European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 21, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday december 21, 1989 the stars and stripes Page 17 i sports Kings fire Russell shift Reynolds by Doug Willis Sacramento Calif. A the Sacramento Kings Are looking for a coach with a lot of Aba head coaching experience and winning experience follow ing the firing of Bill Russell As vice president and the shift of coach Jerry Reynolds to director of player personnel. The shakeup of the hapless Kings 6-15 so far this year on the Way to a fifth losing season in Sacramento since leaving Kansas City also included the promotion of Rick by incr their 33-year-old vice president of business operations to president. Reynolds will continue As coach until a permanent replacement is selected the team said in a written announcement tuesday. In a radio interview tuesday from Atlanta where the Kings lost a 115-112 decision to the Hawks Rey nolds said Russell was t surprised Al the move. Rey nolds also said he had been Given the option of remain ing As coach or moving into the front office and that he wanted to be director of player personnel. Russell whose aloofness from fans and sports writ ers contributed to escalating criticism of his performance with the Kings was not available for comment. Russell had been replaced by Reynolds As head coach and named vice president in Early 1988 after posting a 17-41 coaching record. The 55-year-old Russell who in 1980 was selected As the greatest player in the history of the game by the professional basketball writers association had been named coach of the Kings the previous april. Reynolds said he was Given the option to continue to coach the Kings on a Long term basis or go into the front office As director of player personnel which is something i had always wanted to do. These things happen and i Don t think Bill was totally surprised. I talked with Bill at length. I think he handled it real  Reynolds said. Reynolds said the search for a coach for the Kings current by in last place in the Pacific division begins immediately and that Bonner and Gregg Lukinbill managing general partner of the team have some people in mind. And hopefully after Christmas Well Start bringing people in for  Reynolds said team management was in very much agreement that what we arc looking for is a person who has had a lot of previous Aba head coaching experience and winning  there Are several candidates who might fit All those  Reynolds added without naming specific individuals. If we can get the right Guy maybe by the first of the year something can be a com  in a separate interview Lukinbill said he dismissed Russell on amicable terms. It was Friendly. He told me he saw it coming. We sat Down last night and ii was .1 Friendly  Lukinbill said tuesday evening. The team announcement said by incr who has been with the Kings in various front office capacities since 1983. Would be Overall head of operations. Reynolds said his new role would include trades draft and player development. Lukenbill said the shakeup was in the Best interest of the organization. It has become evident that our franchise was not moving in a positive  Russell coached the Boston celtics and Seattle us per sonics after concluding a playing career with the celtics in which he was a five time Aba most valuable player he was a basketball television commentator for 10 cars before returning to coaching ranks with the Kings in 1987. Russell s record As vice president of the Kings in which he was in charge of player trades draft and contract negotiations was As disappointing to fans As his record As coach. Fans and sports writers and commentators were especially critical of Russell s selection of Parvis Ellison As the no. 1 pick in the Aba s 1989 College draft and his Trade of former Kings Center Jim Peterson to the Golden state warriors for Ralph Sampson. Both Ellison and Sampson have played Only sparingly due to injuries and neither is currently on the Active squad of the Kings. The 45-year-old Reynolds who was interim coach prior to Russell s appointment had mostly Small col lege coaching and Aba scouting experience before his first stint As Kings interim head coach in the 1986-87 season. Reynolds has a 55-107 record As a regular and interim head coach. Bulls thwart lakers 93-83 kicks stay unbeaten at Home kicks Trent Tucker lifts foot while he and Gerau Wilkins guard Utah s Darrell Griffith. By the associated press Chicago the Chicago bulls were playing defense the Way Michael Jordan plays offence. One of our objectives was to slow them Down on the break Jordan said after he scored 37 Points and the bulls held the los Angeles lakers to 36.4 per cent shooting in a 93-83 Victory tuesday night. They were taking Tough shots and our defense had a Loi to do with that said Jordan. The bulls who Lead the Aba Central division won their ninth straight game at Chicago stadium where they Are 10-1 this season and won for the i oth time in their last 12 Overall. The lakers who still have the Best record in the Aba had a four game win Ning Streak stopped. It was like we were in Quicksand and just kept sinking said the lakers magic Johnson who had 18 Points 12 rebounds and 10 assists. We did t hit the shots and they took advantage of All the opportunities. They had a Quick  Chicago led 70-60 after three quarters but the lakers closed the Gap to 72-68 when Orlando Woolridge dunked off a fast break feed from Johnson. But that was As close As the lakers came. The bulls countered with baskets from Scottie pippin and Jordan with 4 16 remaining Jordan scored on a drive was fouled by Johnson and nude the free throw for an 85-74 Lead. We had a Chance but did t shoot Well and just could t gel any sustained Aba Roundup  lakers coach Pat Riley said. This was t really a defensive game de spite it not being a High scoring game. They got pretty much whatever they wanted and we could t do anything yet it wound up a Low scoring  James worthy led los Angeles with 19 Points but Byron Scott had a season Low three. Pippin added 16 Points and 12 rebounds for the bulls. Jordan hit 9 of 12 shots from the Field and had 21 Points in the first half As the bulls took a 48-44 halftime Lead. In other tuesday games kicks i is. Jazz 107 new York the kicks remained the Only team without a Home loss As Patrick Ewing had 41 Points and 15 re Bounds against Utah. The kicks 10-0 at Madison Square Garden played without Charles Oakley their leading a Bounder who was serving a one game suspension for fighting with Seattle s Xavier Mcdaniel on saturday. Gerald Wilkins added 35 Points for new York while Karl Malone had 29 Points and Thurl Bailey 20 for Utah. John Stockton had 18 Points and a team record 27 assists two shy of the Aba record set by Kevin Porter in 1978. Trail Blaun 119, rockets 100 Portland Ore. Portland outre bounded Houston 56-27 and held the rockets to two offensive rebounds one less than the Aba record. Terry Porter scored 19 Points and see Aba on Page 22  Safe upset by East Tennessee Page 19