In wake of the recent flurry of coaching movement in big-time NCAA football, it's refreshing to know that nothing has happened lately in the NBA. And this comes as good news to Vinny Del Negro and Mike Dunleavy, two coaches once declared done until they went out and won.
When times were tough, they stayed employed because they were incredibly lucky or their bosses exercised incredible restraint. Perhaps both are true. Even more, they stayed working because the Bulls and Clippers did not collapse when the buzzards began flapping.
There's no guarantee either will be on the job once the summer arrives. Or after the All-Star break. But right now, they seem as secure as they've ever been this season, which threatened to unravel quickly and early, for various reasons, some beyond the coaches' control.
Del Negro looked like a dead coach walking when the Bulls went to Atlanta last month and lost by 35 points, barely showing any effort or life, even with their coach's neck on the line. Their record eventually bottomed out at 10-17 on Dec. 22. This was the same team, minus Ben Gordon, that traded punches and took the Celtics to the limit in an exciting playoff series last spring. When the Bulls delivered a handful of no-show efforts early this season, Del Negro was suddenly perceived by hardened Bulls fans as too inexperienced and unfit to lead. Making matters even more frightening, general manager John Paxson had a history of firing coaches around the holidays.
But lo and behold, Christmas came and went without Del Negro getting a lump of coal from the folks upstairs. And then Kirk Hinrich and Tyrus Thomas got healthy. Every little bit of news fell in Del Negro's favor and the Bulls began a slow if steady climb up a weak Eastern Conference, closing in on a .500 record. Beating the Celtics last night, even without Kevin Garnett in the lineup, only fed their growing confidence.
And then there was Dunleavy, ready to be stripped of both his coach and executive powers until the Clippers got their act together. They beat the Lakers in an emotional bid to turn their season around if not their image in L.A. Their leader, Baron Davis, who took last season off, suddenly flashed a competitive spirit. Chris Kaman, solid all season, and Marcus Camby, who'd make anyone's all-underrated team, gave the Clippers some inside stability without Griffin.
"We all started to band together," said Davis, upon learning that Dunleavy had one foot on a banana peel and the other on a skateboard.
Of course, there's little doubt that The Clipper Curse hasn't helped Dunleavy's cause and may not save him when spring rolls around. The difference between Blake Griffin's season-ending knee injury and those belonging to Danny Manning, Ron Harper and Shaun Livingston is Griffin actually has a good team around him.
With a healthy Griffin, would the Clippers be in playoff contention? Yes. Would Dunleavy's job even be an issue? Probably not, and that's also why owner Donald Sterling has decided not to do anything rash. At least not yet, anyway.
Del Negro's certainly not off the hook. The Bulls have a killer upcoming schedule, a seven-game road trip stretched over 15 days starting next week, and you get the feeling management expects Chicago to make the playoffs, given the low level of competition in the East. As for Dunleavy, his players all seem to enjoy playing for him, but the bottom line still counts, and he has been in the job an awfully long time given that Sterling's the owner.
Let's check back on Feb. 2, when the Clippers visit Chicago, and see who's manning the benches. You know, just in case.
Teams that could hold a fire sale with the blessing of their fans:
5. Pistons. The season is done, so the long-term evaluations might as well begin. There's a backlog of 6-foot-2 guards who shoot better than they pass. Ben Gordon is a keeper, if only to justify signing him last summer, but Will Bynum and Rodney Stuckey might draw some interest. Good luck trying to deal Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince, both beyond their primes and who sport hefty contracts.
4. Wizards. Mike Miller, who hasn't worked out, has an expiring contract, same for Brendan Haywood, who's a big body if nothing else.
3. Pacers. Everyone except Danny Granger is available. Problem: Granger is likely the only player anyone wants.
2. Sixers. If someone is willing to take Elton Brand and that salary, the Sixers will throw in the "Rocky" statue. Same goes for Andre Iguodala.
1. Warriors. Monta Ellis is obviously the biggest dangling carrot, although they'd get something in return for Anthony Randolph, the more attractive option because he comes cheaper.
Samuel Dalembert, Sixers: 31 minutes, 6-for-8 field goals, 22 rebounds, 12 points against the Knicks.
This was for Haiti.
The native of the troubled island delivered a season high in rebounds after spending his free time checking up on loved ones in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake. He then pledged to contribute in efforts to send aid and relief to help those affected by the devastation.
Dalembert has always been a mystery to the Sixers. He's blessed with great size, long arms and decent athleticism for a center but also maddening inconsistency. They gave him big money a few years back with hopes that he'd be an All-Star or at least a borderline case. Instead, Dalembert would come through big in some games, disappear in others. This season hasn't been any different.
But five games before the Knicks game, Dalembert went for 20 and 20 against the Wizards, once again showing what he's capable of doing when the moons are aligned correctly.
Derek Fisher, Lakers: 32 minutes, 1-for-4 field goals, one assist, three points against the Spurs.
In terms of production, he's among the least-effective starting point guards in basketball. Yes, it's been a struggle for Fisher, who at 35 is clearly starting to wear down. A few games earlier, he had three points and four turnovers against Baron Davis. Fisher is posting career lows almost across the board and there are the predictable rumblings in L.A. about Fisher's performance. Curiously, the Lakers declined to pick up the option on backup Jordan Farmar's contract, which means there might be an entirely different point guard scenario for the Lakers next season.
Of course, as everyone knows, Fisher has a knack for coming up big in the post-season, especially in tight fourth quarters. So it's probably wise to wait until then before weighing his impact this season.
• Somewhere in Kentucky, John Wall is saying "please, Lord, not the Clippers."
• How much money would Gilbert Arenas have saved if he just stored his "protection" in a safe in the basement?
• When teams phone the Wizards, they don't ask about Arenas, or Caron Butler, or even Antawn Jamison. They ask for JaVale McGee, the young center with lots of giddyup. And they can't have him.
• Kobe Bryant took 37 shots against the Blazers. With a broken finger. In that game, at least, he trusted his handicapped hand more than he trusted his teammates.
• The Nets finally have a healthy squad with Devin Harris and still can't win games. What happened? Somewhere, Lawrence Frank is feeling vindicated. He knows it wasn't his fault. Nor is it GM Rod Thorn's. Circumstance put the Nets in this position, mainly due to economics and being a lame duck in a place that never supported them even in good times.
• The Celtics are doing the right thing by being careful with the hobbling Kevin Garnett. Doc Rivers said Garnett would be on the floor if this were April, but it's not, so preservation is the key, given KG's 2009 summer of healing. But you wonder how much this will cost the Celtics down the road, in terms of home court advantage. A Game 7 in Cleveland? Or Orlando? Perhaps Atlanta? Given the choice, the Celtics will take that risk.
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