Last week’s concern du jour for anxious Bulls fans was Ben Gordon. (I’m working on several languages now with the influx of international players and am starting with English.) Not that we’ll ever be done with Ben, but this week it’s Scott Skiles.
Yes, a five-game losing streak and a 3-8 start can make anyone look dumb. Can Skiles be a C guy? I know we’re past Point A–Tim Floyd. This is probably Point B, although with the slow start, it doesn’t seem like it. Relax, it’s hard to believe anyone in the East will end up over .500. If the Bulls can get those 42 wins again, they might win the conference.
So don’t despair yet. And they play the Knicks twice in the next five days.
The Bulls’ inconsistent start this season seems to be directly related to the energy level on both ends of the court, but especially the defensive end. Scott Skiles is known for running strict and grueling practices. Are these workouts maybe sapping his players’ energy?
I’m actually with Skiles on this one and think the big babies have it too easy. The NBA Players’ Association actually fought for and got the NBA to cut down the number of training camp practices. Jeez, how pathetic is that? These are the biggest, strongest, fittest people in our society, and they’re getting tired playing basketball? Don’t ever listen to them complain about the second of back-to-back games. I never write about that because it’s such a copout. No athletes are pampered like NBA players with charter flights and the finest accommodations. How many hours do they really work a day? Practices generally last two hours. Say they shoot on their own for another hour, which not everyone does. That’s a three- to four-hour day–in sweat pants or shorts. Skiles does practice his players hard, which is why they’ve been able to transcend their talent level the last two seasons. They come ready to play, or did until this season so far. If you practice hard, the games should be easier. I say run their butts.
When an opposing player posts up Ben Wallace, why does Skiles always send help and leave a shooter wide open, often beyond the arc? I think Wallace doesn’t want help and he is more than able to defend anyone one-on-one. What do you think?
I think Ben needs help these days, though I don’t believe that’s the reason. Unlike the other Bulls centers, or what pass as centers, Wallace doesn’t front the post much. Old habits die hard. Also, the Bulls have a philosophy, which I like, of not allowing opposing players to work in the post to get a shot. So when a player starts dribbling in, it’s automatic to drop in help and then recover. It’s the recover part that hasn’t been working as well. I’d like to see Wallace energetic for more of the game than he has been.
So when does Jerry Reinsdorf and/or John Paxson conclude that Skiles is not the man to take the Bulls to Point C? Sure, Skiles got the Bulls from Point A (the lottery) to Point B (the seventh or eighth playoff seed), but can he get them to Point C (actually competing to make to the Finals)? I’m starting to doubt it. The Bulls look young, athletic with decent depth, but they look and play tightly wound, much like their head coach. I’m beginning to think there is a reason Skiles was out of the league for as long as he was. Personally, he reminds me of a college coach.
I see you’re a point man too. Thanks, by the way, for explaining those point locations. It’s never been clear because Doug Collins made it to the conference finals and was fired. Actually, I think Skiles has been very patient this season. He plays the rookies when other coaches with the expectations of this team might not at all. He says nice things all the time about Ben Wallace, though that may be due to Scott being intimidated by men with so much hair. He’s preached patience and has been less sarcastic (“Jump,” Eddy). He’s given extra days off and almost smiled one day. I still see the team responding to Skiles, which is the test for any coach. And he can’t be a college coach since he knows how to run an offense.
We’ve all watched the Bulls struggle through the so-called circus trip every year since the end of the glory years, digging themselves into a hole that it takes until spring to get out of. Has there ever been any discussion of rescheduling the circus in order to give the Bulls a little help in getting off to a stronger start? Couldn’t the United Center host the circus pretty much anytime?
This is one of my pet peeves and I’m sure Skiles is with me on that. Most Eastern teams have these long road trips because they also host events in their buildings. It’s a copout to say they can’t win in the West. If that’s so, stop talking about being a contending team. I never heard any complaints about this trip from the Bulls in the ’80s and ’90s. You’ve got to play the games and everyone plays 41 on the road. The Bulls have two of the softest months of anyone in the league coming up. That’s the tradeoff. It’s also why they’ve recovered. Let’s see if they can do it again. Good teams win on the road. Bad teams complain and make excuses. I’m biting the head off a turkey this week for my Thanksgiving dinner. Let’s get tough!
Who would’ve guessed that height would turn out to be important in basketball?
This is sarcasm, right? I like it; it was my major in college. Perhaps this has to do with the Bulls having the smallest front court since the old Milwaukee Hawks. Yes, teams have gone right at Ben Wallace, apparently not realizing he is a four-time defensive player of the year. I believe the Bulls should petition the league to allow Ben to stand on his plaques. Ben doesn’t have the hops–I love scout talk–he once did, and Andres Nocioni isn’t blocking many shots. Look, if the Bulls could have gotten a big guy they would have. Nazr Mohammed? Joel Przybilla? They went after the player they thought was the best defender, and even though Wallace hasn’t been what he once was, I believe it will work itself out. Hey, no one predicted a championship quite yet.
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sasmith@tribune.com
