Bulls 2014 Season Preview: Point Guards

Finally….the NBA season is upon us. The preseason is winding down, and all roster moves are set. The Bulls season officially starts Oct. 29 on the road against the New York Knicks. Before that game, we will preview the Bulls depth at each position.

The first position that being previewed is the most important, point guard. For the past two years, the Bulls have not had constant production from the point guard position. This year the Bulls are the deepest at  point guard than any other position.

Derrick Rose

(photo credit atlantablackstar.com)

Thoughts about Rose’s demise are fading as of late. Rose demolished the Cleveland Cavilers in their preseason game by scoring 30 points in 24 minutes. That game showed Rose as the explosive, unstoppable player that he was when he dethroned LeBron James for the 2010-2011 NBA MVP.

In the game against the Cavilers, Rose hit four  3-pointers. The added range will make it difficult for teams to stop Rose one-on-one. Rose’s speed allows him to drive the length of the floor in less than four seconds, and with a reliably 3-point shot it will make it so opposing teams will have to trap him constantly leaving teammates open for easy shots. In case you forgot how good Rose is here is something to jog your memory.

Kirk Hinrich

(Photo credit letsgowarriors.com)

Hinrich comes into his second straight season as the backup to Rose. Last year, the injury to Rose moved Hinrich into the starting lineup, and the offense struggled . The Bulls finished last in points per game. At 33, Hinrich is nearing the end of his career, and he relies on his basketball IQ over athleticism.

Hinrich’s high basketball IQ allows the Bulls to be creative with their offensive lineups (will get into that later). With Rose healthy, Hinrich will be needed less to score, and more to run the offense with the second team. The biggest concern with Hinrich is can he constantly shoot the 3-point shot like he did in 2010-11 with the Atlanta Hawks.

Aaron Brooks

 

 

(Photo credit blogs.sacbee.com)

The biggest question in the back court outside of Rose’s health. Brooks can either be Nate Robinson 3.0 (2.0 was D.J. Augustine) or a complete waste of a roster spot. The Bulls need instant office off the bench, and are hoping that Brooks can turn back time to find his game. In the 2009-2010 season while with the Houston Rockets, Brooks averaged 19.6 points per game.

Since then he has not played 75 games in a season due to injuries. Coach Tom Thibodeau likes to play his starters high minutes, but if Brooks can produce points in quick and efficient spurts then the Bulls will have three good options at point guard.

Next time the Bulls shooting guards will be examined.

Forman and Thibodeau need to get on the same page

(Photo Credit chicagotribune.com)

At the NBA rookie combine in the Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau and general manager Gar Forman were both in attendance, but did not speak to each other. This is one of the many examples of the ongoing discord between the two highest profile people on the Bulls organization.

The issues between the two started when lead assistant coach Ron Adams was not retained by the front office. Adams is now on the Boston Celtic staff, the same team that Thibs used to coach on. After that the Bulls traded away one of Thib’s most trusted players Luol Deng in the middle of the season. The move made it seem like the Bulls were going to tank this season, but the Bulls were able to make the playoffs as a No. 4 seed.

The two now enter an offseason that is critical for the franchise on several levels. The 2014 free agent class is full of established stars that include LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony. Despite the fact that obtaining James has a low possibility, but a slew of free agents see the Bulls as a potential destination. The Bulls recent success has been attributed to Thibs’ coaching style, and his ability to get players to follow his philosophy.

The uncertainty on whether Thibs will remain the Bulls coach of the Bulls can scare potential free agents away from the team. The top-tier free agents over the next two years include; Anthony, Lance Stephenson, Klay Thompson, DeAndre Jordan, and Marc Gasol. Each of those players have not won an NBA championship, and if they do decide to leave their current teams, they would be looking to go to a team with a realistic chance of winning it all.

The Bulls rumored replacement for Thibs would be Fred Hoiberg from Iowa State University. The is the worst hire the Bulls can make if they want a superstar to join Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah. Rose only has three years left under contract, and it is likely that  if the Bulls start over with a brand new head coach that will lead to a mass exodus out of Chicago.

Rose’s manager and brother Reggie Rose has already criticized the Bulls front office for not making moves needed to create a champion. Another summer without making a significant moves, and the Bulls could be like the Cleveland Cavilers and lose on a MVP because they could not build around him.

The only way to stop this doomsday scenario is that Thibs and Forman have to show that they both think the Bulls are close to winning a championship, and they are willing to work together to get the players needed to make a deep playoff run. A united coaching staff and front office will allow the Bulls to pick up those top tier free agents so that they can compete with the best in the NBA.