Hope everyone rang in the new year safely.
As a coach, let’s make 2008 a great year and turn up the heat with the work ehic.
Stay hungry and stay strong. Don’t pay attention to critics.
————————-
FIU basketball head coach Sergio Rouco has a message for Kentucky basketball fans and his take on the situation in Lexington. Jerry Tipton via Kentucky.com
“You guys pamper your kids here,” he told reporters in his post-game news conference.
No, c’mon Coach Rouco, basketball players are never pampered! Where did you ever get that idea? We work them hard, demand accountability, push them to the limit, teach them to play the right way, and we explain to them how important it is to do the right thing…
“You’ve still got the same players, right?” said Rouco, who worked for a season as Gillispie’s assistant at UTEP. “Quit mentioning the coach. Sometimes mention the players. What was not good enough last year is not good enough this year. Leave the coach alone.”
Hmmm…good point coach, never thought of that. I take all that back!
Scottie Pippen was one of the best basketball player’s who has ever stepped on the floor. He defended anyone from the 1 to the 5 position, he ran the floor hard, passed the ball, advanced the ball up the floor in transition, and his jump-shot improved over the years. Some people didn’t like Pippen because at times he spoke his mind and we all remember him for refusing to enter the game against the Knicks during the play-offs when late in the game when Bulls head coach Phil Jackson drew up a play for Toni Kukoc. (Kukoc hit the shot to win the game)
Pippen talked about the current Bulls with Sam Smith of the Chicago Tribune. First, on rookie Tyrus Thomas.
“He can be a defender and a shot blocker. You don’t want him taking those ill-advised shots, jumping and trying to pass the ball. He shouldn’t be dribbling. He should be a fetcher. Like Ben Wallace, [Joakim] Noah, go get the ball. They don’t have enough athletes. I could see why they went for someone like Thomas. He’s athletic, but he doesn’t know how to play the game. He’s great from the neck down. What can he do? Have him do that.”
Pippen on Ben Wallace.
“I’d say I need more effort from him. I need positive numbers in rebounds, deflections, charges. He’s not playing with four All-Stars anymore. He plays defense every night or Tyrus Thomas is out there playing. You don’t pay a rebounder $15 million. OK, they did. He doesn’t know the game like Dennis Rodman did. Dennis knew how and why he got rebounds. So you keep on him or he doesn’t play.”
And finally, here’s Pippen on Bulls guard from Mt. Vernon, New York Ben Gordon.
“It’s his shot selection. You take those bad shots, you’re sitting down. He’s out there shooting for a contract. Offensively, they can be as good as last year. But their shot selection is horrible. [Luol] Deng also is playing for a contract. There’s no flow to their game. Gordon has to make plays. If there’s two, three guys running at him, he still wants to make a shot. Those shots are out of position, your teammates don’t expect them, you are not in position to rebound and get back. Taking bad shots is a sign of a lack of respect for your teammates. You think I’m going to run back if I know B.J. Armstrong is jacking it up? My shot is just as good as his. That’s what players think.”
So, should Scottie Pippen who won 6 NBA titles with the Bulls be considered as their next coach if Jon Paxson looks to hire someone? Sam Smith again on Mr. Pippen.
“What’s the key to this good ol’ boy system they have?” he asked. “You’ve got to go to Europe and coach two years? Sit next to someone for a year? And then looking at someone like me and trying to figure out how your team did it, how you got there every time? Guys like Skiles have never been there. Can he give a motivation speech like someone who’s been in those games? I’ve played for championships.
“What experience do you need? You have assistants who have been there. If I made a mistake, I wouldn’t be the first coach to make a mistake. I’d love the opportunity to be part of the organization now that Skiles is gone. I’ve won championships with this organization and been in the competition when everything was on the line. I was a coach on the floor. Why isn’t that experience?”
T.P.P.
TIME-PATIENCE-PERSEVERANCE
Filed under: Jon Paxson, Phil Jackson, Scottie Pippen, Segio Rouco | Tagged: Chicago Bulls, Chicago Tribune, Kentucky basketball, Sam Smith, Scottie Pippen
