In East, just showing up gets it done

The race for the NBA East's final playoff berth is like a demolition derby.

Hard to believe, but the Bulls remain in contention to be that car in the junkyard tilting proudly atop a heap of twisted, rusted, busted metal.

Last team with a fender qualifies for the postseason.

Even after Tuesday night's 108-96 victory over Utah, the Bulls are 12 games under .500 but only a half-game out of the playoffs.

Most maddening is that the Bulls can overcome even themselves when common sense means more to them than nonsense.

Too often too many Bulls have conducted themselves like a last-place recreation-league team comprised of mistakes, misfits and miscreants.

(Come to think of it, it's enough to make you want to misremember all of them.)

Anyway, all interim head coach Jim Boylan asks is they "play hard, show up on time, be where you're supposed to be, like everybody else show up to work every day."

Do the Bulls do that, Boylan is asked.

"When people question our team … we have guys in that locker room with a lot of character," Boylan said. "I think you saw that tonight. They handle themselves professionally every single day. Other guys have had some problems."

Like Tyrus Thomas and Chris Duhon missing practice during the past week. Like Joakim Noah menacing an assistant coach awhile back. Like others shouting at the head coach about playing time.

Who's to blame for Team Turmoil? Probably everybody but Boylan.

The buck always stops with Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf. General manager John Paxson collected this giggly gaggle of silly gooses. Heck, go back to Scott Skiles, who was brought in to change the culture and instead merely disguised it for a couple of years before being fired.

Finally, blame the players for proving a paycheck doesn't make you a professional.

Veteran coaches with successful resumes would have trouble managing this outfit. For an NBA, interim, first-time head coach like Boylan it must be like managing a hurricane.

"I don't like it," he said of some players' conduct. "At moments I shake my head and at other moments I laugh about it a little."

To keep from crying, presumably.

Boylan was asked whether all his players "punched the clock" for the imminent game against Utah. "We'll find out when they step out on the court," he said.

First of all, it isn't a good sign when a coach has to be asked whether all his players have arrived at the arena.

Pretty soon Boylan might have to line up military style so he can take a head count.

Duhon … present, sir! Thomas … present, sir! Noah … present, sir!

But they not only arrived at the United Center, they showed up against a good Jazz team, and showing up might be all it takes to qualify for the postseason.

In most sports and even the NBA West, the Bulls would be preparing for the draft. But neither the sun nor a 26-38 team sets in the East. The one-car wreck known as the Bulls remains in this demolition derby.

"Guys were hurt that last couple days," Boylan said of criticism of their conduct. "We're a basketball team, not a soap opera. We want to concentrate on basketball."

That might be all it takes to make the playoffs.

mimrem@dailyherald.com