TBJB Bulls analysis-The good and not so good

Sitting at 4-4 doesn’t exactly exude confidence from anyone’s perspective. For the most part, the Chicago Bulls have been a team trying to adjust. The 20 ppg scorer is long gone, so the day of Luol Deng has come…again. The Bulls have their worries, but this isn’t a squad void of any light at the end of the tunnel.

The Good:Because he’s recovering from a stress fracture in his leg, Luol Deng jumps to the top of the list in the most impressive category. That, and he’s also on my fantasy team. Deng is putting 17 and 9.3 rpg a game. Who knew Luol would be pushing double-double numbers, considering he suffered a career low last year of 14 and 6.  Offensively, he’s a different player knowing he has to be the guy. He’s shot the ball well because he’s mixing up his game. Not relying too much on the long jumper, just taking it when the situation dictates it. His aggressiveness and physicality is a big cause for a jump in the offensive rebounds.

Honorable Mention:Joakim Noah is not slipping by so quick. He’s never going to win a scoring award, but he’s steady at every other facet of his game. Noah is contributing almost 13 rpg, along with a 11.5 ppg. Throw in 2.5 blocks, and you have a solution in the middle. Who are Bulls fans comparing Noah to? Whispers of Ben Wallace. He’s got the edge on height, length, and does have a better offensive game, but Wallace and Noah are two different players in my opinion. Let’s not forget, Wallace could bench 460 in his prime. But in respect to not getting off-topic, Noah is living up to expectations.

The Not so good:The lack of production on the perimeter is hampering the game of Derrick Rose. A player like Derrick Rose needs to find the seams in a defense to attack, then promptly kick the ball out. But when John Salmons and Kirk Hinrich struggle to shoot the ball from the outside, it shrinks the floor, thus giving Rose less operating room. Teams are doing different things with Rose, picking him up full court and forcing the ball out of his hands, basic measures to take a young player out of the flow and rhythm of a game.

Good on the Horizon?

Look at it this way, Derrick Rose is only averaging 32 minutes per game, and is still knocking off rust and natural soreness from the tendon injury in his right ankle.  Rose will continue to work himself into better game shape, and the minutes will steadily increase. And in that time, I do expect John Salmons to get it going. Too good of a shooter to count out. As for Kirk Hinrich, I’m usually satisfied with his defense, but if he’s knocking down shots, I won’t complain.

We’re going where from here?

To a place where Derrick Rose is 100% healthy, along with a safe return for Tyrus Thomas, but that’s looking down the road. Luol Deng will continue to thrive but Salmons needs to get his confidence back. If Hinrich and Salmons continue to struggle from the field, Gar Foreman will have to look into acquiring a shooter. We don’t need Derrick Rose being hustled by two defenders all year.

Tags: Ben Wallace, Derrick Rose, Good and Not so good, Joakim Noah, John Salmons, Kirk Hinrich, Luol Deng, The Blog that Jordan built, Tyrus Thomas