Bulls coach Del Negro likes Gordon's fire, even if it's directed at him
Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro likened his latest conflict with Ben Gordon to "an afternoon conversation at the table, a little Sunday afternoon pasta. That's about it for me."
And with that, the usually straight-faced former NBA guard stepped into the Bulls training room and, for added comic effect, yelled, "This food better be good."
On Thursday, amidst discussion about the level of respect Bulls players have for their coach, Gordon reacted angrily to a fine handed down by Del Negro, confronting him within earshot of media.
Friday morning, Del Negro said not only is Gordon not in further trouble but that the coach actually is happy to see some emotion from his players.
"I'm Italian, I like to argue. That's how I grew up," Del Negro said. "It doesn't bother me. So whatever helps to get this team going, whatever comments are made, everybody knows where to find me. The players, everybody. Everybody says, 'What's going on?' Nothing's going on, we've got to try to win. That's what I focus on. . . . "
Gordon's reaction, which included an expletive, was not interpreted by the coach as a sign of disrespect.
"No, because I argue with everybody," Del Negro said. "It's funny to me, it really is. This is pro basketball. If you can't take the heat, you'd better get out. I've been around way too long to worry about that. I love that guys show passion. I hope guys argue and get on each other and get into it and show some fight and some grit. That's what it's all about. It's not easy out there. That's why it's pro basketball. It's easy to play, it's hard to win. So when guys show passion and get aggravated, take it out on the other team. . . . You can't back down. You've got to go and work. That's what I believe."
The Bulls, losers of their last three games going into Friday night's game against Toronto at the United Center and struggling with inconsistent effort and teamwork, will again be without Drew Gooden, their best all-around big man. After absorbing more criticism from general manager John Paxson this week, the last thing they needed was more conflict.
"This is my sixth season and pretty much every year, it's not all roses," team captain Kirk Hinrich said. "Players have disagreements, coaches and players have disagreements. The main thing is we're able to put stuff that happens aside and be professional and go out there and do our jobs, and that's what we're going to do."
Asked if players respect Del Negro, Hinrich responded, "Yes, I think so. Absolutely. That's what being a professional is. You respect your coaches, you respect that he has a job to do just like I do and everybody else."
Gooden agreed.
"We have respect for him, that's our head coach," he said. "I don't feel it's a lack of respect toward Vinny. Some rules have been broken. It's not on purpose, it's not pre-meditated. Every team goes through having to fine guys for certain rules in the handbook. It's no question of respect for the coach."
While Gordon was unavailable for comment following Friday morning's shootaround, Del Negro said the two of them had talked.
"I want Ben to play great tonight, that's my focus," Del Negro said. "The game is way bigger than an argument. Who cares about that stuff? That's how I look at it and everybody who wants to argue, I'm a good arguer, so that's fine."
Perhaps, it was suggested, Del Negro has found the button he has been looking to push all season?
"I don't know," he said. "There's no perfect scheme, there's no miracle pill, there's no perfect situation. You've got to go compete and play hard and make plays. I have to do a better job, the players have to do a better job, everyone has to do a better job. It's not one person, it's not one thing. It's a group of people who have to work and pull in the right direction.
"And when there's bumps in the road, the guys who stick with you and believe in your system and trust you and make a commitment, those are the guys I want to go to battle with. Not the guys who are going to point fingers and make excuses. That doesn't work at this level."
Mal schauen wie "great" Ben heute spielen wird!!!