John Paxson makes one thing clear: The Bulls believe in Jim Boylen as the coach of the future

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article_body => "The Bulls believe in Jim Boylen.<\/p>\nIf there was one significant takeaway from John Paxson\u2019s 35-minute exit interview Thursday at the Advocate Center, it\u2019s that he and the Reinsdorfs are fully on board with Boylen leading the Bulls forward into the critical years of their post-Jimmy Butler rebuild.<\/p>\nPaxson went as far as saying it\u2019s \u201cvery possible\u201d the Bulls will extend the contract of Boylen, who took over for Fred Hoiberg in December and received a raise through the 2020 season.<\/p>\n\u201cI\u2019ve spoken to both Jerry and Michael about addressing that,\u201d Paxson said of a potential contract extension, \u201cand I don\u2019t know what the timing will be, but I envision Jim being our coach here and us committing to him.\u201d<\/p>\nBoylen inherited a mess when he took over for Hoiberg on Dec. 3, tasked with leading a 5-19 team that was missing its foundation piece in Lauri Markkanen, as well as two top rotation players in Kris Dunn and Bobby Portis. More important than wins and losses, Paxson discussed wanting Boylen to change the attitude, practice habits and overall culture that had been trending in the wrong direction under Hoiberg.<\/p>\nChaos ensued almost instantly, with a few Bulls leading a near-mutiny against Boylen after the head coach called for practice following a back-to-back weekend set. Paxson admitted Thursday that Boylen\u2019s turbulent first week, which also included a franchise-worst 56-point home loss to the Celtics, \u201cwas like dynamite blowing up.\u201d<\/p>\nBut Boylen righted the ship and instilled the values that Paxson and upper management were looking for. It coincided with the Bulls getting healthier, but they closed out Boylen\u2019s first month with a 4-3 record, including wins over eventual playoff teams in San Antonio and Orlando.<\/p>\nBoylen eventually toned down the suicide runs, two-and-a-half hour practices and pushups. But he continued on with his tough-love and forthcoming personality that endeared him to the front office. When injuries decimated the Bulls\u2019 depth, that approach helped the Bulls get everything they could out of end-of-the-bench players like Shaq Harrison, Ryan Arcidiacono, Wayne Selden and other.<\/p>\nHe was genuine to a fault in discussing his passion for his players \u2013 spirit and soul and all those other buzz words \u2013 and in Paxson\u2019s eyes, that dedication.<\/p>\n\u201cThe thing that excites me about our direction with our head coach is his passion and his care level for our players and this organization,\u201d Paxson said. \u201cHe wants to succeed, he wants our players to get better, he has a plan in place for all of them in order to do so and that\u2019s very encouraging.\u201d<\/p>\nPassion, spirit and \u201cpreparing the child for the road, not the road for the child\u201d \u2013 a quote from Boylen on Feb. 23 \u2013 is one thing, but he\u2019ll need to start improving the team, too.<\/p>\nInjuries were certainly a part of Boylen\u2019s first season but numbers don\u2019t lie: After he took over, the Bulls were 28th in offensive efficieney, 27th in defensive efficiency an 27th in net rating. Just about all their numbers under Boylen were worse than they were under Hoiberg, and that was with a better crop of players the majority of the season.<\/p>\nBut Boylen, Paxson said, has shown a commitment to leading and improving his young group. It began on Thursday with player exit interviews that Paxson called \u201cas efficient\u2026as I\u2019ve (ever) seen\u201d with consistent messages about what will be expected of each player.<\/p>\n\u201cHe\u2019s laid it all out there for each guy, exactly what he thinks they need to work on. It\u2019s been done in a very positive way in terms of showing that he believes in them and wants them to get better,\u201d Paxson said. \u201cWe\u2019re at a really good place with our head coach in terms of the direction we\u2019re headed.\u201d<\/p>\nPaxson also said he has communicated with Boylen more during the past five months than he did with any other previous head coaches combined. That\u2019s led to a general understanding of that demanding head coaching style that at times came under fire, but one that Paxson believes is a critical factor to the success of the Bulls\u2019 young roster.<\/p>\n\u201cHe really does view himself as a teacher, a guy that wants to connect with the players, \u201cPaxson said. \u201cAnd sometimes you have to be demanding and hard, and I still believe that you can demand as a head coach as long as you\u2019re showing these guys that you\u2019re doing it because you care about them and you want them to succeed.<\/p>\n\u201cJim Boylen, in our estimation, has done terrific things in terms of establishing what we want in this building and with this organization, especially on the practice floor, how to carry yourself and how to work.\u201d<\/p>\n"
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Bulls

The Bulls believe in Jim Boylen.

If there was one significant takeaway from John Paxson’s 35-minute exit interview Thursday at the Advocate Center, it’s that he and the Reinsdorfs are fully on board with Boylen leading the Bulls forward into the critical years of their post-Jimmy Butler rebuild.

Paxson went as far as saying it’s “very possible” the Bulls will extend the contract of Boylen, who took over for Fred Hoiberg in December and received a raise through the 2020 season.

“I’ve spoken to both Jerry and Michael about addressing that,” Paxson said of a potential contract extension, “and I don’t know what the timing will be, but I envision Jim being our coach here and us committing to him.”

Boylen inherited a mess when he took over for Hoiberg on Dec. 3, tasked with leading a 5-19 team that was missing its foundation piece in Lauri Markkanen, as well as two top rotation players in Kris Dunn and Bobby Portis. More important than wins and losses, Paxson discussed wanting Boylen to change the attitude, practice habits and overall culture that had been trending in the wrong direction under Hoiberg.

Chaos ensued almost instantly, with a few Bulls leading a near-mutiny against Boylen after the head coach called for practice following a back-to-back weekend set. Paxson admitted Thursday that Boylen’s turbulent first week, which also included a franchise-worst 56-point home loss to the Celtics, “was like dynamite blowing up.”

But Boylen righted the ship and instilled the values that Paxson and upper management were looking for. It coincided with the Bulls getting healthier, but they closed out Boylen’s first month with a 4-3 record, including wins over eventual playoff teams in San Antonio and Orlando.

Boylen eventually toned down the suicide runs, two-and-a-half hour practices and pushups. But he continued on with his tough-love and forthcoming personality that endeared him to the front office. When injuries decimated the Bulls’ depth, that approach helped the Bulls get everything they could out of end-of-the-bench players like Shaq Harrison, Ryan Arcidiacono, Wayne Selden and other.

He was genuine to a fault in discussing his passion for his players – spirit and soul and all those other buzz words – and in Paxson’s eyes, that dedication.

“The thing that excites me about our direction with our head coach is his passion and his care level for our players and this organization,” Paxson said. “He wants to succeed, he wants our players to get better, he has a plan in place for all of them in order to do so and that’s very encouraging.”

Passion, spirit and “preparing the child for the road, not the road for the child” – a quote from Boylen on Feb. 23 – is one thing, but he’ll need to start improving the team, too.

Injuries were certainly a part of Boylen’s first season but numbers don’t lie: After he took over, the Bulls were 28th in offensive efficieney, 27th in defensive efficiency an 27th in net rating. Just about all their numbers under Boylen were worse than they were under Hoiberg, and that was with a better crop of players the majority of the season.

But Boylen, Paxson said, has shown a commitment to leading and improving his young group. It began on Thursday with player exit interviews that Paxson called “as efficient…as I’ve (ever) seen” with consistent messages about what will be expected of each player.

“He’s laid it all out there for each guy, exactly what he thinks they need to work on. It’s been done in a very positive way in terms of showing that he believes in them and wants them to get better,” Paxson said. “We’re at a really good place with our head coach in terms of the direction we’re headed.”

Paxson also said he has communicated with Boylen more during the past five months than he did with any other previous head coaches combined. That’s led to a general understanding of that demanding head coaching style that at times came under fire, but one that Paxson believes is a critical factor to the success of the Bulls’ young roster.

“He really does view himself as a teacher, a guy that wants to connect with the players, “Paxson said. “And sometimes you have to be demanding and hard, and I still believe that you can demand as a head coach as long as you’re showing these guys that you’re doing it because you care about them and you want them to succeed.

“Jim Boylen, in our estimation, has done terrific things in terms of establishing what we want in this building and with this organization, especially on the practice floor, how to carry yourself and how to work.”