5. Jim Boylen actually runs a more up-tempo offense
When he took over as the interim head coach for the Chicago Bulls last season, Jim Boylen didn’t get much of a welcome reception. Quite the opposite actually. This Bulls fan base was even more up in arms with the front office and ownership since Boylen had players boycotting practices. His practice became a running joke around the NBA since he was making his players do wind sprints and push-ups frequently.
However, with a recent extension and fully tenured head coaching position set with the Bulls heading into the coming season, Boylen needs to find more consistency and success. It is arguable that Boylen wasn’t given a fair shot last season as the interim head coach with a mostly G-League level roster.
There was one point when the Bulls were setting the NBA on fire with a mostly healthy roster throughout the month of February. Boylen will also have a full summer and a revamped rotation through and through to make a legitimate run through a much weaker Eastern Conference and Central Division.
The main point of emphasis for Boylen with the Bulls this season has to be improving the tempo and efficiency on both ends of the floor. The Bulls had the second-lowest offensive rating in the NBA last season, just above the hapless New York Knicks. This team also ranked in the bottom 10 in the NBA in pace and in the bottom four in player impact estimate (per NBA.com advanced stats).