NBA Rumors: Chicago Bulls' Jimmy Butler Blames Coach Fred Hoiberg for Derrick Rose, Pau Gasol Fails

By Mitch de Leon
Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls  REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

The Chicago Bulls have been recognized as one of the strongest teams in the NBA today. Ranked second in the Eastern Conference at the moment, the Derrick Rose squad has been performing well. However, fans of the Chicago Bulls remain unimpressed with Jimmy Butler and his crew. The lack of energy and enthusiasm during games prompted the team's members to step back and review their playing style. This move could be described as necessary considering that they intend to go head to head against LeBron James' Cleveland Cavaliers.

One of the reasons attributed to the lackluster energy of the Chicago Bulls is the change in the head coach. Fred Hoiberg took over Tom Thibodeau's post this NBA season. While the defense of the Joakim Noah squad clearly showed a more promising performance, the other factors appear to have been neglected. According to Butler, their new head coach might need a firmer hold of the NBA team if they intend to snag wins this basketball season.

"I believe in the guys in this locker room, yeah, but I also believe that we probably have to be coached a lot harder at times," shared Butler via CSN Chicago.

The Chicago Bulls star went on to state, "I know Fred [Hoiberg] is a laidback guy and I respect him for that, but when guys aren't doing what they're supposed to do, you gotta get on guys, myself included. You gotta do what you're supposed to do when you're out there playing basketball. We weren't doing what were supposed to be doing, what we wrote on that board before the game. Nobody spoke up. I did, but probably not enough times. I think he has to hold everybody accountable, from the No. 1 player, all the way down. Everyone has to do their job."

Other members of the Chicago Bulls roster also expressed the same discontent not only in the coaching strategy but also in the lack of enthusiasm from the players to win games. Joakim Noah, who has been benched at some point this season, expressed his disappointment over the NBA team's performance.

"I don't want to paint this gloomy picture," Noah said via ESPN. He added, "We have issues. But it's early. There is a lot of skill here. Even with all our issues, we are second [now sixth] in the East. We are still trying to figure out who we are. I mean, what is the identity of this team?"

The French man went on to state, "It's hard to say. Our identity has always been: You come to Chicago, you're in for a war. It's not like that right now. I don't care what the numbers say. Just watch the games. There are 25,000 people in the building, and it's dead quiet. It has never been like that. It's tough to see the building that way. And it's on us. You bring the fire, and they will love you here. But if you're coasting, playing this low-energy game -- I'm not sure we can win like that."

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