NBA Playoffs 2012: Why Carlos Boozer Will Earn His Contract This Postseason

With Derrick Rose injured, Boozer is now the key to the Bulls’ title hopes. 

Boozer is the team’s best offensive player. He will need to step up and lead the offense at this critical point in the playoffs, be aggressive in the post and raise his defensive game to earn his contract this postseason.

Boozer Will Step Up and Shoulder the Offensive Load with Derrick Rose Out

Rose is gone now.  It’s a hard pill for every Chicago fan to swallow, but that does not make it less true.  And it’s on Boozer and fellow Bulls star Luol Deng to step up and shoulder the offensive load.

Whether Boozer will do that is up for debate, but the Bulls will certainly give him the opportunity. 

With a dearth of play-making, Coach Tom Thibodeau will run more play sets for Boozer. During the season, Boozer averaged 15 points and eight rebounds, mostly off a mix of mid-range shots, pick and roll and garbage points. 

With Rose out, there will be less pick and roll, but the Bulls will run a lot of post offense directly through Boozer.  If he can be more assertive offensively, Chicago will have a chance.

Boozer Will Become More of a Post Force

Tom Thibodeau may prefer his defensive lineups, but it will be tough to win that way without Rose’s instant offense. 

Instead, the Bulls will have to emphasize their offensive lineups.  They will have to feature Boozer because he is the team’s only front-line player capable of generating consistent post offense.

Of course, capable and reliable are two different things. 

Boozer relied more on his pick and roll and mid-range games this season, only reluctantly out-muscling opponents in the post from time to time.  To earn his contract, Boozer will need to shed that approach and embrace being a strong post player.

Boozer Will Improve His Team Defense to Help the Bulls’ Title Chances

Boozer is essential for the team’s offense with Rose injured.  He needs to stay on the floor, which means improving his lackluster defense. 

Boozer is so bad on defense compared to front-court mates Taj Gibson and Joakim Noah that he often loses playing time. 

But now the Bulls will look to Boozer for post offense and they will need him to raise his game on defense to stay on the floor.