Cartwright gets boot from Bulls
CHICAGO -- Chicago Bulls coach Bill Cartwright was fired yesterday, a casualty of his team's dismal start in a year that was supposed to bring marked improvement -- maybe even a return to the playoffs.
Pete Myers will be the interim coach, and general manager John Paxson hopes to name a replacement within a week. Paxson was meeting with the team in Dallas, where the Bulls (4-10) play the Mavericks tonight.
"The team is underperforming and we have to find ways to win, period," Paxson said. "I am not satisfied with the team's start this season and changes have to be made. This represents the first change, but not necessarily the last."
Cartwright is the second NBA coach to be fired this season, after Doc Rivers in Orlando. Rivers has been mentioned as a possible replacement, but the Chicago native is working as a TV analyst and has said he won't coach again this year.
Doug Collins's name also has been floated, but the former Bulls coach has said he's not interested.
Expectations for the Bulls were huge, with the team expected to make a run at the playoffs. Instead, Chicago has lost five in a row and shares last place in the Central Division.
The Bulls have struggled offensively and defensively, and haven't been able to find a rhythm. Injuries haven't helped, with Tyson Chandler, Scottie Pippen, and Marcus Fizer all missing games.
Even worse has been the team's energy -- or lack of it. The Bulls lost three of their first four games by an average of 27 points, including back-to-back 30-point blowouts. Eddy Curry often looks lost, while Tyson Chandler has been limited by a back injury.
Tempers have been flaring, too. Jalen Rose and Jamal Crawford were angry when Cartwright pulled them from the starting lineup in New Orleans Nov. 8, and the team has been hearing rumors for days that Rose was on his way to Toronto in a trade.
