Chicago Bulls: Head Coach Fred Hoiberg Continuing To Lose Control

While the Chicago Bulls have been a hot mess on the court this season, the organization has had its fair share of issues behind-the-scenes as well–with head coach Fred Hoiberg seemingly being at the center of it all.

2016-17 has not been good to the Chicago Bulls.

Although the summer showed signs of hope towards the upcoming season, the front office finally signing big names like Robin Lopez, Rajon Rondo and Dwyane Wade, it was all in vain.

Because since then, all that has come out of the organization is chaos.

On and off of the court.

With only a few weeks left to play, the Bulls are 32-35, ninth in the Eastern Conference. Given how dysfunctional Chicago has become, that is surprisingly decent. After all, they could still end up making the postseason. They are only half-game behind the No. 8 Milwaukee Bucks.

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But that point comes with a giant asterisk.

And not only because it is dependent on teams like the Bucks, the Detroit Pistons and the Miami Heat, who have all been grinding it out recently.

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This playoff push requires dedication from all parties involved–from the players leaving it all out there on the court, to the coaching staff putting together a virtually fool-proof plan for success, to the front office running the franchise with the utmost professionalism.

None of which seems to be currently possible with this ball club.

The Bulls did recently snap their five-game losing streak with an 115-109 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Monday night. But of course when it comes to Chicago, with the good comes the bad.

Always.

The bad being, it seems, head coach Fred Hoiberg continuing to lose control of his team.

Recently, a scout from a rival team came forward and shared what he saw, in regards to the Bulls blatantly ignoring their coach.

"“When Fred would call plays on the sideline, Rondo would just flat-out blow him off. Wade does it, too. [Jimmy] Butler does it, too. … That becomes infectious.”"

Something that has been obvious for some time now.

For example, this moment when Jimmy Butler blew off Hoiberg’s request for a time out.

And while the guys may not directly call Hoiberg out in interviews like Butler did last year, they are not exactly hiding their frustrations with his coaching, either.

When asked what he is looking for in his career now, Rondo provided this snippet:

"“I’m looking for a straightforward coach. That’s what I’m looking forward to the most, sitting down with a coach. I want to develop a relationship and see what his goals are.”"

Not exactly a glowing review of current conditions.

Wade too insinuated he desired more of Hoiberg, when asked to explain why the team is struggling.

"“…And try to find a way that me and Jimmy can be better to help these guys. We got to go look at the film, sit down with coach … we got to figure out a way for us to be better so we can help everybody else be better.”"

However, it does not even take any of the Three Alphas speaking out, to see how lost Hoiberg is.

Just look at the way he has been running things lately.

Jerian Grant started 19 of Chicago’s last 20 games. But just like that, for reasons unknown, Hoiberg decided to change up the point guard’s role, first limiting him to nine minutes of play on Sunday and then benching him entirely with a DNP-Coach’s Decision on Monday night.

Instead, in came Rondo, with Cameron Payne as his backup.

"“It’s super tough, said Grant. “You’re labeled as a starter, but when you’re only playing 10 to 12 minutes a game, that’s not really how it is. The Orlando game, I had a pretty good game. The very next game, you come out within 2 minutes and it’s definitely tough to get into a rhythm and give yourself confidence when you’re getting pulled like that.”"

Rondo himself dealt with being benched without reasonable explanation.

"“I got a slight explanation from another guy on the staff,” Rondo said. “A guy told me that he was saving me from myself… “I thought it was bulls—. Save me from myself?’ I never heard that before in my life. But I guess he was trying to do the best thing for me.”"

As did Michael Carter-Williams.

"“I just have to stay positive and stay together with the team,” Carter-Williams said. “I read what (Hoiberg) said and he said I’ve been doing the right things with playing hard and getting in extra work. I have to continue (that). Believe me, I get pretty pissed off as anybody would. But it’s only because I want to play and that’s just the competitive side of me.”"

Then there was Nikola Mirotic continuously coming in and out of the rotation sporadically.

Yes, there are glaring issues within the Bulls front office. And the roster itself certainly needs to be looked at. But Hoiberg’s lack of direction and inability to control his team is also severely hurting the organization.

From trying to force his preferred college offense upon Chicago, to his indecisiveness regarding lineups, to not having yet earned the respect of his guys … the second-year coach has a lot of work to do moving forward.

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That is, if he continues to have a home at the United Center.