Chicago Bulls: Can Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah Coexist?

Last night as the Chicago Bulls pulled off a fantastic comeback against the Atlanta Hawks, they did so with their first-team bigs, Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer, watching while their second-team bigs, Omer Asik and Taj Gibson, led the team defensively.

It has some people wondering whether Boozer and Noah are able to coexist.

Exacerbating this problem is that the Bulls' starting center and power forward combine for $25 million in salary—about 43 percent of the cap. 

There are some big problems with this line of thinking. First and foremost, the tandem of Boozer and Noah has actually been more productive than the tandem of Asik and GIbson on a per-36-minute basis, in spite of last night. 

Gibson and Asik combine for 16.8 points per 36 minutes, 19.2 rebounds and are plus-3.8 on the season. On the other hand, Noah and Boozer combine for 27.3 points, 20.2 rebounds and are a plus-9.2.

In spite of last night's game, the Boozer/Noah tandem is in fact more productive and has a better net value than the Asik/Gibson tandem. 

Having said that, it's more about Noah than Boozer. It's becoming increasingly clear that the Bulls are a better team with Boozer on the bench than on the court. 

Last year while Boozer was on the court, the Bulls were a plus-7.0. With Boozer on the bench, they were a plus-7.5. While Boozer has been on the court this year, they are a plus-7.6  While he's on the bench, they are a plus-13.6. 

To some degree, though, it has to be considered that Boozer's effect is felt in a positive way. He's the only Bull who consistently scores in the paint. Last year, the Bulls were a better shooting team while Boozer was on the court, and they shot better from literally every area on the court.

Having Boozer's ability to score at the rim was valuable. Last year, 40 percent of his points were close, and 53 percent of his points came on jump shots. This year, 35 percent of his points are close and 63 percent are jump shots. 

The problem isn't who is playing, it's more about how Boozer is playing.

He's playing like a cow, not a bull. He needs to man up and start getting to the rim. When he does that, he spreads the court and makes everything easier for the rest of the team.

The problem with Taj Gibson is he doesn't really have any post-up game, either. The difference between Boozer and Gibson is that Boozer has one—he's just not using it. 

The pick-and-roll has shown glimpses of promise this year. Rose has certainly improved his passing into the post. Now Boozer needs to start finishing.

While it's premature to sit him, and Gibson really doesn't give the Bulls any reason to, it is time for Boozer to start earning that paycheck.