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Chicago Bulls: 5 bold predictions for 2018-19 NBA season

By James D. Tillman III

CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 8: Kris Dunn #32 of the Chicago Bulls handles the ball against the Charlotte Hornets on December 8, 2017 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 8: Kris Dunn #32 of the Chicago Bulls handles the ball against the Charlotte Hornets on December 8, 2017 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Bilgin S. Sasmaz/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
(Photo by Bilgin S. Sasmaz/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) /

3. Bobby Portis will get Sixth Man of the Year consideration

Heading into his third year with the Bulls in 2017-18, Bobby Portis made headlines even before the season began, and for all the wrong reasons. While the altercation with Mirotic wasn’t one of his finer moments, he managed to turn a negative into a positive.

He posted career highs in points (13.2 per game), rebounds (6.8 per game) and assists (1.7 per game). He knocked down 35.9 percent of his attempts from 3-point rage, which was also a career best as well.

To bring the point home even further, Portis’ averages on a per 36 minute scale were 21.1 points and 10.9 rebounds. How rare are those numbers?

Well, only two other players produced 21 points, 10 rebounds and 1.5 3-pointers per 36 minutes last season — Kevin Durant and DeMarcus Cousins, putting Portis in some pretty rare company.

Last season’s Sixth Man of the Year winner, Lou Williams, posted averages of 22.6 points and 5.3 assists per outing in 60 appearances off the bench. If being a 20-points-per-game scorer for the second unit continues to be the barometer for this award, there’s no chance of Portis ever winning the hardware.

On the flip side of the narrative, if Portis put up those kind of numbers in just 22.5 minutes per contest, his numbers should be a bit better in a larger role next season. Again, Portis won’t win the award, but he should garner more consideration than he did last season.

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