After winning a pair of games earlier this week, the Bulls slipped below .500 with another loss today, and now have a 6-10 record for the month of December. With the team slipping down the Eastern Conference standings, a report today from ESPN’s Marc Stein suggested that Chicago is “increasingly assessing the coaching fit” of Fred Hoiberg, who is in his second year with the franchise. Asked before today’s game about that report, Hoiberg dismissed the idea that he’s worried about his job security, as Vincent Goodwill of CSNChicago.com details.
“Someone just mentioned something to me about that,” the Bulls head coach said of Stein’s report. “You know I don’t know anything about it, so I’m not going to comment on it. I’ve got a job to do, which is to try and put this team in a position to go out and win basketball games. Like probably 24 other coaches I’m trying to find a way for us to go out and play consistent basketball on a nightly basis.”
According to K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune, the Bulls are likely to stay the course with Hoiberg for now. There are a handful of reasons why it makes sense for the team to hold off on a coaching change, and Hoiberg’s contract is one significant factor, Johnson notes. With three and a half years still left on that deal, Chicago would be on the hook for more than $17MM if the club parted ways with its head coach.
Here’s more from out of Chicago:
- According to Goodwill, members of Bulls management also downplayed the report of Hoiberg being on the hot seat, shooting it down with “one-word texts and dismissive comments.” Jimmy Butler weighed in after today’s loss as well, per Goodwill (Twitter link). “We go out there, we play, we fight with him,” Butler said of Hoiberg. “It’s over my head. He ain’t on no hot seat to me.”
- Rajon Rondo was benched during the second half of today’s loss to the Pacers after struggling in the first half. As Nick Friedell of ESPN.com writes, it’s the second time this week that Rondo has been on the bench for the Bulls down the stretch, and Hoiberg hasn’t decided whether or not the veteran point guard will remain in the starting lineup for the team’s next game on Sunday.
- For his part, Rondo handled the benching well, telling reporters that he didn’t get an explanation from Hoiberg but didn’t need to make it “a big deal,” per Friedell. “[Hoiberg] and [assistant coach] Jim [Boylen] made some decisions,” Rondo said. “It’s what it is.”
- Hoiberg sounds like he might be ready to shake up the Bulls’ lineup going forward. “We have some decisions to make moving forward with our team,” the head coach said after today’s game (Twitter link via Goodwill).
Any coaches still around from the 1970’s? GarPax gave Hoiberg a starting lineup with not one league-average 3 pt shooter. And even if MCW replaces Rondo, they’ll still have zero.
Meanwhile Morey in Houston loaded up on 3 pt shooting. Rockets are 14-2 in December.
If you’re saying what I think you’re saying, the problem isn’t the coaching, it’s the rule changes. NBA has gotten a lot more contact averse, more violations are called inside, etc etc…
3 pt shooting has become the more successful strategy because the rules are biased that way.
Not that nothing else can work (the Spurs have pulled it off) but the odds are against you.
Another Failing Reinsdorf team!
Yup. He does the same thing with the White Sox and Bulls.
Keeps incompetent (and nearly untouchable) cronies on in positions they are way under-qualified for and don’t excel at.
As a result, these cronies and himself hire more incompetent people, the draft picks are terrible or mediocre, etc.
Another trademark of a Reinsdorf team is signing “stars” who are in the twilight of their careers to exorbitant contracts. This usually just somewhat fills the seats, but does nothing to improve the team. Further proving he only cares about money, not he fans.
Finally, all Reinsdorf teams usually fill spots and mix and match with pieces that just don’t fit. Team chemistry is never existent among his teams.
The roster is not inspiring, that said Hoiberg is not inspiring, either. The rebuild that should have started with the trade of Rose, needs to start now! Younger, more flexible, more athletic. This team is not worth watching, much less buying a ticket to see.
I have seen no progress this year, just D. Wade and Butler carrying a sub .500 team. Blame who you will.
All I know is that Rose was NEVER benched or suspended while in a Bulls uniform. But, Rose was the problem. OK…
As good as Taj Gibson has been, I think they need to change the rotation where he and Rondo come off the bench…the problem is that all of their guards have been terrible. Thought Denzel Valentine could contribute. I’d go with one of the PGs, Wade, Butler, McDermott, and Lopez and bring Taj, Rondo, and Mirotic off the bench. Maybe try to get more balance out there, and a little more spacing with both units, although its hard when you’re getting nothing out of anyone besides Butler, Wade, Gibson, McDermott, and Lopez