Read Loyal Homer and Bleacher Fan’s argument about which NBA head coach they believe is under the most pressure to win a championship in the 2009 season.
Vinny Del Negro is set up for failure.
After an up and down regular season as a first year head coach in the NBA – a position many questioned Del Negro’s ability to do – the rookie Chicago Bulls head coach led his team to the cusp of a first round playoff upset against the defending champion Boston Celtics. The series was incredibly entertaining with every element from extreme emotion to great coaching to exciting finishes. Despite constant improvement throughout the year and enough maneuvers to keep the team buying in to his philosophy and style, Del Negro saw some of the most talented players on his team leave the Bulls during and after his first season.
Last season’s roster was not the best in the league. However, by the end of the season Del Negro was able to use the talent available to him to create a team good enough to almost knock off the defending champs in the first round of the playoffs.
Del Negro had a mix of talented players throughout the 2008-2009 season, but many of that core, reliable player group has since moved on to new teams. The list of players from last season that Del Negro is trying to replace this season includes forward Drew Gooden, guard Ben Gordon, guard/forward Andres Nocioni, guard/forward Thabo Sefolosha, and forward Tim Thomas. That list of players contributed to depth, scoring, defense, and all around energy. Their absence creates questions Del Negro may not have time to answer.
To make matters worse, very little of the talent lost has been regained. Sure, stand out rookie Derrick Rose is excellent and back for his second complete season in the NBA. Luol Deng is back, though questions still surround his health. Kirk Hinrich is back, though it remains to be seen how often the spunky guard will play.
The point is, the Bulls’ roster got worse, but the fan expectations have increased. The Bulls were close last season to making a deep run into the playoffs. But, losing five key players – including guard Ben Gordon to division rival Detroit – is extremely difficult to recover from. Ben Gordon was more than just a tough loss in free agency, too. He was the team’s leading scorer for the last four seasons.
Competing in the suddenly better NBA Central division does not help, either. The competition is especially difficult when considering how much smaller the Bulls have gotten. Plus, the Bulls coach, by virtue of the construction of the roster, must do more to motivate his team than many other coaches in the league. Can forward Tyrus Thomas play hard every game? Can center and attitude problem Joakim Noah contribute physically and emotionally in a positive way? Can second year point guard Derrick Rose stay healthy be the floor leader the team needs? It is Del Negro’s responsibility to answer these questions. Or else.
Many talented players are gone and questions surround the effectiveness and depth of the Chicago Bulls roster. See? Vinny Del Negro is set up to fail. The Chicago Bulls have a loyal fan base that was accustomed to winning for a long time. Last season reminded fans of how much fun it is to root for a winning team (especially with the Cubs up there on the North side). While the roster has changed, the expectations have not.
It is very possible that Vinny Del Negro is the next coach to succumb to the impossible NBA coaching carousel that has claimed so many young careers. Even though one season of on-the-job-training is not that much for Del Negro, he is expected to lead the team back to the team back to the playoffs and perform well there. No pressure.
[...] is why #Chicago #Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro is under the most pressure in the #NBA. http://bit.ly/3M9bIK #vinnydelnegro #chicagobulls#job in #chicago – http://tinyurl.com/yhgujba – Undercover [...]