'Berg Bags Boylen

Fred Hoiberg needs experience on his bench as he steps in as an NBA head coach.  Fortunately, he seems to be aware of this.  Accordingly, he got San Antonio Spurs assistant Jim Boylen to leave Gregg Popovich's staff and become his associate head coach.  Despite Popovich's wish to keep Boylen, the opportunity with the Bulls provides an increase on the totem pole and financially.

The first thing you need to know is this guy is not to be confused with Jim Boylan, who served as the Bulls' head coach for the rest of the 2007-08 season after Scott Skiles was fired.  Bringing that man back would be seen as a move in the wrong direction.  This assistant has also been with Frank Vogel's Indiana Pacers staff and the head coach at the University of Utah.  So these are new ideas being brought in rather than another move that would be perceived as a product of Jerry Reinsdorf's loyalty.

Boylan, also an assistant for Canada's Pan Am and FIBA Americas teams, is being brought in for his defensive mind.  He's developed a reputation for it throughout his coaching career.  It would certainly help make up for whatever Hoiberg lacks in that area.  Whether he will be as effective as Tom Thibodeau defensively remains to be seen, but it's nice to see Hoiberg get someone he thinks will help round out his game plan.

As for the assistants who were already here, their fates vary.  Mike Wilhelm is expected to be retained as the fourth assistant, Adrian Griffin might be heading to Skiles' staff in Orlando and Ed Pinckney's status is up in the air.  Such is the life of coaches who lost their leader.

Change is more present in the organization than it has been in any of the last few years.  Even if it's in just one area, it's one that can alter the style of play, which is where the success has to come from at the end of the day.  We'll see more change from other hires and new players who will be drafted and acquired throughout the offseason.  As these all develop, only then will we able to properly assess the right direction.

Of course, this hire pales greatly in the local news to what the Bulls' co-tenants at the United Center might be about to accomplish.  The Blackhawks are just one win from catching up to the Bulls in the number of championships.  It sure would be nice to see both teams have an equal number of relevant banners looking at each other starting next fall.  Such a thing would give visitors more to behold in an already impressive atmosphere.