D-Up
Truth be told, the Bulls have not been defensively-minded for some time now. After former head coach Tom Thibodeau was fired, Chicago went from one of the strongest defensive teams in the league to just another ball club playing run-of-the-mill defense.
There is no need to make things worse.
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Known for his fast-paced offensive strategy, head coach Fred Hoiberg already has had a hard enough time being successful on the other end of the floor — even with veteran stars like Wade, who in other systems was a perfectly well-rounded player.
So why go in and add a guy whose former team had six players, including Clarkson, with a defensive rating of 112 or worse?
The combo guard finished the 2016-17 season with a -8.9 net rating, averaging 14.7 points a game but just 3.0 rebounds. This, despite playing 29.2 minutes per contest.
Yikes.
The Lakers may be fine with playing a one-dimensional game, but the Bulls are looking to once again become a top contender in the Eastern Conference. That goal calls for full-court improvement.