Chicago Bulls' Woes More Deep-Rooted Than Current Roster or Head Coach

It seems like an eternity ago when the Chicago Bulls' biggest problems seemed to be the team wasn't jelling offensive in a new system and Derrick Rose wasn't shooting a decent percentage. I mean, in reality it's only been a matter of weeks, but things have changed drastically for the Bulls in a short period of time, and not for the better. It leads many (including this writer) to believe that, unfortunately, the team's woes may be more deep-rooted than just the roster or head coach; it starts all the way at the top with the front office on the list of who's to blame.

The Bulls' dysfunction with Tom Thibodeau, lack of big free-agent signings and lack of necessary moves to win it all starts and ends with two men: John Paxson and Gar Forman.

And at this point, it's all falling apart.

Since switching head coaches from Thibs to Fred Hoiberg, this team has not played with any type of consistency. The defensive prowess and effort that once was there game in and game out, no matter who was injured, is long gone. There's no identity to hang their hats on, and it's showing. When the offense was struggling earlier this year, the defense picked up the team for a while. Now that the offense has better and more consistent numbers, the defense has completely disappeared as the Bulls have given up 105 points or more in six of the last seven contests.

Obviously, losing Joakim Noah and Jimmy Butler to injury will do that, as they're the best wing and post defenders on the team, but the inconsistency of this roster has been persisting all season long.

But how can we blame Hoiberg for all of that? It's his first NBA head coaching experience. Maybe he's not cut out for the job, but he also hasn't been given much help. Not to mention, who made the coaching decision?

Yes, Thibs was starting to become much maligned over the past couple of seasons. A lack of minute regulations and offensive success drove fans mad. But the team was winning, was it not?

The players actually wanted Thibodeau to stay for a long time, even as recently as last May. Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah defended their long-time coach. And the only time the team mentally seemed to check out during his entire tenure was during their Game 6 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the playoffs last year. How much of that had to do with Thibs or simply how the game was going, we really may never know?