Jim Boylen had one night to breathe easy.
One.
Thank the slumping Pistons for that.
By beating Detroit for the second time this season, the 5-10 Bulls still fell under the category of “disappointment,’’ but at least their coach didn’t have to throw out a bunch of pretend positives from another loss.
The 109-89 victory did reiterate one thing, however: As bad as the season has started for a Bulls organization that was preaching playoffs as a goal last month, Boylen’s standing within in the franchise remains in a very strong foothold.
“I think we’re all frustrated,’’ Boylen said, when asked about the temperature between himself and his bosses these days. “We all would like to play better more consistently, we all would. Since I’ve been here I’ve never felt more supported than I am right now. From ownership, management and [vice president of basketball operations] John [Paxson]. We talk every day and we communicate, and we’re in step. We’re in step in a lot of ways, and we’re also in step in our frustration where we would like to play better more consistently.’’
After the loss on Monday, Boylen talked about staying the course with not only the offensive and defensive philosophies being coached, but with the roster as is. That doesn’t appear to be changing anytime soon.
“What I’ve talked to them about, and as you guys know I’m an open book with this stuff, is we have to play better in closing out games and we have to play better in limiting teams in runs,’’ Boylen said. “Runs and closing out games have been an issue for us. That’s what we talk about, and what we need to do better, what I need to do better, and how I can support this group of guys better from my seat. That’s what’s important.’’
Luckily Detroit had one run in the tank in the first quarter, and was basically going through the motions the rest of the evening.
Even another hometown return for Derrick Rose couldn’t jumpstart a Pistons (4-10) team that has now lost five straight.
And Boylen’s concerns about closing out the game? Not even a factor after a Tomas Satoransky dunk put the Bulls up 99-77 with 5:22 left, leaving Detroit nothing more than a chalk outline on the United Center court.
Heck, even Lauri Markkanen showed up for the first time since he dropped 35 in Charlotte on opening night, as the third-year forward had his second-best game of the season, scoring 24 points, including an efficient 3-for-4 night from three.
“You can see that we need that,’’ Satoransky said of Markkanen’s performance. “Whenever he catches on fire or scores some easy points, like the two dunks he had in the beginning, it’s a relief. He had his confidence back and it puts less pressure on our first unit. He needed that personally, and we needed that too.’’
A turnaround in the season? Far from it, as Boylen was not shy about talking about what he needed to do better as a coach with this season moving forward.
“One thing I can do better is continue to bring energy to the game, and continue to be me,’’ Boylen said.
Maybe not the answer many Boylen critics wanted to hear, but that’s what the coach was willing to offer up.
“What I’m excited about, and I think what John and [general manager] Gar [Forman] and Jerry and Michael [Reinsdorf] are excited about is we have a system at both ends now that we can coach to and develop to,’’ Boylen said. “That’s exciting. In these moments that we need to play better, we need to play better. And we think we will, we believe we will, and that’s where it’s at.’’
