Vinny Del Negro - Be Like Mike

Vinny Del Negro is not a great x's and o's coach. He botches timeouts. He routinely draws up 'interesting' set plays out of timeouts. He often appears confused. His offenive schemes revolve around forcing contested jump shots, which sounds exactly like defensive schemes. The phrase "in over his head" accompanies most criticisms. But he's working with an incomplete team, with no three point shooting (last in 3p attempts, last in 3p made, 28th in 3p fg%, at .294) and still no low post scorers. But VDN should not be fired. Not now and not this summer.

Del Negro's history suggests that when the games matter most, he's able to get the most out of his players. Everyone remembers the first round series against the Celtics. But to get into the playoffs, the Bulls went 18-11 after the all star break, including a 12-4 run to close the regular season. And the past week, with a virtual bonfire under their head coach, the Bulls have played hard, unified basketball. They put forth a sturdy effort against the league's best team, then beat the streaking Knicks and Hawks after facing large 1st quarter deficits in both games. When it's do or die time, the Bulls under Del Negro by and large do. And the guy who many suggest as a Del Negro replacement? He dies. Remember this?
2008-2009 Playoffs: Western Conference First Round - Game 4
Denver Nuggets: 121
@ New Orleans Hornets: 63

Recent history also favors teams who let first-time coaches grow and handle adverse situations. Doc Rivers, for example, was criticized even more harshly for his poor coaching ability, and almost universally blamed for his team's failure. What happened? He learned how to deal with tough situations, losses and low energy. He picked up experience along the way, and when he finally got a real team, he guided them to a championship.

A better role model for Del Negro might be Mike Woodson. A first-time head coach, Woodson's first three years with the Hawks were atrocious (13-69, 26-56, 30-52). Like Del Negro, Woodson has had a young core of players that he's developed. He could have easily been replaced after three seasons in the East's cellar. But he's been given time to grow with the same core of players, developing them and developing the team into one that could contend for a conference title. He's provided a stable culture where young players like Josh Smith can learn, develop and fulfill his considerable promise. Now in his sixth season, Woodson's Hawks are contenders in the East and have a bright future ahead of them.

More than anything else, the Bulls need a culture of stability and consistency where their young core can grow together. If Bulls' management feels the need to make a hire, it should be for an assistant coach who can help design some offensive creativity. But as these last three games suggest, the Bulls haven't quit on Del Negro. If anything, it shows that they have faith in him. The management and fans should too; at least see what he can do with a full team. The Bulls have had five coaches this decade. I'd like to see the next decade marked by fewer coaching changes, and more commitment to assessing talent and developing players. And this starts with stability.

Role Models: Tyrus Thomas Footnote

Often, players with similar skills and athleticism to Tyrus seem to take longer to develop, because they so often end up playing that in-between space in the game--not quite inside, not quite outside, not always running, not always half-court. He's not a post player, and he's not a jump shooter. He's not a slasher. He has average-at-best handles. He's a runner and a jumper. He's a dunker. He's a blocker. His role model should be Josh Smith.

Let's compare:

	Josh Smith	Tyrus Thomas
Age	25	23
Height	6'9''	6'9''
Weight	225	215
Seasons	6	4
Games	398	229
Min	13250	4,455
MPG	33.3	19.9
RPG	7	5
BPG	2.4	1.3
PPG	14.1	7.7

Now let's adjust the stats to per-36 minute totals, and let's look at Smith's numbers after playing a comparable number of minutes (4609 minutes, his total after 2 seasons):

	Josh Smith	Tyrus Thomas
Reb/ 36	7.8	9
Blk/ 36	2.6	2.4
Pts/ 36	12.6	14

In terms of development, Thomas has had two coaches, clashed with both and been called out by management. Smith has had the same coach his entire career, Mike Woodson (more on Woodson later). Detractors point to Thomas's inconsistencies and say he has a bad attitude. They say he hasn't earned the right to get big minutes. They criticize him for not developing his prodigious talents. I say, what did you expect?!? He's never been given consistent minutes. He's never had a consistent consistent experience with the coaching staff. And most importantly, he's never been in a consistent system, or played in a consistent scheme.

Post players are asked to do the same sorts of thing, for the most part, regardless of the system. Shooting guards, too, by and large. But versatile players like Thomas, who play multiple positions and don't have a clearly defined role? They need to be in a system that they are familiar with. They need to be asked by coaching staff to do the same things, night in and night out, so that they can get into a rhythm. Players like Thomas need to know where they fit and where they stand.

If they ask Thomas to run, then the Bulls need to push the ball 7-10 times while he's in the game. If they ask him to dunk, he needs to get 3-5 ally oops per game. If they don't want him shooting 16 footers, they need to run sets that feature low screens, pin downs, and allow Ty to be active under the basket. They can't tell him to run, then play half-court all night. They can't tell him not to shoot, then run high-screens that leave gaping holes at the elbows for wide-open 16 footers. And good or bad, they can't keep jerking around his playing time. Especially this season, when they are assessing what exactly they have and if they want to keep him.