Chicago Bulls' Biggest Red Flags Entering This Season
The Chicago Bulls have had a very promising preseason, but there have also been quite a few issues throughout the exhibition games.
Derrick Rose's return has been exciting for the Bulls, and the new, revamped roster has looked really good at times. However, some of the same problems from years past are still present.
Chicago's offense has seriously struggled throughout the preseason, and the second unit has had troubles with its small backcourt. It's led to very slow starts for the Bulls, leaving them to fight and crawl their way back into games.
But one of the biggest issues going into the opener is their health.
Jimmy Butler is dealing with ligament sprains in his thumb, and while not believed to be of high concern, it's taking away from on-court time with the rest of the starters. Joakim Noah is coming off knee surgery and hasn't looked as spry and explosive as before.
This Bulls team has undoubtedly improved, but there are still a few issues to work out.
Second-Unit Backcourt
1 of 5
The Bulls bench got a big upgrade this past offseason, adding Aaron Brooks and rookies Doug McDermott and Nikola Mirotic to a cast that includes savvy vet Kirk Hinrich and Sixth Man of the Year runner-up Taj Gibson.
However, this group doesn't have any one player who commands a lot of attention. Defenses can play one-on-one at all times, so if the Bulls fail to get inside, they could find themselves fighting the shot clock.
McDermott's shooting is essential, as he creates floor space by coming off screens, and Gibson's versatility adds a lot of dimensions to the offense. But the main problem is the backcourt suffers, and it's due to the undersized Brooks.
Brooks is explosive and can get to the rim, but he settles for long-range jump shots too often and is at best an average finisher near the rim. Through seven games, he is shooting 33 percent from the floor. His backcourt partner no longer has explosion, and Hinrich's shot is frustratingly inconsistent, as his 19 percent conversion from downtown suggests.
Gibson and McDermott figure to be the main options from the second unit, which could help both Hinrich and Brooks if defenses focus more on the former two. Still, Hinrich is limited to what he can do with the ball, and Brooks only has an advantage if he has a step on the defender.
It will be interesting to see how much Brooks plays once the season gets rolling, especially if his defense is a problem.
Aaron Brooks' Defense
2 of 5
Similar to Nate Robinson and D.J. Augustin, Brooks will be overmatched nearly every game.
The biggest problem comes on the defensive end, where he almost has to guard opposing teams' point guards. Putting him on a 2-guard is just inviting the defense to post him up, but in a conference where he'll face the likes of Kyrie Irving, John Wall and Kyle Lowry, he could become a major liability, even if only for a few minutes.
We saw this in the game versus the Cleveland Cavaliers when Rose checked out of the game and Irving caught fire. Brooks just wasn't able to defend his speed and size, as Irving finished with 28 points.
It's still unknown how big of a role Brooks will have during the regular season. Rose, Hinrich and Butler figure to take up approximately 80 to 90 of the backcourt minutes, leaving Brooks with scattered time throughout the first three quarters (there's about a zero percent chance he's in Tom Thibodeau's closing lineup).
However, should any of those three go down with injury, Chicago's defense could take a hit as opponents look to exploit Brooks.
It might not be a big problem early on with everyone healthy, but the injury bug hasn't been kind to the Bulls in years past.
Health
3 of 5
Every team has to worry about its key players going down with injury. Kevin Durant recently hurt his foot, and it could significantly alter the Oklahoma City Thunder's playoff seeding.
The Bulls have dealt with drastic, season-changing injuries over the past few years. Noah's plantar fasciitis and Rose's knee injuries stick out above all, and there have already been some bumps and bruises this preseason.
Mike Dunleavy has missed time with a knee injury, something that has frustrated Thibodeau because it's taking away practice and game time from his starting lineup. "To throw a group out there for our first game that hasn't been out there before? I mean, it doesn't make any sense," said Thibodeau, per K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune (subscription required).
Butler has also missed basically two games and will miss the final preseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The biggest health concern is Noah.
Coming off arthroscopic knee surgery, he has been going through rehab and slowly getting his rhythm back, but as Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times reports, it could be worse than it looks, according to a source in Noah's camp: "Jo's [left] knee is going to be an issue all season. He has played through pain before with the plantar [fasciitis], but this is completely different, a different level."
The same source said Noah apparently entered camp "panicked," afraid he wouldn't be able to participate in camp or preseason.
Noah has played 22 minutes per game and has crossed the 24-minute mark just once. It is the preseason, so it would be pointless to trot him out there for 30-plus minutes, but the Bulls will need his defense and playmaking once the regular season begins. It would certainly be a plus if he could prove it prior to the opener.
Noah said he feels confident playing extended minutes during the season, per Johnson, and he's no stranger to playing through pain. Whether he'll be as effective as last year, though, remains to be seen.
Slow Starts
4 of 5
The Bulls have had some poor offensive showings during the preseason. It could be attested to a lack of playing time with one another, so the Bulls will have to figure out how to fit all the new guys in and develop that chemistry quickly.
Thibodeau had this to say, per K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune (subscription required):
"The teams that are special make that commitment in training camp and maintain it throughout the course of the season. You're building habits throughout the year. And you're preparing to play your best at the end. You have to put the work in each day. There are no shortcuts. I've been around a long time. I know (shortcuts won't) work. I've tried to make that clear.
"
Chicago struggled mightily early against the Denver Nuggets until Butler got things rolling with a steal and breakaway basket, leading to a scoring barrage in the final five minutes of the first half. The same occurred against the Atlanta Hawks, where Chicago scored 47 points in three quarters and found itself down by 19. Butler again got the team going and saved the day with a 20-point fourth quarter, including a game-winning three.
It's encouraging to see the Bulls fight back after being down 20 points or more, but it happened in the preseason against players who may not crack the rotation—especially in the Atlanta game.
The regular season is quickly approaching, and the Bulls still have some things to figure out. Whether it's getting into their sets quicker or taking the first open shot, Chicago can't afford to battle the shot clock.
Pau Gasol's Role
5 of 5
Through seven games, Chicago's marquee free-agent acquisition is shooting just under 41 percent from the field. He's had all sorts of looks—mid-range, high post, low block—but his shot just hasn't been falling.
The main problem has been Gasol's initial post position. The Bulls are entering the ball near the top of the key, where Gasol has several options: He can face up to survey the court for a pass, take a 12- to 15-foot shot or attack the rim and perhaps get to the free-throw line. It makes sense to play him this way given his aptitude for passing, but his bread and butter has always been his scoring in the post.
It can be a bit concerning, considering the Bulls need Gasol to be a low-post presence, something they haven't had in quite a while. It allows them to get the ball inside when the offense is stalling, an all-too-familiar occurrence.
Gasol has looked good when he backs down defenders and tries to score, but there have also been a few instances where he's looked disjointed, and it has led to some ugly attempts—almost like he's overmatched.
The Bulls offense has also been stagnant at times, and Gasol is the perfect player to fix that, but Chicago hasn’t fully used him in that way. It's led Gasol to take what he can get from mid-range, but it hasn't necessarily provided successful results.
Gasol shot under 50 percent in six of the seven games so far and under 45 percent in five of those contests. Chicago hasn't used Gasol in the right way just yet, and it has led to some pedestrian performances.
Perhaps once the regular season tips off and the Bulls have an idea of how defenses play their bigs, they'll change up some schemes and use Gasol in a more traditional manner. Until then, Gasol has to be more effective with the looks he's currently getting. Otherwise, it could spell trouble for the Bulls.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
