Full Court Press

Ya think Paxson could use a big voice in personnel decisions? I do

Bring in Brown! He's the best coach on the market and one of the best in NBA history. He has won championships at EVERY LEVEL. Of course, before outright hiring him, Brown and Pax need to sit down and talk about the roster and the direction of the team. If they're on the same page, this could be a match made in heaven. This year is an aboration, and it might take a year to fix, but that is exactly what Larry Brown needs. Teach the kids that are here, patch things back up with the roster, and then go for it in a weak Eastern Conference. Chicago is big-time, they have some players Brown has to love (Hinrich, Sefalosha, Noah, Deng, Noc), and Brown wants to go out with success. He's not going to battle his LAST GM as long as he trusts him and feels like they are on the same page. That is not the legacy he wants to leave. 3-year deal is enough to get us at least to the conference finals.

Matthew (Buffalo Grove)

If not Larry Brown, then who? Of the available head coaches, which one is more decorated than Larry Brown? Hire him now!!

Why would he trade in his daily race form and umbrella laden coladas to coach this monrgel hoard?

Ok we all know that Jim Boylan will not be the coach for next season, lets get that out of the way. There was talk about scottie Pipen being interested in the job and then talks died down regarding that situation. I do believe that brown is a great coach and could definitely help, but i do not beleive he will be able to stand in paxsons shadow. i believe that the bulls should pursue the scottie pippen talk because they have shown they can work together in the past years

Boylan has done okay, but where's his fire?
(I would LOVE to see him get thrown out of a game.)
I'd be curious to hear what changes Brown would want to make.
Why are they still playing -- and starting -- Wallace?
The guy has gone from offensive liability to offensive embarrassment.
The same pattern over and over: Wallace gets the
ball down low, gets hacked, and then misses two free throws.

Dont know about Brown. I say wait until the season is over and see where the Bulls are because Boylan is not doing a bad job. The Bulls are competing. I believe our biggest problem is playing the hand we have and bringing in a star or two. Paxson is not crazy enought to think we don't need a star. I think its been very difficult to identify where we needed the help most. I respect Larry Brown, but I don't think its time for him right now. Brown has upset his share of applecarts and we just got the team back. I say give the players-coach his fair chance. Bring in a bonefide talent and lets go from there.

Note that the Inquirer's source is just an "NBA" source. I'm guessing the source is Brown's agent trying to stir up some interest.

Given that Paxson said he's the coach till the end of the year, and he's had injuries to deal with, I doubt that Pax would pull the plug yet. Plus, Brown is a mercenary, and that doesn't seem to be something Paxson would be interested in.

Who else is better to coach this group of ex-college ALL Americans than an ex-All American College Coach.

College Winners = NBA Winners...

right?

If anyone can take a roster of role players to the big show it's Larry Brown.

Now we know...Paxson is in way over his head! Pax did a nice job early...He's like a deer in the headlights...Can't make a move!It would be a big mistake for Pax to hire Brown.If he want to keep his job. Soon Brown would have his job. Larry Brown is a weasel,But, a great basketball mind. This guy don't want to prance up and down a basketball court! Babysit,multi-million airs. Been there..Done That!(AI) He want the FRONT OFFICE!

I am confounded by folks who dont know why Ben Wallace is starting?????? We have absolutely noone on this team that is flat out better than him. Gray is too slow people. Smith is too little and too old. And noone else has eaten enough meals to guard anyone over 240lbs.

I think Larry Brown would be a problem. Don't like it. A smarter more decorated Scott Skiles. And yall know how I feel about that! If the choice were Brown and Skiles, then I would lean toward Brown, but thats not the case. Get Scottie! I would rather see Scottie.

Roman responds: Keith, please tell me you're kidding. Scottie?!?? Great players rarely make great coaches.

Larry Brown? You have to be kidding!

Brown will 68 years old before next season starts.

Yes, Brown has won a NBA title.

ONE NBA title in 24 years.

Brown is a great teacher but is not a guy who would get the mopes on this team to listen.

And, he is a quitter.

He quit the Nuggets for UCLA.
" " UCLA for the Nets.
" " the Nets for Kansas.
" " Kansas for San Antonio.
" " Detroit for the Knicks.

Find the best young NBA assistant coach and give him a shot.

Roman responds: Yeah, he left Kansas after a championship, left UCLA after a title-game berth and he left Detroit after a championship. Not bad.

While he is a proven winner and has an NBA Championship with the Detroit Pistons, Larry Brown might actually age 25 years given the lack of maturity and discipline on the current Bulls' roster. If you heard the interview on the Bulls' flagship ESPN Radio 1000, it didn't sound to me as if Larry was that interested in returning to coaching. As for who I think the Bulls should look at, they can look no further than courtside. Comcast SportsNet's Stacey King, Norm Van Lier, and ESPN's Jeff Van Gundy or Rick Carlisle would be ideal choices to coach this team.

Roman I cannot lie, I want Scottie to suit up at the point foward position. We have some nice front court players and they are suffering because we don't have a true point who can PASS - and guard all in the same player and in the same game!

Keith we all know that Wallace is starting because he's the 60 million dollar player. Gray does something Wallace can't....SCORE down low. And he has eaten enough to guard anyone over 240 pounds. Wallace doesn't command double teams, hell half the time he's not even guarded. You say Smith is too old? Wallace is just one year behind Smith, what does that make him? Besides over paid that is. You've already been proven wrong about how Randolph was going to elevate the Knicks to the NBA elite, is Wallace now your flavor of the month that you're not going to let go of? And as far as Pip coaching the team goes...he might be a good assistant to help guys like Thabo and Tyrus but he's not a head coach. I've always enjoyed reading your posts Keith but lately you've been talking like you're a half order of fries short of a happy meal.

I take a look at this whole team and it is the most confusing team ever. They are not a championship caliber team. What makes everybody think that Larry Brown is a miracle worker? He wasn't able to do it in New York with A LOT MORE TALENT. You can say he won in Detroit without a superstar, but I would take just about anybody on that roster over what we have on this Bulls team. Plus I think Brown would like more control than Pax will give him. I just see this as an unlikely thing to happen. Pax is a loyal guy and I would say that the chances of Boylan coming back are pretty good.

This just in...

John Paxson has also denied doing anything to help the Bulls plight...

To Keith, Where was your Ben Wallace when Al jefferson ate him up for lunch. I am glad you are not coaching the Bulls or we would really be in trouble.

Keep Thabo and trade stiff Wallace and Thomas. The Bulls scarficed a lot to sign Mr 4 points and 8 Rebounds a game in 35 minutes.

You know Tim Little is about to really Diss you when he starts off saying...

"I've always enjoyed reading your posts....but..."

watch out!!

If anyone can take a roster of role players to the big show it's Larry Brown.

Posted by: Tim Little | February 11, 2008 01:59 PM

From someone who grew up with a Dynasty somehow....a Roster of Role Players....even in the BIG DANCE...would still come up short for me.

Remember....we used to be WIN Connoisseurs!

If Jordan didnt score 50 and Rodman didnt have 20 boards and we didnt beat the Knicks by 30...we werent happy.

Role Players...

YES!!!!!!!!!!!! where can i send my season ticket check too?

Don't back Keith in a corner...he is liable Pull Out the old "Scooter Libby" defense..

KTLSS have you been smoking crack lately? First and foremost, Boylan is doing a terrible job. The Bulls are not competing, they just sometimes beat bad Teams. Boylan doesn't exploit match-ups or even create match-up problems for the other Team. He has no clue how to use or develop young players. And lastly, anyone who pencils Wallace in at Center every night is not only a poor excuse for a coach but a complete idiot as well. ANY qualified NBA coach is better than Boylan including Larry Brown. However, why not just cut your losses? The season is long over. Fire Boylan now, cut Wallace RIGHT THIS SECOND,hire Van Gundy or Carlisle and let them get the Team ready for next year.
Meanwhile you've got it wrong about Wallace. What you meant to say was: "Everyone on the Team is flat out better than Wallace". In fact it's not a stretch to say "Anyone on an NBA roster is flat out better than Wallace". He is so bad I'm getting bored with describing his lack of talent, production and effort because it's so obvious to anybody who watches basketball. In addition, I GUARANTEE you if Gray, Thomas or Noah consistently got 38 minutes a night like the $60 million stiff they would gain experience and provide better defense than Wallace. Of course it would asking a lot of them to turn in defensive gems like Wallace did by "holding" Boozer to 22 points and 12 rebounds recently or how he "shut down" Brad Miller(24 points 20 rebounds)last week. I shudder to think what those guys would have done to the Bulls if Wallace hadn't been on the floor to guard players over 240lbs. And just think along with his ability to NOT defend anyone Wallace brings the added bonus of being the WORST free throw shooter in NBA history. KTLSS are you just backing Wallace because you are related to him or to just make everyone mad? Come clean!! Wallace sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ed I hear ya about Carlisle or VanGundy Wallace should be a role player now(paycheck and all)let the kids play. I am tired of hearing how slow Gray is. He will get valuable experience playing now. A weak team worries about matchups instead of making others match to you. In the great years I don't remember Cartwright or the big Aussie being real swift, But like clock work every game the Bulls started by passing into the post. Be realistic 7' 270 and you expect a deer? Geez thats goofy!

what about van gundy? wouldnt he make a good choice?

"He's the best coach on the market and one of the best in NBA history. He has won championships at EVERY LEVEL." ....Let's make that, he's won championSHIP (singular) at the ABA-NBA level. If it wasn't for his 2 year stint with the Pistons, his playoff record would be sub-.500

AND, may I borrow what someone else already pointed out???...
And, he is a quitter.

He quit the Nuggets for UCLA.
" " UCLA for the Nets.
" " the Nets for Kansas.
" " Kansas for San Antonio.
" " Detroit for the Knicks.

Roman responds: So if you're a Bulls fan, wouldn't you want him to come here, win a title and then quit on your team? If I were a Bulls fan, that would sound pretty good to me.

Larry Brown coaching the Bulls is a pipe dream...get over it!

Since Reinsdorf has owned the Bulls, they have NEVER hired a coach or GM who had previous NBA experience (Except for Skiles, and his coaching experience was minimal). (See Doug Collins, Phil Jackson, Tim Floyd, Bill Cartwright, Jerry Krause, and John Paxson.) This is not something he likes to do, (he has done the same with the Sox as well, you can go back as far as Tony LaRussa.).

Big time coaches cost big time dollars; ownership doesn't believe in investing big money into coaches.

Your next coach of the Bulls will be.....Jim Boylan.

Enjoy.

Culzie everyone has a style I guess, like I always know you're aboout to get sarcastic when you copy and paste some or all of someone's previous post. But that's cool cause at least we know what or who you're talking about and not just having a high level meeting with your action figures. BTW you never did say if you have gotten that pink Sox hat yet. Since I brokered the bet I want to make sure the debt is paid.

Makes no sense whatsoever to me. Brown is basically just an older version of Scott Skiles, and Paxson has already determined that a tough disciplinarian type coach is too hard on his Baby Bulls. Of course Paxson has shown that he isn't any different than any other GM in the fact that his players will make the determination who the coach will be, when all's said and done.

And that's too bad because i truly thought when Paxson was hired, and then in turn hired an excellent coach in Skiles, that Pax wasn't merely a basketball puppet, but i suppose his job was more important than Skiles to him, so throwing Skiles under the bus to save his own hide was the decision he chose. So why in the world hire a Skiles clone now? I don't think it'll happen.

Roman responds: I don't think Pax went to Skiles and fired him. It sounds like Skiles said the team needed a new voice. It wasn't a resignation, per se, but it opened the door. And Larry Brown is one of the best basketball coaches on the planet. Period. Isn't that who you want?

Won't even comment on Brown, it's only a smokescreen.

Do like Van Gundy though. Smart, technical coach. Best AVAILABLE.

I think I'd like to see Wallace and Gray on the court together a little more, with at least two offensive options alongside.

Rotation still a little puzzling, and while I love Griffins veteran saavy, his game is very one-dimensional nowadays.

I know if I weighed 270#, I'd definitely be able to find a spot a lot closer to the basket than Gray is getting, right MIKE BROWN?

Van Gundy, Brown, Nelson, Jackson. Doesn't matter 'cause the coaches don't get to shoot!

Jim Boylan is our QB

Since I brokered the bet I want to make sure the debt is paid.
Posted by: Tim Little | February 12, 2008 07:36 AM

Thanks Tim...i mean..what?

Funny..i actually just spoke to that in another thread last night...i was just seeing if Hitman could loan me his pink one..before i went out and bought a new one. Feel free to chime in on the T2J vs. Ced bet too...

DJ..you are right on point with your last comment.

Keith, thinking about it...im surprised your not a Bush fan, you two are a lot alike, even in the face of mass public dissention, you still hold true to your principles and stick to your guns.

How can you not like a guy like that...like you?

I saw an inteview of Paxson on Comcast yesterday. He seems to not be focussed on any trades. His team is playing 500 ball and a lot of key contributers are hurt. A lot of folks are screaming right now - but where were you when they were losing under Skiles? OH I know...."IT WAS THE PLAYERS FAULT". THIS YEAR - Boylan is coaching better and the team is doing better.

You guys forget - Skiles also started....Ben Wallace. Its a no brainer for Bulls management. I like Gray also - read my posts; I was one of the first on the bandwagon, but I dont think this guy is in gameshape. And who doesn't love Joe Smith - used to have career games vs the Bulls, but he has only played half a season and has ALREADY had those knees drained. Joe Camel is a great offensive weapon and Gray is going to be that one day. But without Wallace on the floor they both would be exposed against veteran teams and especially in the playoffs. Ben Wallace's weaknesses are his offense and free throw shooting, but he is solid and battle tested.

Ben Wallace is NOT the problem.

Roman responds: Keith, to me the biggest problem with Big Ben is he's absolutely failed in a key area. Pax was hoping this guy would be a veteran leader with championship experiences, and from my vantage point, he's been the opposite. From stating he doesn't want to be a captain to laughing on the bench during a blow-out loss, he's been a big part of the problem.

The Bulls have never shown that they will cough up the money to pay for a big time coach, let alone a big time superstar free agent (and please don't dare bring up Ben Wallace). They couldn't keep Doug Collins and they couldn't even keep Phil Jackson. The day I see a hired gun like Larry Brown coach the Bulls is the day I see Kobe Bryant in a Bulls uniform which is likely never. How does a quitter like Brown light a fire with guys like Deng and Ben Gordon? Changes would still have to be made on the roster and seeing the Bulls pay huge salaries to both a coach and players is truly wishful thinking. In other words, it will NEVER happen. Larry Brown is also the Vice President of the Sixers. Why would Paxson even consider someone who might be a threat to his own job? There's just no way that Reinsdorf (the real man who makes the decisions on this team) would hire someone like Larry Brown. I am 99.9% sure of it.

i love the use of the phrase "from my vantage point"

its so overshadowing...

that vantage point also includes access to the locker room, sidelines, media room buffet and players wives room....right?

Just checking...

Roman, To this moment I've never thought of Ben Wallace in the same sentence with veteran LEADERSHIP. Veteran qualities and championship experience I'd agree with, but leadership comes in character form, ala Wade, Duncan, or Billups, to name a few.

Wallace falls under a rough around the edges, take no prisoner, kick some butt or else mold, ala Stephen Jackson, Camby, and Artest.

I truly believe Paxson got this guy for his defense and energy, neither which has showed up much. Joe Smith may have been more of a leader by example and character pick-up than Big Ben, but I believe the closer it gets to play-off time, and the Bulls still in the thick of things, the 15 million dollar man upgrades his game.

Nothin' wrong with having a ball hawking, shot blocking, intimidating thug on the team. Unfortunately ours is turning out to be a sheep in wolves clothing.

Ok culzie I had not read that post and make my apologies. As far as weighing in on that thread I think enough has been posted there as it is.

I agree...Wallace will give you his 5 (on 38% shooting) and 8 whether you need it or not.

Is he the ONLY problem, of course not. Plenty of blame to go around.

U guys are funny. The Bulls are 2 cheap and 2 dumb 2 hire a Larry Brown

Roman really look at what you said about Wallace:

Didnt want to be captain - ON SKILES's TEAM; where they took away his headband, ok... But under Boylan, he and Griffin checked that clown - and rightfully so.

Laughing on the bench during a blowout - bad, but dont call the Feds.

He shows up in shape, ready for war!

I will miss the all-star game in the big easy. Having left LV last year with my life, I can only assume this year will be a bit less felonious.

Roman responds: So if you're a Bulls fan, wouldn't you want him to come here, win a title and then quit on your team? If I were a Bulls fan, that would sound pretty good to me.

I respond: It took him 25 years to win that championship. I don't want to wait that long.

Anthony sez: "I think I'd like to see Wallace and Gray on the court together a little more, with at least two offensive options alongside."

I'd like to see Wallace sending postcards to Gray from some team in Europe.

Hey Mark, those would be some pretty expensive postcards.

On second thought, Jerry "That's mine you dorf" could use a touch of his own medicine.

Romo - you obviously don't understand Keith. Let me sum things things up:

- the Bulls stink because Skiled USED to be their coach
- the Bulls stink BUT Ben Wallace is great

Any questions?

Larry Brown is a winner and knows the game, but he is not what this team needs. Larry Brown needs to coach veterans. If we brought in some stars, then I would feel different. I really think Boylan is doing a fine job. They are competing every night. Bulls just don't have the horses to run with a lot of these teams. There is a lot of balance in the NBA.

Aaron Gray is so slow you can time his sprints with a sun dial!

Keith my man, I don't recall Luc Longley, Vlade Divac, Jeff Foster or Ilgauskas to name a few centers, breaking any Olympic foot speed records. But I do see that Wallace has THE WORST free throw percentage in NBA history and also one of the worst shooting percentages from the floor among current NBA centers. What Gray