3 Players That Chicago Bulls Need to Step Up Next Season
The Chicago Bulls have acquired some new talent for their roster, and while it may take some time for the most recent additions to find their individual grooves, there are some established players who need to be impactful from the opening tip.
Head coach Tom Thibodeau has a team that is very balanced offensively and should be more potent with his defensive scheme. At least, that is the look on paper. The names on the roll will not mean much if their performances are not up to par.
When determining the players who need to come through, the focus will be on those who fall outside of the established core.
It will be expected of guys like Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson and veteran Pau Gasol to carry a significant portion of the production; however, there needs to be consistent support from the athletes who aren’t always the first option.
The following players have been singled out for their respective talents and what it could mean for the team’s success if those strengths flourished over the course of the 82-game grind. They will hardly be any opponent’s focal point, but they could still be the difference between winning and losing a number of contests.
Kirk Hinrich
Stepping up means one thing for Kirk Hinrich, providing quality play when relieving Rose. That doesn’t mean doing one thing great; he has to do well in several facets of the game.
The emphasis for the 11-year veteran will be his offensive contributions. Chicago’s reserve unit is loaded with shooters, and Hinrich is going to have to do a good job of setting them up. At his age, the former Kansas Jayhawk isn’t breaking anyone down off the dribble for a little drive-and-kick, but he can still be effective in the pick-and-roll and facilitate ball movement around the perimeter.
Hinrich shouldn’t forsake trying to score either. A career 37.7 percent three-point shooter, he can be serviceable spotting up on the wing. In fact, it wouldn’t be too surprising if that percentage increased given that he will be on the court with the likes of Rose and proficient post players like Gasol and Gibson.
If Hinrich can keep the offense fluid and capitalize on what is bound to be more open looks, it would be a huge boon for the Bulls.
Jimmy Butler
Calamitous team health circumstances forced Jimmy Butler into a prominent role back in the 2012-13 season. He responded well, especially during that year’s playoffs, where he averaged 13.3 points per game while shooting 40.5 percent from downtown.
The promise that was Butler’s future seemed to arrive early, but the luster quickly tarnished.
It’s not that the former Marquette standout did poorly during his third season. He did average 13.1 points per game while snagging 4.9 rebounds and pilfering 1.9 steals. On the other hand, his three-point accuracy plummeted to 28.3 percent, which wouldn’t be so bad if he wasn’t taking 3.6 attempts every contest.
Butler’s efficacy, or lack thereof, is what made his last campaign so disappointing, and it is that attribute he needs to improve. Given the abilities of the new and returning talent, if Butler can manage similar production at higher percentages, he would be dangerous for opponents.
The budding veteran needs to find his three-point groove again. It doesn’t have to be a staple in his arsenal; he just has to hit the open looks. The bulk of his point production should come from doing what he does best: getting to the rim for high-percentage shot attempts and drawing fouls.
Maybe Butler’s inefficiency was a result of having way more responsibility than developmentally appropriate. Even if that is true, he has to shake off last year’s deficient outcomes and set his sights on a brighter immediate future.
Mike Dunleavy Jr.
Even though he scored 11.1 points per game and was a decent long-range option last season, Mike Dunleavy deserves a mulligan for 2013-14. He was supposed to be a specialist to flank Rose and live the sweet life of a deadeye getting more open looks than the law should allow.
Another traumatic injury felled the 2011 MVP, and Dunleavy went from dependable shooter to necessary scorer. Rose’s comeback shouldn’t taper expectations for the former Blue Devil; in fact, his role is even more crucial than it was a year ago.
Dunleavy’s skill set is primed to thrive with the rim attacking that will be a result of the Return 2.0 and addition of another legitimate post-up player in Gasol. It goes beyond the three-point accuracy. The stretch forward is a great decision-maker and can make the extra pass that promotes a good shot attempt to a great one.
Chicago is going to need the kind of player who can be the specialist and contribute one more positive thing. Dunleavy can and must be that guy.
If it all comes together
Last season was one of great change for the Bulls franchise. The current look is vastly different from the 2010 squad that established itself as an elite Eastern Conference club. Roster shake-ups notwithstanding, this group is deeper and more versatile than it’s ever been during the Thibodeau era, built for classic inside-out basketball.
While the team’s mantra has always been of the all-hands-on-deck variety, there are a few players whose elevated production could really help make this season special and take this troupe from good to great.
It’s hard for fans to contain their excitement.
Rose appears to be ready to hit the ground running. The low-post offense just became bona fide. There are multiple shooters and passers who should help alleviate the half-court ills that have plagued the team in years past. And on top of all of that, the head coach is one of the best in the league.
If guys like Hinrich, Butler and Dunleavy can find that next level, there could be a stampede unleashed on the NBA.
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