Chicago Bulls: What Do You Expect from Rip Hamilton in Season's Second Half?

Rip Hamilton is supposedly set to return after the All-Star break after sitting out for nearly a month with a lingering groin injury.

The 34 year old has only played in 11 of the Bulls' 35 games this season, surely worrying Chicago fans if he's reliable enough to fill their hole at the two-guard position.

With him on the brink of a return, it's time to consider what to anticipate from the 6'7" guard.

Will he prove to be the missing piece to a championship run?

Or will he continue to battle injuries and look like a tender old man when he does see court time?

In Hamilton's 11 games this season, he's provided what the Bulls have asked. He's averaged 14.5 points per game and has also shown the ability to distribute effectively (3.6 assists per game). Plus, his constant movement on offense drains opposing two-guards.

Most importantly, his ability to create offense takes pressure off Derrick Rose from sparking everything on offense.

Hamilton's simply proven that, when healthy, he's capable of being the two-guard the Bulls desperately craved last season.

But can Chicago rely on him?

The crux of what this boils down to is health, which seems to be a jump ball at this point. At this stage in Hamilton's career, injuries appear to be accumulating more readily and lingering more steadily. This is undoubtedly a concern.

The Bulls have revealed the capacity to scrape by in the regular season with injuries. They've won plenty of games without Hamilton. I mean, they've even gone 7-3 without MVP Derrick Rose in the lineup.

But in the playoffs they are going to need everybody. And in terms of the Bulls' two-guard position, Ronnie Brewer is a versatile weapon, but he's not efficient enough to shoulder a major load throughout the playoffs.

This is why Hamilton's health is pertinent. If Rip finds himself hobbled, it's hard to visualize the Bulls plowing through the whole playoffs and raising the Larry O'Brien trophy.

But assuming Hamilton stays healthy, what is to be expected?

Some fans still search for reasons to doubt, which is always easy to do, but Hamilton's savvy play fits the Bulls perfectly. He's more than capable of being their final piece to the championship puzzle.

For instance, picture the Bulls versus the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals. Imagine Hamilton zapping fuel from Dwyane Wade by continually running him off a slew of screens. Then envision him knocking in timely jumpers late in games when he's open because Rose is commanding so much attention.

These may sound like little things that won't lead to a grand difference, but the little things are the big things in the playoffs.

What's more, it's not like the Bulls were that far from winning a title last season. They aren't in need of a grand difference maker. They don't possess major holes on their roster, but rather a few small cracks, which Hamilton can surely plug.

The Bulls can expect Rip to fill their void and be an instrumental contributor to a championship run.

But the key to all of this is health. If Rip's healthy and active, the Bulls suddenly bolster a vital weapon who they can expect big things from. But if he's absent, the culmination to the Bulls' season could once again end sour.

If Rip's out on the floor, there's every reason to think he's the missing link to hoisting the championship trophy.

Let's just hope we see him out on the floor.