Windy City Bulls’ close proximity beneficial to Bulls, Hoiberg

There have instances early on in Nate Loenser’s Windy City Bulls coaching career when his management skills have been tested in ways that has little to do with his strategic game plan.

Instead, Loenser’s ability to the handle the expectation level his players is tested when Windy City’s NBA parent club sends talent his way.

Bulls guard Doug McDermott spent two days practicing with Windy City this week after forward Cristiano Felicio and guards Jerian Grant and R.J. Hunter each logged heavy minutes for Windy City last week in a win over the Delaware 87ers.

Having an NBA Development League in such close proximity has provided the Bulls with a better option than in the past when injured players like former forward Mike Dunleavy were sent to Santa Cruz, Calif., while others were dispatched to Canton, Ohio, and Austin, Texas.

Now, the commute to suburban Hoffman Estates makes life much easier for Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg.

“It gives us the option at any time to send one of our guys back to try and get their timing back,” Hoiberg said. “So having that team in our backyard has been a real luxury.”

Yet, therein lies the challenge for Loenser, who learns NBA players are coming his way anywhere from a few days to a matter of hours before they arrive.

Although Loenser maintains a solid relationship with Hoiberg and the Bulls front office, having NBA talent sent to him for small stretches requires some adjustment. A new face in practice is one thing, but when Bulls players are sent in game action, it means Windy City players sacrifice their normal game minutes.

That’s when Loenser has to manage personalities as much as anything.

“Guys understand that they’re important and that there’s not anything necessarily that they’ve done wrong,” Loenser said. “There might be a different dynamic with playing time one night in a game or a role might be a little different.

“I’ll be honest – this is a little different for me, but I’ve tried to take a positive approach to it and I think that’s rubbed off a little bit on our guys.”

The victory over the 87ers came in the midst of a three-game winning streak for Windy City (5-4), which hosts the Canton Charge Friday at the Sears Centre. Grant, Felicio and Hunter combined for 73 of Windy City’s 121 points in their only game with Windy City before returning to their normal NBA routine.

Hoiberg said this week that injured forward Michael Carter-Williams could among the the next Bulls players to spend time with Windy City.

Loenser, whose team practiced recently at the Advocate Center, attempts to keep things as normal as possible regardless of who is part of his roster. But he said having NBA talent around can serve as a motivational factor for players who are attempting to reach the next level after spending time in the D-League.

“When you’ve got good guys on your team and you’re getting good guys getting sent to you, at the end of the day, everybody is just trying to get better as a basketball player,” Loenser said. “When everybody has that common goal, then things work out.”

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