Bulls news: Jim Boylen defends late-game timeouts annoying Zach LaVine

Bulls head coach Jim Boylen has a tendency to call timeouts late in games to make subs or small adjustments, even if his team is trailing by double digits.

Chicago Bulls head coach Jim Boylen has a tendency to call timeouts late in games to make subs or small adjustments, even if his team is trailing by double digits.

This is a strategy that has frustrated fans (specifically Toronto Raptors fans) and players alike, most notably Bulls guard Zach LaVine.

Boylen called another timeout on Saturday against the Phoenix Suns with under a minute to go in the game and the Arizona team well ahead.

However, Boylen defended the late-game timeout on Sunday, telling K.C. Johnson NBC Sports Chicago that he “called timeout to coach my team.” The 54-year-old bench boss, nonetheless, did add he could see where outsiders feel the timeouts are “unnecessary.”

Boylen: "You could video me on a 2-on-1 when we turn it over and I make an expression. We were down 10. I called a timeout to coach my team. We were down 8 with 40 seconds to go in Charlotte and won. So it does happen. But I can see where people would think it's unnecessary."

— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) February 23, 2020

Yet, LaVine himself even feels the timeouts are unnecessary. He appeared to mouth an obscenity after coming out of the timeout on Saturday.

https://twitter.com/_MarcusD3_/status/1231429552456552448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1231429552456552448&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fclutchpoints.com%2Fbulls-video-zach-lavine-seemingly-expresses-disgust-with-jim-boylen-calling-another-late-timeout-loss%2F

Boylen met with LaVine individually after the game, but the Bulls star does not seem very convinced with whatever Boylen had to say (via Jamal Collier of the Chicago Tribune):

“That’s what he do,” LaVine said. “That’s what he do. I don’t know what else to tell you. I’m not the coach. He told me he likes working on things that we do in practice and things like that. He’s the head coach; he can call a timeout if he wants to.”

Zach LaVine has been the standout player for a Bulls team that has failed to live up to expectations this year. However, his frustrations with Jim Boylen throughout the season are indicative of frustration from Chicago fans at the current state of the franchise.

Chicago have lost eight straight, and they are still without the likes of Wendell Carter Jr., Lauri Markkanen and Otto Porter Jr. Subtle annoyances like late-game timeouts have only added to the drama in the Windy City.