Struggling Bulls Fire Skiles

Coming into the season, the Chicago Bulls were predicted by many to contend for the top seed in the East and possibly represent the conference in the NBA Finals.

However, the Bulls have started the season a very disappointing 9-16, which leaves them 10 games back of the Pistons in their division, and only ahead of the Miami Heat and New York Knicks for the worst record in the East. Today, the head coach, Scott Skiles, took the fall for the Bulls' dreadful start. The breaking point had to be the Bulls last two games where they lost by a combined 43 points to the Celtics and Rockets.

I do not agree with John Paxson's decision to fire Skiles today. Skiles has taken this Bulls team from an embarrassment every year to one of the best young teams in the Eastern Conference. Unfortunately at the first sign of trouble, Skiles has been given the ax. He should have definitely been given the rest of this year to turn the team around, and I would have given him next year too for making the playoffs the last three years. It isn't Skiles' fault that two of his best players in Luol Deng and Ben Gordon were severly distracted by the Kobe Bryant rumors, and now are more concerned about their contracts that will be up in the air after this season. That is the GM's doing. Should have given the coach the rest of the season to make things right.

Despite the poor start, the Bulls only sit 2 games out of a playoff spot, and surprisingly they are only 4.5 games back of the #4 seed. They are too far back from the surging Celtics or Pistons for something better, but they certainly have time to make something good happen from this year. And should they make the playoffs, they will be a handful for either of those teams should they meet.

This move is symbolic of how the NBA has become. Coaches get fired more in the NBA than any other league. In fact, the only organization I can think of in another sport that changes coaches at such an alarming rate is the New Jersey Devils. I love Paxson for his key championship contributions as a player from '91-'93 and for rebuilding this current team as GM, but this was a very classless move on his part. Shameful! On Christmas no less! And if Isiah Thomas still has a job, shouldn't Skiles?

Pat Morgan