For whatever reason, Scott Skiles is still adamantly refusing to give credit where credit is due. Despite watching the Pistons hold Chicago to a ridiculous 16% in the final quarter of Thursday’s game, this is what Skiles had to say about Detroit’s defense:
By the way, Bulls coach Scott Skiles sought to dismiss this media zone-a-mania. “Is their zone getting all kinds of public recognition? Is that what’s going on?” he said. “I think it’s kind of funny and I don’t mean to show them any disrespect, but we have been getting shots all over the place.”
And then today he added this:
“It’s not unlike, maybe, what 10,000 high schools do all over the country, every day, every game,” he said Friday.
No disrespect taken, Skiles. I guess your guys just can’t shoot straight. Maybe the pressure is starting to get them, maybe they’re playing a little tight. At least, that seems to be Rasheed Wallace’s take on it:
But Rasheed Wallace had a few words over in the Detroit locker room afterward, trying not to chortle. “As we chopped it down,” he mentioned of the lead and the Bulls, “them butt holes got tighter and tighter.”
Is Skiles simply trying to light a fire under his team by demanding more from them? By refusing to buy into the (increasingly hard to ignore) notion that no matter what Chicago does on the court, Detroit will be able to do it better? Or … is he trying to separate the performance of the players from his performance as a coach?
I honestly I have no idea, but I’d just as readily accept (c) he’s just a jerk.
Even the guy in bronze knows the Bulls are in trouble [USA Today, via Full-Court Press]
Bulls Skiles won’t admit the obvious [Detroit News]
Of course he’s a jerk, but he’s right. It’s not like the Bulls weren’t taking shots (83 to Detroit’s 81.) And of course, you’re also right, they couldn’t hit crap. In the 3rd and 4th quarters, they could hardly find the rim or the backboard. and I’m sure it’s no coincidence that they’ve lost 3 straight to Detroit.
I honestly don’t know which is the winner of Detroit zone vs. Chicago misses, but it doesn’t matter because that Rasheed quote is hilarious.
I’ll tell you right now it is the zone because Chicago establishes a rhythm off of their motion offense. Making them an exclusively jump shooting team doesn’t allow them to develop any offensive continuity.
Yeesh. I’m sure the Pistons will get a lame and meaningless pat on the back when the series is officially closed out. I’m not a ‘purity of the game’ guy, but zone defense (even good zone defense) is hardly worth a pissy blog post. It wasn’t against the rules because it’s difficult to pull off.
Hey whatever happened to Zeliko Rebraca??
PaxJax: Thanks again for the insightful criticism. I do hope you’re planning on sticking around for the rest of the playoffs to help keep everything in perspective for us silly Pistons fans.
Paxson Jackson started off as such a happy fellow. He and I used to share comments back and forth until the Bulls got smoked in Game 1. Ever since Game 1 Paxson Jackson and his “the Pistons aren’t this good, the Bulls are making them look good” comments have gotten worse and worse.
Oh well. Give credit where credit is due. Detroit has been one of the best defensive teams for the last 6 years.
As a Spartan alum, I have nothing against Skiles, but boy was it fun watching him get rattled at the end of the 3rd quarter Thursday night. He was already freaked out by the Pistons’ comeback, he started complaining about that no-call with 4 seconds left, and then when Rasheed hit the 3 at the buzzer his eyes got all wide. You could totally see him sweating as he thought, “shit, we are so screwed.” What a beautiful moment.
If I wanted to belittle DBB and its readers I think dorks is a more apt term after reading the Nintendo game post. I’m well aware of the perspective here, but Pistons fan or not, banging the keys over a lack of zone defense praise is a stretch for even the most ardent we-don’t-get-no-respect looney tune. “Best starting five,” all-star appearances, championship, sell-out crowds, MVP votes for Billups, numerous playoff runs, blah-blah-blah etc. and you’re complaining that Skiles won’t jerk off the Pistons’ zone defense before the series is officially over?
Boney, that’s a lie. Those aren’t direct quotes, and I haven’t written anything like that. This is hardly the place for attacking something I wrote that you misinterpreted.
I agree with you, Paxson Jackson, the grapes are sour!
Hey, why are the Bulls fans getting upset over this? Aren’t they just happy to be in the playoffs? lol.
Sour grapes? I assure you the disdain I have for Detroit isn’t a cover. I think I can ask for little patience from Matt on the weak postgame compliment front without coming off as jealous of the Pistons’ success. Hello! I’m a Bulls fan, I can rest on my favorite team’s laurels if I need to feel superior to other basketball fans.
It’s not like your host hasn’t taken Bulls-related quotes too far in the past, and whining about zone defense is as lame as Viktor Khryapa complaining about his lack of playing time.
it’s getting tighter by the minute
PaxJax- Did you actually read the post? the closest this “host” comes to whining is saying that Skiles isn’t giving credit where credit is due. Whoa that’s pretty whiny. DO you think it’s classy to compare the opposing team’s defense to high schools around the nation ? i think that might be a good example of those sour grapes, no? And, the whole point of the post is to point out Rasheed’s quote- which is quite funny. Obviously it wasn’t meant to appeal to your sense of humor (if that’s possible). But, thanks for your fervent protection of the Bulls and their “honor” and for your highly insightful commentary on what makes a good blog post. I’m sure the “host” will make sure he attends to your likes the next time around.
Detroit doesn’t have to apologize for anything, zone defense included. We just need to take care of business, point to the scoreboard and hope New Jersey and Cleveland can extend their series.
Oh…basketball geeks of DBB and the internets: don’t forget to call or do something special for your moms tomorrow!! Even on game day, moms should be getting their props! Remember that they brought you into this world so you had the opportunity to rant and rave about your favorite team!
the real question — if 10,000 high school teams are doing it — how come Skiles can’t coach his so-called “championship contender” NBA team to play through it?
the Pistons are doing it very, very well, and Chicago’s backcourt aren’t good enough pure shooters to overcome it… and I guess, in Skiles’ mind, a high school backcourt should be able to.
Boy, that escalated quickly… I mean, that really got out of hand fast. Paxson Jackson, did you throw a trident?
zone defense talk got Paxson Jackson butt hole be gettin tighter and tighter.
“your moms”
Really?
What up, playa!
What is it about zone defense that gets coaches so touchy? Earlier in the year Phil Jackson called the Pistons’ zone “weak” after his team got crushed by it. Maybe it’s an insult to their strategic mastery or something. But I’m pretty sure 10,000 high schools DON’T have Tayshaun Prince doing his Doctor Octopus routine at the top of their zones.
Julie, your quotation marked attack could have been better had you actually quoted something I screwed up, “I think I can ask for little patience from Matt…” Maybe I should have typed, “hostest with mostest,” and made your ramblings that much longer. I suppose I shouldn’t try to explain what an innocuous comment is considering the whaaaat-did-you-say-about-the-Pistons hair trigger around here. I shouldn’t be surprised, but the respect card doesn’t have to be played every hand either.
LanierFan, maybe the zone defense isn’t anything special?
at least we won’t have to deal with Paxson’s whining after today. once his team’s gone fishing.
It’s getting tight in here. So tight in here.
Hey Paxsonjackson,
Mabe Flip will teach your kids how to play zone after we win the Championship! At least you have a Michael Jordon poster!
Who’s Jordon?