Mirotic returns to Bulls' starting lineup for first time since Dec. 3
Early returns on the Bobby Portis experiment were promising.
The second-year power forward took a spot in the starting lineup when Taj Gibson was traded to Oklahoma City on Feb. 23. Not long after that, Portis scored in double figures in four consecutive games.
He hasn't made as much of an impact lately, scoring just 3 points in Friday's loss at Washington. So coach Fred Hoiberg moved Portis back to a bench role and started Nikola Mirotic on Saturday against Utah.
Mirotic said before the game he was surprised by the news. The third-year forward has inconsistency issues of his own. Mirotic started for just the third time this season and the first time since Dec. 3.
"Part of it is match up with the way Utah starts playing small," Hoiberg said before the contest. "Joe Johnson, (Joe) Ingles kind of play 3-4, so wanted to get Niko out there, he's had a little bit more experience guarding perimeter guys. Also just to change our rhythm a little bit, getting Bobby back to that bench role, coming off with great energy and giving us great minutes."
Over the last six games, Portis has averaged 7.3 points, 6.2 rebounds and shot 39 percent. In Mirotic's last three games, after a short stint on the bench, he's averaged 17.7 points and 7.7 rebounds.
"He (Portis) did have some great minutes as a starter," Hoiberg said. "As of late, he struggled a little bit, so just to change the rhythm, change the flow, not only the team, but also for Bobby and get him coming off the bench."
When the Bulls made the trade with the Thunder, vice president of basketball operations John Paxson said one of the goals was more playing time for Portis, rookie Denzel Valentine and newcomer Cameron Payne.
Lazy and soft doesn't work:
Jimmy Butler had some pointed words about the Bulls' first-half performance on Friday in Washington. They trailed by 19 at intermission, then got as close as 1 point late in the game. Butler missed a potential tying 3-pointer in the final seconds.
"We were just lazy - and I hate this word - and soft," Butler said, according to bulls.com. "I hate it, but that is exactly what we were. They beat us to every 50-50 ball, whooped our tail in transition; we turned the ball over. What's crazy is we've done that all year long. I figured we'd get tired of it. I guess we like playing that way.
"I don't know the answer. Like a broken record, you keep asking me the same question, I'll give you the same answer. Turn the ball over, not rebounding. Eventually, you would think it would change. But 69, 70 games in, it's still there."
The answer is those things happen because the Bulls have used so many young, unproven players. The lapses figure to continue until the team can retool the roster this summer.
Payne still out:
Cameron Payne was inactive for the third straight game because of a sore right foot, but coach Fred Hoiberg is hoping to have him back next week.
"Kind of the plan on Cam right now is to get him on the treadmill (Sunday), get him doing some lateral movements and then hopefully have him back for practice on Monday."
The Bulls' next game is Tuesday in Toronto.