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Chicago Bulls: 5 goals for Bobby Portis in 2017-18

By James D. Tillman III

NEW YORK, USA - APRIL 08: Bobby Portis of the Chicago Bulls goes to the basket during the game at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York on April 08, 2017 (Photo by William Volcov/Brazil Photo Press/LatinContent/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, USA - APRIL 08: Bobby Portis of the Chicago Bulls goes to the basket during the game at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York on April 08, 2017 (Photo by William Volcov/Brazil Photo Press/LatinContent/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images
Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images /

5. Crack the starting rotation

There was a slight drop-off in Portis’ numbers between his first and second seasons with the Bulls. One of the areas in question was his playing time. In his rookie season, Portis played 17.8 minutes per contest while averaging 7.0 points and 5.4 rebounds per outing.

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But during the 2016-17 campaign, that number dipped to 15.6 minutes per outing and his production (6.8 points and 4.6 boards per contest) was impacted. With Taj Gibson and Nikola Mirotic ahead of him in the rotation, minutes were not always easy to come by.

After all, Gibson thrived as both as starter and a coming off the bench, making him one of the players that Fred Hoiberg needed on the floor. Meanwhile, Mirotic — whose play has been inconsistent for the most part — is considered more of a floor-spacer than Portis.

Things are different today, as Gibson is now a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves, and there’s a level of uncertainty regarding the likelihood of Mirotic being in a Bulls uniform next season. Being that rookie Lauri Markkanen and Cristiano Felicio are the only other power forwards on the roster, Portis certainly has the opportunity to be an every day starter.

Here’s to hoping he makes the most of it.

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