There’s a perception Fred Hoiberg watches helplessly as Jimmy Butler, Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo run roughshod over the coach, the Bulls organization and even sometimes each other.
Is this more evidence of that or just confirmation bias?
Ken Berger of Bleacher Report:Yet the belief persists in front office circles that Butler is no fan of Hoiberg. In fact, a scout with a rival team told Bleacher Report he’s witnessed persistent episodes when Butler, Rondo and Wade have ignored plays Hoiberg has called.
“When Fred would call plays on the sideline, Rondo would just flat-out blow him off,” said the scout, who spoke with Bleacher Report on the condition of anonymity. “Wade does it, too. Butler does it, too. ... That becomes infectious.”
We went through this with LeBron James and David Blatt a couple years ago. Good players – especially seasoned veterans like Butler, Wade and Rondo – often have the freedom to change play calls. NBA games are fast and chaotic, and there isn’t time to run every audible by the coach or even stop get the play in the first place.
That said, there are limits. Rondo reportedly overruled too many of Rick Carlisle’s plays, leading to problems when he played for the Mavericks. On the other hand, Hoiberg grants at least Wade immense authority.
Do Butler, Wade and Rondo improvise too often? Do they bypass Hoiberg in a way that undermines his standing with other players?
I don’t know, and I doubt the scout does for certain, either.