Bulls' point-guard play coming back to the Norm
What exactly is the norm in basketball?
One player is assigned to dribble upcourt, set the offense in motion and take on a primary duty of distributing the ball.
It sounds easy, so why have the Bulls done without a conventional point guard for so long?
By drafting hometown hero Derrick Rose on Thursday, the Bulls have their first top-of-the-line, standard-model point guard since, well, The Norm - Norm Van Lier, whose last season with the team was 1977-78.
Reached at home the day after the draft, Van Lier chuckled at the concept of standing alongside Chicago sports legends Sid Luckman and Ron Santo as guys who took a very long time to replace.
Van Lier also applauded the Bulls for their choice and believes the NBA has entered a new era of great point guards, with Steve Nash and Jason Kidd, then Chris Paul and Deron Williams making huge impacts on their teams.
"It's a new era that I like, because it's getting back to a team game, instead of getting it to the star and everyone else clearing out," Van Lier said. "In my mind, it's a better brand of basketball. It involves everybody.
"I can go back to Toni Kukoc, when he handled the ball, he made guys like Dickey Simpkins look better."
Exactly one player in Bulls history has led the NBA in assists. That was Guy Rodgers in 1966-67, the first year the franchise existed.
The last Bulls player to rank in the top five in assists was Van Lier in 1977-78. That performance capped a stretch of five top-five appearance in six years for Stormin' Norman. The Bulls had one other guard finish as high as third in assists, Clem Haskins in 1969-70.
During the past 30 years, three Bulls have placed in the top 10 in assists - Ennis Whatley was eighth in 1983-84, Michael Jordan was 10th in 1988-89 and Kirk Hinrich was eighth during his rookie season of 2003-04.
Van Lier is confident Rose can end the Bulls' point guard and assist leader drought.
"What I really like is the family structure," he said. "I love that. It gives me confidence that he'll be able to handle things at 19 years old."
Where did all the Bulls' point guards go? Here's a rundown of those who played the position from Van Lier to Rose:
Kirk Hinrich - A solid ballhandler, but he's more of a combo guard. He only played the point one year out of the four he spent at Kansas.
Chris Duhon - To be fair, Duhon was a competent, conventional point guard. He started 141 games during the three playoff seasons. But he wasn't consistent and is not expected back next season.
Jamal Crawford - Definitely not a true point guard. He's been pretty good in New York playing the two.
Randy Brown - He kept the spot warm the first two years after Jordan retired.
Ron Harper - More of a defensive specialist during his Bulls years.
B.J. Armstrong - Another combo guard who could be a dangerous streak shooter.
John Paxson - He seemed to be a true point guard in college. But with the Bulls, he essentially dribbled past half court and initiated the Jordan offense.
Ennis Whatley, Wes Matthews - These two shared the job during Jordan's rookie season. Whatley was better the year before Jordan arrived.
Reggie Theus - A better assist man than he's given credit for, Theus had unusual size for a point guard (6-foot-7) and did his best passing after leaving the Bulls.