Chicago Bulls: 10 Reasons They Have the Best Frontcourt in the NBA
The Bulls have quickly jumped out to one of the best records in the league before the All-Star Game.
Of course, the main reason for the Bulls' success is their superstar, Derrick Rose. However their second reason for success is their dominating frontcourt.
They are able to create mismatches, and counter any look that teams try to throw at them. Their strength is that they have no weaknesses.
Even though the Bulls don't have a single All-Star big-man on the roster, they actually have the best frontcourt in the league.
Here are 10 reasons why their frontcourt is the best...
10. Depth
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The Bulls could have the deepest frontcourt in the whole league. They have a legitimate five-deep rotation.
Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah are two of the top-five players at each of their respective positions. Boozer possibly has the top low post game in the whole league. Joakim Noah is a fantastic team defensive player, and the Bulls cannot wait for his return.
Taj Gibson might be the most valuable bench-big in the NBA. He is a jack of all trades. He has a respectable post game and a good mid-range jumper; this doesn't mention Taj's fantastic defense and rebounding.
Kurt Thomas is a player to be used in case of injury. He comes in and can fill-in for Joakim Noah in long stretches. He is perhaps the best at that role.
Omer Asik is a hungry young player who hustles for every board. In limited minutes, Asik sets the tone for the tone with the loss of Joakim.
9. Offense
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Carlos Boozer might have the best low-post game in the whole NBA.
Despite his lack of size, Boozer is able to outsmart other big-men on the court and get to the basket. However, you can't give him space because he is more than willing to shoot a jumper right in your face. Boozer is also a great low post passer.
Joakim Noah is an underrated offensive player. He gets points off of hustle and desire. He also has a mid-range jumper that Stacey King has lovingly dubbed "The Tornado." It looks ugly but is effective. Joakim is also a good passer. Having skilled high and low posts makes it difficult for teams to match up.
8. Defense
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I think the numbers speak for themselves. The Bulls are second in the league in opponent field goal percentage. As well, they are tops in the league in Defensive Rating, which measures how many points a team gives up per-possession.
The most impressive part is that the Bulls aren't even healthy. Their best defensive player, Joakim Noah, has been out for about half the season. So even though the Bulls are missing their best defender, they are still tops in defense in the league.
So when thinking of defense for this team, remember we're effectively about to add a Defensive Player of the Year candidate to the best defense in the league.
7. Mid-Range Game
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Except for Omer Asik who is new to the game, every Bulls big-man is able to kill you for not guarding their mid-range shot.
This means that when the Bulls run the pick and roll, it is twice as deadly, especially when run with Carlos Boozer. When Rose goes through the pick, Boozer has two extremely deadly options. Either he can roll to the basket, get the pass from Rose, and finish at the rim, or he can fake rolling and pop at the top of the paint instead. This spaces the floor and means that not only can the defender not double Rose, but he must be aware so that he doesn't lose Boozer, or whichever big we're referring to at the time.
The shot also helps to space the floor and create room for Rose to drive.
6. Intangibles
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Joakim Noah is one of the best "intangibles" guys in the league. Even though he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, you would never guess based on the way he plays.
Joakim brings energy to the team, even on a back-to-back road game in Oklahoma City or some other lull game. That is one thing that you have missed a lot with Joakim out. The Bulls have been susceptible to slow starts and it's translated to bad losses. With Joakim's energy, we could have avoided a couple of our losses.
Joakim also just plain cares, and it's contagious to the rest of his team. He'll dive on the floor for a lose ball, he'll box out whoever he's asked, he tips in shots instead of asking for plays to be run for him. You could almost describe his play as blue collar, just like the city of Chicago.
5. Enforcers
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The Bulls bigs are not weak European shooters who are going to get pushed around. They are strong enough to keep good post position and box out, even if the player might be bigger than them.
As well, Kurt Thomas is one of those players who just has your back. If you get fouled hard on one end, Kurt is more than willing to repay the favor to the opponent on the other end. He doesn't do this often, but is more than willing to.
If you remember Charles Oakley from the late 1980s, that's what I mean by an enforcer.
Joakim Noah is also one of those players that won't take mouth from other players. He's an adept trash talker and is very imposing, usually meaning it never escalates.
If the Bulls need to send a message, they have people to do it.
4. Athleticism
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The Bulls have some super athletic bigs to run with Derrick Rose in the starting lineup. Joakim Noah, Omer Asik and Taj Gibson are quick, lean, and athletic, making them good complements to Derrick Rose because they can get out in transition better than other players.
Joakim Noah is a player who can complement Rose especially well. His athleticism not only allows him to clean up the mistakes in transition, but also means that he can help Rose take the ball up the court. His ball handling ability is very good for a center, and he is able to be a big target for Rose to get the ball to if he is trapped.
Taj Gibson, Omer Asik and Joakim Noah are players who can specifically come out and just run past you.
3. Rebounding
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The Bulls ended up as the best rebounding team a year ago with Taj Gibson starting at the power forward spot. Well now the Bulls added a top-five rebounder in the NBA to their already impressive lineup.
All of their big men are above average rebounders. Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer are near the top of the league, Kurt Thomas is a wily veteran, and Taj Gibson and Omer Asik are both active per-minute rebounders.
The Bulls' lineup is a prime reason for their impressive second in the league ranking in rebounds per game. Not only that, but they have far less rebound opportunities than the first ranked team, the Minnesota Timberwolves, because their field goal percentage is much better.
2. Experience
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Even though the Bulls' frontcourt is relatively young, they actually are surprisingly experienced.
Joakim Noah was part of the great 2009 Playoff Series against the Boston Celtics. The series had four games go to overtime, seven total overtimes, and the series went seven games. If there is any situation that would require any more, please, tell me in the comments.
Kurt Thomas and Carlos Boozer are both experienced due to sheer number of years in the league. Carlos Boozer has been part of multiple playoff runs with the Utah Jazz, including a trip to the Western Conference Finals. Kurt Thomas is the second oldest player in the NBA. Nothing surprises him now.
Taj Gibson played almost all of last season as a starter for a very successful Chicago Bulls playoff team last year.
Omer Asik may surprise you. He's only a rookie, but has actually played multiple years on an international level in Turkey and with the Turkish National Team.
1. Many Different Looks
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The biggest strength of the Bulls team really comes down to this. You can't create problems for the Bulls' bigs.
They can match your fast paced style.
They can slow you down.
They can outscore you.
They can lock you down.
That's what makes the Bulls' frontcourt the best.
