John Paxson knows there’s blame to go around.
Plenty of it.
Both the Advocate Center and United Center are filled with blame when it comes to the Bulls and their disappointing 9-18 start.
The empty seats during recent home games, the growing disdain expressed by the fan base for the franchise, all of it speaks volumes to the team’s vice president of basketball operations.
But Paxson made it clear Saturday where the finger-pointing should start and end with the mud this organization is trying to swim through.
“I take responsibility for where we’re at,’’ Paxson said. “I always will.’’
Fine, Paxson has taken ownership before, but if a frustrated fan base also was thinking heads were about to roll, think again.
Speaking individually to a handful of media outlets before the game against the Clippers, Paxson again backed the job Jim Boylen is doing and reiterated that Boylen isn’t on the hot seat in his first full season.
“First of all, our fan base has been terrific, and I’m really sensitive to that [frustration they have],’’ Paxson said. “I want our fans to care about us, I want them to see a product out there that they can root for. I get it. I own that. I own that we’re not at that level. I am in lockstep with Jim and his commitment to where we want to get to. That’s not wavering at all.’’
When asked if Boylen was in trouble, Paxson responded, “No, no.‘’
No Christmas Day surprises about a coach getting fired?
“No. Look, there is no quick fix to right where we’re at,’’ Paxson said. “I’ll say this again, I thought — and we all did — we would have a better record than we do right now. I do believe we have talent. It’s young and not a lot of experience, but I do believe we have talent. So we’ve underperformed in that area, but there’s no quick fix in this right now. That’s the view I have to take.’’
Paxson also said he isn’t going to dwell on his own job security.
“I never worry about that,’’ Paxson said. “I communicate with Jerry and Michael [Reinsdorf], and they know where my head is at, my heart is at and what I’m trying to do. Look, that’s a ‘what if’, and I’m not working on a ‘what-if.’ ’’
Instead, Paxson said he’s working on “what is.” He said the problem can’t necessarily be described in one sentence, but it can be summed up.
“I know I personally was confident we would be playing at a better level and have more wins, which is what you’re looking for,’’ Paxson said. “With that said, the areas that we have really struggled that have hurt us is we haven’t shot the ball well. That was something I know I didn’t anticipate, that we would shoot as poorly as we’ve shot. And we haven’t rebounded the ball very well, and that could be attributed to a lot of things.
“I watch a lot of practices, I sit in for a lot of meetings with Jim and his staff, I sit in film sessions with the team, and I see a lot of good things being taught and emphasized to our team. What isn’t happening is a consistent carryover to the games. That’s probably been the thing that’s frustrated me the most.’’
That’s why Paxson thinks that the organization needs to stay away from a knee-jerk reaction and have faith that the players will turn this around.
“What’s fair to say is, if we stay consistent in how we’re working, Jim and the staff, and the players are working to get better, then I think it has to get better,’’ Paxson said. “If it doesn’t, then that allows me an opportunity to weigh a lot of different things.’’
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December 15, 2019 at 06:30AM
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Bulls exec John Paxson wants better from team, but jobs are safe despite struggles - Chicago Sun-Times
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