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Billy D Struggling Early in Chicago

Discussion in 'Nuttin but Net' started by jeffphillips21, Nov 17, 2023.

  1. jeffphillips21

    jeffphillips21 GC Hall of Fame

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    A 4-8 start to the season, an offense with not much identity and a defense that ranks near the bottom of the league. Some are calling for a complete gutting of the team, some even want to tank the season and go after Cooper Flagg.

    Regardless, I wonder if Billy D can weather the storm or if he is going to be part of this "reset", or if they'll see that there top 3 (LaVine, DeRozan and Vucevic) are an experiment gone bad as they're a consistent minus when on the floor together, and it's not really his fault.

    Meanwhile, OKC is 8-4 with a ton of young talent and lots of draft picks. Wonder if Donovan regrets leaving OKC or if he'll manage to right the ship in Chicago or they even fire him to take responsibility of this growing mess that is the Chicago Bulls.
     
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  2. Ahab

    Ahab GC Hall of Fame

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    Need to tear down the Bulls as they're not going to magically get better. I don't think Billy would or should hang around for that.
     
  3. BLING

    BLING GC Hall of Fame

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    Is he going to get a 3rd NBA job though?

    Of course he might not have much say, often times “total rebuild” means losing the coach (and GM), but another NBA opportunity isn’t guaranteed. Especially with things seemingly falling apart in Chicago.
     
  4. KronoGator

    KronoGator GC Hall of Fame

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    I don't think he had much choice in leaving OKC.
     
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  5. murphree_hall

    murphree_hall VIP Member

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    Should’ve stayed at UF. I don’t see what this middling NBA career did for him. Money, I suppose.
     
  6. GatorRade

    GatorRade Rad Scientist

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    He said he wanted the challenge and liked the idea of doing just basketball all the time. If he didn’t try the NBA, he would have probably always regretted it.
     
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  7. channingcrowderhungry

    channingcrowderhungry Premium Member

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    He doesn't have to recruit 18 year olds. That's pretty much it.
     
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  8. spike718

    spike718 GC Hall of Fame

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    with NIL pretty much allowing out in the open funds to recruits vs teams more under the table bags of cash, Billy might someday be interested in coming back to college. He was tired of players and associates asking for handouts and other teams paying top dollar under the table. While that would still exist with NIL, more is on the up and up and he may compete easier for recruits.
     
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  9. 06GATORS08

    06GATORS08 GC Hall of Fame

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    Nothing against Billy D. Had to try the NBA and I get it. If he comes back to the college game I hope we never have to play against his team.
     
  10. KronoGator

    KronoGator GC Hall of Fame

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    If he comes back I wonder if he follows Pitino to a tiny Big East school.

    Already read where Indiana fans once again think he's a lock to coach there.
     
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  11. bike1014

    bike1014 GC Hall of Fame

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    Billy is not struggling, the Bulls are struggling. Sorry, love BD...so have to shift that comment a little. lol

    If I remember correctly, he left OKC because they were never going to have the payroll to really compete. Bulls were playing at a high level before Lonzo went down, he was a big key to that particular team.

    Anyways, things shift quickly in the NBA and he might indeed be without a job this season.
     
  12. GatorLurker

    GatorLurker GC Hall of Fame

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    You still need to do that at the NBA level.
     
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  13. jeffphillips21

    jeffphillips21 GC Hall of Fame

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    that's the question. When he left OKC Chicago seemed like a good situation and a place he could conceivably spend the rest of his coaching career. Now with a potential rebuild in sight, if he gest ousted I don't see the appeal in bouncing around the league like a mercenary while your name is on the floor at a Power 5 school. I think he has a pretty good reputation around the league, but that'll be two pretty good situations he walked into that he didn't necessarily make better after a few years (regardless of roster moves/problems outside his control). I love him to death, so I really hope he turns it around and/or stays through a rebuild.

    I don't know how much say he has in Paxson making roster choices and he got unlucky with Lonzo's injuries, but he might take the hit anyway. We'll see. I sure don't want to see him get fired and taint his legacy in any way.
     
  14. jeffphillips21

    jeffphillips21 GC Hall of Fame

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    ha yes we can try to spin it, but he's the head coach. NBA teams have incredibly short leashes. Seems like he has a really good relationship with management and ownership but we'll see.
     
  15. wci347

    wci347 GC Hall of Fame

    Let’s face it absent a mid season trade to get this season turned around, Billy won’t survive the season.
     
  16. INGATORSWETRUST

    INGATORSWETRUST GC Hall of Fame

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    2015 - 2020 with Thunder and 2021 - 2024 with the Bulls. 8 years coaching in the NBA for row different teams is a good gig. Agree Lonzo injury hurt Bulls team chemistry
     
  17. cavalier

    cavalier Recruit

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    Player acquisition in the NBA is in the hands of the General Manager. I'm sure the HC is involved in the process, but it's not his job. In college, recruiting is 24/7/52, and it is part of the HC's job description. And, that involves stroking the egos of 16 and 17 year old wunderkinds who are being guided by who knows what these days. The AAU has changed everything. Plus, Donovan is getting $6 mil a year in the NBA, and will have been doing so for nine years when his contract ends. There are a few college programs which can match that, but not many. Plus, Donovan will be sixty in two years. He may want to continue to coach, but if Chicago ends their relationship with him, he might just consider a job in television. (Of course, if professional coaching gigs come with short leashes, the NBA also recycles coaches pretty regularly. Other opportunities will be there.) Also, I have no idea if there are other interests he would like to pursue, but, as a TV commentator, he would have the time and freedom to do so. I think if he were returning to collegiate coaching, he would have done so by now.
     
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  18. tegator80

    tegator80 GC Hall of Fame

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    No, although the money is a sort of salve.

    It was all about the damn bad mess recruiting is in major college basketball.
     
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  19. tommyvee

    tommyvee GC Hall of Fame

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    He was disenchanted with what was going on with the cheating in recruiting.
     
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  20. tampajack1

    tampajack1 Premium Member

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    The DePaul job would be waiting for him if he wanted to stay in Chicago. I don’t get the tiny reference.