Hoiberg sticks with Grant as Bulls' starting point guard
The Bulls lineup didn't change Wednesday. Jerian Grant started at point guard for the second straight game.
But coach Fred Hoiberg has made plenty of adjustments to the starting point guard slot and playing rotation all season. It's a symptom of a team with plenty of young and inconsistent players.
By starting Grant, Hoiberg is trying to match the Bulls' preferred closing lineup, which uses Jimmy Butler as the primary ballhandler and an extra shooter instead of a point guard. Grant is a better long-range shooter than the Bulls' other point guards, Michael Carter-Williams and Rajon Rondo.
"He's got some size. Obviously gives you a guy that can handle it, has played a lot of point guard over the course of his life," Hoiberg said of Grant. "He's got the size to guard wings if we do put Jimmy on the ball, which we've done the last couple of games. To have another guy that's been a point guard when it's not in Jimmy's hands, I think is something that's important to that first unit."
Grant had no assists during 20 minutes of action on Tuesday against Orlando. When it comes to assists per 48 minutes, Rondo is easily the Bulls' team leader at 11.4, followed by Butler (6.3), Wade (5.9), Carter-Williams (5.3) and Grant (4.8).
Reserves set to star:
All-star reserves will be announced Thursday on TNT and it's probably a safe bet no Bulls will be picked to join Jimmy Butler in New Orleans on Feb. 19.
Dwyane Wade was voted a starter by fans, but when player and media votes were added, Toronto's DeMar DeRozan got the nod to join Cleveland's Kyrie Irving in the East backcourt.
There is no shortage of deserving guards in the East. Boston's Isaiah Thomas, Washington's John Wall and Toronto's Kyle Lowry are virtual locks to be selected as reserves. That leaves four reserve spots open. Cleveland forward Kevin Love figures to get one.
At least one center should make it, with Miami's Hassan Whiteside and Detroit's Andre Drummond the top candidates. Candidates for the last spots appear to include Atlanta's Paul Millsap or Dennis Schroder, Indiana's Paul George, Charlotte's Kemba Walker and New York's Carmelo Anthony. Philadelphia's Joel Embiid and Milwaukee's Jabari Parker could get support from coaches. Wade is definitely a long shot.
Bulls horns:
Doug McDermott is shooting 42.9 percent from 3-point range on the road, compared to 30.2 percent at home. He made 4 of 6 on Tuesday at Orlando. … Dwyane Wade's 7 steals against the Magic tied the season-high in the NBA with three others. Wade, 35, is the fourth-oldest player to collect 7 steals since 1983, according to the Bulls. … Former Bulls guard Ben Gordon signed with the D-League's Texas Legends. … Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown attended Wednesday's game as a guest of Jimmy Butler.