Boylan's approach has Bulls relaxed
The buzzword around the Bulls the past few days has been "relaxed."
Of course, the overall atmosphere around the team has been anything but relaxed since Dec. 24. Head coach Scott Skiles was fired, assistant Pete Myers filled in for a day, and now the Bulls are in the middle of playing four games in five days.
But the players claim they've been much more at ease since Jim Boylan took over as interim coach last week and it's showed on the court. Boylan won his first two games, against Milwaukee and New York, then the Bulls put together a nice effort in Monday's 112-110 overtime loss to Orlando.
"I think we're heading in the right direction," guard Ben Gordon said after scoring a season-high 39 points against the Magic. "I think it works with Jim being so calm and leading us in a relaxed way. It helps us be relaxed. It's worked well so far."
In three games since returning to a sixth-man role, Gordon has averaged 31.7 points, shot 56.5 percent from the field and knocked down 8 of 15 attempts from 3-point range. As a team, the Bulls have averaged 104.3 points per game.
Boylan brings a different personality to the sideline than Skiles, who could turn fiery at the drop of a hat and wasn't afraid to tear into his players during a timeout if they weren't playing well.
Boylan is calmer, laid-back, easygoing. But if the Bulls don't play well in a future contest, is Boylan prepared to bring some heat?
"I think people coach the way they are, with what they're comfortable with," Boylan said. "I'm kind of a laid-back guy, yet I know the time and the place to press and I know the time and the place to ease off.
"You want to get the most out of your players, so you've got to understand that you can't constantly be driving them. There has to be times where you just let up and let them be.
"We're lucky because we have some good people on this team. We have good guys with character and they want to be successful. So when you ask them to sacrifice and do something for you, they usually do it."
Boylan, a 15-year NBA assistant, knows he's walking a fine line. He can't be laid back 24 hours a day and coach a successful team. Even the Zenmaster, Phil Jackson, can be rough on his players when necessary.
"You still need structure. You still need some discipline and that's what I will do," Boylan said. "I think I can still maintain organization and accountability and all the things that the Chicago Bulls have stood for in the past. It's just going to come in a different way."
The Bulls already knew what to expect from Boylan, since he was Skiles' lead assistant since the start of the 2004-05 season.
"I think he can do it, being laid back and holding people accountable," said guard Kirk Hinrich. "I think that's key for us. Be relaxed, but at the same time, we have a job to do and when we don't do it, he holds us accountable and we hold ourselves accountable, hopefully."
The Bulls (11-18) did not practice Tuesday. They'll play at Charlotte today, then move into the home-heavy portion of the schedule, with nine of 14 games at the United Center through Jan. 29.
Tonight's tipoff
Bulls vs. Charlotte Bobcats at Charlotte Bobcats Arena, 6 p.m.
TV: Comcast SportsNet
Radio: WMVP 1000-AM
Update: The Bobcats (11-18) snapped a four-game losing streak by rallying from 13 points down in the fourth quarter to beat visiting Indiana 107-103 in overtime Monday. Forward Gerald Wallace led the comeback and scored 36 points. The Bulls are 2-0 against Charlotte this season, winning easily at home on Dec. 1, then rallying for a 91-82 road win on Dec. 5.
Fast fact: First-year coach Sam Vincent has been starting a small lineup, with guards Raymond Felton, Jeff McInnis and Jason Richardson joining Wallace and Emeka Okafor.
Next: Portland Trail Blazers, 7 p.m. Thursday at the United Center
-- Mike McGraw