Bulls Name Vinny Del Negro Head Coach

[dansensei]

Just read this at Bulls.com

I think the bulls are taking a great risk since Del Negro doesn't have any coaching experience, although he played for 12 seasons in the league.

[Andrew]

After the initial critcism there have been suggestions that the Bulls deserve credit for making a bold move and that it could pan out so long as Del Negro is surrounded by great assistants but I'm still skeptical as to whether it was a better move than bringing in someone more established with a proven track record. Obviously as a Bulls fan I'm hoping for the best but it's not the shrewd hiring I was hoping for after last year's mess of a season.

[dansensei]

i think they still have a decent shot at having a good season as long as he have a great cast around him.

and don't forget, they still have the no 1 pick...

[Andrew]

Absolutely, I don't mean to imply that I believe all hope is lost but I can see his stint lasting less than the two years he's been signed for.

[Jing]

Damn, been a while since his name came up in anything.

Maybe he'll pull an Avery Johnson and jump from being an average player to a great coach. But he doesn't have the great cast that Avery had in Dallas.

[Dan's Brain]

If the Bulls miss the playoffs next season, does anyone else predict a Paxson firing?

[Alejandrov011]

I think that Vinny will be a good coach, just give hime some time... The only need is a leader on the team... But a vocal leader a experienced one that can guide the team in a out the court. If Del Negro has that player that now doesn't exist on the Bulls he can be a good coach, an obviouly he must have a good relationship


I hate those people that says that he es new, how can he coach a team... Everybody had in their life a first time coaching!

Just stupid

If the Bulls miss the playoffs next season, does anyone else predict a Paxson firing?

I do

[Andrew]

True, every coach is new at some point but the criticism of Del Negro's hiring isn't based on principle or prejudice against rookie head coaches with no prior coaching experience in college or as an assistant in the NBA. It's more about whether such a person is suitable for the Bulls. Considering this is a roster that needs a hand that is firm but fair, an inexperienced coach may lack the credibility needed to get results from getting tough with his players.

Consider also that the Bulls have been building for a few years and have kind of hit a wall as far as their growth as players and as a team. They're at a point where they need someone to try and take them to the next level and if that can't be done, starting over with a new rebuilding plan. Del Negro has yet to establish himself as a coach and while the Bulls are young they don't necessarily have time to wait until he cuts his teeth. With the upcoming contract situations, an effort to win must be made now and decisions on the team's direction made soon. There's no time for Del Negro to grow into the role.

If the Bulls miss the playoffs next season, does anyone else predict a Paxson firing?

I think so, even with the progress he managed to make in his first few years on the job. Signing Ben Wallace was a huge mistake, talented players who had "character issues" but were low risk due to expiring contracts have been given up for spare change and Aldridge for Thomas is shaping up to be another bust. Pax has done an admirable job of bringing them back to respectability (last season aside) but his moves since then have left something to be desired. Choosing Del Negro over someone with a more established track record could be the final straw.

[benji]

I agree to an extent with Alejandrov. I think coaches are overrated a bit. Given too much credit. A coach can only do so much if the team is no good.

Del Negro could be the greatest coach ever, have perfect rotations and playsets, and if most of the Bulls still play like they did last year, the team still won't win much more than 30 games.

It's one thing to hire guys who consistently lose with teams that should win more, it's quite another to take a chance on someone fresh.

[Andrew]

True, I have to admit some of my apprehension comes from the approach of "better the devil you know".

[Sauru]

doc rivers is a perfect example of a team making a coach look good(in the media anyway i think he still looks like an idiot). infact i would go as far to say that if the celtics had a real coach, they would have cruised to the finals and would be sitting 3-0 right now

[dansensei]

I hate those people that says that he es new, how can he coach a team... Everybody had in their life a first time coaching!

Just stupid

of course everyone have their first times, but they usually start as assistants or something. in the case of vinny, he started his coaching career from the top, without any experience in coaching to help him except his experience as a player.

[Wacky Bibe]

whoa..vinny del negro!..

i just looked at his cf in my nba live 2001 game a while ago..

[kinokong]

doc rivers is a perfect example of a team making a coach look good(in the media anyway i think he still looks like an idiot). infact i would go as far to say that if the celtics had a real coach, they would have cruised to the finals and would be sitting 3-0 right now

lol but they're up 3-1.... it's close enough.... he's pretty much outsmarted phil jackson the whole series.....

[air gordon]

i'm shocked. since Skiles was fired (x-mas) this is what the search led to?

Maybe Del Negro is some basketball genius waiting to be unleashed. It makes sense to surround this guy with experienced assistants. Normally a head coach gets to add at least 1 guy of his choice w/o the GM interfering. It's not alarming but i think it's strange that Del Negro mentioned that the findings of the assistants will be collaborative effort w/Paxson

[Duck²]

I am not to sure if this is going to be the best move.

[Indy]

Vinnie Del Negro is a fantastic hire. I've been waiting for him to get a head coaching job for a long time now, he is going to be great.

[Drex]

Based on what?

[shadowgrin]

Vinny's good looks?

[Andrew]

Vinnie Del Negro is a fantastic hire. I've been waiting for him to get a head coaching job for a long time now, he is going to be great.

I wish I had that much optimism. Granted, it may be premature to call it a bad hire before we've seen what he can do but it still doesn't seem like the right fit. It feels a bit similar to signing Ben Wallace a couple of years ago; having missed out on someone with a higher profile, Paxson settled for who was available. As air gordon alluded to, it's disappointing that the Bulls' long search for a replacement coach led to several candidates lacking a proven track record with the job ultimately going to the person with no coaching experience at all, not even as an assistant.

[Indy]

Vinnie was a guy who you just knew was going to make a great coach. Everybody used to talk about Avery Johnson as a great future coach on those San Antonio teams, but I always thought Vinnie was going to be the one that was going to be great.

His demeanor will be good for the Bulls young guys, and I think guys like Nocioni, Gordon, Hughes, Gooden, Hinrich are very vulnurable semi-veterans who will really take to Del Negro's style.