Boylan says he’s a changed man
Jim Boylan’s second game in his second stint as an NBA head coach came where it all started.
The first time he took over for Scott Skiles in midseason was with the Bulls on Dec. 27, 2007. He finished the season with a 24-32 record and was not retained.
Before coaching Milwaukee on Wednesday at the United Center, Boylan reflected on his experience with the Bulls.
“My approach is totally different than it was five years ago,” Boylan said. “I’m more comfortable in this position. After reflecting on it for a while, I felt like I was too concerned when I was coaching here in Chicago of trying to hang on to the job. I was too focused in on the specific moment as opposed to seeing the big picture.
“I told the guys the other day that I’m just going to have fun with this, coach as well as I can coach, motivate these guys — that’s what I’m going to do.”
Boylan’s tenure in Chicago ended well for the Bulls, anyway. After finishing out of the playoffs, they won the draft lottery and selected Derrick Rose.
Save Skiles a seat:Scott Skiles has led three different teams to the playoffs, but has never gotten past the second round. Milwaukee is officially his longest coaching stop at 344 games, seven more than he spent with the Bulls.Before Wednesday#146;s game, Jim Boylan, the lead assistant in all three cities, predicted Skiles will coach again.#147;I just think Scott#146;s meant to be a coach and he loves it and there are teams out there who can use a guy to come in and give them some structure,#148; Boylan said. #147;Just like the past teams he#146;s coached in Phoenix, here and Milwaukee, teams that have been struggling a little bit and need someone to come in and really captain the ship and that#146;s what Scott does.#147;So I#146;m sure there are teams out there looking at the situation and saying, #145;You know what, we need a guy like that to come in here and get us moving in the right direction.#146; So I believe he will be coaching again.#148;We have liftoff:Another minor reveal in Derrick Rose#146;s comeback arrived Wednesday. Jimmy Butler told reporters at shootaround that he#146;s seen Rose dunk a few times.A day earlier, coach Tom Thibodeau talked about Rose taking #147;planned contact#148; at the Berto Center, which might mean nothing more than being hit with a practice dummy.Bull horns:Kirk Hinrich has missed five games this season with five different injuries. He suffered a lacerated right elbow during Monday#146;s win over Cleveland. #133; Forty years ago Wednesday, Milwaukee snapped the Los Angeles Lakers#146; record 33-game winning streak.