The Chicago Bulls continue to adjust to life under new coach Jim Boylen, according to reports from Yahoo Sports and ESPN.
After the team lost to the Boston Celtics by 56 points on Saturday, coach Boylen called for a team practice on Sunday. This reportedly caused issues in the Bulls locker room because practice is rarely held after back-to-back games. According to Vincent Goodwill and Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, some of the players contacted the National Basketball Players Association on Sunday to call out what they felt were “extreme tactics” from coach Boylen.
Here’s more from Goodwill and Haynes on the reported situation in Chicago:
After taking the helm from fired coach Fred Hoiberg on Monday, Boylen held three two-and-a-half-hour practices in his first week that included extra wind sprints and players doing military-style pushups. Calling for another lengthy practice after the back-to-back led to a near-mutiny and caused the players to reach out to the union, sources said.
Boylen had already gotten under his players’ skin by issuing the ultimate indignity: subbing out all five players on the floor twice in Saturday’s loss. In the first half, the Bulls fell behind 17-0, so the full lineup change was understandable.
In the second half, the Bulls had only been outscored 5-3 when Boylen subbed everyone out and the players felt embarrassed.
Calling for a Sunday practice was apparently the last straw.
After an initial pushback to the Sunday practice, the Bulls showed up on Sunday and held a two-hour meeting led by Zach LaVine and Justin Holiday, according to Malika Andrews of ESPN.
“We were very, very honest with one another; very direct,” rookie Wendell Carter Jr. said on Sunday.
“Our meeting is what I thought we needed,” Boylen said. “We’re still learning about each other. I’ve moved over the 18 inches [from one chair on the bench to the next]. They’re still learning how I want it. There’s been a little shock and awe here in the last seven days. And there’s an adjustment to that.”
The Bulls, with a record of 6-21, will have a chance to get back on track against the Sacramento Kings tonight (8 ET, NBA League Pass).
