Jim Boylen by no means completed his sentence.
According to the Bulls coach, Kris Dunn wasn’t going to let him.
“Before I might even get out the phrases, ‘Kris, I’m going to convey you off the bench to start out the season,’ he had already stated, ‘Coach, I’m going to do no matter you want me to do and I’m prepared for what you need me to do.’ Before I might even get it out,’’ Boylen stated on Thursday, when discussing how he introduced his determination on a place to begin guard to the gamers earlier this week. “It was a two-minute dialog.’’
One that the straight-shooting Boylen had no downside having with Dunn.
“I’ve at all times stated he has nice coronary heart for the staff, he’s at all times been very coachable, he accepts criticism, he owns his errors,’’ Boylen continued of Dunn. “His response is all in regards to the staff and what we’re attempting to construct. It’s position definition and it’s position acceptance.’’
And the primary look of that “position acceptance’’ was on full show Thursday evening, because the Bulls (2-3) gained the ultimate costume rehearsal of the preseason, beating Atlanta 111-93 on the United Center.
Credit Dunn for an enormous motive why.
Headlining a second unit that’s targeted on one factor – handcuffing the opponent – Dunn didn’t even want to attain to affect the sport, particularly within the first half.
Not solely was he harassing Hawks guard Trae Young on the defensive facet every time the 2 have been matched up, however helped the Bulls leap to a 51-42 halftime lead with a plus-13 in plus/minus, to go together with his three steals, 4 rebounds and two assists. He completed a plus-27.
The form of numbers that Dunn was greater than glad with in his new position, and never only for himself, however for your complete second group.
While Boylen has opted to start out Tomas Satoransky over Dunn, having Satoransky be part of Zach LaVine, Otto Porter Jr., Lauri Markkanen and Wendell Carter Jr., the second unit was constructed to play the position of stoppers.
“Absolutely,’’ Dunn stated, when requested about protection being the precedence for that unit. “That’s what Coach needs us to do. And we gotta exit and obtain it. We obtained quite a lot of good defensive items and we’ve got to make use of that to our energy.’’
The Hawks discovered that out.
Yes, Atlanta was resting a handful of gamers, however Dunn, together with Thaddeus Young, Coby White – who scored a game-high 29 factors – Luke Kornet and Ryan Arcidiacono did a quantity on whoever was out on the ground all evening lengthy, together with a 20-5 spurt to start out the fourth quarter that each one however put Atlanta (1-4) on ice.
“There are going to be video games the place the starters come out flat and the second unit goes to have to select it up and permit them to come back again in and end the sport,’’ Dunn stated. “Just having depth is an efficient factor as a result of accidents happen. You want backups you may belief.’’
Dunn has earned that belief.
The concept of now not being the start line guard set Dunn off in earlier years. Even when the staff advised him within the exit conferences final April that competitors was going to be introduced in, sources within the group stated the sensation was Dunn instantly “checked out.’’
So why the 180?
According to Dunn, his household and camp had him look within the mirror this summer time, and embrace some good quaint accountability.
“I’m an expert, as all of us are in right here,’’ Dunn stated. “We need to method it in an expert method. I’m with the Bulls. I’m going to play laborious every recreation and every follow, and attempt to assist the staff win.’’