Hoiberg more of a corporate coach

It didn't take long for Joakim Noah to have a miscommunication problem with Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg.

I said last week that maybe the timing was right for a head-coaching change, but I'm already wondering who's really running the team.

Hoiberg commented in an interview that Noah offered to come off the bench instead of starting the game, but Noah spoke out and denied ever making that statement.

Yes, we all know he is a selfless and popular player with his teammates, but he's also a competitor who wants to win.

I'll bet he's wondering who's dealing out the minutes and dictating the starting lineup.

Tom Thibodeau is gone as coach of the Bulls because he wouldn't play ball with general manager Gar Forman, Vice president of basketball operations John Paxson and the Bulls' training staff.

Hoiberg, who was hand-picked by Forman and Paxson, unlike Thibodeau, has the makings of a problem. Thibs seemed to have the players backs, and Hoiberg already has a player issue with the least likely candidate, Noah. It will be resolved for now, but questions about who's dealing the minutes are lurking.

While Thibodeau was a player coach, Hoiberg is coming across early on as a corporate coach, which just might not set well with the team. It all starts at the top, and Jerry Reinsdorf has a lot more than just his finger in the pie and that undoubtedly won't end well.

The Bulls are 3-1, but don't look much different than they did under Thibodeau. The company line is there is more room in the paint under Hoiberg for Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler.

But Rose, when he was healthy, played in the paint plenty, and in his MVP year he just about lived there. I see Rose shooting 3s now, and if I'm the opposition I want him shooting 3s like Lionel Richie sang "All Night Long."

The Bulls' stance this year is to play the young players more because Thibs played the vets too much.

In the Bulls-Cleveland game, Reggie Miller said exactly that. But wasn't Nikola Mirotic rookie of the month last March? I think that's pretty hard to accomplish unless you're playing a decent amount of minutes.

Look, it's very early and all this can go away quickly, but Bulls fans and the players know that Thibs could coach but was too much his own man.

They also know Hoiberg can coach, but we suspect he's more a company man who will abide by the front office's wishes or be shown the door. Stay tuned because this could get interesting. Or maybe it will just go away.

The Bulls just defeated Orlando 92-87 and things are quiet for now. Stay tuned.

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