Lets Get Avery Johnson Now

I just hope he doesn't take the year off. Who else would we get then?

Saturday Sun-Times said Tom Thibodeau (Boston Celtics) could possibley be interviewed.

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/basketball/bulls/942896,dantoni051008.article

ChiTownCliff,

Did you happen to catch the artical (i think it was in yesterdays Tribune) that said the Players tuned Johnson out this year and last year in the playoffs?

I would be slightly concerned with that, but, maybe that is common......i don't know.

It seemed to be exactly what happened here with Skiles.

Heck, maybe we don't need a coach.

That was sarcasm btw

I think Johnson's defensive style may be a good fit here....or anywhere for that matter. Cause like i said earlier, he did more with less in Dallas, than D'Antoni had in Phoenix.

The truth about Avery Johnson was he was handed a talented roster and racked impressive regular season records, but his playoff record is at or below .500. 

I will continue to believe that the HC for the Bulls is only half the issue.  JP has work to do way beyond finding the right coach.  His roster lacks the talent to win in the playoffs, period.  And until that is corrected, no HC is going to make that much of a difference. 

Bears4ever,

His name has been mentioned alot recently, unfortunately I don't know much about him.

What could you tell me about him that would spark my interest? I mean is he the #1 assistant, run the practice, work with the bigs, guards? What is his specialty? And i hope he isn't a players coach, that's the last thing this group needs.

I know Johnson is "proven", but an experienced assistant would have to be the way to go if the Bulls don't want to pay Johnson 6 mill per.

Jazzman,

I respect your point, but I feel that the Bulls have a very good young group of guys. Look how far they went in the past. They are older and wiser now, and they just need the right leader. I really do not care who the coach is as long as Paxson gets a strong leader that the players respect. A coach who knows hw to develope as well as knows the X's and O's. Roster changes will occur no matter what, but I like many of the players we have.

ginney,

I read that story somewhere else. I do think that Avery is alot like Skiles in many ways. You have to remember who coached the Mavericks before Avery did. Don Nelson was in many ways the opposite of Avery Johnson. The players were most likely so used to playing no defense that over time Avery wore them out. I think that Avery would be respected by the Bulls players and that he might not be quite as demanding on a young developing team. He is still my first choice.

Chi-Town Cliff -

I understand they played well in the past and threatened the Pistons in the '07 playoffs.  But, I do not trust players who can be distracted by their contract talks, quit on their coach, and regress indivividually as players.  Yes, I agree they need the right coach.  And, I'm sure the roster changes are coming, but they have to be the right changes.  And, after being a Paxson fan, I am no longer sure he can pull off the trade(s) required to make those changes.

Ginney -

What I do know about Thibodeau is he is the Celtics Defensive Coach, a la Johnny Bach with the old MJ/Phil Jackson Bulls.  The fact that the Celtics did trade for the Def. POY in Kevin Garnett would make a coach look good.  If Michael Curry is the guy Paxson wants, I  am good with that.  As you know, I was opposed to D'Antoni, not excited by Carlisle, nor impressed with Avery Johnson.  Actually, if an experienced coach is called for, I would go for Jeff Van Gundy.  But absent an experienced coach, I also know that the right assistant when given that chance can be a revelation.

I know we all want the Bulls to be more than a playoff team, but a team that can actually challenge for a title.  What I am afraid of is that we are good enough to reach or just miss the playoffs, and not bad enough to draft a player that truly is a difference maker.