ESPN: Bulls to name D'Antoni new Head Coach

[dantian]

Chicago should be the best fit for DAntoni and vice versa.

Bulls have a lot of above average talent, young and athletic, but without super star potential or fire power to willl them to wins like Kobe, Paul, Wade, LBJ. Suppose they stay this way, then DA's system fits the roster best.

His philosophy is to create controlled chaos by forcing speed, in other words to make it like a trackmeet event. This way, the more athletic team gains advantage over skills of the opponents. Everyone being tired and more susceptible to errors late in the game, his players are more adapt to such condition and thus have a better chance to win.

His problem with the Suns was that he used too short of a rotation without sufficient talent beyond that on the bench. Thus, the 82 game season always wears down the main players leading to all kind of injuries in post season, so that his trackmeet were to beat down his own team by the playoffs. Suns owner have been too cheap to add better talent for that event while DA's tendency of playing short rotation scared potential FAs away. However, with the current Bulls, this is not a problem, it's actually their strength that they could go 11 deep without much drop in talent. So, I believe, if they could keep it this way, they'd even have more playoff success with DA than it was in Phoenix.

Note, it's misleading to look at Nash and Amare and think that DA's success was dependent on two 'dominant' players. Actually, both played within the 'system' without truly dominant plays a la Kobe, Wade, or even Paul. They just did some crucial parts within the system real well that made it look easy. However, it's not the only way DA's system can work. Back in Europe, he never had similar players but he could win still. The role differentiation will be different. that's it. Also, the Bulls would play much better defense than the Suns ever could, to compensate the expected initial lack of offensive power/efficiency on this team. They have the personel to play whole game pressure if they want, which the Suns couldn't for their specific composition of roster.

[LukasBMW]

Defense wins championships and Mike refused to have this team play defense.

Mike also refused to take suggestions from management....and one manager has multiple championship rings. Mike has none.

See ya Mike!



This guy from Boston sounds intriguing...a defensive minded Phoenix Suns team with a big center? What is the world coming to?

I would have loved to see Larry Brown here....to bad that did not happen.

I agree that EJ would make an awesome coach.


If we can ditch Mike AND get some goodies (player, picks, or $arver's favorite....CA$H) all the better.

[Sarlonus]

I read this on AZ republic in a blog talking about possible coaching candidates.

Tom Thibodeau:
He interviewed with the Suns before joining the Celtics, and we hear Kerr favored him over Jay Humphries, who was D'Antoni's pick.

They also mentioned Michael Curry who is another assistant for the Pistons.

[The Diesel]

Stephen A. Smith was just on ESPN First Take and he said that Mike D STILL might stay in Phoenix despite interviewing with Chicago and New York.

He doesn't know that Chicago is going to pay as much money as required to get D'Antoni.

He also said Avery is NOT a candidate for the Suns job, and the only two names he mentioned as possible candidates for the job are Thibadeux and Doug Collins.

[BR0D1E86]

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#15, Barbosa, DJ, and Tucker for Kirk Hinrich and Duhon?

Duhon

[JohnVancouver]

Terry Stotts has already been fired twice; by Atlanta and Milwaukee.

We need an established, proven coach who will command the respect of the veterans on this team.

Any established, proven coach who's only been fired twice must be pretty good -

[JohnVancouver]

[quote="The Diesel"]Stephen A. Smith was just on ESPN First Take and he said that Mike D STILL might stay in Phoenix despite interviewing with Chicago and New York.

--- Yep, Chicago is still paying Skiles $4m for next year, and they would like a bargain coach. Mike could be back here but it would sure test everyone's professionalism - i really think all parties would like to avoid that scenario. maybe a deal for a buyout amount to make the Chi offer work or something ..

Isn't Smith just about the most annoying sob in the whole of the sports media? I remember draft day a couple years ago when I almost put a boot through the screen listening to the guy
Still, even a blind pig finds an acorn once in a while

[JohnVancouver]

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Duhon

[mkot]

LOL. What a joke this FO is.

Now I'm starting to think if it is MikeD that wants to quit...

What a f**king mess...

[BR0D1E86]

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--- Mike thinks Barbs is a PG ...

Heh, he might but I don

[The Diesel]

No updates yet? I'm quite surprised there haven't been any updates yet since it's Wednesday and D'Antoni has met with Phoenix, New York, and Chicago.

Seems to me he MIGHT end up staying since he hasn't come to terms with the other teams yet and he's been wanting to leave Phoenix since last week.

Dbdynsty, do you have any info?

[The Diesel]

Here's what Stephen A. Smith said earlier today about this whole situation.

- He says he hears from people around the league and even some players who want him to stay that Mike D WANTS to stay, but simply wants more power and is using these interviews with Chicago and New York as leverage to get what he wants.

To me, Shaq HAS to be the source of this information; Shaq and Stephen A. are very good friends and Shaq has already come out and said he wants Mike to stay.

[Dieselbound&Down]

--- Yep, Chicago is still paying Skiles $4m for next year, and they would like a bargain coach.

The Bulls have been real quiet on the Skiles situation since it happened. At least one report stated that Skiles may have initiated the "firing" and there has been a lot of speculation that Skiles agreed to a team friendly buy out or agreement. This likely means the Bulls are looking at little or no payments to Skiles next year, especially now that he has a job. The Bulls have been pretty cheap recently so the mere fact they are negotiating with Mike D leads me to believe they are off the hook with Skiles. No sources but take it for what you think it is worth.

He says he hears from people around the league and even some players who want him to stay that Mike D WANTS to stay, but simply wants more power and is using these interviews with Chicago and New York as leverage to get what he wants.

My guess is the hold out is coming from MD and he is trying to use leverage, maybe with all three organizations. He knows he has until at least tomorrow to come to terms with somebody so I don't expect any decision until the last minute. D'Antoni's problem is he is playing the leverage game with two entrenched GMs who wouldn't seem to have any reason to cede power to the coach.

[Tommy Udo 6]

Bulls have to pay Skiles something since he was fired mid-last season.

However, there definitely was an agreement & whatever they pay would not cripple a team that took in over $200 million last season and has a profit over almost $60 million. Heck, they can pay Skiles out of petty cash

Skiles is a factor because the Bulls dont want to go through a buyout with the next coach, If MD is demanding more than 4 years, there is a problem. I think the issue is not money as much as length of contract.

[TASTIC]

Let's be honest, In the grand scheme of things, there isn't a *big* difference between $20m and $30m - too mere mortals I mean. Once you get over $10m it's most likely more money than you can possibly spend, not to mention what DA has already accumulated throughout the years.

What I mean to say is whoever DA goes with will be VERY interesting - a smart man would go for the Bulls because of the history, current players, current cap situation etc. A DUMB move would be going to the NBAbortion that is the Knicks.

[enigmatics]

Let's be honest, In the grand scheme of things, there isn't a *big* difference between $20m and $30m - too mere mortals I mean. Once you get over $10m it's most likely more money than you can possibly spend, not to mention what DA has already accumulated throughout the years.

What I mean to say is whoever DA goes with will be VERY interesting - a smart man would go for the Bulls because of the history, current players, current cap situation etc. A DUMB move would be going to the NBAbortion that is the Knicks.

Yes the Bulls have a better roster than the Knicks..........but looking at both teams, it's quite apparent a big contract would have to headline either one of those rosters. That's just my opinion. I also happen to think that minus little Stevie Nash, a new incarnation of D'Antoni's SSOL isn't going to look anywhere near the same.

[mkot]

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Yes the Bulls have a better roster than the Knicks..........but looking at both teams, it's quite apparent a big contract would have to headline either one of those rosters. That's just my opinion. I also happen to think that minus little Stevie Nash, a new incarnation of D'Antoni's SSOL isn't going to look anywhere near the same.

Yes Nash makes MikeD looks better, but let's be fair here. Nash also wasn't the MVP he's now in Dallas. MikeD has his flaws, but he also has some great offensive game plan in his book that he just doesn't need to use as much because Nash runs the offense so well. Even Kobe praise him saying he's an offensive genius, so that's something.

Nash is the system here, but don't make it sound like MikeD doesn't know his basketball...

[enigmatics]

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Yes Nash makes MikeD looks better, but let's be fair here. Nash also wasn't the MVP he's now in Dallas. MikeD has his flaws, but he also has some great offensive game plan in his book that he just doesn't need to use as much because Nash runs the offense so well. Even Kobe praise him saying he's an offensive genius, so that's something.

Nash is the system here, but don't make it sound like MikeD doesn't know his basketball...

I never said Mike doesn't know basketball. However, it's pretty clear that the embodiement of it is Steve Nash. I liken it to a high performance nascar automobile. It's not quite the same in the race unless you have the best driver.