NBA Thanksgiving 2019: What each team has to be thankful for

Chicago Bulls

Jim Boylen’s lack of trust in Zach LaVine

Against the Miami Heat last Friday, head coach Jim Boylen yanked Zach LaVine less than four minutes into the game for “three egregious errors” on defense. LaVine’s defense has been a major problem for the Chicago Bulls, as has his dip in scoring in what was supposed to be a potential All-Star year.

Luckily, the lack of trust LaVine felt from his head coach translated to his best game of the season, a 49-point detonation on an incredible 13-of-17 shooting from long distance, including the game-winning 3. Boylen defenders will say it was the head coach’s tactics that inspired him. The skeptics will say LaVine’s performance was more of a middle finger to the whole thing.

Either way, LaVine and the Bulls have disappointed thus far, and it’s Boylen’s old school coaching style that will eventually force a breaking point (especially since in his next game, LaVine tallied 18 points in a blowout loss to the Portland Trail Blazers). These two continuing to clash might wind up being the best thing for Chicago if it leads to a coaching change down the road.