Old Man Collins Is Back

Collins is at his best when working with young and/or underperforming teams (Chicago certainly fits the latter model), and they usually show dramatic improvement in his first two years at the helm. However, the pattern is this: quick improvement, maybe a playoff berth or two (none particularly deep)... and then his tightly-wound act wears thin and he loses the players.

It's interesting: Reinsdorf fired him the first time around because, while Collins led the Bulls from point A (mediocrity) to point B (mild playoff success), he didn't feel that Collins was capable of taking Jordan and co. to "point C", as Phil Jackson was ultimately able to do. Expect the same result in this stint; Collins will lead them from A to B, but if they ever make it to C it will be under another coach.