Most Startling Statistics of Chicago Bulls' Season so Far
The makeup of this Chicago Bulls team has definitely affected the playing style, and an early sampling of statistics show it. There has definitely been some give and take, as some categories have seen considerable increases, while others have declined.
None of this should be viewed as a portent of how the season will unfold. There is a significant amount of new talent, and the team is still learning how to mesh.
With that being said, the immediate future continues to looks bright. Overall, the Bulls are scoring 101.3 points per game and giving up 97.1; those figures put them right outside of the top 10 for points scored and allowed (16th and 12th at the time of publication). The talent ceiling for this assemblage is pretty high, so it is plausible that the numbers could get even better as more games are played and the roster continues to jell.
A deeper delve into those broad indicators will reveal some surprising things about the next phase of evolution for Bulls basketball.
Opponent's Points Per Game Is Up
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Normally, it’s a good thing to have a defense that’s ranked in the top half of a 30-team league. But that is subpar for a club that has never finished any lower than third in points allowed under head coach Tom Thibodeau.
Here’s a look at how the Bulls’ foes fared in offensive production starting from now and working back to the 2010-11 season:
Year | 2014-15 | 2013-14 | 2012-11 | 2011-12 | 2010-11 |
Opponents’ PPG | 97.1 | 91.8 | 92.9 | 88.2 | 91.3 |
Rank | 12th | 1st | 3rd | 1st | 2nd |
Currently, the team is allowing more points than it ever has. There is a 4.2-point difference between what the Bulls are allowing now and the next greater amount.
Almost immediately, one wants to pore over the numbers and see what is causing this newfound adversarial proficiency. Factors associated with defensive performance don’t look starkly different when observed along with years past.
Year | 2014-15 | 2013-14 | 2012-13 | 2011-12 | 2010-11 |
DREB | 32.4 | 32.7 | 30.7 | 32.8 | 32.4 |
BLK | 6.2 | 5.2 | 5.1 | 5.9 | 5.7 |
STL | 5.9 | 7.2 | 7.2 | 6.9 | 7.2 |
Defensive rebounding has been pretty steady, and there’s been an increase in shots blocked per game thanks to the two-headed paint monster comprised of Joakim Noah and Pau Gasol. It can be deduced that fewer steal gives the other team more possessions, but the minus-1.3 differential between the current line and the highest steals-per-game average of 7.2 doesn’t explain six more points scored by the opposition.
On paper, the Bulls are playing just as consistently on the defensive side of the ball as they always have. The increase in points this club is allowing is actually due to the fact that opponents are getting more shots.
Year | 2014-15 | 2013-14 | 2012-11 | 2011-12 | 2010-11 |
Opponents’ FGA | 85.3 | 81.2 | 80.1 | 82.1 | 79.5 |
Opponents' FGM | 37.2 | 35 | 35.4 | 34.6 | 34.2 |
Opponents' FG% | 43.6 | 43 | 44.3 | 42.1 | 43 |
Challengers have been hitting shots at nearly the same rate, but they have had several more looks at the basket this season. That has led to an uptick in their scoring output. The cause of this upward swing is not from a weakening defense; it is actually a side effect of the offensive strides the Bulls have made since tipping off in October.
As a whole, they are playing at a much faster pace. That has led to more possessions to be had for both teams on the floor. It has clearly benefited whomever Chicago is playing, but the perks have not been one-sided.
Help Is No More or No Less
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The Bulls have some pretty skilled passers. Derek Rose’s return gives the team someone who can create for himself or others at will. Gasol is another big man with soft hands and the basketball IQ to make the right decision; the same goes for Mike Dunleavy. Nikola Mirotic has that Euro-big finesse where passing comes standard.
With so many would-be facilitators on the floor, it would be logical to assume that Chicago has increased its assist output, but it hasn’t. Here is the breakdown of the last five seasons:
Year | 2014-15 | 2013-14 | 2012-13 | 2011-12 | 2010-11 |
AST | 23 | 22.7 | 23 | 23.1 | 22.3 |
On the bright side, each of these data is a top-10 figure. Two seasons were without Rose, which should illuminate just how important ball movement is to the team’s success. But with so many guys who can move the pill, it’s hard to fathom why the assist needle has not budged.
There could be many reasons for this stagnation.
The players who have been dominating the ball the most, Gasol and Jimmy Butler, have been doing so in isolation. Rose has played sporadically, so there hasn’t been a chance to reap the maximum value of his playmaking ability. Noah, the other great passing big, has not reached 100 percent in his knee surgery recovery, which has limited his facilitating contribution.
Presently, there is no need to sound an alarm. Chicago isn’t behind the pack in this category; only three other teams have more assists—two of those teams have losing records. Still, it is a bit disappointing to not see a direct impact in an area where the team has more than enough skill to excel.
The Offense Comes Alive
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Anyone who has regularly followed Chicago basketball over the last few years knows that it was a rarity for this club to break the century mark in one game. Now, the team is averaging 101.3 points per game.
This was to be expected when looking back at the front-office moves made during the 2014 free-agency period. General manager Gar Forman landed a low-post scoring threat in Gasol, drafted sharpshooting Doug McDermott out of Creighton and lured the offensively versatile Mirotic away from Spain and the Real Madrid Baloncesto club.
Mix those skill sets in with the return of Derrick Rose and the rapid ascension of Jimmy Butler and it’s easy to see how Thibodeau has managed to mix in some scoring aptitude to go along with his defensive adeptness.
The Bulls are the most balanced they have ever been since returning to contender status. They have multiple players who can shoot, drive and play with their back to the basket. Their 46.6 field-goal percentage is the highest it has been under Thibodeau, and the 80 shot attempts they have been averaging is the fewest.
One of the biggest knocks on the Bulls has always been their lack of offensive potency. That has definitely not been the case in 2014. Now they are a legitimate two-way squad, and that bodes well for their championship aspirations.
Underwhelming from Downtown
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Dunleavy, McDermott and Mirotic make up the trio of three-point specialists for this club. Reserve point guard Aaron Brooks can get hot enough on occasion and be an asset from long range as well. Even Kirk Hinrich can spot up on occasion.
Having these specialists is definitely an asset. Since the departure of Kyle Korver after the 2011-12 season, the Bulls have consistently ranked near the bottom in both attempting and making three-point shots.
The Bulls have more than enough to become one of the better long-range teams in the league, but they are just mediocre right now.
Category | 3PA | 3PM | 3P% |
Value | 248 | 91 | 36.7 |
Rank | 14th | 15th | 12th |
A case could be made that the shooting personnel are being underutilized despite the improvement over last season’s production. It could be worse. There are some coaches in the NBA who absolutely abhor the long ball. Thibodeau doesn’t detest three-pointers, but he doesn’t exactly dote on them either.
There are a number of factors to consider when wondering why this club hasn’t done more from beyond the arc.
Among them is the fact that two of the team’s sharpshooters are rookies. Granted, McDermott and Mirotic have been getting more playing time than what rookies traditionally receive in Chicago since 2010, but their on-court time is not lengthy enough to make any substantial impact.
Outside of those two, Dunleavy is the only other reliable long-range guy. One constant option coupled with two irregular contributors does make for a less-than-stellar showing. In that frame, the 20.7 attempts per game don’t look so bad. It’s still disappointing, though. It can be so much more.
Welcome to the Block Party
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Thibodeau’s winning philosophy is rooted in defense. Whomever the team was facing always knew that every possession would be hard-fought and often come out in Chicago’s favor. There were always certain players who could be beaten, but the group effort was nearly impregnable.
Noah, Taj Gibson and Carlos Boozer used to be the franchise’s key big men. Boozer was the constant weak link. He was unable to stay in front his assignment, slow to help and not even a remote threat to alter a shot, let alone block one.
He has since been relieved of his commitment and has been replaced with Gasol. The Spaniard is no defensive virtuoso either, but Thibodeau is maximizing his length by plugging an open hole in the starting frontcourt’s phalanx. The Bulls’ 74 total blocks lead the league.
Now this team has perimeter stoppers in Butler and Hinrich to along with three excellent shot-blockers in Noah, Gasol and Gibson. The stingy just got stingier.
All statistics courtesy of BasketballReference.com and are current as of November 21, 2014.
