Wednesday, March 10, 2004

More on E-Rob

I think Eddie Robinson doesn't believe in the phrase "say the right things":

At Monday's practice, Bulls coach Scott Skiles suggested that Eddie Robinson might see some court time after playing less than a minute in the previous four games. It didn't happen. Robinson never removed his warmups.

This isn't the first time in his three-year Bulls career that Robinson has found himself parked on the bench. But this one was unusual because Robinson took a seat after playing relatively well during February.

"I think I have to get out of Chicago," Robinson said before the game. "There's a curse here."

Leaving might be easier said than done. Robinson is still owed a hefty $14 million over the next two seasons, and he said there is no way he'll agree to a contract settlement.

Skiles hasn't supplied specific reasons for Robinson's benching. But the first-year Bulls coach has stressed he expects the players to do everything they can to improve, and Robinson is usually the first to leave the Berto Center after practice.

"There's nothing to change about me," Robinson said. "We work on our shots in practice. Shoot for such and such amount of time. That's working on your game. I don't need to work on my game. I don't even play. I'm a catch-and-shoot guy, what do you want me to work on?"

A resolution might be a long way off. Robinson doesn't understand why he's not playing and won't ask Skiles for an explanation.

"I know I'm not going to talk to him," Robinson said. "That's out of the question. I don't talk to coaches about playing time."

(emphasis added). I mean, doesn't Robinson even want to give fans the false impression that he cares? Its the least he could do. I can't believe someone who is as young and talented as he is is fine being a catch-and-shoot guy. First of all, he doesn't have 3-point range. Secondly, he has so much athleticism that he could be dunking over people or getting to the foul line at his will. But obviously the will isn't there. Maybe by some grace of god (or Bernie Bickerstaff) Charlotte will take him in the expansion draft.