Which Chicago Bulls Bigs Are Clicking Best with Each Other
The Chicago Bulls have a superb collection of big men—or “bigs” as some people like to say. Which combination has played the best together so far?
Chicago’s deep and talented roster includes six big men: Joakim Noah, Pau Gasol, Taj Gibson, Nikola Mirotic, Cameron Bairstow and Nazr Mohammed.
Actually, let’s leave Bairstow and Mohammed out of the debate since both players are basically glued to the bench. Bairstow has played a total of four minutes, and Mohammed hasn’t touched the court once this season.
Noah is the Alpha Dog of the Bulls frontcourt. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year obviously plays fantastic D, and he just might be the league’s top all-around center as well. Following offseason knee surgery, Noah isn’t at full strength. But he should return to form shortly.
Gasol, who the Bulls signed in the offseason, is an outstanding low-post threat who can also stick the mid-range jumper consistently.
And while Gibson serves as a valuable two-way player off the bench, the rookie Mirotic is a sharp-shooting stretch 4.
Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau gets to play the mix-and-match game with his bigs, and he has an array of options to choose from each and every night.
Noah is usually paired with Gasol or Gibson. However, we witnessed a rare Noah-Mirotic combo during the 106-105 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on November 1. Gibson sat this one out with an ankle injury, allowing Mirotic to receive more playing time.
Noah and Mirotic played well together in the first half. On one play, Mirotic drove the lane and fed Noah for an easy layup. Later, Noah made a pinpoint pass down low to Mirotic, who drew the foul.
Those two haven’t spent much time on the court together this season. Let’s take a look at two pairings that have.
Joakim Noah and Pau Gasol
The Noah-Gasol combo has started seven of the Bulls’ nine games this year. Noah, of course, missed two contests due to illness.
They are quite possibly the league’s best passing frontcourt duo since the Sacramento Kings’ Chris Webber and Vlade Divac during the early 2000s. Both players are unselfish and possess the ability to make their teammates better.
Signing Gasol made a lot of sense for the Bulls, seeing that they finished last in scoring a season ago.
But little did they know that he’d emerge as a rim protector right off the bat. He’s averaging 2.4 blocks a night, which is fourth best in the league behind Anthony Davis, Roy Hibbert and Dwight Howard.
Noah and Gasol temporarily embarrassed Kevin Love during the October 31 loss (114-108) to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Love took the ball up and had it blocked by Noah. Then, after instantly getting the ball back and trying it again, Gasol swatted it away.
In a way, they were telling K-Love, “No soup for you!” Remember that famous line from the TV show, Seinfeld? Anyway, opponents better think twice before entering the paint against the Bulls.
Although Noah and Gasol are solid shot blockers, they can play awkwardly at times together. Grantland’s Zach Lowe wrote about this:
"The Pau Gasol–Joakim Noah starting duo has been awkward, and in what might be the biggest shock of the season, the burly Bulls rank next to dead stinking last in defensive rebounding rate. Quicker guys slither around Gasol, and Noah is clearly not right after offseason knee surgery.
"
Still, the Bulls are 5-2 this season with both of them in the starting lineup. They're clicking.
Pau Gasol and Taj Gibson
No Bulls big-man duo has clicked better than Gasol and Gibson. They started together twice during Noah's absence and played great.
Both players truly dominated the Milwaukee Bucks in Chicago’s 95-86 win on November 5. Gibson had 23 points and 10 boards, while Gasol finished with a 22-point, 14-rebound effort.
By the Horns' Caleb Nordgren describes how the two complement each other:
"Both can post up, and Pau’s ability to play in the high post meshes well with Taj’s skillset. Both can step out and hit from midrange. Most importantly, playing with Pau keeps Taj from having to bang with bigger centers inside, while playing with Taj keeps Pau from having to chase quicker power forwards.
"
So far, Gasol-Gibson appears to be a better fit than the Noah-Gasol pairing, as things are a little less awkward. However, Thibodeau isn’t going to tinker with his lineup. Noah will stay in the starting five, and expect him to eventually mesh with Gasol. It's early.
All stats are from Basketball-Reference.com and are accurate as of Nov. 15.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
