Hoops Habit
Fansided

Chicago Bulls: Factors That Could Bolster Playoff Hopes

By James D. Tillman III

Mar 8, 2017; Orlando, FL, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler (21) throws the ball back inbounds against the Orlando Magic during the second half at Amway Center. Orlando Magic defeated the Chicago Bulls 98-91. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 8, 2017; Orlando, FL, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler (21) throws the ball back inbounds against the Orlando Magic during the second half at Amway Center. Orlando Magic defeated the Chicago Bulls 98-91. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 5
Next
Nov 20, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell (1) fouls Chicago Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic (44) in the first half of the game at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 20, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell (1) fouls Chicago Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic (44) in the first half of the game at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

Re-emergence of Nikola Mirotic

By all standards, Nikola Mirotic is having the worst season of his career in a Bulls uniform. After posting double-digit scoring averages in this first two seasons — including a respectable 11.8 points per contest in 2015-16 — Mirotic has not had the same level of success in Year 3.

In fact, Mirotic is averaging career lows in points (9.4 per game), field goal percentage (39 percent) and three-point shooting (31 percent). Needless to say, this season has not gone the way he and the Bulls expected it to.

As a result of his inconsistent play, Fred Hoiberg recently benched Mirotic for three consecutive outings during the team’s season-high five-game losing skid. But just when it appeared that he would be a mere spectator for the duration of the season, Hoiberg gave Mirotic another chance, and he did not disappoint.

In a game against the Charlotte Hornets on Mar. 13, Mirotic scored  a team-high 24 points on 8-of-16 shooting and pulled down 11 rebounds in 29 minutes of action. His contributions could not have come at a better time for a Bulls squad that was struggling to score points over the past week (90.2 PPG).

"“Me and Jimmy [Butler] talked to Niko before the game and told him we need him,’’ Dwyane Wade told the Chicago Sun-Times. “We’re not going to make the playoffs without him, and we just want to let him know that we need his focus, we need his ability to shoot the ball.”"

Mirotic followed that up with a somewhat respectable performance in Chicago’s 98-91 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Mar. 15. In 28 minutes of action, he scored 14 points on 3-of-10 shooting and grabbed five rebounds.

Of course, if Mirotic pulls another infamous disappearing act, these last two outings will not hold much weight. Conversely, if Mirotic can find a way to consistently play well during this final stretch, which is a big IF, he can certainly be a difference-maker for a Bulls team that has little room for error going forward.

Home/Chicago Bulls