Carlos Boozer Thinks His Critics are Misguided

Chicago Bulls fans are not especially fond of Carlos Boozer, who despite a massive contract, has largely underwhelmed in the Windy City. Boozer says that those who criticize him are looking at things from the wrong point of view (read: it’s not his fault), and he knows that only a championship can ever get people off his back. Per the Chicago Sun-Times: “Right up there,’ Boozer said. ‘You put [a championship banner] up there … the biggest thing is wins, that’s what it all comes down to. Honestly. It comes down to wins and losses, everything else is water under the bridge. We win? Man, if we win, we’re going to party for a long time.’ […] Not explosive enough, not defensive enough, not a finisher. Definitely not the player he was in Utah when the Bulls signed him as the consolation prize for missing out on LeBron James three summers ago. In three of his six seasons with the Jazz, Boozer averaged at least 20 points and 10 rebounds. In his first year with the Bulls, his numbers were 17.5 and 9.6, followed by last season’s 15 points and 8.5 ­rebounds. Add in that Boozer will be the 24th highest-paid player in the Association at $15 million, and is owed $15.3 million next season and $16.8 million in the 2014-15, and it’s no wonder that the chant of ‘Boooooooze’ from the hometown fans has far too often turned to boos. ‘People look at it from the wrong perspective,’ Boozer said. ‘This isn’t Utah, and this isn’t just a team with me and [former Jazz point guard] Deron Williams on it. We’re playing with five scorers here, so your touches aren’t going to be the same, your looks aren’t going to be the same. It’s a different system. All the people should worry about is if we win. Criticize me if we lose, but if we win, just praise us.’ […] Boozer reported for training camp in the best shape he has been in since the Bulls signed him, spending a good part of his summer bike riding. His reality is that fans don’t care what kind of shape he’s in or what his goals are. Those rafters stay dusty? He knows where the majority of the finger-pointing will be directed. ‘I haven’t won a championship in the NBA, but winning — winning cures all, man,’ Boozer added. ‘Cures it all.'”