Doug Collins is the Bulls' head coach

Doug Collins??? He has done nothing worthwhile and was fired because he couldn't take the team to the next level. Does Paxson think Collins can take them to that next level? Round 1 of the playoffs, as the #8 seed, only to lose to the #1 seed.

There are plenty worse hires out there. As a Bulls fan, I can stomach Collins being the next coach. What I can't stomach is an asst. coach being walked all over like last year. Get Collins, draft Rose, make a few trades and get this thing rollin again.

When we last had a blog topic on Doug Collins a few weeks ago, I said there was no way he'd return as an assistant coach. This makes more sense. I've always liked Doug Collins when he was coach of the Bulls in the late 80's and didn't enjoy it when he was fired in favor of Phil Jackson, who at the time was an assistant coach of Collins. I honestly don't even remember why Reinsdorf fired Collins back then (I'm guessing because Collins never embraced the Triangle offense philosophy) because the Bulls were already gaining momentum on the Bad Boys Pistons and then came the controversial news of his firing, but obviously things worked out favorably for the Bulls and Phil became a head coach legend with all his Championships by having the luxury to only coach superstar players.

I like the Collins hire (assuming these rumors are true- it's about time Pax!!). He knows the game and he's a good teacher of the game. My only worry is that he's even more intense a personality than Scott Skiles so I'm not quite sure he's the right fit for these misfits on the roster, but if the players can manage to finally tune in and listen to their coach for once, then this should work out. If Tyrone Corbin and/or Jeff Hornacek are brought in as assistants, even better. I like both of them. This is a good start to another set of hot coaching rumors. I hope this is the real deal though because Collins is the best available experienced coach out there for this team. I just figured he was married to the broadcast gig, but this is good news in my opinion.

My friends and I have been begging for this move for the last two full seasons. If you watched a Bulls game during that time on TNT you would have noticed that Doug Collins seemed to care quite a bit about the Bulls problems and what corrections they needed to make. With a lack of experienced coaches elsewhere Collins is clearly the best man available for the job. Somehow it seems that this disastrous season is slowly turning around...

I'm not really sure how I feel about this. I liked Doug Collins when he was here, but he couldn't get Michael & Scottie to the next level. Phil comes in and shortly after, they're a dynasty??? eh, I don't know...jury's still out on this one in my opinion. I agree he's a smart coach, but is he the one?

Michael, when Collins was fired, the Bulls were making progress towards Championship level. They weren't choking against the Pistons at the time. They were simply not good enough yet. Before anyone starts ripping on Collins inability to take Jordan's Bulls to the Finals, the team didn't peak yet as a Championship team. That was not Collins fault. He had them going in the right direction. This is a good move for the Bulls, a lot better than hiring an assistant coach with no experience. Give him a chance to get this right in 1 or 2 years!

I like this hire...he's kind of like Skiles in that he's known as a coach that can take a team from bad to good, but can't get them from good to great. I think the hiring of one of the other candidates as top assistant obviously infers that he (assistant) would be the successor to Collins after 2 or 3 years. Basically your looking at what Dallas did with Don Nelson and Avery Johnson. Groom the young guy til he's ready.

I agree - I think Dougie is a terrific basketball mind...I'm just not sure this hire makes any sense. I wish they'd have taken a shot with Brian Shaw or Mark Jackson, I really wanted an influx of new head-coach talent (and like catchers make the best baseball managers, point guards make the best basketball head coaches) and I wanted one of those two because they're former point guards.

I don't hate Doug Collins - I'm just baffled...this one doesn't make any sense to me.

Deja vu all over again - new assistant will probably be Phil Jackson - in my mind I'm seeing MJ's Da Shot over Craig Ehlo in Cleveland in 1989, with Collins flying off the bench just after it fell...

We all love Doug Collins but at this point isn't he burned out from coaching? Somebody needs to take the keys away from Mad Pax.

Wow, I guess that Paxson really does not want to have a job with the Bulls any longer. While you are at it Pax, why don't you hire Stan Albeck & Kevin Loughery as Asst Coaches. Hey, I also heard that both Brad Sellers and Dennis Hopson would be willing suit up again for the Bulls.

Can't say I'm blown away by this uninspired hiring by the always boring John Paxson. Afraid to pull the trigger on the big trade, and obviously afraid to pull the trigger on an exciting coaching hire. What's new though? The Bulls haven't been fun to watch in 10 years.....whoops, make it 11 now. Thanks Pax. I never thought I'd long for the days of Jerry Krause. That's sad.

This is literally a JOKE.

Is John Paxson suggesting that one of the "top coaching candidates" available in the basketball world today is Doug Collins? Is this the best Paxson could do? If so, I'm floored. Doug Collins coaching the Bulls...again.

I won't suggest that Collins is a bad coach. I will suggest that he is a poor hire. IMO, this is tatamount to the Bears firing Lovie Smith only to bring back Dick Jauron. In essence, it has absolutley no hint of an organization attempting to move forward.

This is really hilarious.

"He has done nothing worthwhile and was fired because he couldn't take the team to the next level."

Like the line from Independence Day...."well sir, that's not entirely correct..."

Wow I would of never thought Doug would be back in Chicago. I guess anything coan happen with the #1 pick. I thought it was interesting when Waddle & Silvy asked Jerry about Doug. He said he loves Doug, I would of never put that connection together. Remeber it was "Crumbs" Jerry Krause that didn't like Doug not Jerry or MJ

Rock on, He can do with Rose what he did with Jordan and help him grow quickly. He might be the best option available to the Bulls. The past few years he spent in the booth would make him even smarter and more aware then he was coaching in Chicago, Detroit or again with Jordan when he was in Washington.

I think this means they are taking Derrick Rose. Essentially, Paxson must see this as a semi-rebuilding year, knowning the Bulls are ready for NBA Finals Prime Time. Just as Collins did with Jordan, he will integrate and groom a soul of the team into a cohesive unit, instilling the fundmentals of teamwork, discipline, etc. - before Paxson will have Collins on a short leash to get beyond the 1st round. If Paxson REALLY thought the Bulls were ready to compete for the Eastern Conference - I think he would take Beasley and a more proven playoff coach.

Doug is very emotional in addition to being intense. He shares the same kind of intensity that Skiles had. However, he's up and down unlike the stoic-no-matter-what Skiles. For me, I think this is a good thing with a young team. Doug hates losing and loves winning and he wears both emotions on his sleeve. I believe that young guys need that along with the intensity. They need to hate losing (a la J. Noah) while also embracing the joy of winning. Skiles couldn't enjoy winning and made winning seem rather "ho-hum, just part of what's expected." This doesn't translate well to kids who need to have fun. The "burn out" downside would likely be a non-factor as Doug has matured (mellowed) over these many years.

On top of all of that, he's a brilliant basketball mind!

Don't start bashing yet. I rember a while ago he coached an underachieving but talented team to a playoff series victory over a higher seeded cavaliers team. He taught them how to play the game right and taught them skill. he got them to realize their talent and had them do what they were best at. That is the problem with these current Bulls. They try to do too much. bring in Collins he may not be the ultimate answer, but he is a darned good one. If the team has to go in another direction so be it. Bulls need a good teaching coach, not a taskmaster like Skiles (yes he was, dont deny it). Lets draft derrick rose and watch this team skyrocket for the next 10 years. (Wait didn't happened before.)

If this is true Collins gets to groom the Bulls' next Jordan.

ROSE.

I think the head coach in the NBA has the least impact of any coach in the major sports on the outcome a game. They try to get good matchups and that is about it. Most close games come down to one teams best player vs. the other teams best player for the last 2 minutes of the game. With that being said there is no reason that Collins will not be just as good a hire as any of the other canidates.

Doug Collins is a very interesting hire. I wonder how this hire will effect the draft? Rose or Beasley...Doug?

Wasn't this guy fired by the Bulls for being unable to take the team "to the next level"? Wasn't this guy later hired to be Michael Jordan's patsy in DC? Not particularly confidence-inspiring, Pax...

Wow. So he was not good enough to take them to the next level when they had Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippin and Horace Grant but now he is the man for the job With Hinrich, Noah and Deng?
What a dumb, boring, gutless and small time move this was.
I remember Collins being nothing more than an overly emotional guy who could not win with the talent the Bulls had and being a 2nd tier color man on TV.
If you wanted to bring back an ex-coach then what was wrong with Phil Jackson?
Way to kill the buzz over having the number one pick in the draft Pax. Mike D'Antoni gets the last laugh after all.

Last time a Doug Collins coached team had a No. 1 pick, they selected . . . . Kwame Brown.

kidding, I blame that on Jordan. I do not think Rose or Beasely will turn out to be Kwame Brown. I would say it is a it a decent choice as I was not too enthused about the other candidates becoming coaches right away. It will be interesting to see who is placed as assistant coaches, who may be the head coach in a year or two. One thing is for sure though: he needs to lose that bleach blonde hair.

Hanley broke it? I thought this was first reported by a Phoenix radio station.

Anyway, the important part that is not being talked about yet is that this is pretty clearly a bridge move. Reports are that one of the 'young' coaches Pax interviewed will be on the staff. I would presume that is for a head-coach-in-waiting position.

Still, would have much liked someone other than a guy who has had 3 chances.

Doug Collins? For real? Correct me if I'm wrong, but this guy couldn't win a championship with Jordan, Pippen and Grant in their prime. How's he going to do that with the collection of humps the Bulls have now? Totally un-inspiring move by Pax, hes completely afraid to take chances. I can see him taking Beasley because he's has a better chance not to be bust.

This is a great move for the bulls, they are much better off now with a head coach. Gives a strong signal for what they will do with the first pick in the draft too, "with the first pick in the NBA draft the chicago bulls select... Michael Jordon!"

Is it possibl to move forward while going backward? Might as well bring back rodman while they are at it.

Hide your wives.

Doug is a great hire. Lets remember although he is high strung, he help mold a young Michael Jordon into the best player ever to play in the NBA. I also feel that this means Darrick Rose will be the Bulls top pick. Doug will be able to work with Rose as he did with Michael, and also instill disapline and accountability the Bulls obviouly need. A young up and coming assistant will be used as a buffer between Doug and the players the keep the invironment from becoming to toxic. This is a great hire. Now Pax has to clean house of all the weeds left from last year.

I love Doug Collings as a commentator. I usually can't stand some of the commentating being one sided and annoying by others, but actually learn alot and enjoy Doug's comments. He will be greatly missed.

I remeber seeing him around the campus at ISU,what a player! I always thought he was a tad too emotional, but I believe time might have tempered him. Knows the game, not afraid, will get the respect from the players. A great hire and better then any of the assistants or other retread coaches. Will he have the horses?
Good luck Doug.
ps Take Rose and trade Gordon....

Ok for those bashing this hiring, please tell me the candidates out there that are BETTER than Collins. Avery is the only high profile candidate left and his hiring would be questionable. I guess some of you want to see yet another inexperienced coach get run all over and yelled at by the players. Pax has had his fair share of blunders, but I think this is actually a smart move if it's true.

First, I like this proposed hire. Why? Because Collins cares. Yes that's right he cares about the Bulls and making them grow. He is a local guy, very important. This would just be the beginning of the local flavor this team will begin to take. Followed by drafting Derrick Rose and two years down the road spending the Money for Dwayne Wade. Heck, The may ever re-sign Shannon Brown. I agree with this move and hope Paxson follows up by getting rid of Pete Myers and the rest of the Assistants and brings in Jeff Hornacek, Another local guy. I like Mike Brown as a Big man coach but Myers to me is a waste. Don't compare this to them hiring a legendary coach. Because there are none out there. Collin's is a solid coach and will have the respect of his players. His famous "Give the ball to Michael and get the heck outta the way play" Will now be the "Give the ball to Derrick and get the heck outta the way play." Paxson did good. Now draft Rose for use. Then maybe will buy some season tickets.

I sure hope that Doug is leaning towards Rose. As an analyst, he tends to love teams with great PG play. I remember a few games he did and he mentioned that they lack a floor leader and a guy that can make the team better. Collins likes what the Bulls have now and if he has his way, I believe that the pick is Rose. I also can see why they would take Beasley because maybe Collins will whip his Butt into shape.

This also means, no more dumb rules like No Headbands, no music before games etc.. welcome back Doug and Beat Derrick Rose into Paxson's head

Doug Collins got fired the first time because he wanted to have an affair with everyones wife. If he can keep that from happening this time then maybe he will be a good choice.

Oh, by the way, does anyone know Doug's opinion on who the bulls should pick. I know he had to have mentioned it while broadcasting on TNT after the lottery.

I like the move for obvious reasons:
1-Contrasting personalities of personnel. I think Collins hit the motherlode on this with his last yr's as coach of the Bulls.

2-He's much cheaper then D'Antoni & Johnson.

3-He definitely knows the X's & O's of the game. Even Zen Phil Jackson admitted Collins was probably better than he is at it.

Doug Collins would put the Bulls back in the playoffs this season even without the #1 pick. No one will be allowed to take games off, or possessions off. The team has a lot of talent and depth that was never properly used last year. So far the bloggers forgot the success Collins had rebuilding terrible Detroit and Wizards teams. Those teams fought for the playoffs with little talent, the trademark was always hustle and defense. As a former season ticket holder in the good old days, I can't wait for Doug Collins trademark timeout with possession 2-3 seconds left in the quarter, and put 5 3-point shooters on the floor for the last shot. Doug is a matchup genius and takes coaching to the next level..

I like this selection of Doug Collins!!!! His knowledge he gained from the broadcast booth I think will help him and he should be rejuvenated. I hope they bring Jeff Hornacek to be an assistant to take over for Doug in a few years and hopefully keep Tyrus, Thabo, and Luol, draft Derrick Rose. Everyone else is tradeable! I think we can play uptempo with this squad.

There are much worse coaching options out there, but for the price the Bulls/Reinsdorf are willing to pay- this is probably as good as they are going to get. No doubt Collins has the inteligence and passion to be a sucessful NBA coach- however, he ALWAYS burns out because of his passion/dedication to his craft.

The Bulls/Paxson had to go with experience with this coaching selection. Any inteligent good young coach would not take the Bulls job due to Paxson's unstable future in Chicago. Paxson realizes this as well and knows this team must win now or he will be replaced. Now make some roster moves Pax!

Overall a decent hire, but the Bulls/Pax better also hire a good young up and coming future head coach (Mark Jackson, Hornacek or Corbin) as an assistant because Collins is good for 2 years, 3 max.

So it seems Paxson has hired Doug Collins!!!

I'm not 100% excited, if I was him I would of tried to get Mark Jackson or possibly Avery Johnson. Not to diss or belittle Doug, he 's a great coach and very smart. He is a bit old tho but they say the older (more wiser)

0k so you hav the coaching spot taken, nor for the draft. I would go with Michael Beasley. He big, strong, explosive and a SCORER. Kirk Hinrich just had a bad year(don't most people do), besides you can always trade him. Back to Beasley, you need him because all you basically have at that position is Loul Deng(who is a good player) and a young Tyrus Thomas(athletic).

I like it. No one will walk all over Collins. He should be respected. He's fiery, but not over the edge as he was early in his career. And the depth of his knowledge should not be questioned.

An interesing possibility, in case no one has mentioned it, is that Collins may have an understanding to coach for a couple years, then be replaced by that unnamed assistant coach. I agree with others that Corbin or Hornacek would be great choices. I really like their connections with Jerry Sloan.

These posters act like Collins was here yesterday...it was TWO decades ago...

What has happened to him in 2 decades? Alot!

When looking at the basketball coaching landscape, is there a better basketball mind? No one can come close to his experience.

Do we have the youngest team in the leauge? Yes we do!

Is Collins a teacher? Yes he is.

If Collins can be Michael Jordan's handpicked choice to coach him and the team he was part owner of, and helped get Michael to the playoffs from his Bulls days, he is the PERFECT fit for everything we need. I hope people are more logical in thinking about Collins, something that happened TWENTY years ago has almost no bearing to today, he has grown to be what his basketball peers and collegues call "one of the best basketball minds today." I didnt say that, Michael Jordan did.

Is some construction worker in the suburbs a better judge than Jordan? Please...

Collins has proven that he cannot get a young team to the next level. He washed out here, in Detroit, and DC. So instead of getting a coach like Avery Johnson, whose teams were getting closer and closer, or any of a number of young assistants out there now, Pax settles on a retread with a "great basketball mind". That great mind couldn't get it done in three cities, and now he gets another chance to flame out here. A second rate coach on a team that is regressing is a recipe for disaster!

This just proves the NBA is an INSIDERS CLUB!!!!

yes ata good idea

I think Collins is a short term choice. He may be there 2 or 3 years to prepare Corbin/Hornacek for the job. This is not a bad situattions, if I'm right and it makes sense. If he can take them to the next level...fine! But in case he can't, he will again be fire and his assitant coach become the head coach. as far as the draft pick. I like the idea of offering a package of Duhon, Gooden,and Tyrus Thomas for the 2nd draft pick, I'm sure that would satisfy Miami's need and also shake-up the Bulls and restore discipline and enthusiasm for the game.

I cant believe you people keep saying Collins could not get MJ,Scottie to the next level. What were you all 2 yrs old . He did exactly that and lost in the eastern finals to the winner pistons.They were crap before his and MJ's run

he was not given the chance to continue. Phil Jackson was. We will never know what hw would of done

Roman responds: That's a fact. Everything else is speculation.

If Doug Collins is the next coach... what offensive system is he going to implement?

I hope it is the triangle offense. They can bring in Rambis or Brian Shaw as an assistant. That would work for me.

Doug Collins is a very interesting and I think wise choice. Remember,it was Krause who didn't care for Collins. If I recall right, Phil Jackson was Collins assistant at the time and what a way to get Collins out of the way and give the assistant a shot-which happened to be a good shot, however I don't think it was Collins lack of ability but maybe a conflict of egos and personality with Management;and we know what happens on the job if there's conflict with an employee and management-GET THEM THE HELL OUT !!!!!! At least that's how it goes on most jobs......

"Hide your wives."

...and the luvaBulls

Good Hire! At least he knows how to run a play for a star, and let him develop! Loved his Mike Playcalling!

I think it is unfair to blame Doug Collins for the Bulls' failure to win a championship during his first stint as coach of the Bulls. The truth is: the Bulls weren't talented enough, or mature enough to beat Bird's Celtics or Isiah's Pistons, or Magic's Lakers in the 80's. Those were veteren teams who had already gone through what the young Bulls were just beginning to experience. To play those teams as well as they did was a testament to Jordan phenomenal talent and Collins' ability as a coach and motivator. Anyone who believes that Collins wouldn't have had the some of the same successes as Phil Jackson, underestimates Jordan's will to win and Collin's knowledge of the game. The only reason that Collins could not take the Bulls to the next level was that he wasn't given the opportunity to do so. The Bulls, under Collins, got better every year. This is the best hire that the Bulls could have made, bare none. I hope Collins has the energy and the will to evolve with the team. If he does, the Bulls will be Eastern Conference contenders for the next 6 or 7 years.

Collins didn't take the bulls to the next level: #1 the pistons were a better team with more veterans than the bulls, they were not ready to win. #2 that was 20 years ago. Don't you think that he would have gotten wiser in that time period?

Look, collins is not a hall of fame coach or anything, but who the hell would you rather have? tyrone corbin? jeff hornecek? please, none of those guys would know what the hell they are doing yet. Collins is a good short term answer for now.

I like it, I like it. Sure Avery Johnson is available. But the Bulls owner sucks and he's cheap. We still owe Skiles money for his contract. Why do you think we missed out on Mike D (Phoenix old coach). The way I see it is, grab Collins or end up with assistant wide eye coach who never been a head coach before. Is that what you all want Chicago?? I keep hearing about Doug couldn't get it done before in Chicago. Ah hello he coached our team to the Confernce Finals. He coach the team from 1986-89 and in 89 we went to the Conference Finals. Then "boom" he gets fired and Phil's gets the ring Collins should have today. Every team needs time to grow. Even with Rose or Beasley we won't win a Championship for a least 2-3years. Collins will develop players like Deng, Tyrus Thomas,Noah, etc. This can work and will work expecially if we follow the Blue Print of Dallas Mav's with Donnie Nelson passing tourch to Avery Johnson.

He's a teacher of the game. Do people actually listen to what comes out of his MOUTH during the course of the game. He understand things completely. There's a complete difference in listening to him make a comment vs lets say Jeff Van Gundy who sounds like a complete idiot during telecast. Collins still has the juice.

He's a old school coach just like Hubbie Brown. People doubted Hubbie, saying" he's to old to coach in this day an age." Hubbie took Memphis to two straight years in the playoffs. He left and the team never returned to the playoffs. haha lol. Old school'd guys know the right way to play the game of basketball.

Go Bulls. Paxson always makes a solid move. He's not much of a risk taker and that why we will draft Derrick Rose. Welcome home "Mr.Chicago"

All i can say to Mike from Detroit and Seedy...if Reinsdorf can get over it, then I guess we all can! Who knows, Coaches marrying Owners Daughters is en vogue these days.

I still think Doug is a weasel and a snake in the Grass and i could tell some serious stories...but...i am too much of a mench for that!

Thanks for saying it Boss. Everyone is saying that Collins was fired because he couldn't take the Bulls to the next level. Finally "Boss" said it-- he was fired for having extramarital affairs with Bulls' Personnel. Phil Jackson was an assistant and got the job. Doug had already moved the team to a competing level and set the ground work for those championships. I think this is a good hire.

It is so funny to hear everyone mention that Doug couldn't take the Bulls to the promised land... It is because the Bulls PLAYERS weren't ready to make that leap to the NBA finals. Jordan and Pippen both matured by the 90's, and so did their supporting cast. Collins get such an unfair label of not being able to propel his mid-late 80's Bulls teams.
This is a great hire. Who else do we want --> Avery didnt want to come until we landed #1, and I'll take Collins over some freshy assistant coach anyday. Collins is a good coach who cares about the Bulls and the organization. It's the best move we can make.

I like the comment above by Edgar - that it's possible the Collins hire is short term (b/c of the Skiles syndrome/burn-out factor) and that they're bringing in one of the assistant's they've interviewed to take the reins from Doug when they're ready.

I like Jeff Hornacek, but I don't think he has the temperment (yet) needed to come in and right this ship. Bring in Doug for a few years to crack the whip and teach the kids, then hand it off to a trusted assistant to bring it home.

I think he is the best candidate for a full time coaching position. He was a good player and knows the game well. He is a teacher but he is respectful and not a in your face coach like Skiles. I think its one of the better decisions made by the Bulls in a while. Its sign that the off season won't be a bust and will be full of smart moves. We all know the Bulls have a history of making rash mind boggling moves that make you say let me be GM. We have a lot of pieces to work with and the Bulls will be a better team next year. Plus Collins has something to prove on his second go around. Next stop...Draft day!

I don't understand the negativity about this hire. I think you need a coach who knows what he's doing out there if you have the #1 pick on your team. You don't want a first time coach starting Rose or Beasley off on the wrong foot. I agree with some posters that he's got the fiery personality like Skiles, but he's more enthusiastic about winning and bummed about losing. Skiles was, in his words, "catatonic" about winning games. I think young players need a guy who stresses winning more than Skiles did.

Doug Collins's problem wasn't that he couldn't take the Bulls to the next level, the problem was his libido was out of control somewhat like Bill Clinton's. Twenty years later I would suspect that has slowed down.
Like a few others have speculated I would anticipate Doug getting a 3 year contract with Hornacek or Corbin as understudy in waiting and it has been discussed as such with Doug. Personally I believe this to be the best available situation for the Bulls. Who better than Doug to mold Derrick Rose and Ty Thomas? Now the question is what kind of a trade can Pax and Doug engineer to immediately elevate the team?

Ok, we know who the coach is, we know who the pick will be (I think it's Rose right?) So can we please please please start hearing some rumblings that Ben, I'm MJ because my last name rhymes with Jordan Gordon ,Kirk, I can dribble the ball, no look it's a cross over, not bad for a white guy huh? You like it don't you yea you...Oh S$%^ there's only 2 seconds on the clock, I better pass Hinrich, and 'Joke' em, It's Congac officer, Im a Baller I don't need Ice, Check out the hair Son, I bought it, from a Nigerian. Umm...Those are new-ports I swear Noah are about to get traded. Maybe we could package them all for the heat's second pick and get Beasley too? Hell, Jermaine O'neal is even looking good right now. Just something to change it up. Hinrich has led me to drinking, I start dropping F bombs as soon as Gordon walks to the scorers table, and Noah is just a retard, a high retard at that. And give Deng peace of mind and sign him to a big contract already, he's gonna be a stud for the next 8 years.

I am actually baffled at the amount of people who don't like this hire. He's a proven winner, & arguably the most knowledgable coach available. His teams have seen an improvement of 10+ wins in his first year, and he will greatly improve our D from last season. My only concern is his offensive style, which is walk the ball up as slow as possible. This will have to change because our team is built for speed.

Everyone needs to stop harping on the fact that he couldn't get Jordan, Pippen, etc. to the Finals. They improved every year he was head coach. And please you can't say Jordan & Pipp were in their "primes" at that time. MJ was just hitting his prime at 26 & Pip was only 23, hardly in his prime by then. Plus he only had 1 season with Cartwright at Center, he had Corzine & Sellers to work with most of the time he was coach. Also, the team did not have a bench really, as most of it was drafted the following season, i.e. Purdue, King, & Armstrong.

Why in the world would you hire a guy who is the EXACT same coach as the one you ran off in Skiles? They are defense first, slow it down coaches, who after a year or two of coaching, the players end up hating.

I work with one of the Bulls player's brother and I can say the players are NONE to happy about this hire.

You have a group of athletic young legs, and soon to be a great athletic point guard, and you bring in a slow it down play defense coach???? Wow, Pax has lost his mind. You hire D'antoni or someone who wants to run, run, run. Look what Chris Paul did to his surrounding cast once Byron Scott let him run a true fast break offense. Tyrus Thomas, Luol, Noah, Rose, all high energy athletic get it up the court guys.

I am so tired of the retread coaching. Look the guys is great at analyzing on TV but has been a flop as a coach. Terrible, terrible pick Pax.

I remember the day they let Collins go for Jackson and I just shook my head. How could a man, who's gottin' his team to consistently climb the ladder, be let go right before he gets to the top rung? An inside friend, who was this/close to Reggie Theus, and never left the Bulls inner circle, mentioned how some of the players didn't really care for the way Collins would 'YELL' at them. Guess it's a 'MAN' thing, but I fully believe Doug would have 'GUIDED' the Bulls to the same heights as Phil. Jordan pretty much drove the vehicle himself. Anyway, Collins should be much less of a screamer. Old age will do that to you. I'm just worried about his 'SHARPNESS' to detail these days. Let's hope his supporting cast has the razors edge!

I keep seeing that people don't understand the negativity about this hire. I personally don't see the excitement about it.
Was there even one single team in the NBA that wanted Doug Collins as their head coach? If he was a clear cut choice then why was Paxson talking to 50 different people?
I also see comments about how the Bulls were not ready to win a championship when Collins was here the first time. And you think that they are ready or even close to it right now? Please! He will not be dealing with the same talent that he had then... just the same idiot owner.
Making observations and pointing out the obvious while doing color on a TV broadcast does not translate into being a good coach. That is why people keep believing that Mike Fratello is a great coach yet he has never won a title or even come close.
He only won 50 games or more 4 times in 16 seasons and stunk it up in the playoffs every time he made it yet he is always viewed as some kind of savior or genius because he does TV games. It is all hype. Other than Steve Stone I cannot think of a single guy in the booth that is the answer in any sport.

Forget Collins TV stuff and look at his coaching history. He was fired from the Bulls and they became a dynasty after he was gone. He was fired after 2 seasons in Detroit and fired again after 2 seasons in D.C. That does not impress me at all.

I think the hiring of Doug is a good choice. He's a teacher of the game, hates losing, a motivator and will earn the respect of his players. None of us knows the real reason why he was fired in 1990 but whatever happened in the past is past. Why would MJ hire Collins if he didn't believe in and respect Doug's knowledge of the game. How can some of you say that Doug couldn't take the Bulls to the next level when he built the foundation and molded those players under his tutoring so how can you say that he can't do something when the very next year that same up and coming young Bulls team that had lost to the Pistons the 2 previous years beat that very same team, it's called maturity. I guess Utah should fire Jerry Sloan because he hasn't taken them to the next level. Think about it.

This isn't a good hire. As John Hollinger points out in his ESPN article today, Collins plays at the slowest pace of any coach in the last 30 years. That is not good. The Bulls are a team built to run, which even Pax himself must realize since they were set to offer D'Antoni a huge contract.

Because of Collins' insanely slow offense, I think this could be a signal that Pax wants Beasley. For Rose to be at his best, he needs to run. That won't happen with Collins' intricate offense. Someone on the Bulls is going to need to score now since they aren't pushing the ball. That guy could be Michael Beasley. As stated this weekend, I want Rose, and it seems like all the fans do. But Pax may want Beasley. Maybe Joey Doresy knows something.

Roman responds: Ricky, tell me how that line of communication went. From Pax's mouth to Dorsey's ears. Tell me about the elements between those two.
I don't see any way Pax drafts Beasley. Drew Gooden is your inside scorer. Who's your point guard?

What nobody seems to be mentioning is that Doug Collins probably has a very strong opinion on who the Bulls should take with their draft pick and it is very likely that he only signed on under the agreement that they pick that person. Therefore Doug Collins knows who the Bulls are picking.

That last comment is interesting - that Collins knows who the Bulls will take with the first pick. Since Collins and Paxson were guards one would assume that first pick would be Rose. Let us all pray that is the case. As one blogger mentioned the other day, can anyone imagine the Miami Heat with Dwayne Wade and Derrick Rose at guard? Going into Miami would be a nightmare with the D-boys lighting up Hinrich, Gordon and company. The Florida papers have already speculated that if the Heat takes Beasley that Marion would be expendable and a trade of Marion for Hinrich would be a possibility. If that actually unfolds it would solve the Bulls' problems at both point guard and power forward. In any event, I think Collins is a great choice and he will square away yahoos like Noah and Thomas.

To all the naysayers, the sign of a good coach is he works with the tools he has. If Collins is as good a coach as the half of us think he is, he'll quicken the pace of this team if he feels that's what's best for them. If not, he'll surely speed up his ticket out of town. I don't recall Avery Johnson not being a defensive minded coach first, but I'd bet the doubters wouldn't mind seeing him come in? I'll take any change, after this past season, at this point.

Doug is happy and so am I! And you better believe that Doug Collins knows what a guard can do. ROSE. And Rose is going to get aaaaaaall the time and space he needs to fully bloom! Skip anyone that don't like it!!!!
Dont like it Hughes??? See yah!
Got a problem with that Kirk?? See yah!
Don't like the play we ran for you Gordon??? See yah!
This is perfect timing too. Pistons are about to be dismantled.

Alright, obviously everyone has their opinion about Collins on whether he's a good hire or not. Based on most of the posts that I've read, the majority think Collins is the right guy just like the majority feels that Derrick Rose is the preferred #1 pick. The only part that really bothers me about the negative Collins comments is the notion that he couldn't coach the Bulls to the Finals with Jordan or his unsuccessful stints at Detroit and Washington, all of which were not his fault and was not indicative of his inability to coach. Obviously, some of the negative bloggers really need a history lesson. If you want to hate on the Collins hire so much, then fine, but then tell us who you'd rather coach and teach this young team full of head cases at this time? And don't just ramble on names that aren't available (Avery Johnson for example is NOT available and Reinsdorf won't pay the kind of salary he would have commanded). Make some sense for once and tell us who and why that person would be a better fit than Collins.

And then Ricky O., give the man (Collins) a chance to make his own coaching adjustments based on the personnel that he has. During his first stint with the Bulls, they ran the triangle offense. Collins didn't pioneer the offense. That philosophy was handed to him and he paved the way for Jordan and Phil Jackson to succeed with it. They didn't run uptempo because they were already improving and succeeding under the triangle offense. With the Pistons, that team was never known for uptempo style and they didn't have the personnel for that style either, yet he won with that team until his so-called meltdown. And then the Wizards, come on, Jordan was at fault there. Collins had terrible talent around him, period.

Bottom line, Collins knows basketball. He'll make the adjustments. The Bulls seem to have a good plan in place with not only Collins, but also possibly bringing in some very credible assistants which excites me even more because I've always said that we need a head coach AND a solid supporting coaching staff to help TEACH these kids how to play smart basketball, not just run 'n gun mumbo jumbo that D'Antoni preaches. If many people say you can't go wrong with Rose or Beasley, then what's the big deal? Adjust to your players' strengths. I think Doug Collins can do that and I'd like to think that Doug Collins knows more basketball than John Hollinger of ESPN.

Face it no matter who Pax was going to hire as head coach there would be people that wouldn't like the choice. Ricky I think your reasoning that Beasley will be who the Bulls draft because of hiring Collins is quite flawed. I would think Collins looks at Coaching Rose as the developement of another Jordanesque talent. Now consider this for a moment...when is a run out offense most effective? Answer: after a defensive stop. Q: what beats any run and gun get a shot in the first 8 seconds of the clock offense?
A: good transition defense. Q: what makes a good half court offense effective? A: A true point guard that can break down a defense.
Collins understands all this and is more than capable of teaching it. JasonE you may think you have a handle on the pulse of the players but think about this a minute....none of them have ever dealt with Collins and are expressing only what they have heard rumored about him. I recall a time when a boss I had was given a promotion and his replacement had been named but had not arrived yet and of course all the rumors of his rep were circulating. Needless to say I wasn't looking forward to his arrival BUT as it turned out over the years he learned a few things and had tempered his style of management and ended up being the best boss I had worked for. There were some that did not share my opinion but then my opinion of those people wasn't very high either. Some people have described Collins as another Skiles, I beg to differ with them. Collins has a passion that can be seen, Skiles appears more like the Tin Man .... no expression, no heart, quick to point out the negative.

Collins hire changes so many things - cannot see him yelling at Rose game after game. This idea of getting an heir apparent like Hornacek with him makes no sense at all with a screamer like that.

Having said that, the guy knows the game. I think this opens up a trade option more than ever since I cannot see Beasley coming here. They may think to keep Hinirch as the whipping boy hoping he doesn't duplicate his bad year. Trade Gordon and the #1 pick from an all-star. Or trade down for Mayo for the big guard they desparately need to play D.

At least they're worth talking about again...

Agree 100%, Tim Little, and excellent analogy about your experience with a new boss. These are two much different personalities and much different egos. Comparing Collins to Skiles is totally unfair and off base. Collins cares and he has passion to the game that is almost unrivaled, which yes, can be a flaw of his because he stresses himself out too much, whereas Skiles knows the game but lacks the charisma and communication skills for any player to respect his knowledge to the game. If these Bulls players can't tune in to Collins, then they're a hopeless cause. They'll never get it, that's the way I look at it.

I think he should bring in Brian James and his Son as assistants.

Ok ... I might be a little bit off topic here, but since there's no where else to put it, (I'm sure that re than a few of you would be more than happy to tell me where I could put it) ... Is anyone here rooting for the Celtics to win the East, and face off with the Lakers.

As a basketball fan, I've always hated Detroit, but now it's just a matter of me being as just about as sick of them as I am with the Spurs. (Thank you GOD, that I don't have to look at Tim Duncan's face for another game this year!)

Anyhow: if it's Boston vs. L.A. ... who do you like; and more importantly, why?

I like both of these teams, but I've always been a fan of Big Chief Triangle, and would love to see another pin shoved into the posterior of my Jerry Krause voodoo doll.

Corrected text:

Ok ... I might be a little bit off topic here, but since there's no where else to put it, (I'm sure that there more than a few of you would be happy to tell me where I could put it) ... Is anyone here rooting for the Celtics to win the East, and face off with the Lakers.

As a basketball fan, I've always hated Detroit, but now it's just a matter of me being as just about as sick of them as I am with the Spurs. (Thank you GOD, that I don't have to look at Tim Duncan's face for another game this year!)

Anyhow: if it's Boston vs. L.A. ... who do you like; and more importantly, why?

I like both of these teams, but I've always been a fan of Big Chief Triangle, and would love to see another pin shoved into the posterior of my Jerry Krause voodoo doll.

Edgar, your comment is appreciated and since I have come to consider you as one of the more knowledgable and straight forward posters here it is also a welcomed compliment, thank you.

Villano, regarding your off the subject question...regardless of who wins the East I want to see the trophy in the East. Unlike so many who seem to hold Phil up on a pedestal like some kind of god, I see him as someone that has had the best talent to work with and should have had at least one more title and I don't want to see him with another not to mention that I'd love nothing more than to see Kobe beaten for the way he played the media going into this season.

Is it just me, or does it seem that Rose is closer in height to Beasley, than I ever imagined.....oh and

Go Doug!!!

Good stuff Tim and Edgar. Some good reading on these blogs. If Paxson can just bring in a stud in free agency, we could emerge as a power in the East.

Mark-5, its Lakers and Celtics again. And I think the Lakers could sweep them. But like Tim said um pulling for Boston, but only for KG's sake. He's been everything I like in Basketball. Tim you have to give Jackson his due. He is back in the finals AGAIN!!! He's been to the finals more than some of the press!

Tim:

Point well taken, and we'll have to agree to disagree. I think that despite the cornucopia of talent that he's been blessed with in his coaching career, Phill Jackson brings something else to the table that few other coaches in this league possess.

Calmness under pressure, and the ability to push all the right buttons with the players on his team.

He's a Guru.

The Bhagwan of Basketball!

But I will say this: I would rather see the Celtics in the finals (done deal) facing off against almost any top tier team in the West, be it the Suns, the Mavericks, the Rockets, or the Lakers.

Any team except for the Spurs. (I can't stand the sight of Tim Duncan)

It should be a good series, regardless of the outcome, and the ratings will be through the roof.

If he brings in my old HS coach, then I will be happy!!

I'm a lifelong NBA Eastern Conference guy, so naturally, I'll have a somewhat rooting interest for the Celtics in the NBA Finals. I say Celts in 7 games. I am glad that the Spurs were eliminated though. It shows up Bulls management from missing out on Gasol and Kobe. Plus, and more importantly, it shows up a couple of our regular bloggers, Culzie and Julie B. who if I'm not mistaken, both earlier said that the Spurs were unbeatable. haha I had Lakers and Celts in the Finals from the very beginning of the playoffs. The Spurs finally showed their old legs against the Lakers, but the Celts' legs are still a little bit younger, although not by much, and the big 3 (KG, Pierce and Allen) are hungrier looking for their first Championship rings. Unfortunately, this will probably be their best chance because those guys are pretty much running on their older legs as well, but with a little more sense of motivation and urgency than a team like the Spurs. The Celts are a classic case of sacrificing their future to win 1 title today.

Phil Jackson - it's hard to knock all the Championship hardware he has, but at the same time, he's always been gift-wrapped with superstar talent. He's a great NBA coach in the sense that he knows how to handle superstars on the mental part of the game, but he has never proven that he can coach without top talent. For a team like today's Bulls, it just wouldn't work for him and he'd never take that job anyway. To worship him like some kind of coaching god, no way. Most basketball purists know there's more to his coaching skills (or lack thereof) behind the hardware.

Edgar, I do have to agree that the Lakers did beat the Champs like it is supposed to happen. I give Kobe a lot of credit for that, he deserves it. I will not hate on the Spurs though, they are still a great team, just need to retool.

As far as Phil, when he became head coach of the Bulls, a lot of people were lambasting him, Jerry, Jerry, and my other cousin Jerry. Saying Phil had no NBA experience as a head coach, and would be run over by Jordan and co.

He led those teams to 6 titles(just rehashing that's all). Took the Lakers after their previous coach could not win with about the same talent, and won 3 rings with him. I have to give him credit, he is a great coach, better than Rambis at least( or whoever was coaching LA at the time.) He would suck with this team though.

Think Boston just has too much talent, they are a solid defensive team. Doug is a good hire as well.

Oh don't mistaken, Chuck, I don't hate the Spurs at all. They're a class organization with classy players who play the game the right way as a team. I was just glad the Lakers won because that organization gave the Bulls a lesson on how to take your team from being a playoff team to a Championship team (from "Point B to Point C" as people like to say and write) based on personnel moves. Same with the Celtics actually. In other words, Reinsdorf/Pax, learn how to spend your money wisely! Anyway, the Spurs will certainly retool. Duncan, Ginobili and Parker still have many great basketball games in them.

With Phil Jackson, I was never one who said that he would be a bust or that he would be a legend in the beginning. I'll admit, I was too young to understand the business and political parts of the NBA game yet from a coach's point of view at my age at the time, but I was more in shock when Collins got fired by the Bulls after losing in the Eastern Conference Finals to the Pistons that season. Over the years, I gave credit to Phil for being able to "coach" players like MJ, Rodman, Pippen, Shaq, Kobe, etc... I mean really, these are not easy guys to coach so I'll give him props for that. I'm just talking overall coaching skills from developing young players on and teaching the game. Until Phil can prove that he can take a team devoid of talent and mold them into a Championship team. Phil is not a teacher of basketball skills, he hasn't shown that to me yet, but he's a great coach for NBA veterans and proven NBA superstars.

You are so on the money with that assessment. I too was baffled, and the comment was more about my mindset at the time as well. I didn't think Phil could do it. Seems he has a way with Superstar players that most other coaches don't, also seems he has a way to deal with multiple superstars. He is a unique coach, but I do not think he is much of a groomer like you mentioned.

The other point about showing a blueprint for successful franchises is very valid as well. That is why Rose is the best pick, he can create his own shot, and is a man on the defensive end....something Kobe, MJ, Shaq, all the superstars have in common.

Edgar sez: "Over the years, I gave credit to Phil for being able to "coach" players like MJ, Rodman, Pippen, Shaq, Kobe, etc... I mean really, these are not easy guys to coach so I'll give him props for that. I'm just talking overall coaching skills from developing young players on and teaching the game. Until Phil can prove that he can take a team devoid of talent and mold them into a Championship team. Phil is not a teacher of basketball skills, he hasn't shown that to me yet, but he's a great coach for NBA veterans and proven NBA superstars."

Coaching is not teaching.

The "teaching is done in grammar school, high school, and that first year in college that some of the few really talented ones bother to attend.

"Coaching" is all about getting guys with as disparate personalities, talents, and egos such as Rodman and MJ, or Shaq and Kobi on the same page; and then making it all mesh.

Teaching doesn't win championships, good coaching does.

*I believe Jerry Krause made a similarly stupid statement, but I'll stand by mine*

Villano, I never said Coaching basketball is all about 100% teaching. You quote me word for word, but you leave out the other details that I've been typing up in MANY blog posts going back to last year. Being a coach in any sport INCLUDES teaching even professional players, but it's not all about teaching 100% Rookies need to be taught the nuances of the NBA game just like they need to fine tune their overall basketball skills. My goodness, Villano, you really want to challenge me with this? I come from a family of coaches in high school and College sports. I coach a youth league basketball team part time in Summer and Winter. Sure, none of them are coaches for pro teams, but to say that coaching is not teaching is way off. You really think teaching has nothing to do with coaching? You make me laugh. I'm not even going to debate with you on this topic. You could interview ALL the NBA coaches in the league and I'll tell you right now each one of them, except maybe the great Phil Jackson, will tell you that they still TEACH players how to play the game the right way in one form or another.

Bottom line, Villano, the focus here is on the present Bulls team, not this silly topic about Phil Jackson and his legacy. He's been gone from the Bulls for almost 10 years now. It's time to move on. If your comments are what define great NBA coaching, then so be it. And I still say Celts in 7 games over the Lakers.

Villano | June 2, 2008 06:17 PM, I agree with most of this post, but a good coach is also a teacher. He is a teacher at heart and he is a master motivator. Phil got two of the biggest egos in Mike and Rodman on the same page. He got Mike to buy into a system that called for him to PASS and trust teammates. That is a heck of a coaching job. A teacher has something to tell a person to help them. Phil has mastered the human element of the game and is respected for that. He not only reaches the top players but also the role players, and he gets them to by into their jobs. Lakers were left for dead. But ole Phil have them back! You all know how much I did not like Kobe, but look at him now....shining like Mike. Phil has had a lot to do with that. Yes he has had some help, but not everyone can coach great players.

i got news for you Michael Jordans not coming through that door, Ssottie Pippens not coming through that door, Horace Grants not coming through that door!Hell Phil Jackson neither!