The 2014 Chicago Bulls Roster: Continuation

Although the season has already gotten under way, I still need to finish my outlook on just what I am seeing out of the this year's Chicago Bulls roster. So here are my next five players from the roster that I will be looking at.

-Taj Gibson: Forward #22

With the season under way, it just blows my mind that Taj Gibson has not seemed to impress Tom Thibodeau enough to crack the starting lineup for the Bulls once again. I mean seriously, the man is literally one of those players that helps fuel the team and brings a sense of dominance whenever he is on the court. A former first rounder out of USC in '09, there were some that thought Gibson's best chances to make the team was using his size (6' 9" 225 lbs.) and unbelievable record 7' 4" wingspan to strong-arm those he faced. For Taj, he not only made the team, but is considered, by me at least, to be the ferocious forward that has the ability to take the ball and shove it down the basket for a big dunk over somebody, and then run down to play defense and slap the ball right out of the air. I mean let's face it: Meeting someone like Taj Gibson in an alley would be pretty intimidating and scary for anyone. But regardless, Gibson looks like he'll be coming off the bench once again. Although his numbers were smaller than Pau Gasol's (who starts at power forward), Gibson still was able to average 13 points/game, about 7 rebounds/game, and 1.5 blocks/game while maintaining a 75% free throw percentage and 49% field goal percentage all while playing 28 minutes/game in all 82 games on the season. Now I don't know about you guys, but that is quite impressive for someone who is just simply coming off the bench. Now granted, Gasol had a bit better numbers with the L.A. Lakers, is a true 7 footer for the team, and also has the ability to step behind the three point line and drop two or three in a night if he's feeling good. So because of that, I thought it would have been awesome, though out of the ordinary, to have Gasol start at the small forward, Gibson, and power forward, and Noah in the middle at center. Just think: 7'0" Gasol, 6'9" Gibson, and 6'11" Noah all on the court. We would destroy teams on offensive/defensive rebounds per game along with blocks per game. Even with Taj Gibson coming off the bench, I feel confident that he will step, as always, to help this team reach the playoffs and maybe even win himself a Sixth Man of the Year award along the way.

Predicted Stats:
Points/Game- 15.5
Rebounds/Game- 6.5
Steals/Game- 0.5
Turnovers/Game- 2.0
Field Goal%- 48.5
3 Pt. %- 0.0


-Nikola Mirotic: Forward #44

In 2011, the Houston Rockets selected a young man from Spain by the name of Nikola Mirotic with the 23rd pick in the draft. Later that night, he was traded to Minnesota. And in a surprising move, was once again traded, this time from Minnesota to Chicago. That night, there were some who were probably thinking, "With all the trading for this kid, is that a good or bad sign?" and I would understand because I was in the that exact same boat as well. But after doing some homework (not schoolwork) on this kid to see just what the Bulls had traded for, I thought, "Oh baby we got us a good one!". Now I did forget that they analysts at the draft had mentioned that Nikola was someone that would be coming to the team in about three to four years time in order to allow him to grow and mature as a player. So I was a little upset. However, the idea that he would be coming to Chicago after the Bulls had three or four years to pick up some more talent to play along side him was so exciting to think about. So where was Mitotic for three years? Well, you would need to cross the Atlantic and head toward Spain to have seen him in person. For those three years after being drafted in 2011, 6'10" Nikola Mirotic was playing for the Real Madrid basketball team (and I had know idea my favorite soccer club also had a basketball team as well!) and was considered to be the team's star player while playing along side former NBA and Spanish guard Rudy Fernandez. During those three years of waiting, Mitotic averaged about 12 points/game, 5 rebounds/game, and 0.5 blocks/game while having a 50% field goal percentage, 40% three point percentage, and an outstanding 86% free throw percentage (led league with almost 92% FT percent in 2011). Although these numbers may not pop right out, Mitotic was described as Europe's best player because he has the size of a forward/center, the dribbling skills of a point guard, and range of a shooting guard/small forward. Hopefully, Thibodeau will give Nikola Mirotic some significant playing time on the court where he can start proving that he is the probably the Bulls' best European signing since the 1990s when the Bulls had Croatian forward Tony Kukoc.

Predicted Stats:
Points/Game- 8.5
Rebounds/Game- 4.5
Steals/Game- 0.5
Turnovers/Game- 3.0
Field Goal%- 42.0
3 Pt. %- 36.5


-Kirk Hinrich: Guard #12

Originally drafted in 2003 at 7th overall by Chicago out of Kansas. Kirk Hinrich was considered a wizard with the pass, three point shooting, and on-ball defense. He was with the team until after the '09-'10 season, which then saw him go to Atlanta, Washington, Atlanta again, and then back here in Chicago in 2012. In his 11 years, Hinrich is averaging around 12 points/game, 5 assists/game, 3 rebounds/game, and 1 steal/game. Kirk has also been able to hold career percent averages of 41.5% in field goals, close to 38% from three point, and about 80% from the free throw line. Now the stats say one thing, but his on-court play says something completely different (at least that's what I think). For one, Kirk Hinrich's "stellar" defense has seemed to have vanished after watching him from 2007-'10 with the Bulls, and then again when he returned in 2012 till now. His highlights of when he was in college at Kansas and a rookie in Chicago show this guy with fast moving hands that were up in your face and moved all around with you on the perimeter. 11 years later, I still hear people try to claim that Hinrich is one of the teams' best defensive players. Really? Cause I recall many times watching him out on the court with Kemba Walker, John Wall, and other point guards that would just turn up the juice and blow right past him like a spark of lightening. Those highlights also depicted a smart shooter all around the court that waited for the open shot, and if nothing was there, then he'd pass it off to someone would had a better chance. 11 years later, he seems to just take any shot that seems "good enough" from where he is, and if he doesn't have an open look, then about half the time he tries to force his shot instead of pass it off to someone else. I know some people will not agree with this, but this is just how I have seen Kirk Hinrich over these past few years of watching the game and understanding it more and more. As long as Hinrich does not take dumb shots and makes smart passes, he'll be a nice addition to the bench, but I still hope that he does not eat up minutes of experience on the court for young guard Tony Snell and veteran point guard Aaron Brooks.

Predicted Stats:
Points/Game- 10.5
Rebounds/Game- 2.0
Steals/Game- 1.0
Turnovers/Game- 2.5
Field Goal%- 47.5
3 Pt. %- 33.0


-Mike Dunleavy: Guard-Forward #34

At 6'9" 230 lbs., Mike Dunleavy seems like quite a specimen to have on your team. While his ability to create and make insane shots in what the Bulls do need, Dunleavy's ability to be a teacher and understand the game is also an impressive attribute for him to have on and off the court. Most likely, he picked it up from Illinois native and Duke's head basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski, who helped develop Dunleavy into the 3rd overall pick by Golden State in the '02 NBA Draft. Since then, Mike Dunleavy has played five years with Golden State, five more with the Indiana Pacers, two years with the Milwaukee Bucks, and is now going into his second with the Bulls. With 12 years of experience under his belt, Dunleavy is averaging 12 points/game, 4.5 rebounds/game, 2.5 assists/game, and about 1 steal/game. His career percent averages are 44% in field goals, 37% from three point range, and 80% from the free throw line. All that together and it is no wonder why the man is just 17 more points away from hitting 10,000 career points scored. Similar to Kirk Hinrich, age is starting to show in his game at 34 years old. However, Mike Dunleavy's size and high intensity on the court help make up for that in making him still aggressive to get rebounds and bound the ball inside. It is a bit surprising that he would be considered to be someone to play the shooting guard position given that Dunleavy stands 6'9", but if Earvin "Magic" Johnson could play point guard (along with every other position) at 6'9", then it certainly could not be too bad for Dunleavy to do it as well (well, maybe not "as well"). So with all that Mike Dunleavy can bring to Chicago in his intensity, scoring, and smart decision making, then there is a good chance that we see him become a a big factor by taking those perfect-form jump shots that he loves to rain on the opposing team.

Predicted Stats:
Points/Game- 9.0
Rebounds/Game- 3.5
Steals/Game- 0.5
Turnovers/Game- 2.0
Field Goal%- 45.0
3 Pt. %- 39.5

-Aaron Brooks: Guard #0

Believe it or not, but there was a time when I thought that Aaron Brooks was going to rise and be considered one of the top point guards in the NBA. He could drive, shoot mid and long range, hit the open man on a dime, steal the ball, throw the alley-oop, and dribble all the way around on the court. But that lasted only his first four years when he was drafted by the Houston Rockets. After that, he was traded to the Phoenix Suns during the '10-'11 season, then went back to Houston only to be traded to the Sacramento Kings, then signed with the Denver Nuggets only to find himself being shipped off yet again and headed back to Houston. But now in his 7th year in the NBA, Aaron Brooks is in a place that has had a few good years of turning former outstanding point guards in a slump into good looking backup/starting point guards for any team in the league. So far, Brooks is averaging 11 points/game, 3.5 assists/game, 2 rebounds/game, and 0.5 steals/game in his career with a 41.5% field goal, 37% three point, and 85% free throw career percentages. So far, Thibodeau is using him just as he should be: Derrick Rose's relief and fill-in man at point guard. And it makes sense why Brooks would be the choice for that guy because he shows such an aggressive and intense passion to drive to the basket despite the fact that most players seem to be towering over him because he is just at the 6'0" mark. Also, when you have to pick between a old guard in Kirk Hinrich who is risky and unable to really keep up and defend against the NBA guards these days or a much less fatigued and quicker guard in Aaron Brooks, I think I'll go ahead and give most of the time to my guy Brooks. So with the hope that Coach Thibodeau continues to use Aaron Brooks to help relieve some of the pressure off of Derrick Rose and be a energizing spark for the team coming off the bench, then I got a good feeling about Brooks making a comeback as a well rounded option for a team looking for a point guard.

Predicted Stats:
Points/Game- 9.5
Rebounds/Game- 1.5
Steals/Game- 1.0
Turnovers/Game- 2.0
Field Goal%- 43.0
3 Pt. %- 36.0