Joakim Noah's Early Season Struggles: Should Bulls Fans Be Worried?

The roller coaster career of Joakim Noah continues.

Noah first came into the league regarded as a winner, as he won national championships at Florida, but also a joker who wasn't serious at times. His unorthodox shot, known as the tornado, certainly didn’t help his reputation among the NBA, but the Bulls took the chance in drafting him.

In his first couple of years, he merely served as a backup to centers such as Ben Wallace and was still developing as a player. He was regarded as an undersized center, but he worked at it.

For the past two years he has developed his game immensely and is regarded as one of the hardest working players in the league.

His hard and tough grind to put it all on the line is what makes him so valuable to the Bulls. He may not have a lot of talent but he has a lot passion and drive to win. These traits are the primary reason the Bulls were hesitant to trade for Dwight Howard last year. The Magic were almost certain to ask for Noah as the center piece of a package for Howard, but the Bulls were reluctant because they valued Noah’s intensity.

Not only was Noah important to the Bulls, but he was a fan favorite. Fans loved to gather around Noah’s fierceness and passion.

However, the way last season ended and the way this season is going, a lot of fans are asking for the Noah era in Chicago to end. People all around the league are screaming to get Noah out and Howard in.

But is it really that simple? 

For all you fans and stat geeks, take a look at Noah’s numbers this year:

PPG: 7.1

BPG: 1.2

RPG: 8.1

MPG: 26.7

FG%: 39.8

These stats might look good for a backup center but for a guy who is paid 12 million a year, this is not acceptable. Noah was not paid for his talent, he was paid to work hard, grab rebounds, do the dirty work and be a lock-down defender.

So far, his points are way down this year as Ronnie Brewer, Kyle Korver and John Lucas III all are averaging more points per game. These are three bench players, and one of whom in Lucas who has just started playing heavy minutes.

Carlos Boozer is averaging more rebounds than Noah so far. That’s all that really needs to be said in that department.

Even more alarming is the amount of minutes this guy is playing.

He is a young guy who can easily play 34-40 minutes per game and has proven to. His ongoing hustle is what made him so valuable. Right now he is averaging fewer minutes than any starter. He is being benched for more than half of the fourth quarter minutes, if not the fourth quarter entirely.

Quite honestly, this means that Tom Thibodeau doesn't trust Noah right now.

Granted, Boozer has also been benched quite a lot in the fourth quarter, but that has been occurring since last year as his defense is atrocious. Besides, Boozer does contribute offensively and is rebounding what he normally does.

Noah is known for his defense, but Thibodeau clearly has more faith in Asik and Gibson to end the game defensively.

The scary thing for Noah is that Thibodeau’s strategy is working.

The Bulls are winning. Not only are they winning, but they are absolutely shutting down teams defensively in the game, resulting in double-digit wins and blowouts.

As long as this team keeps winning without Noah being much of a factor, the Bulls will start to wonder if he is worth being part of this team.

If Gibson or Asik started they would be putting up numbers that are higher than Noah’s. Gibson would definitely average a double double and Asik would be pouring in rebounds and blocked shots. Trading Noah and that high draft pick from Charlotte for a guy like Monte Ellis would definitely cause the Bulls to bite.

Right now the Bulls are winning.

They have the best defense. They have the best record.

They also have a few injured pieces in Hamilton and CJ Watson. Bulls fans should be excited on every level, as they are off to the best start in 15 years.

As long as they keep winning, Noah’s play won’t come into question among the Bulls. But if they start losing to teams such as Miami, Oklahoma City and the Lakers, Bulls fans should start worrying about Noah and see if they can get an All-Star caliber player in return.

There is a simple formula in sports and especially in the NBA.

Win and your fans will be happy.

Lose and they’ll start pointing the finger at specific players and coaches.

If that time comes and Noah keeps playing this poorly and inconsistently, he’ll be getting all the fingers pointed at him.