Tony Snell Can Play Huge Role in Chicago Bulls' Playoff Push

Tony Snell has played solidly in recent months, and that effort could payoff big for the Chicago Bulls once the 2015 NBA playoffs begin. The second-year wingman has been seeing more court time due to a rash of injuries that have sideline other key players. Snell is making the most of his opportunity and making a strong case for continued utilization.

One of the best things about the roster that head coach Tom Thibodeau inherited for the 2014-15 campaign was its depth. The assemblage had two legitimate contributors at each position plus a couple of players who had the potential to thrive if given a chance. Snell used the Las Vegas Summer League to establish himself as one of those guys who was on the fringe of the rotation but had the goods to deliver.

The front side of the season had the former University of New Mexico standout doing more watching than playing. He played in 24 games combined in November and December of 2014 and logged more than 10 minutes only five times. Then January arrived bearing injurious tidings, forcing Thibodeau to go deep into his bench to make up for his depleted personnel.

Snell has done well stepping up for his squad. Whether or not his playing time or production will persist remains to be seen. His original resurgence was due to an extended hiatus to veteran reserve Kirk Hinrich. He has continued to receive big minutes because All-Star guard Jimmy Butler is out recovering from a shoulder injury.

It is no mystery that Thibodeau is a creature of habit when it comes to his player management. Butler, Derrick Rose and Taj Gibson are due back by the season’s end. Does Butler's return spell the end of Snell’s run? A reduction in playing time would be understandable, but the case for keeping the emerging youngster in the rotation is strong.

A second wind

In order to better grasp how well Snell has been doing as of late, his numbers should be viewed with January 2015 as the splitting point.

	GP	MIN	PPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	REB	AST	STL	TOV
October to December	26	8.5	1.8	35.6	40.9	100	1	0.2	0.2	0.3
January to March	31	27.6	9.6	45.1	40.8	77.5	3.4	1.1	0.8	1.1

To clarify a little here, that perfect free-throw percentage was the result of attempting and making a total of seven shots from the charity stripe. Also, those three-point percentage numbers are not as close as they seem, as the 40.9 figure was a result of 22 attempts while the 40.8 percent is out of 130 shots taken.

There is a stark difference between Snell’s output when he is underutilized and when he plays consistently. Making him a regular part of the postseason procession ensures that his positive contributions are added to what the team already stands to gain with the return of Rose, Butler and Gibson.

If these past few months have been an audition, Snell has most certainly gotten the part. He has produced very well in a role that was thrust upon him suddenly. His play will definitely come in handy as the team attempts to navigate an Eastern Conference playoff bracket that poses some intriguing potential matchups.

The Snell effect

There is something very interesting about the East standings. The second- through fourth-place spots are separated by two games, as is the third- through fifth-place positions. A lot can change between now and the playoffs.

Given the recent play from teams that currently occupy those slots, it is more  likely that the top two Eastern conference teams, the Atlanta Hawks and Cleveland Cavaliers, will hold fast to their positions, leaving the third-place Toronto Raptors, fourth-place Chicago Bulls and fifth-place Washington Wizards to battle for the last two home court spots. Those three aforementioned teams have been playing sub-.500 basketball over their last 10 games.

Depending on how that grouping sorts itself out when the final buzzer sounds, the Bulls could potentially face the Raptors, Wizards or Milwaukee Bucks in the first round. Having wing depth would prove vital against any one of those teams. Should Chicago advance, it will likely face either the Cavs or the Hawks in the second round.

Despite the up-and-down ball the Bulls have played all year, they have shown that when all cylinders are clicking, they are hard to stop. That is a good thing because Atlanta and Cleveland are problematic for any team. If Thibodeau is able to get his guys into prime playoff mode, beating the other conference heavies will come down to getting the most out the players.

This is where Snell could help. His solid ability to guard multiple positions makes him an asset when players like LeBron James, DeMar DeRozan or Bradley Beal are in the way of an NBA title. While someone like Butler can handle any of those guys, it’s good that he doesn’t have to hold down the perimeter by himself.

Snell can also stretch the floor at the other end of the court. His improved shooting, especially from beyond the arc, would do wonders for spacing, allowing Rose and Butler to have better driving lanes. Post-up players like Pau Gasol would also benefit from having another inside-out option.

Chicago's starters and primary reserves match up evenly with their prospective playoff opponents. It will be the little things that will help establish the difference between winning and losing—maximizing personnel included.

With a player like Snell, Thibodeau can steal valuable rest for his key backcourt players while simultaneously getting meaningful production. His role doesn’t have to be grand. If his playing time can remain around 15-20 minutes over the postseason stretch, it would add a great dynamic to the team’s overall attack.

There are others on the roster that play more and produce less than what the young 6’7” wing puts out on a nightly basis. He is not your best player, but he certainly belongs in the grouping of guys who give you the best chance of winning. Snell has earned the opportunity to show that this proficiency can carry over into April and May.

All statistics courtesy of NBA.com and are accurate as of March 13.