Pippen Ain't Easy
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Chicago Bulls: 5 keys to making the playoffs next year

By Luke Askew

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 15: Ivica Zubac #40 of the LA Clippers congratulates Lauri Markkanen #24 of the Chicago Bulls after the game on March 15, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 15: Ivica Zubac #40 of the LA Clippers congratulates Lauri Markkanen #24 of the Chicago Bulls after the game on March 15, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /

4. Coaching improvements

The Bulls’ decision to fire Fred Hoiberg on December 3 and promote Jim Boylen to the head coaching position was one that carried a lot of skepticism in the hearts of fans. Nobody knows for sure whether Hoiberg would’ve been able to turn the team around, but it’s pretty clear he wasn’t given ample opportunity to do so.

Now, with Boylen looking more and more like the long-term top dog (regardless of how this makes fans feel), there’s a lot of (worthy) concern about the direction of this Bulls team.

Boylen is a passionate guy who clearly cares about the organization, players and culture in Chicago. I can respect that. But he struggles mightily in some important aspects of the game. His aggressive defensive tactics are sketchy and unreliable, he has a history of drawing up weird/ineffective plays during timeouts and he doesn’t value the three-ball enough.

It looks like moving on from Boylen is out of the question (for now), so if the Bulls want to take a step forward next season, Boylen needs to improve as a coach.

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