The honeymoon period is over in Chicago. According to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune Bulls coach Scott Skiles is intent on changing the attitudes of the players, especially the younger ones who have become comfortable with the notion of losing.

In a one-hour team meeting Thursday, Skiles firmly challenged his team to reject the losing culture that has permeated the franchise.

Act like professionals, Skiles said.

Then practice started and Skiles broadened his challenge from his players' heads and hearts to a test of their legs.

Upset that Eddy Curry hadn't taped his ankles for practice, Skiles made the entire team run laps as Curry slinked off to the trainer's table.

"Imagine being a 14-year veteran and then some young kid doesn't have his tape on so we have to pay the penalty," veteran guard Kendall Gill said. "We didn't appreciate that. We have a lot of miles on our bodies and we've run our laps in this league. We don't need to run extra.

"For a young player to make a rookie mistake like that, you can't do that. It's about accountability and responsibility."

Skiles message is clear; one players actions affects the whole team.  Johnson writes that according to those present Skiles was calm in making his point, rarely raising his voice.  And it appears the players are listening.

We definitely saw where these guys get these rumors about him from," Curry said. "We got a little taste of it today. It was nowhere near what Corie Blount was used to back in Phoenix, but it was definitely a lot more intense today.

"It was crazy. Everything got raised today. It's a new year. He really stressed that he wants us to come out with a different attitude. He has a different attitude. It's still competitive and fun, but we have to buckle down.

"It was more honest than anything. A lot of stuff was said that probably should've been said before, but guys didn't want to step on each other's toes. But it all came out in the meeting, and I think it will be beneficial to the team."

"Nobody is going to keep coming to the United Center to see a losing basketball team," added Gill. "At some point, this has to stop. Those young guys are top picks. It's time for them to start producing and showing that they're worth the picks the Bulls invested in them.

"It's time for the younger players to put in the extra work to raise their games, to really learn the NBA game so we can stop losing these close games because of stupid mistakes."