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The groundswell of support to save Vinny Del Negro's job has come to a deafening roar. Actually, it's just Charles Barkley saying that VDN has done a better job than people give him credit for, and the Suntimes' John Jackson carrying the torch for the cause. Since I haven't picked on the Suntimes yet, its time to welcome them.


Vinny Del Negro merits third season
Del Negro has shown enough to be brought back
By John Jackson
March 25, 2010

Back in December, the future of coach Vinny Del Negro was a daily hot topic around the Bulls. The talk at the time was it was a matter of when -- not if -- he would be let go this season.
A winning streak in late December and early January shelved that speculation, and the issue of Del Negro's job status was pushed to the back burner.

Actually, it was Gar Forman not even giving VDN a vote of confidence after that losing streak that quieted the talk of firing. Most people just assumed it was only a question of when the Bulls would get a new coach.

The Bulls certainly have had their injury issues this season, whether it was Derrick Rose's ankle at the start of the season and sprained wrist earlier this month, Tyrus Thomas' broken arm, Kirk Hinrich's sprained thumb, Joakim Noah's plantar fasciitis or the strained right calf that has Luol Deng sidelined.

You can't possibly ask a coach to coach when things aren't ideal. While there have been injuries, you can still evaluate the coaching job done with the players available. Not necessarily win-loss record, but how the team executes their offense and plays defense.

Still, we've seen enough of Del Negro's work over the last two seasons to make a judgment.

He famously was hired with no coaching experience, and that was apparent at times during his first season on the bench. But Del Negro continued to grow throughout his rookie season, and there's no question he's better at making in-game changes and adjustments (and saving timeouts) this season.

He also has shown an ability to deal with adversity and stay focused on doing his job -- a trait that served him well when his job status was a daily topic. He deserves some credit for not losing the team during the losing streaks in December and earlier this month

We have seen enough to make a judgment. That whole "whoops, we're out of timeouts and could really use one right about now" thing in the playoffs was pretty bad. And not losing his team during long losing streaks? What do you consider losing a team? I'd consider two long losing streaks in a season losing a team.

I don't know what management's thinking is on bringing Del Negro back. The organization clearly wasn't ready to commit back in December, but there was no reason for them to make that decision then.

You're the Bulls beat writer, right? You don't have any sources you could call to get an inkling of an idea about VDN's future? You couldn't call the old beat writer and ask him? Or email Sam Smith on the Bulls' website- maybe he could help you in his next mailbag column.

While NBA coaches are let go for no good reason routinely, Del Negro has shown enough to earn another season. The perception held by many that he doesn't know what he's doing isn't reality.

You really didn't make a case for that in the article. There was some excuse making about injuries, but no proof of things he's done to show he knows what he's doing. Regardless of that, the question isn't whether the Bulls make the playoffs - that bar's set way too low in the Eastern Conference. The question is will the coach help make Derrick Rose the best player he can be, or at least stay out of his way.