Low-scoring Bogans making impact on Bulls
Is Keith Bogans getting the job done at shooting guard for the Bulls?
Well, his 4.3-point scoring average would seem to scream, “No.” But some other numbers tell a different story.
Plus-minus ratings in basketball, which measure how a team does on the scoreboard while a player is in the game, can be misleading. Bogans, though, is trending heavily on the plus side.
The low-scoring shooting guard has posted a positive plus-minus in five of the Bulls' six games this season. During Monday's 94-92 win over Denver, he was a team-best plus-18. In the opening loss at Oklahoma City, Bogans was the only Bulls player with a positive number.
He must be doing something right and the obvious answer is everything but score. Bogans plays defense, moves the ball and is the team's third-leading rebounder.
“I don't measure how he plays by how he scores,” coach Tom Thibodeau said. “I think it's how effective we function as a starting unit. He's a terrific defensive player. He's tough. He's hard nosed. He gets to loose balls. He gets deflections. He makes people work.”
Bogans is a decent 3-point shooter he nailed two against the Nuggets while scoring a season-high 10 points which helps open up the court for Derrick Rose to get to the basket.
“I can affect the game without having to score, that's how I feel,” Bogans said. “I think we have enough scorers on this team. When my shots come, I'll take them. But offense is not something I have to force here. I was brought here to play defense and bring energy.”
Bogans played a similar role for five different teams during his first seven NBA seasons. But he wasn't always like this. The 6-foot-5 guard still ranks fourth on Kentucky's list of all-time leading scorers behind Dan Issel, Kenny Walker and Jack Givens.
He played at DeMatha High School outside of Washington, D.C., for legendary high school coach Morgan Wootten. Back then, Bogans could score against anybody.
“I was pretty good coming out of high school,” Bogans said with a smile. “I could always score the basketball, but once I got here, I put more focus on playing defense.”
That may sound like a simple transition, but asking a big-time player to stow away his offensive skills requires some discipline.
“It was tough,” he said. “I've always been able to score the ball, but now there's not a lot of pressure on me on offense. If I'm open, I feel like I should make the shot. We've got big guns on this team to go to, especially when Booz (Carlos Boozer) gets back. So I'll just take the shots when they come.
“If he (Thibodeau) told me to shoot the ball more, I wouldn't hesitate. But I know that's not why I was brought here. I was brought here for defense first, spread the defense and make it easier for Derrick to get into the paint.”
Ronnie Brewer is starting to look more like his old self after missing the first two weeks of training camp with a sore hamstring. He had 7 points and 5 rebounds in 17 minutes of action against Denver.
The Bulls figure Brewer can offer a different look shooting guard with his athleticism and slashing ability.
“I think Keith has done a terrific job all season and Ronnie is playing better and better,” Thibodeau said. “I'm comfortable with what we have going on right now.”