Bulls general manager Jerry Krause openly talks about his desire to protect players.
While the trait often is admirable, it can carry negative and embarrassing effects.
Such was the case on this brief two-game East Coast trip, which ended Friday night with yet another road loss, 90-72 to New Jersey.
Thursday’s debacle, in which Tyson Chandler and Jalen Rose arrived late for practice, coach Bill Cartwright said they would be fined and then Rose contradicted him by saying his tardiness was excused, never would have happened if not for Krause’s desire not to air dirty laundry.
Instead, the Bulls were left looking as confused as they often appear on the court.
Here is what happened: Krause told two reporters who saw Chandler and Rose arrive late that it was team business and would be handled internally.
Cartwright, meanwhile, barely could contain his disappointment with the players and said Chandler and Rose would be fined.
In the meantime, Krause cornered Rose. Properly instructed, Rose met with reporters and spouted the company line that “all [his] bases are covered.”
But Krause didn’t get a chance to discuss the matter with Cartwright before Cartwright spoke, creating the confusion. Simply put, Krause didn’t have an opportunity to tell Cartwright to spout the company line.
Krause addressed the fallout on Friday.
“None of this happens if [Cartwright] doesn’t talk to you [reporters] before we had a chance to talk,” Krause said. “Players arriving late happens to every team in the league. It’s common.
“It has been made out that we’re bad people. I’m just trying to protect my players. That’s my job. Players have to know that I’ll stick up for them.”
Rose said at Friday’s morning shootaround that he didn’t expect any repercussions for arriving late Thursday.
“Everything is cool,” Rose said. “I told you my bases are covered.”
One account said Rose slept on the bus from Philadelphia to New York on Wednesday night, missing the announcement of the time the bus would leave the hotel for Thursday morning’s practice. Why no teammate told him is a logical follow-up question with no answer.
Cartwright backtracked Friday, saying Rose’s tardiness was excused.
“It’s fine,” he said.
But whether organizational discipline is forthcoming hasn’t been decided. Krause returned to Chicago late Thursday to attend a religious ceremony for his newborn grandson.
“We haven’t determined anything yet because we had six player meetings yesterday and then I jumped on an airplane,” Krause said. “Bill and I will discuss it, and we’ll take our time. After we discuss it, we won’t release it [publicly].”
Asked if he would consider Cartwright’s obvious desire to fine the two players, Krause answered affirmatively. And there is precedent for Krause backing coaches: Last season Tim Floyd persuaded Krause to fine Charles Oakley $50,000 for insubordination.
“Bill and I will sit down and figure this out,” Krause said.
Beyond the miscommunication lies the question of the effect Rose’s and Chandler’s actions will have on such a young team.
Chandler, who owned up to oversleeping Thursday, missed one practice entirely and came late to another in a four-day stretch. Team sources said Rose, a co-captain, has been late on more than one occasion to team functions this season.
Tardiness is not uncommon in the NBA, and Rose has missed neither a game nor a practice since being acquired from Indiana last February.
Rose also plays hurt, running on an inflamed bursa sac in his left ankle. He played in his 207th consecutive game Friday.
Questions about Rose’s leadership have followed him throughout his career, and Thursday’s incident did nothing to quiet them. “I just want to win, man,” Rose said. “When people ask me how I’m doing, I’ll say nothing that a few victories can’t cure.
“That’s how I’m feeling. It’s not about anything else.”
