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Chicago Bulls' challenge is how to use McDermott

There are a couple of entries in the Chicago Bulls' individual statistics that don't really match up.

Second-year forward Doug McDermott is shooting 51.2 percent from 3-point range. He's one of three players still above 50 percent for the season, joining Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki and New York guard Langston Galloway.

On the other hand, McDermott is playing less than 50 percent of games, averaging just 20.7 minutes.

One of the challenges for coach Fred Hoiberg as the season progresses is figuring out how to get more from one of the team's best offensive weapons. The Bulls certainly could use McDermott on the court late in game, when their offense has often hit a brick wall during crunchtime.

Friday's loss at Golden State was the latest of several examples. The Bulls tied the game at 89-89 with just less than six minutes left, then watched the Warriors close the game with a 17-5 run.

The circus road trip continues for the Bulls on Tuesday in Portland. Derrick Rose participated in all of Monday's practice and should be available after sitting out two games with a sprained left ankle.

ESPN analyst Tim Legler can relate to McDermott's plight. It wasn't until Legler reached his seventh professional season that he finally saw consistent, significant minutes - and he shot 52 percent from 3-point range for the 1995-96 Washington Wizards.

The reason was similar to what McDermott is facing: No one thought Legler was good enough defensively to stay on the floor.

"I always felt like in my case it was kind of hypocritical because I knew that I was a pretty good defensive player and I was an excellent team defensive player," Legler said in a phone interview with the Daily Herald.

"It was tough because I felt like I could guard a guy really well for four or five possessions, but the one time you'd get beat - somebody would turn the corner and get to the rim - the coach would overreact and yank you out of the game.

"So eventually you just have to stick with it and find the right coach. I'm not saying Hoiberg isn't this guy, but he hasn't had enough experience with Doug yet.

"But you have to play for a coach that values the things you do well so much that he is willing to try to hide some things that he might think are your weaknesses. Once you find that situation, you're going to be good to go."

Legler's point is the elite offensive players are going to score plenty of points no matter who is guarding them. So it's better to use someone who can at least make the opponents work hard on the other end of the floor.

Another good case study is someone Bulls fans know well, Kyle Korver. When Korver first came into the league with Philadelphia, he played heavy minutes but also could disappear onto the bench if asked to guard someone like ex-Bulls guard Ben Gordon.

When he joined the Bulls, Korver often guarded Miami's Dwyane Wade and held his own. Now in Atlanta, Korver is a full-time player, rarely replaced for defensive reasons.

"Korver does an adequate job against the top-tier players and he's more than fine against the guys that are more role players," Legler said. "What he's doing on the other end of the floor, not just with shot-making, but the amount of attention he commands, it leads to open shots for other guys.

"I've broken this down on film. Even on a night when Kyle Korver might hit 8 shots, he has contributed to another 25 to 30 with his constant movement and defenses being over-aware of where he is to the point where two guys jump on him when he comes off the screen."

Plenty of NBA observers would agree with Legler's argument. As long as a guy can follow the defensive game plan and understand how to play team defense, a dangerous offensive player will be the better lineup choice.

The question is whether McDermott is ready to master NBA team defense. He had knee surgery during his rookie season and didn't play much. Now he's just 13 games into his first substantial playing time.

The truth is, McDermott may not be ready for a larger role right now. The faster he gets there, the better off the Bulls will be.

"He's a very young player. He's just getting his feet wet in this league," Legler said. "I don't know if he moves as well defensively as guys like Korver or (Clippers guard) J.J. Redick. I don't think he's got cement in his shoes. I think he moves laterally OK and he gets to places. It's more of an understanding and anticipation.

"He's very early in Year 2. I think as the year goes on, he'll be better and better, and by next year, it will be something he won't focus on as much. He'll be an established guy in this league as well as one of the best shooters in the league."

The Bulls could use an extra shooter Tuesday night, though. As far as they're concerned, McDermott's progression to an adequate defender can't happen soon enough.

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