The Chicago Bulls will come into this season with many problems, specifically with their lack of perimeter scoring from their new backcourt.
When it comes to basketball, the word “spacing” is probably one of the most commonly heard phrases nowadays. Teams around the NBA have really started to utilize the three-point line by stretching out the floor with guys who can stroke it from deep.
This is certainly a trend in the league that appears to only be picking up steam over time. With the steady rise of basketball analytics in today’s game, many teams have discovered just how valuable shooting from beyond the arc is.
This is why the current makeup of the Chicago Bulls is very strange and confusing.
After trading away Derrick Rose to the New York Knicks, the Bulls agreed to terms with Rajon Rondo. He is known for his slick passing and obsession with trying to get as many triple-doubles as he can. This is what makes him such a unique player.
But he has only shot 29 percent from deep throughout his career, which is definitely concerning, especially for a point guard. His attitude is also a constant problem, especially recently.
They somehow snatched away Dwyane Wade from the Miami Heat, in one of the more stunning free agent signings in the history of the game. While Wade will definitely be a great addition to their locker room, his health is always an issue at this stage in his career.
This, of course, is before mentioning his lack of an outside jumper, especially after he shot just 16 percent(!) from three-point range last season while averaging less than one attempt a game.
Both of these signings will shift Jimmy Butler to play the 3-spot, after he found his groove last year playing the shooting guard position. Butler only connected on 31 percent of his threes last season, one of the very few weak spots of his game.
In terms of stretch-4s, the Bulls are covered. Both Nikola Mirotic and Doug McDermott are effective long-range shooters.
The problem is that they might not get as many opportunities to shoot from there if defenses are smart and pack the lane when Rondo, Wade and Butler play together in an effort to keep them from driving inside and kicking it out. If defended correctly, this will ultimately force this backcourt trio to shoot the three-ball, which is exactly what the defense should want them to do.
They have rebounding, toughness, and length in their big men with Taj Gibson, Robin Lopez, Bobby Portis and Cristiano Felicio. But in order for these guys to be at their best on offense, they will need shooters to help provide them with room to go to work down low.
Unfortunately, outside of maybe Gibson, none of these guys are strong interior scorers. They all get their points mainly through hustle and hitting the offensive glass.
Also, the jury is still out on Fred Hoiberg and if he will be a successful NBA coach. After taking over for Tom Thibodeau last season, Hoiberg struggled to connect with his players. His laid-back, stoic personality is the polar opposite of Thibodeau’s super engaged, full-throttle coaching style. This hasn’t been an easy adjustment for the Bulls.
Given the roster he has, it will certainly be a challenge to find the right lineup combinations during this season. The East is not a strong conference at all, but for a team that missed the playoffs last year, it won’t be easy — especially when this team is going so far against the grain in how they approach outside scoring.
This is not to say they still won’t make the playoffs or resemble a decent team, but the current makeup of their team is perplexing. A lot of the responsibility will fall on the backcourt, specifically when it comes to connecting on three-point shots.
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You can never count out a team with Wade and Butler on it, but this season will certainly be the biggest challenge of their respective careers.