Bulls Show Double Standard With Nocioni

The Bulls are theoretically within reach of the playoffs, but instead of banding together for one last push, the team appears to be coming apart at the seams. Andres Nocioni became just the latest player to clash with the coaching staff, blowing up at interim head coach Jim Boylan in the middle of Saturday's game after being pulled.

On Monday, Nocioni met with the media for the first time since the incident and apologized, saying he was frustrated with his own play and lack of energy more than anything.

He was suspended one game and fined an undisclosed amount, but Boylan seemed to accept Nocioni's apology at face value, even going so far as to kiss the forward on the head. (No, seriously, that happened.)

But wait ... one game? For an in-game incident with a head coach that resulted in being banished to the locker room for the rest of the game? As Big D at Blog-a-Bull points out, didn't Joakim Noah get two games for a practice squabble with an assistant that resulted in, I don't know, a bruised ego for Ron Adams?

Yeah, this is suspect. The only conceivable difference is that Noah is a rookie and Nocioni a veteran, but if anything, that fact makes Nocioni's actions more reprehensible: the guy should've known better. All things considered, I can't help but wonder if Boylan and John Paxson ought to start working on their resumes, and if the Bulls might consider throwing their hat in the Donnie Walsh sweepstakes this summer.