Fast-paced game plan not up to speed for Chicago Bulls
The Bulls' defense had been pretty good this season until giving up an astonishing 130 points at Charlotte on Tuesday. So maybe there's no reason to be too concerned about that facet of the game.
One thing that has been baffling about the Bulls so far is why they haven't been able to execute new coach Fred Hoiberg's fast-paced game plan.
The Bulls rank 15th in the league in points per game at 100.6. The NBA leaders in aggressive offense, Golden State and Oklahoma City, are currently scoring more than 118 points. The Bulls host the Thunder on Thursday at the United Center.
Hoiberg is playing a 10-man rotation and the Bulls have a reasonably athletic team, led by point guard Derrick Rose, so it's difficult to comprehend why the pace has been slow. Maybe five years of playing for defensive-minded coach Tom Thibodeau created some hard habits to break.
"We've just got to keep drilling it and keep talking to them about it," Hoiberg said after Wednesday's practice at the Advocate Center. "We'll get some more reps at shootaround tomorrow and hopefully get better. That's all you can ask."
Hoiberg didn't want to blame Rose for the lack of a fast pace. The point guard has scored in single digits for three straight games, but you can't really hold Rose to his normal standard since he missed nearly all of training camp and is still experiencing double-vision in his left eye, the result of a fractured orbital bone.
"Some of it is not his fault," Hoiberg said. "A lot of times, we're not running with him and getting down. It has to be a commitment by all five guys to get out and run. When we do it, we're pretty effective. But there's too much inconsistency in that area right now."
According to nba.com, the Bulls rank 16th in the league in possessions per 48 minutes at 101.1. The league leader is Boston at 106.4.
Obviously, setting a fast pace starts with Rose. When he first came into the league, he was a blur on the floor and mentioned as one of the fastest guards on his generation.
After three knee surgeries, Rose has surely slowed down, but he seemed very quick a few weeks ago during his preseason debut against Dallas. Rose will need all the speed he can muster on Thursday, working against Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook, Rose's longtime summer workout partner. Westbrook was averaging an impressive 30.3 points, 9.3 assists and 7.5 rebounds heading into Wednesday's game at Toronto.
"We sat in the film room today and watched a lot of clips," Hoiberg said of Rose. "He's in there and understands and takes full accountability for his issues. That's where it starts. You have to see it and get better. He had a very good practice today. He's still getting himself in the type of shape he needs to be in."
Jimmy Butler, critical of the Bulls' defense after the loss in Charlotte, also refused to blame Rose for the relatively slow pace on offense.
"It's not on Derrick. I'm not running as hard as I could run," Butler said. "A lot of guys aren't doing what they're supposed to do. If we're not running, he can't run because we're taking up his space. I think it's a team thing. If we all start running, it will make it easier for him to run."
It should be easy to pick up the pace on Thursday, since the Thunder wants to play fast and throw up a lot of shots by its two superstars, Westbrook and Kevin Durant. The Bulls are probably going through a natural learning curve with a new style of play.
"That's where it starts with Derrick. We have to put more initial pressure on the defense," Hoiberg said. "We're not doing that. The ball didn't swing from side to side at all in the first quarter (at Charlotte). We'd hit Pau and just stand. We have to cut and move and apply some pressure in the possession. We worked on it today. and hopefully will be better at it tomorrow."
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Scouting report
Bulls vs. Oklahoma City Thunder at the United Center, 7 p.m.
TV: TNT
Radio: ESPN 1000-AM
Outlook: After giving up 130 points at Charlotte, the Bulls will try to slow down the Thunder, which was averaging 118.3 points heading into Wednesday's game at Toronto. PG Russell Westbrook ranks second in the league in scoring (30.3 ppg) and assists (9.3). SF Kevin Durant is close behind at 29.8 ppg. Then there are three other OKC players averaging double figures - PF Serge Ibaka (12.0), ex-Bull D.J. Augustin (11.5) and C Enes Kanter (10.8). The Bulls beat OKC 108-105 last March at the UC, despite 43 points from Westbrook.
Next: Minnesota Timberwolves at the United Center, 5 p.m. Saturday
- Mike McGraw