Things looking up for Bulls
The Bulls can't count on perfect health (obviously), but one of their most consistent traits during the past four years has been the ability to rise to occasion when playing short-handed.
They've made the playoffs without Derrick Rose the past two seasons and won a Game 7 in Brooklyn with even more missing pieces. Then, how many times did they win big games against Miami with John Lucas III or C.J. Watson serving as hero for a night?
So Tuesday's win over Washington was more of the same. Actually, the Wizards barely qualify as a quality opponent these days. Sure, they beat the Bulls in the playoffs last season, but Washington has been reeling lately, losing 12 of its last 15 games.
“We've been short-handed a lot so these guys have been through it before,” Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said after Wednesday's light practice at the Advocate Center. “We have a really good group of guys who will fight. That's all you can ask for.”
Thibodeau's familiar mantra of “next man up” came true once again, and there are plenty of positive signs the Bulls will be able to survive these next three weeks or so without Rose and Jimmy Butler, the team's top two scorers.
One glaring positive is Nikola Mirotic. Everyone knew he wasn't an ordinary rookie, coming from high-level EuroLeague experience with Real Madrid.
In the past two games, Mirotic has seemed very comfortable and confident in the role of go-to scorer. He has led the Bulls in each of the past two games, with 23 points against Washington and a career-high 29 on Sunday against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Mirotic has been more than a 6-foot-10 outside shooter. On Tuesday, he successfully posted up smaller players, ran his way to fastbreak points and beat slower Wizards big men off the dribble.
“He's a great player,” teammate Joakim Noah said. “He adds a dimension that we don't have, that we haven't had in the past. Just his ability to space the floor the way he's able to and the way he pushes it after a defensive rebound.
“He does a lot of things to help you win basketball games.”
Meanwhile, Tony Snell is having a career progression reminiscent of Butler. He didn't contribute much as a rookie, but given a chance during his second season, Snell has blossomed. Not only is he the team's best 3-point shooter, he also has been able to slash to the basket and be an effective defender.
Even though his demeanor rarely changes, Snell is enjoying the chance to play significant minutes.
“It makes me know the hard work's paying off,” Snell said. “I have to continue to grow, continue to work hard and continue to learn.”
Then there's the scoring skills of fill-in point guard Aaron Brooks, the improving health of Noah and a deep rotation that included rookie Doug McDermott on Tuesday for the first time since November. McDermott didn't score in 15 minutes of action.
“I thought defensively he was very good,” Thibodeau said of McDermott. “He didn't make some shots, but that will come.”
One obvious reason for the Wizards slump was an injury that knocked out shooting guard Bradley Beal for eight games. Beal didn't seem completely healthy Tuesday, hitting 6 of 18 shots from the field.
With 21 games left in the regular season, the Bulls are in a tight race with Toronto and Cleveland for second place in the East. Washington was in fifth place, 2½ games behind the Cavaliers, as of Wednesday morning. Whether the Wizards end up fifth or drop behind Milwaukee into sixth, there's a chance for the Bulls-Wizards rematch in the first round of the playoffs.
Even if the Bulls get back to full strength by the playoffs, should they be worried about a potential bad matchup against Washington?
Not necessarily. A healthy Beal would make a big difference and John Wall is one of the best, but the feeling here is the Wizards' current lineup is not as good as last year, after losing Trevor Ariza to Houston and Trevor Booker to Utah. A front line of Nene, Marcin Gortat and 37-year-old Paul Pierce is awfully slow.
The success of Mirotic probably is something the Bulls want to store for future use. Even if they're healthy for the playoffs, Mirotic is an awkward matchup for most teams.
Against the Wizards' physical, sedentary big men, he may be a difference-maker.
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