The unmistakable sounds of music emanated from the Bulls' Friday morning shootaround at Advocate Center.

It's not something heard very often, particularly for a franchise that historically has frowned upon such touches. Jimmy Butler used to play loud music sometimes in the pregame locker rooms at the United Center. One Christmas Eve practice, former coach Fred Hoiberg played Christmas songs as players ran up and down the court.

It's also not something one might associate with a 1-4 team that has failed to take advantage of a relatively soft early-season schedule.

"Yeah, I like the music," coach Jim Boylen said. "They’re fighting me on my playlist, which bums me out. They let me use it once in September and I got a bunch of boos. I’m more of a 80’s guy, country guy. That doesn’t go over well with this group. I’m hoping they give me a day soon. I have my phone ready."

Boylen, who was clearly having fun with the line of questioning, said he likes Tom Petty and Eddie Money and that Wendell Carter Jr. has been mostly controlling the DJing, with an occasional assist from video coordinator Chris Kent.

"He can stop and start the speaker.," Boylen said of Kent. "The speaker lights up, it travels, it has a battery so we don’t have to plug it in. We’re first class here, man."

Lauri Markkanen said Thad Young also has had DJ duties and that the music has been blaring during warmups and after some practices.

"I don’t think you will see my phone plugged in," Markkanen cracked. "If I do listen, it’s kind of random songs. I like rap, obviously, Eminem."

Asked how he keeps the team's spirits up during a tough time, Boylen didn't hesitate.

"I just tell them the truth," he said. "These are the things we have to do better. We’re putting good moments together. We gotta try to get more of them for longer amounts of time. That’s what every team is trying to do. I don’t sugarcoat things. I show them the film, what we can do better, how we can improve. I show them the stats.

"Our second-half defense has to be better. Our first-half defense is pretty good. Our first-half offense has to be better. Our second-half offense is a 112 (offensive rating). We gotta put it together. That’s what teams go. We’ll continue to coach them that way. We got a great group of guys who come in and work."

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