Although Doug Collins has recently surfaced as the front runner to become the next Head Coach of the Chicago Bulls, there is apparently something that is keeping them from pulling the trigger on this deal. This is obvious by the fact that GM John Paxson is waiting on owner Jerry Reinsdorf's approval, and while waiting has recently brought Chuck Person back for a second interview.
Well maybe they should wait a little longer and take a look at Flip Saunders, who as everyone knows was recently fired by the Detroit Pistons. After all, Flip has never missed the play-offs when he has coached a full season for a team. Saunders also has led teams to four conference finals, including three straight in Detroit. Although he did initially have first round woes with his Timberwolves, he did eventually lead them to the Conference Finals in the West.
Plus the 1996-1997 T'Wolves, actually, have plenty of similarities to what will be the 2008-2009 Chicago Bulls. The T'Wolves were a rather young team, that was just learning to play together. They had rookie Stephon Marbury, second year player Kevin Garnett and fourth year player Tom Gugliotta all in the starting line up. Plus twelve of the sixteen players on their roster that season had less than five years of experience and only one had more than ten years of experience. This is very similar to the Bulls 2008-2009 roster where 13 players will have five or less years experience and only one player (Larry Hughes) will have 10 or more years experience.
The main reason I bring this up, is that traditionally Doug Collins has been a veterans coach, who hasn't worked that well using young players. See John Hollinger of ESPN's page 2 article from May 29, 2008 to get the run down on that. As Hollinger points out, Collins consistently has sat young players for washed up veterans that perform poorly. Collins lacks a trust in young talent and has never really played young guys or developed them to their true potential. As Hollinger points out, and as the numbers above show, this could be a problem for a still very young Bulls team.
On the other hand Saunders has dealt with young talent and brought them along, not just to the play-offs but on to great careers. Look at Kevin Garnett whom Saunders took over during Garnett's rookie season. Saunders was his head coach for the first nine years of Garnett's wonderful and probably hall of fame career. Could you imagine what he could do with Michael Beasley down on the block?
I'm not saying that the Bulls have to go with Flip Saunders, nor am I completely against Doug Collins, he's a familiar face, but I am saying give him a shot. The guys belongs in the league, he is a great coach and even if he can't deliver us to Title town right away, at least he'll put us back in the play-offs. Plus he can't be any worse than the last guy we brought over from Detroit, Ben Wallace you worthless waste of space.
Maria Kirilenko
Cheney Larschied
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Hey, I understand where you're coming from, and you make a valid argument, but I don't see Flip Saunders becoming the Next coach. Not to mention even getting the light of day for an interview. He's not as great as everyone thinks he is, I mean, before he was hired as a head coach for the pistons they had made two straight finals appearances under Coach Larry Brown. They should have been in the finals the two years after that as well against teams that the entire pistons team has said themselves they felt they were better than. I'd make an exception for Boston because they're on a mission,a dn I don't see anyone stopping them.
Frankly, Saunders is an underachieving coach that to me wouldn't bring the right amount of toughness to a young Chicago team in despeartae need of that type of leadership. I've been a firm supporter of Avery Johnson from the opening rumors. Sad that he won't even get an interview, but i digress. The toughness factor exact same reason why i feel Doug Collins too would be a bad choice. I think most NBA teams, coaches, and personnel alike would agree. He got away with that soft hearted mentality in Detroit because of the tremendous veteran talent he was graciously bestowed with. He was doomed for the start in the D.
So personally, based on that reason alone I think it would be a bad move to bring in a Flip Saunders, and even Doug Collins. Although, I do have somewhat of a sentimental opinion of Collins who definitley got jobbed by Reinsdorf back in '89 after two straight eastern conference appearances. It seems the same thing that happened to him, happened to flip this year. Small world. Still, I guess it's out with the old (Skiles), and in with the older (Collins)? So it would appear. However, unlike Flip Saunders, I think Collins would be able to grow on me, and the rest of the bulls fan nation. Oh, and another thng I don't know where you got your info on this:
Koss says, "traditionally Doug Collins has been a veterans coach, who hasn't worked that well using young players."
Excuse me? Michael Jordan ring any bells. If I'm not mistaken this was mike's statlines in Collins final two seasons with the bulls that both ended up in eastern conference finals defeats:
RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
88-89 CHI 8.0 8.0 2.89 .80 32.5
89-90 CHI 6.9 6.3 2.77 .66 33.6
I'd say those are pretty producitve numbers, if not the most productive of Jordan's career. Not to mention the fact that Scottie Pippen who Collin coached as a rookie had high praise of Collins. Just had to clear that up.
J a.k.a. Da Commish
Omaha, NE
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