Jim Boylen is safe.
NBA coaching jobs are always fluid, but if the season were to end today – which many Bulls fans have been praying for – Boylen would be in that head coaching seat when training camp opened up next fall.
Vice president of basketball operations John Paxson gave Boylen that vote of confidence earlier in the season when he met with individual media members, and reiterated his belief in the job Boylen’s been doing once again on Thursday.
“It’s always hard for a coach,’’ Paxson said, when asked how he felt Boylen has navigated his way through all the injuries on the roster. “I think you guys have been around Jim enough to know that he’s a very positive guy. He keeps trying to grind it out. One thing I do admire is he doesn’t quit on these guys. He looks at them and he believes in them.
“Hey, in this league, every team faces injuries. We’re not the only ones. That’s why you have a 15-man roster. But Jim handles it very well. He’s trying to coach these guys and try to get them better.’’
Not the kind of statement critics of Boylen want to hear right about now, especially with how polarizing the coach has become.
There seems to be very little middle ground when discussing Boylen. When he took over for Fred Hoiberg back on Dec. 3, 2018, it wasn’t done quietly. Whether it was Boylen calling out his players for a lack of toughness and conditioning his first week on the job, or the coach smashing a two-player attempted coup like a mob boss, fans and members of the media quickly had an opinion on the long-time assistant.
In most cases, not a good one.
Still, Boylen actually seemed to be turning things slightly around, whether it was a solid February showing last season, or the way he seemed to get players to buy in when last season ended.
So how can a guy that was given an extension in the offseason and has started off just 19-34 this season be safe? Well, the front office has flipped the narrative.
Under former coach Tom Thibodeau – the second-winningest coach in franchise history – in a poor attempt to win a power struggle, the front office blamed injuries on the supposed grinding style of Thibodeau, eventually attaching that stigma on him nationally.
One major problem, however.
The Bulls have suffered more injuries under Hoiberg and Boylen than they ever saw with Thibodeau, conveniently passing it off as just bad luck these days.
“He’s trying to do his job the best he can, you know,’’ guard Zach LaVine said, when asked about the job Boylen has done with the undermanned roster. “No one’s going to feel sorry for you.’’
Maybe that’s also why LaVine did point out that the team started the season relatively healthy and still stumbled out of the gate.
“Beginning of the year we lost games and we had everybody, so I don’t know,’’ LaVine said.
So how would the current parachute Boylen is using suddenly twist up and send him into a freefall the remainder of the season?
Games like Thursday night against New Orleans, in which the starters looked unprepared and uninspired. Non-competitive showings – undermanned or not – will be Boylen’s downfall.
He knows that more than anyone.
“I evaluate everything,’’ Boylen said. “I don’t go home and not think about this or not think about basketball and what we’re trying to do. But I try and keep the positive things and what we have done in the right perspective.
“We’ve got an injured, banged-up young team that battles and fights and competes. Do we have off nights when we don’t play well? Of course, every team does. My job is to teach and to coach, and I will keep doing that. The people in this room that know me know that. I’m not deterred.’’
