H1Man
03-06-2006, 01:01 AM
Bulls' Skiles stirs up new Pistons rivalry
Remember the old Pistons-Bulls rivalry, with Michael Jordan getting tossed around like an unwanted pet as Detroit won back-to-back titles until Jordan finally figured them out and ended the Pistons reign?
Well, the next installment of the rivalry might not have that kind of depth to it. It might not last as long. And, heck, it might not even be a rivalry, but the Pistons and Bulls play each other on Wednesday in Detroit, and it has the potential for fireworks after their last meeting on Feb. 24 resulted in priceless postgame banter.
During the game, Richard Hamilton gets ejected for picking up two technical fouls. But Hamilton says he was provoked by Scott Skiles, the Bulls coach who can"t seem to let go of his playing days and still uses his brink-of-insanity intimidation act.
WHO'S TALKING?
As Hamilton recalled: "I kept on hearing somebody talking slick from behind me. I'm like, `Who is talking to me?" Me and Kirk Hinrich got a little battle going on on the floor, and that's all fun and games. But I keep hearing somebody behind me, and it's Skiles. So I said, `Wow.' His job is to coach the team. His job is not to say stuff to me. That's what kind of got me angry, because he opened his mouth and tried to talk slick from behind me. Even the refs told me, `Don't pay him no mind, don't pay him no mind.' "
Skiles, though, said Hamilton was delusional and went on to insult the All-Star.
"He either made an honest mistake, or he's purposely not telling the truth to cover up his poor behavior," Skiles said. "I'm not sure which one it was. There were some guys on our bench telling him to just play basketball.
"He was saying worse than that to our guys. I went to the ref and I asked, `You going to keep letting him talk to our bench like that?' Then Hamilton just verbally went off on me. So I would imagine it was the latter of the two. I'd consider the source."
As if Skiles didn't already have a key Piston mad at him, he went and got the rest of the fellas all riled up by implying they are only as good as they are because they intimidate the referees. I'd consider the source.
"They literally complain about every call the whole game long," Skiles said. "That's their style. That's what they do. They're having a great year doing it.
"I thought we really handled the game with a pretty good amount of dignity and class, in a game that was sorely lacking either one of those. If they continue that trend where apparently they never foul, that will go a long way toward them advancing."
FEWEST FOULS
Skiles backed up his claim by pointing out the Pistons commit the fewest fouls per game of any team in the league, more than two less than the second-best team in the category, the defense-optional Phoenix Suns.
"I just put the facts out there," Skiles said. "... I don't know that I've ever seen a difference like that between No. 1 and No. 2 in fouls this late in the season."
Having heard their coach complain about the Pistons" tactics, the Bulls players went ahead and followed suit.
"They stay on top of everything," Tyson Chandler said. "Every little knickknack foul, they complain about. And you know what? They get the respect of the refs. How, I don't know."
Skiles and the Bulls" complaints worked briefly, as referee Joey "I don't want to hear it" Crawford hit Tayshaun Prince with one of the most unsolicited technical fouls in league history in Detroit's very next game, and threatened to throw Pistons coach Flip Saunders out for trying to hold a civilized conversation in the same game.
But the real fun should come in Wednesday's Bulls-Pistons rematch in the riot capital of the NBA, the Palace of Auburn Hills.
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/14019771.htm
Remember the old Pistons-Bulls rivalry, with Michael Jordan getting tossed around like an unwanted pet as Detroit won back-to-back titles until Jordan finally figured them out and ended the Pistons reign?
Well, the next installment of the rivalry might not have that kind of depth to it. It might not last as long. And, heck, it might not even be a rivalry, but the Pistons and Bulls play each other on Wednesday in Detroit, and it has the potential for fireworks after their last meeting on Feb. 24 resulted in priceless postgame banter.
During the game, Richard Hamilton gets ejected for picking up two technical fouls. But Hamilton says he was provoked by Scott Skiles, the Bulls coach who can"t seem to let go of his playing days and still uses his brink-of-insanity intimidation act.
WHO'S TALKING?
As Hamilton recalled: "I kept on hearing somebody talking slick from behind me. I'm like, `Who is talking to me?" Me and Kirk Hinrich got a little battle going on on the floor, and that's all fun and games. But I keep hearing somebody behind me, and it's Skiles. So I said, `Wow.' His job is to coach the team. His job is not to say stuff to me. That's what kind of got me angry, because he opened his mouth and tried to talk slick from behind me. Even the refs told me, `Don't pay him no mind, don't pay him no mind.' "
Skiles, though, said Hamilton was delusional and went on to insult the All-Star.
"He either made an honest mistake, or he's purposely not telling the truth to cover up his poor behavior," Skiles said. "I'm not sure which one it was. There were some guys on our bench telling him to just play basketball.
"He was saying worse than that to our guys. I went to the ref and I asked, `You going to keep letting him talk to our bench like that?' Then Hamilton just verbally went off on me. So I would imagine it was the latter of the two. I'd consider the source."
As if Skiles didn't already have a key Piston mad at him, he went and got the rest of the fellas all riled up by implying they are only as good as they are because they intimidate the referees. I'd consider the source.
"They literally complain about every call the whole game long," Skiles said. "That's their style. That's what they do. They're having a great year doing it.
"I thought we really handled the game with a pretty good amount of dignity and class, in a game that was sorely lacking either one of those. If they continue that trend where apparently they never foul, that will go a long way toward them advancing."
FEWEST FOULS
Skiles backed up his claim by pointing out the Pistons commit the fewest fouls per game of any team in the league, more than two less than the second-best team in the category, the defense-optional Phoenix Suns.
"I just put the facts out there," Skiles said. "... I don't know that I've ever seen a difference like that between No. 1 and No. 2 in fouls this late in the season."
Having heard their coach complain about the Pistons" tactics, the Bulls players went ahead and followed suit.
"They stay on top of everything," Tyson Chandler said. "Every little knickknack foul, they complain about. And you know what? They get the respect of the refs. How, I don't know."
Skiles and the Bulls" complaints worked briefly, as referee Joey "I don't want to hear it" Crawford hit Tayshaun Prince with one of the most unsolicited technical fouls in league history in Detroit's very next game, and threatened to throw Pistons coach Flip Saunders out for trying to hold a civilized conversation in the same game.
But the real fun should come in Wednesday's Bulls-Pistons rematch in the riot capital of the NBA, the Palace of Auburn Hills.
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/14019771.htm