Boylen’s Role in LaVine’s Surge, Wack Refs, Cold Coby, and Other Bulls Bullets

Dec 04, 2019

HUMP DAYYYYYYYYY!

The Houston Rockets are dealing with a story so wack we have to start bullets with it. In case you missed it, last night the Rockets dropped an overtime game to the San Antonio Spurs. 135-133. The “wack” part is that James Harden scored a very important two points earlier in the game that would have avoided sending this game to OT altogether. But the referees said it didn’t count.

Take a look:

The refs really didn't count this Harden dunk 🤔 pic.twitter.com/tkpFWpqu9f

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 4, 2019

Harden dunked the ball so hard it somehow defied physics and curled up the front of the rim. Still, even in the initial, real-time footage of the dunk, it’s pretty evident that he did put the ball through the hoop. Viewers could tell. The announcers could tell. James Harden and Mike D’Antoni could tell. Everyone except the refs could see why the Rockets should have two more points on the scoreboard, that is until after the game. When the media questioned crew chief James Capers, he admitted that, per review, the bucket should have counted. YOU FOR REAL, CAPERS!? YOU COULDN’T SEE THAT EARLIER!?

Crew chief James Capers on the Harden dunk fiasco. pic.twitter.com/UhHQpscOFP

— Kelly Iko (@KellyIkoNBA) December 4, 2019

The explanation is flat-out dumb. The play is a reviewable and challengeable call, but Capers said the Rockets didn’t call one within the 30-second incriminate the league allows. I don’t know about you, but it seems pretty hard to call a for a challenge when you’re already talking with the refs about what the heck just happened. Then, Capers said when the Rockets were finally asking for a review, it was too late. Did anyone check if these refs have money on the game? Someone check.

Anyway, the even more WACK (yet kind of cool) part about all of this, we could get a replay of the final 7:50 minutes! Chances are if we don’t get a replay or an awarded win to the Rockets, the organization will protest. Okay, let’s get back to Bulls. For more information on all this, you can read the Athletic’s article here.

… protest might not be necessary but will prepare to file one if the league office does not take action.

— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) December 4, 2019

ESPN’s The Jump debated whether or not Jim Boylen plays a role in Zach LaVine’s recent offensive surge.

I'm glad Brian Windhorst cut in with the #facts to stop Richard Jefferson's odd rant.

While I think Boylen's benching lit a fire under LaVine, I don't think he went into it with that intention. I'm giving Zach the credit. As Boylen likes to say, he can't play for them. https://t.co/pVb7yIUCP5

— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) December 4, 2019

I basically gave my quick two cents in the tweet above, but I also talked more about this yesterday in a separate post you can read here. While I don’t think LaVine’s star-numbers over the last five games coincide with Boylen’s benching coincidently, I’m not giving Boylen credit for being any kind of mastermind. I love how Brian Windhorst swoops into this discussion to point out just how poorly Boylen has coached this team, alluding to the fact that it’s hard to believe he knew what he was doing when taking LaVine out of the game. Overall, I think LaVine is simply fed-up, and the reasoning stretches far wider than just Boylen’s decision to yank him.

NBC Sports Mark Schanowski talked about the Bulls’ improved offensive look in their last win over the Sacramento Kings. Hm, I wonder if this has anything to do with it? (Answer: Yes. Yes, it does).

LaVine and Markkanen Planned to Take Over the Game, Even If It Meant a “Break” from the Offensehttps://t.co/hdMQGNSHAN

— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) December 3, 2019

Bleacher Report released some NBA Report Cards, and the Bulls probably don’t want to show Mom. Does anyone have a red marker? I know a way we can turn this F into an A.

SUBZERO!!

People forget that Coby is the coldest rookie out there ❄️ pic.twitter.com/w3w2MDBgXC

— Bulls Talk (@NBCSBulls) December 4, 2019

Zach LaVine invited Men’s Health into his home for a little interview. Honestly, props to LaVine. Whenever he does any of these interviews, he always seems like a very normal and likable dude. I will say this though – learn to cook, dude.

Thaddeus Young has one of the elite shoe collections in the NBA, and he’s building a new house with a room dedicated to his thousands of pairs. The Athletic’s Darnell Mayberry talks to Young about it, so check it out. Fun Read.

Wendell Carter Jr. picked his All-Duke team, and I’m not sure I agree. First problem: He didn’t take Luol Deng.

Blue Devils have been stacked through the years, but @wendellcarter34 got his starting five set

He picks his all-time Duke squad with 15 dollars pic.twitter.com/xVpkiATswQ

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 3, 2019

written by

Elias Schuster

Elias Schuster is the Lead Chicago Bulls writer at Bleacher Nation. He started with BN full-time in 2019 immediately after graduating from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign with a degree in Journalism (yes, he started with the Jim Boylen Era). Since joining, Elias has been the driving force behind Bulls and NBA content for both the site and social accounts. You can follow him on Twitter/X @Schuster_Elias.

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