Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Tank-you Very Much


I’m not sure if they still do, but the Bulls used to pass out coupons for free Big Macs every time the team scored 100 or points at a home game.  On Tuesday night at the United Center, they needed three quarters just to reach 54 points in their game against the Celtics.  Our lads in red had all of 29 points at halftime.

This is what happens when you tank.  Only it’s become so obvious that NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has let the Bulls’ front office know he’s unhappy with their decision to sit healthy—to say nothing of talented—veterans Robin Lopez and Justin Holiday in order to “evaluate” young players.   Funny how “evaluation” turns into losing and better draft position.  Pro sports is all about appearances; if players don’t look to be making much of an effort, people may start to question the cost of a ticket.  If only for the sake of appearance, the Bulls’ front office now says it will start playing Lopez and Holiday.

Bless him, Bulls’ beat writer K.C. Johnson of the Tribune isn’t afraid to question the propriety of tanking.  Recently, he wondered what lots of losing will do to young players, and today he noted “the inherent contradiction” between coach Fred Hoiberg demanding his Bulls play hard especially when behind in a game and the front office pulling the plug on the 2017-2018 season. 

The next question Johnson may want to ask is what all this losing will do the coach.   

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