NEWSLETTER
The Chicago Bulls have a lot of problems. You know it, I know it, and Benny the Bull knows it (even if he won’t admit it).
Exactly how the Bulls plan to address these slew of issues this offseason remains pretty unclear. Internally, remaining competitive is seemingly the goal, though rivals around the league can’t stop hoping front office leader Arturas Karnisovas opts for a fresh start. Regardless of the philosophical path chosen, there is no denying the Bulls need to change this roster sooner than later. And we need to look no further than two simple stats to see just that.
Let’s discuss those embarrassing numbers …
1,642 Minutes
Every time I hear the word continuity my left eye begins to twitch, my forehead starts to sweat, and one number flashes in my brain: 1,642.
Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Nikola Vucevic spent more time on the court together this regular season than any other three-man combination in the NBA. Their 1,642 minutes surpassed the second-place Sacramento Kings’ trio of Harrison Barnes, Domantas Sabonis, and Kevin Huerter by 34 minutes. The Kings made their first playoff appearance in 16 seasons and played one of the most captivating first-round series in years. As for the Chicago Bulls, they fell in the second stage of the Play-In Tournament.
The “big 3” not having the health it needed to gel became Chicago’s main case for running it back. The primary reason for that was LaVine’s knee, which severely limited him during the second half of the season and required offseason surgery. So while the core still managed to play the 17th-most total minutes of any three-man combo, the hope remained they could improve on a plus-minus of -7 with increased time and health. Instead, they did the opposite.
More time and better health led to a -13 on the season. While some of their favorite five-man lineups that included guys like Alex Caruso, Patrick Beverley, and Patrick Williams did net positive points per 100 possessions, the team still finished 40-42 and outside the playoffs. At the end of the day, it served as a reminder that you can only go as far as your best players will take you.
The Bulls’ three best players had all the opportunity in the world to improve on last year’s sixth-place finish. Their inability to do that – in a pretty drastic fashion – should be all the front office needs to realize that “continuity” isn’t going to net better results.
Lastly, for what it’s worth, the Bulls also had pretty superb health from their supporting cast. Along with Vucevic, Patrick Williams played all 82 games. Coby White also appeared in a career-high 74 games, while Alex Caruso played a career-high 67 games. Health was finally on Chicago’s side … and they still couldn’t crack the top 8.
28.9 3PAs
The Chicago Bulls finished dead-last in 3-point attempts per game this season at 28.9. This meant they were the only team in the NBA not to average at least 30 attempts. Even more frustrating, this was the second-straight year they sat last in the league.
I know this point has been discussed ad nauseam, but it has to be until something changes. You’re never going to stay alive in the modern NBA when ranking at the bottom of the league in 3-point tries. Even if the Bulls ranked a very good 4th in percentage last year and a decent 16th in percentage this year, it’s still a numbers game they’re losing nearly every night. Overcoming a hot shooting performance from an opponent is hard enough in the world of 3-point variance, but it’s even harder when your personnel forces you to match 3s with 2s.
The Bulls were outscored 60-27 behind the arc by Golden State, 60-21 by Phoenix, 51-15 by Brooklyn, and 48-18 by Philly this season. And that’s just to name a few of the nights where things got ugly! Overall, they led the NBA with the most games with nine or fewer 3-pointers made at 36, per Stathead.
Look, nobody is saying the Bulls should chuck up 3s just to chuck up 3s. You still have to play a style of basketball that fits the personnel on the floor. But when you’re restricted this greatly from matching your opponent from 3, then it’s abundantly clear that you don’t have the right personnel.
Chicago, in particular, has built an odd team around their two superstars. Both LaVine and DeMar DeRozan tend to be at their best when they get into the paint. LaVine is an explosive downhill player whose at-the-rim efficiency has only trended in the right direction with age. Meanwhile, we all know DeRozan is a mid-range maestro. They can both benefit immensely from a supporting cast that can knock down kick outs and space out the defense. The fact the front office hasn’t provided them with that is somewhat mind-boggling.
Anyway, I guess one piece of good news is the front office has reportedly hired a shooting coach. Formerly a member of the Mavs (who shot the third-most 3s last season), Peter Patton will join the organization’s player development team. Let’s hope this is only the beginning of Chicago prioritizing an improved shot profile moving forward.
