NEWSLETTER
Believe it or not, I have yet to own a pair of the OG Jordans, so I finally got myself a pair yesterday. I’m very excited for their arrival and am highly considering waiting for the mailwoman downstairs.
•  Look, you don’t want to read about Jim Boylen just as much as I don’t want to write about him. But, unfortunately, the longer he remains head coach of the Chicago Bulls, the more pressing this storyline becomes. After Arturas Karnisovas was hired, the type of reports we were waiting for started to surface: Several Key Players “Ripped” Jim Boylen, Moving on From Jim Boylen is Just a Matter of Time, Karnisovas is Involving LaVine in the Decision-Making Process. However, in the midst of all that sweetness have come several spoonfuls of lemon juice. We were reminded multiple times that Karnisovas wouldn’t rush any front office or coaching decisions and that members of the NBA community were still a bit skeptical of whether or not Jerry Reinsdorf would truly hand Karnisovas the ropes. If you ask me, all of this has become a bit melodramatic.
•  I’m not even calling for a firing this second (I may prefer it, but I don’t need it); I’m just looking for a better explanation. With how much time is left on the offseason calendar, a lack of urgency may not be warmly welcomed but it’s warranted. And with that said, if AKME (Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley, duh) want to drag this out, I’d simply appreciate some kind of update. At least give us an idea of how this evaluation process is going? Have they actually had any time to evaluate the coaching staff in a way they consider adequate? If no second bubble is created, will that influence their evaluation process? I don’t even think that’s asking for too much. I mean, do I have to beg? I’m willing. Please sir, may I have some more?Â
•  The Sun-Times’ Joe Cowley reiterated Boylen’s comfort within the organization. He says that the head coach still believes he’ll be back next season and is in a good place with AKME. At the same time, Cowley also wrote that “minds are seemingly made up,” but that Boylen would jump at the opportunity to try and change those minds.
•  Remember the song they’d play whenever someone got booted from American Idol? It’s called Bad Day by Daniel Powter (one-hit-wonder much?), and I’m pretty sure it’ll play every single day in the Advocate Center while Zach LaVine uses two-hands to chuck the ball at the backboard if Boylen is still his head coach. Seriously, especially after this last season, I think we all know this guy deserves better. Not only does he deserve a coach that he gets along with, but he deserves one that can put his teammates in the best position to succeed. We all know his teammates have solid potential, but the right foundation must be put in place to channel the best version of each of these young players.
•  Until he get more help around him and the team starts winning, he’ll continue to be an “underrated” player.
One of the NBA’s most underrated stars. pic.twitter.com/2EPDu65B4L
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) July 10, 2020
•  People like to say LaVine is a good stats, bad team guy … but I tend to think that’s an unfair label. We’ve never seen LaVine on an above .500 team, and that’s just not his fault. He’s been put in a bad situation at both stops in his career, and his inability to single-handedly turn his team into a winning one isn’t necessarily because he puts up empty stats, it’s because he isn’t a true No. 1. LaVine may be a borderline All-Star, but that doesn’t mean he can be the best player on a winning team. The guy needs help, and that shouldn’t be held against him.
•  If that’s your No. 10 top play of the season … you know he had a good season.
This man is built different…@ZachLaVine's Top 10 Season Plays: pic.twitter.com/nB2p90cN89
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) July 9, 2020
•  The Athletic’s has a pretty awesome read about many of the sports statues you know and love in the Chicagoland area. Check it out.
•  Yeesh. Thank goodness Forman is out the door.
Luol Deng Has Harsh Words for a Certain Former Front Office Member Who "Ruined the Team" https://t.co/5vxEKdzZ2c
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) July 10, 2020
