Boylen keeps pushing for Bulls to show defensive improvement
The Bulls' bench was active during several first-half defensive possessions Friday against Orlando.
Head coach Jim Boylen is always loud on the sideline and usually in a defensive stance, so nothing different there. Assistant Pete Myers was also on his feet, shouting instructions toward the far end of the court. Assistant Nate Loenser stood up a few times to relay advice.
The scene was a good illustration of the emphasis Boylen has placed on defense. Friday's game was also the most successful so far as the Magic scored just 80 points. There have only been three smaller scoring totals in the NBA this season.
"That just shows how serious they are about their jobs and wanting to win the game, which is good for us," Justin Holiday said after Saturday's practice at the Advocate Center.
The defensive effort against Orlando seemed to be another example of something the Bulls have shown since preseason. When they're focused and active on defense, they can be pretty good, no matter which lineup is on the floor. When unfocused, they can be horrendous.
"You're a bad defensive team if you literally decide not to do it or don't give everything you can to do it," Holiday said. "When you give the effort, lock in and go with what the coaches want to do, usually good things happen defensively.
"How many NBA teams have bad defensive schemes? Not many. If you give the effort, take the responsibility to do your job, usually you can improve at the defensive end."
Since taking over as head coach on Dec. 3, Boylen has asked for better defensive effort and the Bulls have held opponents below 100 points in five of nine games.
The offense has been pretty bad, worst in the NBA since the Bulls changed coaches. But Boylen clearly made defensive improvement his highest priority.
"We're not totally built yet," Boylen said. "But you're seeing signs of a team that is starting to commit to the defensive end of the floor first. Hopefully we can rebound better."
Defensive rating measures the numbers of points scored by the opposing team per 100 possessions while a player is on the floor. The Bulls' leaders in that category are three reserves - Chandler Hutchison, Robin Lopez and Shaq Harrison.
That stat can be misleading since those three players are usually on the court with the other team's reserves, who aren't as prolific scorers as the starters, in theory. But Boylen has shown plenty of trust in Harrison, who has quickly earned a reputation as an aggressive defender.
"I've been doing it my whole life, because I feel like I always had to prove that I belong," said Harrison, who went undrafted out of Tulsa in 2016. "Every level I played at, defense always translates. So that's the best way onto the court."
Harrison leads the NBA in steals per minute played. Russell Westbrook is second. If he had better scoring skills, Harrison would have been a full-time NBA player from the beginning. The Bulls picked him up after he was released by Phoenix just before the regular season began.
"When Jim took over, that (defense) is the first thing he emphasized, so we're just a mirror image of him out there, what he wants for us to do out there," Harrison said. "It's definitely a different team defensively."
As a mirror image of Boylen, at least the Bulls will be in a defensive stance at all times, right? Holiday was asked his opinion of Boylen's sideline pose.
"It's normal. It's what he does," Holiday said. "It might have been funny at one point, but not anymore."
Twitter: @McGrawDHBulls
Bulls game day
Bulls vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, 5 p.m. at Quicken Loans Arena
TV: NBCSCH; Radio: WSCR 670-AM
Outlook: The Bulls and Cavaliers are tied for the NBA's worst record at 8-25. ... The Bulls beat Cleveland 99-98 at the UC on Nov. 10 when Jabari Parker blocked Collin Sexton's shot at the buzzer. ... PF Kevin Love (toe surgery) and C Tristan Thompson (foot sprain) are both sidelined, and SG J.R. Smith is not playing, which leaves SG Jordan Clarkson (16.9 ppg) and rookie PG Collin Sexton (15.1) as the top scorers. ... Since the first meeting, the Cavs have added SG Alec Burks from Utah and brought back PG Matthew Dellavedova from Milwaukee. ... Ex-Bulls SF David Nwaba has started the last three games for Cleveland.
Next: Minnesota Timberwolves, 7 p.m. Wednesday at the United Center
- Mike McGraw