Chicago Bulls' McDermott finally getting his shot
In an era when most good college players stay in school for only a year, it was easy to be skeptical about Doug McDermott's scoring skills.
McDermott finished his career at Creighton as the NCAA's No. 5 all-time leading scorer. But he stuck around for four years. Think about how many great players would have joined that list had they not turned pro early.
Now that McDermott is getting consistent playing time in his second season with the Chicago Bulls, two things are clear: His scoring skills are legit, and the Bulls need McDermott on the floor to be at their best offensively.
"You know when Doug shoots and he doesn't make it, you're surprised, and I think that's the sign of a great shooter when you expect them to make it every time they release it," Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said Thursday at the Advocate Center.
Praise has been building lately. After Wednesday's win over Memphis, Derrick Rose said he tries to always drive on McDermott's side of the floor because he knows the defender will be reluctant to help.
Over the last nine games, McDermott has been the team's fourth-leading scorer with 10.8 points. His 3-point percentage has dropped slightly, but he still ranks eighth in the league at 44.6 percent and hit 4 of 8 shots from long range against the Grizzlies.
A natural comparison for McDermott is Atlanta's Kyle Korver, a former Bull and another Creighton product. But Korver himself admits McDermott is a more versatile scorer. Korver takes most of his shots from 3-point range, while McDermott is already getting baskets off the dribble and has a nice-looking floater.
"I know how difficult it is to prepare for somebody that's just an absolute knockdown shooter," Hoiberg said. "We feel Doug is that guy. So you spend a lot of time preparing. Korver, for example, you can't leave. You can't leave a Kyle Korver. You just can't do it. So you have to build your defense around that."
Hoiberg is planning to stick with the recent rotation plan. McDermott will stay with the second team, where he'll get a high volume of shots, and usually stick around for the fourth quarter. He played the entire fourth on Wednesday.
"I feel like when I catch it and I'm open it's going in every time," McDermott said. "I feel like I've still got to get better with decision making when I catch the ball, sometimes I move too quick, (Wednesday) I had a travel. I feel like I'm playing better defense and it's carrying over."
McDermott is quick to admit he was lost defensively at the start of the season. He'll probably never be an All-NBA defender, but he moves his feet well enough to be adequate and he's starting to get comfortable with team defensive concepts.
"Earlier in the year, I was so worried about my man that it put our team at a huge disadvantage," he said. "So now I'm doing a better job of helping and that's helping our team out a lot more and not leaving me out on an island as much."
McDermott usually plays at the same time as Joakim Noah. Listening to Noah's direction has helped McDermott figure things out on defense.
"I feel like just as a group, we're talking a lot more," he said. "For a guy like me who needs all the help he can get, with Jo and Taj (Gibson) and all those guys, they're talking and communicating way better.
"Sometimes it's loud in there and the guy is yelling out the coverages behind me. Earlier in the year I was so lost and I couldn't hear anything. I feel like we're starting to grow as a group at that end of the floor and I think it's carrying over on the offense as well."
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Bulls scouting report
Bulls vs. Detroit Pistons at the United Center, 7 tonight
TV: Comcast SportsNet
Radio: ESPN 1000-AM
Outlook: This game wraps up the Bulls' five-game homestand. They are 0-1 against the Pistons this season, losing 98-94 in overtime at the Palace on Oct. 30. Detroit C Andre Drummond had 20 points and 20 rebounds that night, while Marcus Morris scored 26 points. Drummond leads the league in rebounds with 16.2 per game. PG Reggie Jackson is the Pistons' top scorer at 20.1 ppg, followed by Drummond at 17.7 and Morris at 14.3. Thanks in large part to Drummond, who shoots 36.8 percent at the foul line, Detroit (15-12) is last in the NBA in free-throw percentage. The Bulls have won 17 of the last 18 against the Pistons at the UC.
Next: New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, 6:30 p.m.
- Mike McGraw