Full Court Press

I like Boylan. His substitutions are iffy, but other than that the guy is doing everything possible. His post-game comments are right on, and he is finally looking into the camera like he deserves to be the head coach. You might have a point with that lame-duck assessment. I endorse bringing in a guy when the season is over, but Paxson needs to address all the players and remind them that Jim was brought in for their benefit, and it would be to their advantage to fight for him. And assure the players that are trying that folks who don't get with the program will simply be dealt with in the offseason.

We did the player dump thing remember? It doesnt work. This is more of a credit to coaches who know how to manage personalities in this era. I bet you people are confused because Ben Wallace is no longer here to place ALL of the blame on. We have to ADD some key personell before it will all come together. Pure point guard, and at least ONE star would be a good start. It would help if the guy was a Center or Point guard. But until that is addressed - we are going to have some issues. WINNING solves all problems.

And if we do bring in a guy like Larry Brown, we have know that its going to take some time. But that we have a lot of. If its an old veteran coach - do it now. If its a new guy, do it after the season. I still support bringing in Pippen before a Larry Brown. Larry Brown is going to leave again and cost a fortune.

It is alot like it was back in grade school, whenever there was a substitute teacher, the class would become clowns for the day. Well, Boylan is the substitute teacher, and the players are permanate clowns. From watching the game on ESPN, and reading some of Duhon's comments, the game suspension for being late was nothing more than a big joke to Chris. He knows he's out the door, and his attitude looks to be showing it.

This season is just the result to the terrible moves made last season when Paxson signed Wallace, and made Tyrus Thomas his draft pick. Throw in a contract that was way overpaid to Hinrich, and by seasons end the attitudes were developing in all directions. The two so called studs of the team, Deng and Gordon weren't going to stand by and make less cash than Wallace and Hinrich, so the turmoil was set in motion. Fortunately, Wallace is now gone, Thomas must go this off season, as well as Gordon. Hopefully, Deng realizes what he turned down, and he accepts the offer, and with a new H.C., the Bulls perhaps can put this disaster of a season behind them.

Would all of the Bloggers who claimed that....

Paxson ONLY wanted Character Guys and Guys with Heart....and Winning attitudes....WHENEVER a trade was suggested for a player with less than a spotless rack record.

...to...Please stand up and admit that they were just plain dumb!?

Kieth...do you just suggest Scottie Pippen, because you can't think of anyone else? or do you REALLY think that Scottie Pippen would be good coach material?

I mean...really?

Are we talking about the same Scottie Pippen?

Scottie....No Tippin? Sitting out 1.2 Seconds? Cry Baby? Loaded Gun under Seat? Can Barely Speak above a whisper? Almost as bad an orator as Pete Meyer?...Pippen?

Are we talking about the same guy?

Roman, I can't put any better than what you've already stated. I will add though it was in the Bulls best interest to give Boylan a shot, seeing it was mid-season and all, but the one underlying factor here is TODAYS players.

As a kid, I remember watching Love, Sloan, Van Lier, and the long chants of BOOOOOOOOOZER. From those gym rat days 'til maybe ten years ago, the classiness and true love of the game has been taken over my multi-million dollar contracts and misfits. The almighty dollar and the negatives that roll right with it.

Also gone are fundamentals and sportsmanship. That's why we do so poor in the Olympics, assists, turnovers and free-throw shooting, not to mention flying chairs and fisticuffs. The dunk has hurt our high-school and college players more than they'll ever know (much like the affect the new HEELIES shoes, kids are wearing nowadays, is gonna have).

I'm even seeing the changes in 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th graders.

I just feel blessed to have gotten a chance to see the TRUE PLAYERS of the game.

I actually feel sorry for the next coach. Between management and the sign of the times, solutions may be a thing of the past.

Call me crazy, but I also think bringing in Scottie Pippen to coach might not be a bad idea. So what if the guy doesn't have any coaching experience (Larry Bird had no experience prior to his stint in Indiana and look what he did for that team, taking them to the 2000 finals) Brown might have the resume and the disciplinarian approach, but Pippen hasn't been afraid to be vocal about the negatives that pertain to the bulls. He has the credentials as a player and I believe he would be a fresh change for the Bulls.

Keith your right on for the most part. I like Boylan except for some of his recent subsitutions. Looking at the Detroit game, only Hinrich (+9) and Noah(+1) had pluses for time on the floor and they weren't in at the end. I wonder if Boylan looks at past games and sees Gordon being abused by Hamilton and Billups EVERTIME?! I have gotten tired of Tyrus in a hurry, what was with not giving the ball to Hinrich and then making a terrible pass? And Duhon? These guys need to go. Yes, get the point guard(One from Memphis) and a true leader. I'm not sure who that is(maybe Jefferson from the Nets, maybe Richardson? or even Allen), but it is critical. I am still out on Gordon, but I would rather move him and turn the page, he is never going to learn to defend , period. And then there is the ego......
I hope we get the chance in the playoffs. I still like the players potential, but do they get it(not counting the coaching staff.)

Culzie Scottie has his faults, but he was arguably one of the best players to ever play the game. He revolutionized the position we now call the point-forward and was a bonefide floor general and defensive juggernaut. He has the pedigree (6 time champ) and knows exactly what to teach at the point-guard position. He was the player's favorite barnone and also Phil's favorite. Who else can teach this team about our traditions and expectations and have it be recieved other than Scottie?

I ask you this question, if Paxson is good enough to be GM, why not Pippen as a head coach? Scottie needs the help and would love the challenge, and if it doesnt work out we would have tried and simply just move on. Noone will judge Pax. Keep it in the family baby.

Man.
What a mess this team is right now. Remember the expectations a lot of us had back in October?
That seems like light years ago now.
The head coach is obviously in over his head and that has to change no matter what but I think that there is something more going on.
The players just don’t care as long as they are cashing in.
The current Bulls have no connection to the championship years or even the tough teams that took the court back in the 70s.
They are young and have accepted the losing mentality that we have seen since Krause wrecked one of the best teams in professional sports over his ego trip.
Have someone like Norm Van Lear kick some a** and try reminding them about those banners hanging over their heads.
Letting Michael Jordan slip away and not be a part of the team after his playing days was also a huge mistake. I still believe that if Jordan meets Tracy McGrady at the airport instead of Benny the Bull then he is in a Bulls uniform right now.
If they want to play for dollars alone and act like 17 year olds then they should clean house. Can you believe that Pax would not part with any of these punks to get players like Garnett, Bryant or Gasol just a few months ago?

Dean | March 10, 2008 12:18 PM - Gordon and Deng have to be dealt with, and I would do a sign and trade for Derrick Rose. He is going to be a beast - and a catalyst for the type of defense and playmaker we need. I would give a pick and one of these guys for Derrick Rose. You have to gamble or PAY Deng or Gordon. No more shorties or unathletic guys. 6-4 and UP.

One thing has been obvious for some time now, Boylan does not have a finger on the teams pulse and doubt he ever will.
Keith I'll agree that Scottie would make an impact as an assistant to some one like Brown but I don't think he has the demeaner right now to be a head coach. He could be invaluable to guys like Hughes, Gooden and Thomas both from the stand point of teaching positions and building work ethic. But I don't think he's ready to be head coach at this time.
Many comments that have been made about Tyrus are some of the same comments that were made about Chandler his first couple years and I believe if he is dealt somewhere else before being given an opportunity under a head coach that not only knows how to manage the game but also manage players(something Skiles lacked)two years from now those same people will make the same comments they make now about giving up on Chandler too soon.
Dean as far as that play you mentioned, after seeing the number of times Tyrus has given Hinrich the ball and set a screen for him at the top of the key then rolled to the lane wide open and Hinrich passed the ball to Gordon in the corner or try to split defenders and turn the ball over I don't blame him for taking some initiative even though it resulted in a turn over.

bring back skiles,dump everyone cept noah and thabo(for now). I would rather see a team that tries and winds up in the lottery than overpaid unmotivated group who back into a 8th playoff seed

How do the Bulls always seem to find the prima donnas. These dudes are living a life any of us would love. Adulation, travel, money and responsibilities we hand to children. Playing a game. Its a game and they cannot handle adversity? What fricken adversity? The shorts are too tight? These boys should have real problems. No job, food, bills that can't be met, life threatening illness. No all they have to do is worry about a round ball and make sure they can get it into a basket. This- bull boys is NOT real life and you get absolutely no - I mean NO sympathy - from the average person - who has to make a real go of it. Stop whining and get some self respect. Most importantly live life on its terms. If you cannot handle a life fed by a silver spoon - you will always be a loser - wherever and whatever team you run to.

(Keylan....you are screwed now dude).

Kentucky Lawmaker Wants to Make Anonymous Internet Posting Illegal

Wednesday, Mar 05, 2008 - 11:11 PM Updated: 12:40 PM

Kentucky Representative Tim Couch filed a bill this week to make anonymous posting online illegal.

The bill would require anyone who contributes to a website to register their real name, address and e-mail address with that site.

Their full name would be used anytime a comment is posted.

If the bill becomes law, the website operator would have to pay if someone was allowed to post anonymously on their site. The fine would be five-hundred dollars for a first offense and one-thousand dollars for each offense after that.

Representative Couch says he filed the bill in hopes of cutting down on online bullying. He says that has especially been a problem in his Eastern Kentucky district.

Action News 36 asked people what they thought about the bill.

Some said they felt it was a violation of First Amendment rights. Others say it is a good tool toward eliminating online harassment.

Represntative Couch says enforcing this bill if it became law would be a challenge.

Bring 'No Tippin' Pippen here? As a Head Coach? Hmmmmm, must be in a post parade hangover, eh? I'll give you 1.9 seconds worth of reasons why the Bulls should never do that? Hell, why not bring in the most OVERRATED PLAYER in NBA history in here? What did he do in Houston? Or Portland? Or in stint #2 in Chicago/ My, how people forget what a selfish, ungrateful player he was...I am not sure who Mr. Paxon brings in, but he isn't that lame...
Dennis Rodman would at least be entertaining as a head coach. Also, he should have beaten him to a pulp with Lambeer and Thomas in Detroit.

First of all, I don't hate Boylan and I never said that he can't coach, but he's just not ready for THIS Bulls head coaching job. As much as the team lacks an identity, Boylan also lacks an identity in his coaching skills. The Bulls not only need a head coach who they can listen to and respect with a proven resume of NBA coaching accolades, but they need to overhaul the entire coaching staff as well down to the assistants. This is absolutely the first item of business that Paxson must take care of in the offseason. Larry Brown will be too expensive and he will be a threat to Paxson’s own job. Plus, Larry Brown is a mercenary, everyone around the basketball circle knows that. Outside of Larry Brown, however, it’s pretty much up in the air. Jeff Van Gundy? Rick Carlisle? Mike Fratello? Paul Silas? Dave Cowens? Are they all too “old school”? Is Scottie Pippen ready or will he be another Bill Cartwright? Too risky in my opinion. Maybe, maybe not, but that coach must be able to connect with these players, especially the younger players on the team because I am already expecting big changes in the player roster. I don’t expect Paxson to go down without a fight, so I doubt he’ll be sitting on his hands and stick with the same core regulars either though. Changes will be made across the board.

That is why I am still surprised that the big 4 (Hinrich, Gordon, Deng and Nocioni) are playing as much as they are at this point of the season. They all contributed to the disappointing season, so hold them all accountable by shutting their season down early. If that type of message doesn’t wake them up come next season, then nothing will. Like I’ve said many times, making the playoffs this season with the same guys and further slowing the development of the younger players accomplishes nothing. Stick with the plan that was promised by Paxson in his last press conference back when the Ben Wallace trade was made. It’s almost like Boylan is just trying to save his job by making the playoffs with the veterans instead of teaching and developing the younger kids more. Noah is the obvious exception, but that’s only because they had no other alternative at the Center position but to play him. Still, Noah is not even playing during crunch time in the 4th quarter of a tight game. How can a rookie gain some confidence if the coaches don’t play him in close games? Hopefully the last 2 losses to the Pistons and Celtics send a clear message once and for all.

Keith...of the following Players...

How many went on to become Coaches?

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*
Nate Archibald*
Paul Arizin*

Charles Barkley*
Rick Barry*
Elgin Baylor*
Dave Bing*
Larry Bird*

Wilt Chamberlain*
Bob Cousy*
Dave Cowens*
Billy Cunningham*

Dave DeBusschere*
Clyde Drexler*

Julius Erving*
Patrick Ewing

Walt Frazier*

George Gervin*
Hal Greer*

John Havlicek*
Elvin Hayes*

Magic Johnson*
Sam Jones*
Michael Jordan

Jerry Lucas*

Karl Malone
Moses Malone*
Pete Maravich*
Kevin McHale*
George Mikan*
Earl Monroe*

Hakeem Olajuwon
Shaquille O'Neal

Robert Parish*
Bob Pettit*
Scottie Pippen

Willis Reed*
Oscar Robertson*
David Robinson
Bill Russell*

Dolph Schayes*
Bill Sharman*
John Stockton

Isiah Thomas*
Nate Thurmond*

Wes Unseld*

Bill Walton*
Jerry West*
Lenny Wilkens*
James Worthy*

- I count 1 good one that I know of..Bill Russell (shares my Bday by the way) and he was a Player Coach first...and that was almost by default. Since he was the greatest player of his time, and wasnt about to let anyone but RED or himself coach him.

Isiah and Larry had little stints....but both quickly got out of coaching and into GM ing.

I see many GM's and Team Execs....a few analysts.....but very few if any legit coaches.

Point Culzie!

Ooops...and Lenny Wilkens...

John Paxson's willingness to go off-plan and bring players in of questionable character after building a solid base of Hinrich, Deng and Nocioni has poisoned the well. Ben Wallace started the slide and had a terrible influence on Tyrus Thomas, Ben Gordon, and Joakim Noah. Chris Duhon has always had a questionable work ethic anyway, so it shouldn't be a surprise that he's become a malcontent. It doesn't matter who the coach is because with the addition of ball hog Larry Hughes, the give-me-the-ball-and-go-to-hell approach is the new Bulls offense and the focus is on personal stats rather than team success. The only solution is to trade and rebuild, but Paxson should be held accountable for allowing this team to dissolve into a worthless bunch of millionaires who could care less about the best fans in basketball.

I guess Bill Sharman was a HOF coach too...but come on. That was with Peach Baskets and you punched the ball instead of shooting it.

i am in with culz on this one pippen? are you effin kiddin me? is this all my fellow bloggers can come up with? i will take some retread over this malcontent anyday. larry brown is not the answer either, the guy had the biggest stage in all the nba and quit on his team. look i dont have the answer either but lets not rush into anything hasty. if pax makes the wrong choice with this decision the ramafications could spell disaster in the free agent market this offseason and with those in the near future. its avbout time pax takes his mantra to heart CHARACTER, HEART, and i will add one very important ingredient BRAINS

I don't think you can point the finger at any one person when it comes to the Bulls. Pax has not been a great GM his draft picks are questionable and he over rates the guys he likes. The players on this team used to care but the older they got the more they started looking around the league and wondering how come we have to try so hard for a win. They got sick of giving 120 percent, and they saw Wallace a guy who tries when he wants making all that money and giving half the effort. Boylan is not a great coach, and he does not have a great team. As for seeing a team crash hard??? The Bulls have come down fast, But Miami, now that is a true disaster. The worst thing that can happen to the Bulls right now is for them to make it to the playoffs. It's like being rewarded for bad behavior. Then of course they would face the best team in the east in Boston and I we all know how that story would end. Then you would have more players on the team looking at how far away they are from being a real contender. I personally feel after the season that Deng and Gordon will be gone. I just get the feeling they do not want to be here anymore in fact I get that feeling from most of this team.

Keep Hughes, Deng and Gooden with Gordon off the bench! The rest of the Bulls can be replaced, they are not NBA starters!

The dunce Paxson's over rating of his "Core" is the biggest problem!

Over paying the highly over rated clock eating, circle dribbling, inconsistent career shooting Capt Klank (off the rim) Hinrich shows that Paxson is a very poor judge of talent!

The Bull-ZZZ players are out of control!

You know what, I really DONT BLAME Chris Duhon. I would have said that last statement myself ("I haven't been playing a lot anyway"). When Bulls acquired Hughes, I expected one guy to be the odd man out. But with Thabo being injured for an extended period, I expected Duhon to stay in the rotation at least part of the time. It's total disrespect to him to be taken out of the rotation at an instant (save for the Celtic game) once Hughes got here, forcing the Bulls to rely on a 3-guard rotation (until Thabo comes back). I love the respect and accountability that John Paxson demands on this disappointing team, but if I was Duhon I'd preserve my right to state my frustration and file a grievance over the second fine.

If Duhon's telling the truth, and not just mumbling things he thinks management wants to hear, he'll be filing a law suit against the hotel he stayed at for failing to give him his wake-up call.

I know I wouldn't quietly lose however many thousands of dollars that fine cost him, if it was due to the negligence of a hotel. At least not without putting up a fight.

Personally, I think he's full of it.

A real message would have been to cut Duhon on the spot. If bet there wouldn't be a missed practice for at least 2 weeks.

I don't think anyone can salvage this group of players. They all gave up and no one can ever over look that. Best to let them go at the least cost. Do not sign Gordon or Deng for more that 7-8 Mil unless for a sign and trade. Do anything to trade Hinrich and his bloated contract. Trade Thomas for something. Keep Sefolosha, Nocioni, and Noah, they seem to work hard so far. Gooden should be evaluated the remainer of the season and if he doesn't perform, trade him. It will be impossible to trade Hughes until after next season. If Paxson can trade these guys for a GOOD point guard and athletic big men at the 3 and 4 then there might be hope for the future. A good draft decision would be nice. We have to hope Paxson won't let his ego get in the way. We will more likely forgive his poor judgement now better than a year-or-two down the road.

I don't understand why everyone is so sour about Ben Gordon. This guy apparently works hard--according to coaches--doesn't make disparaging comments to the media, competes, and is the Bulls leading scorer. If the Bulls have to trade Gordon to get other pieces, OK, but why are people talking about his ego and they can't wait for him to leave. If people are mad because he turned down his contract then get over it. Why on earth should the leading scorer on what looked to be a perennial playoff team be the third highest paid? That's life in professional sports. And I certainly don't begrudge BG turning down money if he thinks he's worth more. And for all the snarky comments about BG who exactly is going to replace his 20 points a game. Oh yeah, get rid of BG...and who scores? And who is the brilliant free agent who is coming to this disaster of a team to replace those points. The mask has been pulled off of that pretender Larry Hughes for all you who were ignorantly clamoring that he would replace BG's scoring. For those that don't know, Hughes has a career scoring average that is teh same as Hinrich...but with a lower FG percentage.

Skiles was the dude, but Paxson didn't improve this team one bit in the off season. I said it before and I'll say it again, Skiles saw the handwriting on the wall even before the season started. This team is soft, soft, soft. They would rather settle for a 15 ft jumper than take it to the hole (Luol Deng is their poster child -- Gordon could be their poster child but then it would have to be a 24 ft jumper). While Joakim Noah brings unbridled enthusiasm to every game, his enthusiasm stands in place of a solid understanding of the offense or the defense. And he is soft. In a short series, most physical teams will dismantle the Bulls. In a short series, most offensive minded teams will easily outscore the Bulls. Skiles did all he could with this team. He expected more from management during the offseason and got hosed. He became the scapegoat because the horsewhippings he was giving the team turned the players into selfish, bitter athletes. Perhaps that's all Skiles knows how to do (according to KLSS, in particular), but in three seasons he took a group of so-so players and turned them into a pack of pitbulls on defense (perhaps Michael Vick was his trainer??), but like trained killers, a little bit of introspection and you begin questioning your motives and exactly what you're getting out of the deal. Apparently, the Bulls players, as a collective unit, decided they weren't getting enough. They quit on Skiles. They have quit on Boylan. Even the kids quit who had nothing to gain but everything. When Paxson traded for the "Bod" and we soon realized how bad that transaction was going, we should have questioned everything else. I think Pax will have a tough time finding another GM job. He got to handpick the coach, the talent and the philosophy and it's all unraveling.

Farewell Boylan. Farewell Paxson. Farewell Bulls.

The paradigm shift begins anew.

SOTTIE PIPPEN HIRE HIM NOW CLEAN THE MESS UP.

Don't know if I would like to see Pippen as our head coach, at least not anytime soon. With all the malcontents surrounding the team, a solid vet, maybe a VanGundy, would adhere the team much faster. Didn't think Nate McMillan would be successful, but he's molded a young Portland team into some players, fast, so Pippen is not without thought. Scottie also had the luxury of being around one Phil Jackson for some time, and that could only help. Now whether he can apply it properly is a question we can't afford at this time, but I wouldn't mind seeing him get a chance at coaching. Just not in Chicago, today!

Paxson is the problem with the team. This is his creation. He may go down as one of the worst GM's in Chicago Sports History. Where is JERRY KRAUSE? Paxson wanted players who he could relate to not players that were talented. This issue is he has no people skills to relate or understand to players who are not like him. That why he gets coachs like this. Tear down the Bulls and start over with a new GM and Coach.

JP, Mark and Manny...

You did not get my permission to "Post Duhon" comments.

Sorry...they wont be counted!

Yeah, Yeah, Yeah....get rid of the Frank Kush's and the Bob Knights...kids should have a voice

I sure as hell aint gonna sit and listen to it...LMAO

now you want to get rid of the coddled snot nosed spineless twits you all created

When I was 17..there wasn't a 40 year old on this earth in the shape I was in....now that I'm 40..I've yet to find a 17 year old in the shape I'm still in...

LOL..."tell me how that makes you feel".....

That's about as nice as I can be about it

Anthony Novarro

"Now whether he can apply it properly is a question we can't afford at this time..."

At our current trajectory, if we can't afford it now we certainly will not be able to afford it eight months from now.

Apparently those who continue to lament not aquiring Gasol haven't paid attention. Pax has said he tossed out several several player combinations but Memphis was only interested in players with expiring contracts which the Bulls didn't have.

I don't think Duhon's reaction to the fines should have been a shock to anyone, he has known all year