SB Nation User Blog: vanillablue

No Doug Collins after all

vanillablue — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 20:42:38 -0000

[From the FanPosts. I wasn't completely against Collins, but him backing out sits fine. What doesn't is yet another public show of incompetence by the Bulls. Oh well, happy Friday everyone. -ed.]

Looks like Doug Collins will not be the coach next year.

Sez Collins:

This is absolutely mutual. When this first came about, there was a tremendous amount of excitement about this possibility. And I'm losing that. The feeling now is more, 'Should I do this?' Once I got to that point, it meant no. I always make decisions yes is yes, no is no and maybe is no.

I'm not fluent in coach-speak, but I think that translates to "they didn't offer me enough money."

Thibodeau = JVG?

vanillablue — Tue, 27 May 2008 16:36:59 -0000

The list of "candidates" Pax is interviewing for coach is kind of a joke. Anyone else remember Chuck Person punting a ball into the upper deck of the old Stadium after getting kicked out of a Bulls-Pacers game? And now he's a serious coaching candidate?

I'm sure Pax is just waiting for the playoffs to be over so he can make a run at Tom Thibodeau. All we know about him right now is his reputation as a "defensive guru", which may be justified. But what about the other half of the game--you know, offense? Here's where I get worried.

Look at Thibodeau's resume. He started out in the NBA working for Bill Musselman in Minnesota, then (after some time in Seattle and San Antonio) spent five years as an assistant in NY under Jeff Van Gundy, followed by two more years with JVG in Houston, before going to Boston before last season.

So, in other words, Thibodeau was responsible for some of the most ugly, boring, and downright unwatchable basketball in the NBA's last 25 years. Those late '90's Knicks teams were an abomination, and JVG's Houston teams weren't any more entertaining. JVG exemplifies the worst type of control-freak coach who would rather lose a game 79-78 than win 120-118.

Yes, JVG has been a relatively successful coach--though he's infinitely better as a commentator. But there's no way I want him as head coach of the Bulls, and a guy who spent 7 years as his assistant is almost certainly going to coach the same way--especially since the Bulls don't have anywhere near the level of talent the Celtics have this season on the offensive end. If Thibodeau's the coach, expect lots of scores in the 70's, and get used to watching Derrick Rose walk the ball up the court and look at Thibodeau on every posession to see what play to run.

The definitive Michael Beasley article

vanillablue — Thu, 22 May 2008 18:49:49 -0000

By Grant Wahl of Sports Illustrated, from earlier this year.

Money quotes--the good:

"He's really a point forward, not much different—other than in body length—from Kevin Garnett. They can both guard smaller guys and big guys, step away from the basket and pass and dribble."--DePaul coach Jerry Wainwright

And the (potential) bad:

High school odysseys don't preclude success in the pros—Phoenix Suns All-Star Amaré Stoudemire, for example, attended six high schools in three years—but the lack of stability is a potential red flag for any team that's considering drafting Beasley.

The character issue--real or imagined--may be what tips the scales in favor of Rose.

Playoff fever!

vanillablue — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 20:35:16 -0000

The Bulls are headed for the playoffs! Feel the excitement, or something.

Here's why: New Jersey, Philadelphia, and Atlanta are currently tied for the 7th and 8th spots, with the Bulls and Indiana 2 games behind. But we have the most favorable schedule of all the teams vying for the last 2 playoff spots. The breakdown:

Bulls: 17 home games, 14 road games remaining
Indiana: 16 H, 13 R
Atlanta: 14 H, 19 R including a killer 5-game West Coast swing right after the All-Star break
Philadelphia: 13 H, 16 R
New Jersey: 14 H, 15 R

Factor in Deng and Gordon coming back from injury, and the Bulls have a clear advantage. The toughest competition will likely come from Philly, who have won 5 in a row. If Kidd is traded, NJ will assuredly be worse off in the short term, and if Kidd stays he'll be even less motivated than Vince Carter. Atlanta will probably be dead in the water after their West Coast road trip, and Indiana has no business thinking about the playoffs.

So get ready for that March/April playoff push! Man, if Joe Smith can just stay healthy, BG comes back strong, and Wallace plays like we know he can, we could really put a scare in the Celtics in the first round!

Ah, screw it--I can't even pretend to be excited. I'd actually be happier if Smith's knees give out, Wallace keeps mailing it in, and BG and Luol don't rush back, so we can miss the playoffs and force Pax to do something about this sorry-ass team.