.
What’s troubling is that the Nets looked sharp. In just their third game with former GM Kiki Vandeweghe on the bench, the Nets played to their strengths. Devin Harris and Chris Douglas-Roberts sliced to the basket, while blossoming center Brook Lopez got plenty of chances to score in the post. New Jersey outscored the Bulls 24-15 at the foul line and used its small, quick lineup to pester the Bulls into 19 turnovers – and just one of those giveaways occurred in the fourth quarter.
The Bulls still play in spurts, can’t find much help on the bench and have trouble settling on a plan of action. When they finally found something that worked on Tuesday – Derrick Rose putting the team on his back in the fourth quarter – they couldn’t get him the ball with a chance to take the lead and ended up missing a 3-pointer with seven seconds left.
BULLS COACHES BEWARE CHRISTMAS EVE
It’s no great revelation to suggest that Vinny Del Negro’s job status could be hanging by a thread. John Paxson didn’t show a great deal of patience when he changed coaches twice before. Bill Cartwright left just before Thanksgiving in 2003, while Scott Skiles departed on Christmas Eve of 2007.
Tim Floyd was also axed on Christmas Eve in 2001, but that was when Jerry Krause ran the show.
The question is whether Del Negro will be given the time to work with a healthier team. Kirk Hinrich and Tyrus Thomas have been out longer than originally expected, but both should be back on the court within two weeks.
I’m hearing that a coaching change is not imminent. That’s not to say it won’t happen next week. But Del Negro appears safe for now.
There are a variety of issues going on with the Bulls: The injuries, a tough opening schedule, persistent slumps by veterans Brad Miller, John Salmons and Jannero Pargo.
Looking at the big picture, it’s really the last two games when things started to go alarmingly bad. After losing to Cleveland, it looked like the Bulls had a chance to right the ship quickly with a spate of home games on the horizon. Beat Toronto and New Jersey at home and the Bulls would have been 9-10 right now and no one would be thinking about how much time Del Negro had to spend on the bench.
Wednesday’s game at Atlanta looks like a sure loser, considering the Hawks haven’t played since Saturday and the shorthanded Bulls are having trouble sustaining energy for a single quarter, let along back-to-backs against a good team.
Then the Bulls come back home for a couple of challenging games against Golden State and Boston this weekend, with the Lakers following them into the UC next Tuesday.
If the Bulls are 7-16 after the Lakers game, a change might be inevitable. But that date is still a week away.
Bad coaches. Bad players. It's a bleak outlook for basketball and football. At least in the Bulls case, they have money to spend next offseason and try to get somewhat better.
Vinny is HORRENDOUS! Seriously? Given a chance to work with a healthy team? Didn't he last year?
I don't care if you have zero talent, it's still possible to see if a coach has a firm grasp of how to coach an NBA team. Their offense is uneventful, he uses timeouts poorly, and has a goofy rotation situation (who rests their best player thirty seconds AFTER a timeout instead of using the timeout as part of the rest back to back with the substituation?), just to name three. He's the worst coach in the city, by FAR.
how much you wanna bet tonights offense features Rose bringing the ball up, Noah setting a screen, Rose then passing it to somebody who pounds the dribble, and either takes an 18ft jumper or passes it to somebody else to take an 18ft jumper.
may i suggest that we skip the screen and no rolll that clogs up the floor and let Rose drive it. perhaps, some other players could drive it as well since the jump shot is not getting the job done. Solmons was doing a nice job last year driving it. heck, even miller was doing a decent job of driving off his pump fake, but we've only seen that once or twice this year.
the offense is so predictable i could defend it and i'm a slow 6 footer.
oh, and could we save a few timeouts for the critical moments at the end of the game.
and while we are at it, could we use our foul to give in the last 15 seconds when up by one.
there is talent on this team. no doubt about it. it's just not being used properly.
just for fun, i'd like to see a vertical jump contest between Solmons, Miller and a cricket. my money is on the cricket to have a higher vertical.
i'm tired of my cousin Vinny.
I vote for Pippen to be the next coach and that we bring back the triangle. hey, it can't be any worse that what it is now.
Pippen? No way!
However, you're right about that Noah screen. Teams who are smart use Noah's defender to show out so hard on Rose that it's essentially a double team. What's Noah going to do, pop and hit a jumper? New Jersey didn't even guard him on the perimeter last night. Leave him around the basket!
If not Pippen then who. Bernie Bickerstaff? I'd assume he would be the interim if Vinny goes away. Or do you go with Pete Myers. he has nba expierience. well, if only for 2 or 3 games.
Do you bring back Del Harris to run the show? Doug Collins? Mike Fratello? Perhaps an Avery Johnson?
who else is out there?
Anyone is better, but my vote would be for Byron Scott. Not sure if I'd go the Avery Johnson or Mark Jackson route.
There is no buzz about his team, they stink and they need a new coach. Vinny acts like he cares about as much as Lovie, there are reports Vinny's house is on the market, it should be. The only good move the Bulls have made this year, was starting the games earlier. This way the chuckie-cheese crowd that attends these games now can get home to bed on time.
No buzz on the team or in the stands. I was at last week's Piston's game and i've never heard the UC sound so weak. Normally there is excitement in the crowd. Heck, you normally get some Pistons fans to razz. It was so bad, they didn't even what to show their colors.
Where is a team with Jannero Pargo,Lindsay Hunter, Brad Miller, Aaron Gray, two late first round draft choices suppose to go. This is a joke and an insult to pay to see this or to even watch.
What are the NBA rules concerning the injured list and inactives? The only inactive player on the Bulls is Jerome James who is obviously not going to play. Aaron Gray was on the 12 man roster while he was injured, and now Tyrus and Hinrich are part of the 12 man roster. Don't need to be a doctor to know Tyrus's injury was going to last longer than 5 games.
The Bulls have problems and definitely I am not defending Del Negro. But why are the Bulls not seeking short term reinforcements to complete their roster? The current group looks mentally and emotionally exhausted following the circus trip.
The NBA did away with the injured list a few years ago, where guys used to have to go on the list and stay for five games.
Now before every game, the teams turn in an active roster of 12 players. The Bulls only have 13 total and three of them are hurt, so that's why Hinrich and Thomas have been listed on the active roster.
It's been obvious all year that the thin roster has been a huge problem for the Bulls. Among their 10 healthy players, Lindsey Hunter is 39, Jannero Pargo is in a bad shooting slump, James Johnson has struggled contribute and Aaron Gray rarely plays.
I think VDN got caught loving the 7 man rotation he used in the playoffs last season. You can't do that for an entire season in the NBA. Even Phil Jax used to play 10-11 guys regularly in the regular season before cutting it down to around 8 in the playoffs.
The starters probably are exhausted and the bench guys aren't talented enough to get time. The fact that they didn't/aren't picking up guys short term to cover Hinrich, Thomas and (I guess) Gray being injured is bothersome.
They need to get Thomas back and playing so that he can drive up his trade value and then send him in a deal for Bosh.
If the Bulls can't put a better team on the floor then they should start looking for a replacement for Rose because he's not sticking around if this team doesn't improve. Having Pargo and Hunter being the first few guys off the bench is not a good situation to be in.