How much more can Bulls expect from Snell?
The scouting report on Chicago Bulls forward Tony Snell is relatively straightforward:
He's pretty good on defense, especially when it comes to using his absurdly long arms to challenge jumps shots. Snell's opponents are shooting just 28.9 percent from 3-point range against him this season, according to nba.com.
Anything involving strength — interior defense, finishing in traffic — can be a problem for Snell. He has come a long way since being drafted by the Bulls in 2013, but Snell's physique still resembles a blade of grass.
So it's difficult to call Monday's performance against Philadelphia a breakout game for Snell. There's not much precedence for what he did against the lowly 76ers.
Snell finished with a season-high 16 points and career-high 11 rebounds. His previous high scoring game this season was 14 points against Minnesota, but he failed to score a single point in three of the five previous contests before facing Philadelphia.
This was his best rebounding game of the season by a wide margin; his previous high was 6. He went to the foul line six times against the Sixers, a big improvement from no attempts in the previous eight games. Snell shot just 10 free throws all season before Monday's windfall.
The Bulls welcomed Snell's solid performance. But there's too little evidence to suggest it's a sign of more to come.
“I thought Tony impacted the game every way you possibly can on the basketball floor,” coach Fred Hoiberg said after the Bulls defeated the Sixers 115-96. “He defended, he was getting to the rim, he was knocking down shots, getting himself to the free-throw line. He did everything.”
Hoiberg praised Snell for his defense in the previous two games against the Los Angeles Clippers' J.J. Redick (2-for-11) and New Orleans Pelicans' Eric Gordon (5-for-15). There is value in Snell's defense. He has enough speed to stay in front of people, and his extreme reach creates bad looks at the rim.
According to nba.com stats, players guarded by Snell are shooting 35.9 percent from 15-19 feet, 35.6 percent from 10-14 feet and 34.4 percent from 5-9 feet. Taken as a whole, those defensive field-goal percentage numbers probably are the best in the NBA.
The Bulls also need points, though, and Snell hasn't delivered. He got loose for several fastbreaks against the Sixers, which helped pad his total.
“I'm very confident I can score, but I'm very confident I can defend as well,” Snell said. “I just try to do both at the same time.”
Snell was pushed into the starting lineup when Mike Dunleavy had back surgery before training camp. Dunleavy figures to be out into January.
Considering Snell now shares the floor with Jimmy Butler, Derrick Rose and Pau Gasol, maybe a defensive role is the right fit for him. There are other scorers available and spacing the floor as a 3-point shooter isn't a bad option. Snell is shooting 41.5 percent from long range this season.
While it's natural for people to expect Snell's scoring to improve, it's also difficult for a young player to develop when he's the fifth option on offense. That's probably a reason Hoiberg has kept offensive-minded Doug McDermott on the second team.
“Tony just continues to work,” Butler said. “He's kind of got to figure it out on his own. You can tell somebody as much as you need to, but eventually when it clicks, it's going to click. Hopefully this game (against the 76ers) was a starting point.”
There still is potential in Snell's game. But he needs more strength to become a better two-way player. He stayed in Chicago all summer working in the weight room and remains on a high calorie count. His mother, Sherika Brown, has a home in Chicago, so she helps out with the cooking.
“(Eating excessively) is harder than it sounds,” Snell said, “but I'm trying to do my best to keep it up.”
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Bulls scouting report
Bulls vs. Memphis Grizzlies at the United Center, 7 p.m.
TV: Comcast SportsNet / ESPN
Radio: ESPN 1000-AM
Outlook: The Grizzlies got off to a slow start but have gone 11-6 since Nov. 13. The matchup with the Gasol brothers should be a good one. Marc is Memphis' top scorer at 16.4 ppg, followed by PG Mike Conley (14.5) and PF Zach Randolph (13.7). Mario Chalmers, acquired in a trade from Miami, is making an impact with 11.2 ppg. Randolph has come off the bench in the last two games. The Bulls have lost three in a row to the Grizzlies at the UC.
Next: Detroit Pistons at the United Center on Friday, 7 p.m.
— Mike McGraw