NEW TEAM AND NEW SEASON
Gibson, Gib Butler B tl confident fififid t dysfunction d f ti of 2015- 16 really a thing of the past
Veterans Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson are tired of talking about the Bulls’ dysfunction of last season. They really are.
But it’s hard for them to escape it, especially because the positive chemistry the team has built in the last month has shown them just how bad things were last season.
‘‘ Everybody has a role,’’ Gibson said. ‘‘ Everybody knows some things are still going to happen, and we can motivate each other. No one is taking it personal. We’re having a lot of talking sessions and a lot of get- togethers. We’re really in sync.’’
The Bulls definitely were in sync in their season opener Thursday, beating the Boston Celtics 105- 99 at the United Center. They outrebounded them 55- 36 and outshot them from threepoint range, going 11- for- 25 ( 44 percent) to the Celtics’ 8- for- 23 ( 34.8 percent).
According toGibson, what is being seen on the court stems from what has taken place off the court. Whether it’s the additions of veterans Rajon Rondo and Dwyane Wade or Butler better understanding the responsibility that comes with leadership, Gibson isn’t about to overthink it. It’sworking, and that’s good enough for him.
‘‘ Having team functions, having guys come over, that stuff is so important because you’ve got to be able to talk to each other,’’ Gibson said. ‘‘ You’ve got to be able to know that I can curse you out and you’re not going to take it the wrong way. That’s one thing we’ve been laying out. Rondo knows how to come at people a certain way . . . and it’s been working out good so far.’’
The person who might benefit most is coach Fred Hoiberg.
Hoiberg couldn’t believe the amount of babysitting he felt compelled to do last season, especially because the NBA experience that influenced him most was his time with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Kevin Garnett not only was the star of that team, but he was the judge, jury and executioner. There were no cliques, and there was no dissension.
So when Hoiberg took over a roster that featured veterans such as Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and Pau Gasol, he figured that the locker room would govern itself and that he could focus on X’s and O’s.
What the Bulls’ front of-
fice didn’t anticipate, though, was that the true leader throughout most of Rose’s time with the team was former coach Tom Thibodeau, not one of the players.
But with Butler a year older and respecting the work ethic of teammates such as Rondo and Wade, things seem to be running more smoothly.
‘‘ To tell you the truth, I think it all comes down to having fun,’’ Butler said. ‘‘ I think everybody wants everybody to be successful. When that’s happening, you all come together through the good, through the bad, always going to have each other’s backs.
‘‘ Wemay get on one another, but that’s what we need. Because when it comes to the game, everybody knows where everyone is supposed to be and what everyone is supposed to do.’’
NOTES: The Bulls announced they exercised their fourth- year option on forward Doug McDermott and their third- year options on guard Jerian Grant and forward Bobby Portis. That means all three players will be under contract with the team for the 2017- 18 season.
The NBA fined Bulls guard Dwyane Wade $ 25,000 for making a throatslashing gesture after making a late three- pointer Thursday against the Celtics.