Around The NBA: 2019-20 RESTART

[MrFortune3]

Watching Morant and the Grizz last night made me sad and also a little angry.

Man - they're a fun team to watch. Morant is awesome. They move the ball so well and the players are also moving. They take good shots - and many of those shots were open mid-range shots. Pretty much everything they run is going to the basket or drive and kick - but they're smart plays. I compare that to the Bulls and I've lost count how many times I've seen guys pass on wide open midrange shots only to kick the ball back behind the three point line and start all over again (and I'm down to barely watching the Bulls anymore!). Someone needs to slap Boylen around and tell him that a good shot in the NBA is a wide open one regardless of how far away from the basket they are.

Compare the Grizz to the Rockets. Their sets are pretty much give the ball to Harden and go stand somewhere. Just night and day difference. I may have to catch some more of the Grizzlies just so that I can retain what little joy I have in watching the NBA any longer. I hope they can keep their group together and make some noise. They deserve it.

What really bothers me is why can't our FO just make it simple in their coaching hire? I've never heard of Taylor Jenkins, but his credential and career progression more than justify his hire. He came up through the Spurs coaching ranks, he followed Bud to Atlanta and Milwaukee. He's probably highly touted in the coaching circle. Jenkins hiring made total sense. Same way when we hired Thibs... another guy who worked his way up through the ranks and found success with the Celtics. Made total sense. Probably no coincidence that both turned out a success.

But after Thibs we went back to nepotism and cronyism with Hoiberg and Boylen... and surprise surprise we go back to sucking. If the FO is reading this, "stop thinking you're smarter than anybody!" It's not a difficult decision. Coaches like Thibs, Jenkins, Joerger already have work portfolios they can show with recommendations from the coaching community. Bulls FO just need to pull their heads out of their a**.

Our FO wants guys who agree with them.

[MAQ]

Watching Morant and the Grizz last night made me sad and also a little angry.

Man - they're a fun team to watch. Morant is awesome. They move the ball so well and the players are also moving. They take good shots - and many of those shots were open mid-range shots. Pretty much everything they run is going to the basket or drive and kick - but they're smart plays. I compare that to the Bulls and I've lost count how many times I've seen guys pass on wide open midrange shots only to kick the ball back behind the three point line and start all over again (and I'm down to barely watching the Bulls anymore!). Someone needs to slap Boylen around and tell him that a good shot in the NBA is a wide open one regardless of how far away from the basket they are.

Compare the Grizz to the Rockets. Their sets are pretty much give the ball to Harden and go stand somewhere. Just night and day difference. I may have to catch some more of the Grizzlies just so that I can retain what little joy I have in watching the NBA any longer. I hope they can keep their group together and make some noise. They deserve it.

What really bothers me is why can't our FO just make it simple in their coaching hire? I've never heard of Taylor Jenkins, but his credential and career progression more than justify his hire. He came up through the Spurs coaching ranks, he followed Bud to Atlanta and Milwaukee. He's probably highly touted in the coaching circle. Jenkins hiring made total sense. Same way when we hired Thibs... another guy who worked his way up through the ranks and found success with the Celtics. Made total sense. Probably no coincidence that both turned out a success.

But after Thibs we went back to nepotism and cronyism with Hoiberg and Boylen... and surprise surprise we go back to sucking. If the FO is reading this, "stop thinking you're smarter than anybody!" It's not a difficult decision. Coaches like Thibs, Jenkins, Joerger already have work portfolios they can show with recommendations from the coaching community. Bulls FO just need to pull their heads out of their a**.

Boylen was well regarded as the defensive coordinator of those Spurs teams prior to coming here to be Fred's lead assistant. He very much was similar to Bud, Jenkins, Nurse etc...he just hasn't worked out.

[MAQ]

Which one of you did this lmao

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Boylen

[Mech Engineer]

Which one of you did this lmao

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Boylen

[Ccwatercraft]

Which one of you did this lmao

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Boylen

omfg that's so cruel, mean, and hilarious!

just screenshotted that and sent it out on family group chat. mostly disgruntled bears fans who need an emotional bump.

[RSP83]

Watching Morant and the Grizz last night made me sad and also a little angry.

Man - they're a fun team to watch. Morant is awesome. They move the ball so well and the players are also moving. They take good shots - and many of those shots were open mid-range shots. Pretty much everything they run is going to the basket or drive and kick - but they're smart plays. I compare that to the Bulls and I've lost count how many times I've seen guys pass on wide open midrange shots only to kick the ball back behind the three point line and start all over again (and I'm down to barely watching the Bulls anymore!). Someone needs to slap Boylen around and tell him that a good shot in the NBA is a wide open one regardless of how far away from the basket they are.

Compare the Grizz to the Rockets. Their sets are pretty much give the ball to Harden and go stand somewhere. Just night and day difference. I may have to catch some more of the Grizzlies just so that I can retain what little joy I have in watching the NBA any longer. I hope they can keep their group together and make some noise. They deserve it.

What really bothers me is why can't our FO just make it simple in their coaching hire? I've never heard of Taylor Jenkins, but his credential and career progression more than justify his hire. He came up through the Spurs coaching ranks, he followed Bud to Atlanta and Milwaukee. He's probably highly touted in the coaching circle. Jenkins hiring made total sense. Same way when we hired Thibs... another guy who worked his way up through the ranks and found success with the Celtics. Made total sense. Probably no coincidence that both turned out a success.

But after Thibs we went back to nepotism and cronyism with Hoiberg and Boylen... and surprise surprise we go back to sucking. If the FO is reading this, "stop thinking you're smarter than anybody!" It's not a difficult decision. Coaches like Thibs, Jenkins, Joerger already have work portfolios they can show with recommendations from the coaching community. Bulls FO just need to pull their heads out of their a**.

Boylen was well regarded as the defensive coordinator of those Spurs teams prior to coming here to be Fred's lead assistant. He very much was similar to Bud, Jenkins, Nurse etc...he just hasn't worked out.

How is he similar to those guys? Yes, Boylen won the chip with Spurs and the Rockets during that Hakeem run in the 90s. Speaking about his Spurs pedigree, he was in Pops' coaching staff only for 2 years. Prior to that he bounced around as assistant and tried his hands on head coaching in the college ranks but never work out.

After this experience with him as head coach, I now understand why he hasn't been able to secure a head coaching position despite his success as assistant in the 90s. He's just not head coach material.

And Jenkins was an assistant under winning coach in Bud. Boylen was an assistant under tank commander Fred Hoiberg. And what was that Associate Head Coah role? It's probably another power struggle move between Gar and Pax. Gar wants Hoiberg, Pax wants his yes man Boylen. Just hire both, and put Boylen in line for the next man for the job ahead of time? that is bad management.

Yes, Nick Nurse was a new guy in the coaching scene, but I have no doubt that Masai is doing his homework and much more professional in his hiring approach than GarPax. And Nick Nurse used to coach Bulls affiliate Iowa Energy in the D-League, somebody is not paying attention...

[Leslie Forman]

How is he similar to those guys? Yes, Boylen won the chip with Spurs and the Rockets during that Hakeem run in the 90s. Speaking about his Spurs pedigree, he was in Pops' coaching staff only for 2 years. Prior to that he bounced around as assistant and tried his hands on head coaching in the college ranks but never work out.

After this experience with him as head coach, I now understand why he hasn't been able to secure a head coaching position despite his success as assistant in the 90s. He's just not head coach material.

And Jenkins was an assistant under winning coach in Bud. Boylen was an assistant under tank commander Fred Hoiberg. And what was that Associate Head Coah role? It's probably another power struggle move between Gar and Pax. Gar wants Hoiberg, Pax wants his yes man Boylen. Just hire both, and put Boylen in line for the next man for the job ahead of time? that is bad management.

Yes, Nick Nurse was a new guy in the coaching scene, but I have no doubt that Masai is doing his homework and much more professional in his hiring approach than GarPax. And Nick Nurse used to coach Bulls affiliate Iowa Energy in the D-League, somebody is not paying attention...

Your mental gymnastics are impressive.

When Boylen was hired, everyone raved about it. People thought it was a steal of a hire. You can try to downplay his resume as an assistant all you want, people sure were impressed by it back then. Except for the little stint in college, his pre-head coaching resume isn't much different from Thibs's.

Sometimes a respected assistant ends up being a Budenholzer, sometimes they end up being a Fizdale. It happens.

[Chi town]

Sekou with another big game. 24 on 10-13. He’s going to be a good one. He has a very high ceiling. Tobias Harris with explosive athleticism.

[MrSparkle]

Look out! Fultz with a career game, close to putting LAL down. All his points in the point or FT line though.

Oops. Now he's hurt/subbing out with 15sec left.

[NecessaryEvil]

MPJ is a baller...

[PrimzyBulls81]

Ja Morant is putting on a show vs Houston.

Now THIS kid is a player I wanted on the Bulls so badly. He is exactly the type of player the city of Chicago needed, but also. He is going to rot in Memphis for a few years yet, before inevitably, he leaves. And mark my words, he is eventually going to leave for a bigger market.

He is fun to watch and it would be a shame if he left Memphis. I would love to see what he and JJJ could do together if they had a few years to shine.

oh, and with Brandon Clarke. That could be some team if they can stay together.

Yeah, they have some nice roster core.. Young, promising team, who could add two solid vets and be playoff team next year easily.

[PrimzyBulls81]

I didn't think he'd be this good but...wow.

Too bad the Bulls weren't able to draft him.

I wanted him over Zion

Saw some footage of Zion practicing today. Man, he looks huge. His gait when he runs still looks so strange and he is so knock-kneed. Hate to say it but I'm afraid it's just a matter of time before he goes down again. I just cannot see how his joints and ligaments are going to survive in this league. It hurts just watching him run.

I agree.. He is way too big. Oden 2.0 will happen, career over!

[Payt10]

Sekou with another big game. 24 on 10-13. He’s going to be a good one. He has a very high ceiling. Tobias Harris with explosive athleticism.

He was #1 on my wish list. Instead, they took the undersized SG with limited athletic ability.

He'll be another guy the Bulls will regret passing on in another year or so.

[johnnyvann840]

Now THIS kid is a player I wanted on the Bulls so badly. He is exactly the type of player the city of Chicago needed, but also. He is going to rot in Memphis for a few years yet, before inevitably, he leaves. And mark my words, he is eventually going to leave for a bigger market.

He is fun to watch and it would be a shame if he left Memphis. I would love to see what he and JJJ could do together if they had a few years to shine.

oh, and with Brandon Clarke. That could be some team if they can stay together.

Yeah, they have some nice roster core.. Young, promising team, who could add two solid vets and be playoff team next year easily.

Hell, they're a playoff team this year. If the playoffs started tomorrow, they would be in and they're only getting better by the day. By the end of the season they could easily be 7-8 games over .500.

[samwana]

Which one of you did this lmao

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Boylen

It got changed again, please show the screenshot...

Sent from my POT-LX1 using RealGM mobile app

[Chi town]

Sekou with another big game. 24 on 10-13. He’s going to be a good one. He has a very high ceiling. Tobias Harris with explosive athleticism.

He was #1 on my wish list. Instead, they took the undersized SG with limited athletic ability.

He'll be another guy the Bulls will regret passing on in another year or so.

Yep. He’s going to be better than Jaylen Brown IMO. He’s 18 too. Youngest player in the league. No fear. Great 3 ball. Solid handle. Knows how to use his body.

[Chi town]

He is fun to watch and it would be a shame if he left Memphis. I would love to see what he and JJJ could do together if they had a few years to shine.

oh, and with Brandon Clarke. That could be some team if they can stay together.

Yeah, they have some nice roster core.. Young, promising team, who could add two solid vets and be playoff team next year easily.

Hell, they're a playoff team this year. If the playoffs started tomorrow, they would be in and they're only getting better by the day. By the end of the season they could easily be 7-8 games over .500.

Exactly. They have the vets now with Val and Crowder.

Our vets are hurt or suck.

[FriedRise]

I can't take the Pistons seriously because we swept them and we're a terrible team, but how in the world did they get wins over the likes of Boston, Houston, and Indiana (3x)?

[Ice Man]

I can't take the Pistons seriously because we swept them and we're a terrible team, but how in the world did they get wins over the likes of Boston, Houston, and Indiana (3x)?

This subject has been my recent hobbyhorse. Most of our wins (11 out of 15) have come against four teams: Detroit, Atlanta, Washington, Memphis. All those teams have scored multiple quality wins against strong opponents, whereas we have not. Why is that?

My view is this -

1) We have less talent than those teams, thus we rarely play really good games
2) We also are much consistent than them, so we rarely play really bad games
3) We give those teams match-up problems, and their coaches are unable to adjust to overcome those problems

If those points are true (which of course they may not be), it suggests we might be overly harsh on Boylen. Casey and Gentry have had seven chances between them to figure out Chicago, and they have failed every time. So it is not as if Boylen is alone in struggling to make successful adjustments.

[FriedRise]

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