Chicago Bulls' Luol Deng Playing at All-Star Level This Season

Much has been made about how the NBA schedule is so compact that coaches need to rest players to keep them fresh for late in the season and the playoffs.

Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau is not necessarily going by that logic.

Thibodeau is playing Luol Deng 39.3 minutes per game—second most in the NBA.

The Bulls are 12-2 this season and rank near the top in most defensive categories. Deng is a huge reason for that.

As a result of the high number of minutes played, and the fact that there have been so many games right after another, Deng has seen his offensive numbers decrease.

Deng is shooting 41.1% from the field and is scoring three less points per game than last season. Numbers are not what Deng is about, nor do they reflect the impact he has on the Bulls.

Only Derrick Rose matches the trust Thibodeau has in Deng. You could argue because of Deng’s defensive impact, he is trusted more. No matter how crucial the situation, the Bulls have Deng on the floor.

There have been games this season when the Bulls have won with their defense at the end of the game—Deng has been on the floor.

There have been games this season when the Bulls have won with their offense at the end of the game—Deng has been on the floor.

Deng has done just about everything you could ask from a player this season.

Deng has fully bought into Thibodeau’s style of play and, thus far, it is making him a potential NBA All-Star. He is exactly what Thibodeau wants in every one of his players.

Bulls’ broadcaster Stacey King has a saying about this Bulls team—"Heart, hustle and muscle."

That is precisely what Deng is.

He is not flashy, but he gets the job done. One way or another, he finds ways to impact games and usually does it differently every night.

Deng has had games this season when his scoring has been what has made the Bulls win. Other nights, it has been his rebounding. Whatever area the Bulls need a boost in, Deng is usually the guy to give it to them.

As of late, Deng has been impacting games with his rebounding. With 7.6 rebounds per game, he ranks third on the Bulls after Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah. Over the last four games, Deng has had games of 16 and 15 rebounds.

The Bulls are looking at the big picture. For most teams, they play the regular season to get to the playoffs. The Bulls, however, want to be the best team in the league and have home court advantage.

There are no off-nights for the Bulls. Thibodeau pushes his players every night because he knows it will make them better equipped for reaching their ultimate goal of winning a championship.

No matter how many minutes Deng plays, it does not seem to bother him. He finds a way to make an impact in some other way.

If he keeps up the way he has been playing, there is no reason why he should not make the All-Star team.

Individual awards are not what the Bulls are about, nor do they strive for them. It would, however, be nice recognition for a player who plays great, team basketball and, quite frankly, deserves to make the All-Star team.