Not that I have interest in equal time, but some good things about Vinny:

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Dec 9, 2008 9:17 AM CST

As the site header has said for the past couple weeks, and as the last few posts have explained, I'm not overly thrilled at how the inaugural campaign of Vinny Del Negro has been going.

That said, I'm not disapointed to the point to where he needs to be fired, or that his hiring was a mistake. Considering that the intended coach for the Bulls, Mike D'Antoni, is coming to town tonight with a team surpassing early expectations (albeit with an easy schedule), here's a pick-me-up for our coach Vinny:

He has put no restraints on Derrick Rose whatsoever. Plays him a ton, lets him play through mistakes.
Was the first coach to realize Ben Gordon is really good and doesn't need magic 6th man juice to be effective. Didn't freak out at the idea of starting two small guards together.
Managed (with some help from Paxson) to keep Larry Hughes happy in a limited role. I think it was under the promise that he'd eventually be traded...though that's even better.
Promised and delivered on being a fast-paced team. The Bulls are 5th in the league in pace.
Overall, the players seem to like him and want to play hard for him.

And most importantly: He's not Doug Collins.

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ah the love fest continues!

from Ben:

Vinny is giving us freedom offensively," guard Ben Gordon said. "That’s fun for players. I definitely like playing for him. I’m just trying to get used to the system and get adjusted to him.

“We kind of expected him not to know everything right away, knowing he’d be learning as he goes along also. We have to be patient. He knows the game because he played, but coaching is different. You just have to be ready for him to make some mistakes and stand by him.”

by NormVanBeer on Dec 9, 2008 9:28 AM CST reply actions

Wow, I wish All the Bulls felt like this

Very nicely put by Ben. I’m willing to bet TT and Noah are not as happy with Vinny as BG is!

by scottie33 on Dec 9, 2008 9:41 AM CST up reply actions

yeah

he definitely is making those who claimed he would be bitter about the contract negotiations feel silly

by CJOliveira on Dec 9, 2008 10:55 AM CST up reply actions

*bitter because of the contract negotiations

by CJOliveira on Dec 9, 2008 10:56 AM CST up reply actions

They haven't stopped being bitter

any time he takes a shot, someone seems to suggest it’s about free agency.

by CJ Bulls on Dec 9, 2008 12:23 PM CST up reply actions

I think he was talking about ben gordon being bitter

not the fans . And there will always be people that wont like ben gordon

On Behalf of Sue, Wjb, Bullshooter, and all the other Hinrich fans...Ill keep the Hinrich Hope coming...There will be light....

by piccolomair on Dec 9, 2008 2:02 PM CST up reply actions

CJ Bulls has no idea what you're talking about :-D

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by your friendly BullsBlogger on Dec 9, 2008 2:04 PM CST up reply actions

Oh yes yes

BG’s bitter. There’s a reason he was mysteriously hurt all preseason!

by CJ Bulls on Dec 9, 2008 2:36 PM CST up reply actions

Wow, Vinny Del Negro love! It's too early for this, I just ate breakfast.

by Juiceboxjerry on Dec 9, 2008 9:34 AM CST reply actions

what, no DR knife analysis :-)

by bullsfaninbigapple on Dec 9, 2008 9:39 AM CST reply actions

Cutting an apple?!

Really?? I believed it as soon as I read it…..But is this a Monta Ellis/Radmonovic type cover?

by scottie33 on Dec 9, 2008 9:43 AM CST up reply actions

go nuts

http://www.blogabull.com/2008/12/8/685032/rose-needs-stitches-wtf

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by your friendly BullsBlogger on Dec 9, 2008 10:15 AM CST up reply actions

Your last sentence is key

Things likely would be better with D’Antoni, but they could have been a lot, lot worse with Collins.

by JeffD on Dec 9, 2008 9:45 AM CST reply actions

..and he has great hair! lol

Good post man…glad your warming up to the hair

"If there’s any haters in here right now that don’t have nobody to hate on, feel free to hate on me." - A.P.N.S.

by Belize on Dec 9, 2008 10:03 AM CST reply actions

Tonight's game will be a nice test for VDN

A win and playing good team basketball tonight can signal that we are separating ourselves from the dregs. A loss and it qualifies us, at least temporily as a member of the Eastern Conference dregs. Losing to the Knicks at home can do that to a team. VDN should be motivated verses D’Antoni (and vise-versa) as I assume there was tension between the two in Phoenix. This is a game I really want us to win!

by chgobr on Dec 9, 2008 10:50 AM CST reply actions

I think

it’s already a success to have one of our biggest assets/best players say how much fun he’s having….

That’s more important to the coach than anything given the mess that was last year with Skiles and he who must not ever be muttered again running the show.

Plus, while we’re hardly great, we’ve been mostly enjoyable to watch even in losses—playing hard again and only 2 games where we stood no real chance (Boston—whcih we at least had a glimmer of hope thanks to the hard play, and Portland—where Noah looked like he was out drinking too much the night before and helped dig us into an incredible hole before the move was made to move him out….and the team gave up)….

I know some substitution patterns have been poor (the 10 games of surprisingly completely 110% awful Nocioni play not being addressed and him still getting major minutes, some over reliance on Gray (Portland game) where teams were running and gunning us out of the games….some poor substitutions when a 2nd string group has come into the games and gotten us back into the games or a slight lead, only to be subbed out well before that little momentum waned….and really the dismal performance of the SF spot indicates VDN and crew could possibly have worked more with Noc and Deng to find their rythym earlier this year—hopefully Deng can keep it up…

But mostly the coaching seems a success. We’ve played a pretty tough schedule so far with more than 50% of our games away, and 45% of our games against hte West….but we have a winning record against the West so far and have looked like there’s a possiblity to get a 6+ game winning streak this season (Something that from the language and play seemed impossible next year)—might not happen, but we have been playing hard and are incorporating more Derrick….so who knows.

Rose too has come on by leaps and bounds from game 1 to now and while a lot of that is due to his greatness, some of it has to be due to the coaching staff (not all VDN, but all of them)….and that’s good.

Del Negro also had gotten Tyrus’s confidence up in preseason and Thomas was looking like he was going to break out, but the Boston game with Garnett went too early and THomas was a mess and has taken quite a while to get back (if he really has)…but Vinny’s at least gotten something out of THomas in stretches, which really is better than we’ve seen and he didn’t exactly bury him during or after the 2-17 game….which could show Thomas what he can do to improve…

by majoyenrac on Dec 9, 2008 11:10 AM CST reply actions

Is this team really fast paced?

I know they’re 5th, but it doesn’t feel like it. They don’t seem to get a ton of transition points. I think they’re more fast paced because they can barely get down the court before Gooden/Noc/Gordon/Hughes are looking for a pullup jumper. I prefer they be run ‘n gun, but I guess it’s hard to play that way when you’re allowing so many points.

by CJ Bulls on Dec 9, 2008 12:25 PM CST reply actions

Pace

They also need to rebound better to push the ball. With the small line-ups they’ve been getting killed on the boards lately. Since the game at Philly they’ve cut down on turnovers when they slow it down and run sets.

by El Toro de Goro on Dec 9, 2008 12:47 PM CST up reply actions

Tonight's game

I can see Rose having his way with Duhon…it’s gonna be ugly.

by Half-Life on Dec 9, 2008 1:04 PM CST reply actions

Yeah, I can see him really knifing through the Knick defense

Sorry, couldn’t resist :)

"Derrick Rose is like a $500,000 Maybach parked in the driveway of a $200,000 house in the middle of nowhere" - Bill Simmons

by RogersPark Kris on Dec 9, 2008 1:06 PM CST up reply actions 4 recs

They are from the Big Apple

In a trust with Vinny Del Negro.

by NBA Observer on Dec 9, 2008 1:10 PM CST up reply actions 6 recs

I know this is crazy, but...

I’m actually nervous that Duhon’s going to kick our ass. Rose isn’t a good defender…Aaron Gray’s immobile whereas David Lee’s athletic…I could see a big problem against the pick and roll.

Somebody talk me down!

The poster formerly known as Freethefro.

by MPG on Dec 9, 2008 1:23 PM CST up reply actions

You can rest assured Duhon won't be kicking anything

David Lee may go off for 20+ plus, but the Bulls play better defense then the deadbeats (Clippers, Warriors, Thunder) that the Knicks have been feasting on lately. Watch for Deng to continue his solid play, and the back court continue to carry the offensive load for a Bulls win.

"Derrick Rose is like a $500,000 Maybach parked in the driveway of a $200,000 house in the middle of nowhere" - Bill Simmons

by RogersPark Kris on Dec 9, 2008 1:29 PM CST up reply actions

that's the stuff

The poster formerly known as Freethefro.

by MPG on Dec 9, 2008 1:36 PM CST up reply actions

Bah, stop worrying

The Bulls are playing against a team that starts David Lee and Al Harrington in their frontcourt, how can the Bulls not put up 110+ today?

What do you see in a 14 ppg with no jumper that makes one think he will be better than a 26ppg\ 12rpg guy? Is there some kind of magic formula that tells you 14 > 26??
by Dabullsfan on Jul 1, 2008 10:19 AM CDT actions actions 0 recs

by Ozzie Montana on Dec 9, 2008 1:55 PM CST up reply actions

because they'll go even smaller

and I’d rather have Lee/Harrington than Deng/Noc at the 4-5.

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by your friendly BullsBlogger on Dec 9, 2008 2:05 PM CST up reply actions

Ouch.

Especially vexing because this is a game where Noah/T2 could be very effective. Hopefully they make their triumphant return.

The poster formerly known as Freethefro.

by MPG on Dec 9, 2008 2:08 PM CST up reply actions

That's too much height

Rose, Gordon, Hughes, Thabo, Deng for 45 minutes each.

In a trust with Vinny Del Negro.

by NBA Observer on Dec 9, 2008 2:17 PM CST up reply actions

And they put up 105

And looked like shit. I hate it when you’re right.

by Ozzie Montana on Dec 10, 2008 12:33 PM CST up reply actions

It's to be noted

other than a small increase in overall fg% and big increase in 3pt%, Duhon is basically the same player per minute. He just plays more in NY. Wait til they experience one his winter collapses (last two Decembers Duhon is 11/64) and he’ll be back to his usual self.

by CJ Bulls on Dec 9, 2008 2:55 PM CST up reply actions

And the collapse starts tonight

I hope rose does one of those jordan performances, akin to what jordan to to cleavland and ehlo. Meaning that rose takes all the hype that the knicks have against the bulls (knicks took the coach the bulls wanted, knicks took the bulls guard who was undervalued, and turned him into a great pg) and uses that hype as fuel in one astonishingly dominant game, which will mark duhon as roses whipping boy for the rest of his career and the knicks as a team that always had the money and talent, but could do nothing…..

Begin the collapse of duhon tonight rose, continue the collapse of the knicks tonight rose…

On Behalf of Sue, Wjb, Bullshooter, and all the other Hinrich fans...Ill keep the Hinrich Hope coming...There will be light....

by piccolomair on Dec 9, 2008 3:40 PM CST up reply actions

Vinny's Lineup Woes

I wonder if his problems can be attributed totally to the fact the individual players have been completely underperforming. If Deng and Noc normalize to career average and Hughes and Gooden continue to play solidly, they will definitely be in line to make the playoffs. With Derrick Rose, a solid Deng and hopefully a resigned Gordon, the Bulls will be hard pressed not to attract a premier free agent in 2010—if cap allows.

As for Thomas and Noah, I think it would be a mistake to lump them together. Thomas has a high roof and has shown flashes of competence and energy that deserve to be rewarded with playing time. Noah has consistently shown little interest in the team and deserves to be sat because of such. While the natural inclination is to say “play through it,” if he truly enjoys the game of basketball, sitting should galvanize him to work harder. If not or if this is the limit of his skill and conditioning as an NBA player, he is hardly worth the time in the first place.

by McCabe on Dec 9, 2008 2:22 PM CST reply actions

But what I really don't get is that Thomas had his most consistent looking stretch of ball before the Wiz game

De gustibus non est disputandum

by Sports2 on Dec 9, 2008 3:13 PM CST up reply actions

Exactly;

that’s what I don’t get. Tyrus had been playing really well. He gives us an element – in his athleticism, shotblocking and rebounding – that we don’t otherwise have. He’s also been a good soldier this year in terms of attitude, professionalism, etc. It really surprised me.

The poster formerly known as Freethefro.

by MPG on Dec 9, 2008 3:23 PM CST up reply actions

smallball

I fear Noc is gonna see a lot of time at PF and even at C since Knicks play small. Tyrus has to has to has to get at least 30 minutes. Gray isn’t going to be effective, but watch there’s gonna be a lot of Noc/Gray at the 4 and 5.

It would also be nice if we put the Knicks away early instead of doing the usual fall behind until we make a comeback in the 3rd and then hang on to win. I want a 15+ point blowout.

by C Smoove on Dec 9, 2008 3:16 PM CST reply actions

If Noc

Plays his old aggressive game, that wouldn’t be bad since they’re a small ball team. But if we see the Noc of late (pre Wizards game late) it’s atrocious.
Noc is better than he’s played…..

I don’t want him at the 5 (would rather see Gooden who’s coming off of the 2 straight godawful games, which normally means he’s due for a great 20-14 game performance tonight.

by majoyenrac on Dec 9, 2008 3:53 PM CST up reply actions

Sorry, but I disagree...

I think that your premise is precisely wrong, by which I mean that this team requires more structure and discipline than VDN is providing. The quote from Gordon above is predictable, but ignorant. The fun should come from excelling, not being allowed to freestyle and play one-on-one offense.

Thomas is underachieving in large part because VDN is not demanding that he fit into a narrow offensive role. Rose would be even better and more effective if the other players know what to do when he has the ball, rather than standing around and watching all too often.

I could go on, but VDN is a very weak coach, and the Bulls are underachieving as a result of his loose, and mostly poor strategies.

by badnewsintennisshoes on Dec 9, 2008 6:37 PM CST reply actions

CO SIGNED

I agree the coaching staff should see someone like Tyrus needs to be told exactly where to be….which is around the basket at all times not roaming the perimeter aimlessly. If he hangs around the basket, he is in good position for alley-oops or at least putbacks.

Please just no Noc tonight, just for one night please.

by C Smoove on Dec 9, 2008 6:56 PM CST reply actions