Boylen, Bulls 'the better for it' after team meeting

Chicago Bulls head coach Jim Boylen and his players appear to be moving on after a team meeting replaced Sunday's scheduled practice following back-to-back games.

"I think we came out the better for it," said Robin Lopez, according to ESPN's Malika Andrews. "I think we're more understanding."

Boylen was upset after a franchise-record 56-point loss to the Boston Celtics this past Saturday and originally planned a hard practice before settling on a team meeting instead, according to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune.

"Jim did a great job in the meeting. He did a great job understanding and trying to hear what we had to say," said Justin Holiday, according to Johnson. "That's how a good leader acts in that situation and how a team becomes the best it can be - being transparent to one another, trying to be understanding."

It was previously reported the entire team didn't want to practice but Boylen shot down that notion Monday.

"That is not true," Boylen told Andrews. "The truth is we had a couple guys that thought a Sunday practice was excessive after the week we had. And they have to trust me that if I bring them in here to practice, I'm going to manage their legs, and manage what we're going to do."

Boylen's tactics have been questioned and some of his players reportedly contacted the National Basketball Players Association because of them. But it appears ownership and the front office continue to back him.

"They believe in the way that I think this should be done," Boylen said, according to Johnson. "There's no differing philosophy on what we think is important. It's very freeing to know I can coach this team with passion and emotion and directness."