Anez: Skiles Is My Guy

Posted by Scott Anez, Thursday, May 24, 2012, 2:35 PM
Skiles Is My Guy

I got an email the other day from a Magic fan who wrote...

"Scott, why don't the Magic hire you as their next GM?"

Well, if they really want to screw things up, sure, why not?

For the record, I am not in the running and do not expect to get a call, unlike Shaquille O"Neal, who is trying to spread the word that he actually has a shot at the gig.

Let me say this...I have a better shot at becoming the Magic's boss. Heck, Otis Smith has a better chance of rejoining the team. Not gonna happen. Not now. Not ever, Big PhD!

With that said, it's time for me to pretend that I am King for a day.

If I were King for a day, I would get on a plane bound for Wisconsin to try to pry Scott Skiles out of his Milwaukee Bucks contract.

Anybody who challenges Shaq to a brawl has my vote. By the way, that's exactly what happened back in the day. Skiles got sick and tired of Shaq clowning around in practice--so Scotty bowed up and challenged the Diesel to a duel.

Scott Skiles is one of my favorite Magic players of all time. In his four-plus seasons here in Orlando (1989-'94), Scotty played with a grit and a determination that rubbed off on all of us. On December 30, 1990, I'll never forget Skiles tallying 30 assists in the Magic's romp over Denver, breaking the NBA's single-game assists record. I don't see that record falling anytime soon.

But, all the great memories of those early Magic years have very little to do with me chasing down Skiles as my next head coach.

Why is Skiles my man?

I believe that the man is a great coach.

Granted, he's not exactly available.

Apparently, all is not well with Skiles in the Brat City. One more year remains on his contract, but, with a lame duck year upon him, Skiles may be looking for a buyout. For some insane reason, the Bucks look like they are ready for the Skiles era to end.

Frankly, I don't get it. While the fiscally-challenged Bucks have missed the playoffs in three of his four seasons up there, there is no way that Buck team has any business of even sniffing the playoffs. And yet, each year, Skiles has his team poised on the cusp.

Hopefully, the Orlando vacancy is hastening Scott's exit stage left from Milwaukee.

I remember chatting with Scott back in '96 when he was coaching in Greece. Back then, he was frustrated that the NBA would not give him a chance to coach. In his mind, Scott had been a coach on the floor since middle school. He just did not understand why coaches had to pay their dues and come up through the school of hard knocks.

Scott finally got a call from the Orlando Magic back in '99 after Chuck Daly had stepped down. He, along with Doc Rivers, interviewed for the post. The Magic gave the job to Doc. But, the experience led to Scott take the gig in Phoenix..then Chicago...then Milwaukee.

For whatever reason, I think there's a stereotype out there that Skiles, because he was such an intense and in-your-face player, is a hothead coach who rules with an iron fist.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Watch Scotty on the sideline. The man is calm. He is cool. He is collected.

And his teams, while undermanned night after night, give their head coach everything they have. You know that when you are playing the Milwaukee Bucks that you are in for a dogfight.

His teams are always very well prepared. They are efficient. Heck, Skiles Bucks were fifth in the NBA in scoring this season (99ppg) and averaged 23.5 assists per game (3rd in NBA). And they did all this with Drew Gooden at center? Come on.

His teams buy in to what he is selling them.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

If I were King for a day, Scott Skiles would be the next head coach of the Orlando Magic.

Times, they are a changin' at One Magic Place.