KC Johnson: Bulls looking to add shooter

[Scoot26]

And a lot of the reason is Thib's sticking with the wrong lineups during Dunn's injury, imo. It will be interesting to see what happens when Kirk is back. And interesting enough, this is the deepest roster we've had since then as well.

Dunleavy and McDermott were out a lot of the same time... How would you have had the lineup during Dunleavy's time out? McDermott came back only a few games before Dunleavy.

 

[Bear Pride]

He couldn't because he was also injured. There were maybe 3 or 4 games where he was back before Dunleavy, but there's no way you can expect him to jump back into the rotation after injury and do anything useful.

I think it was more games than that, but I won't argue with you cuz we really don't know, but surely Thib's could have played Tony or Niko more since "shooting" was the main thing we were missing at that point.

 

[Diddy1122]

Chamberlain basically did not come off the court. Of the top 16 minutes played in a season, Wilt is in the top 16 9 times, including being in the top 5 himself.

And actually if you look at the top 50 seasons by minutes played, only 4 (Iverson, Payton, and Finley x2) have been in the 2000s.

MJ led the league in minutes played 3 times (5 total times in the top 3) and had a career average of 38.3 mpg. He also played 37 mpg as a 40 year old.

I mean maybe I'm just old school but players complaining about minutes, or days off, or wanting less preseason, or less reg sesason games, and blahblahblah, I find utterly ridiculous. And the fan's obsession over it is equally ridiculous to me.

 

[clonetrooper264]

I think it was more games than that, but I won't argue with you cuz we really don't know, but surely Thib's could have played Tony or Niko more since "shooting" was the main thing we were missing at that point.

However many games it was, it was single digits and he really wouldn't have been able to make a huge difference. I mean, it would've been nice if he could've started and did what Tony did, but I wouldn't expect that from a rookie coming off of surgery. I do want him to find a way to get more minutes, but I get why he's not playing yet.

I do agree about more Tony/Niko, but do recall that during that stretch they were riding the struggle bus big time. Niko's been getting consistent minutes for a long time now but he's been as streaky as Hinrich at times. Can't blame Thibs for not going to him more when neither his offense nor his defense were there. Tony only just recently starting playing like an NBA player so again, I can see why he wasn't getting tons of run. I think we'll be seeing more of Tony in the near future, even when Hinrich comes back...or so I'd hope. Assuming he's able to continue to contribute and not revert back to his tentative self.

 

[Bear Pride]

However many games it was, it was single digits and he really wouldn't have been able to make a huge difference. I mean, it would've been nice if he could've started and did what Tony did, but I wouldn't expect that from a rookie coming off of surgery. I do want him to find a way to get more minutes, but I get why he's not playing yet.

I do agree about more Tony/Niko, but do recall that during that stretch they were riding the struggle bus big time. Niko's been getting consistent minutes for a long time now but he's been as streaky as Hinrich at times. Can't blame Thibs for not going to him more when neither his offense nor his defense were there. Tony only just recently starting playing like an NBA player so again, I can see why he wasn't getting tons of run. I think we'll be seeing more of Tony in the near future, even when Hinrich comes back...or so I'd hope. Assuming he's able to continue to contribute and not revert back to his tentative self.

Well, it's my opinion that he could have handled it better. That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it. But yes, I will probably be a pain in your ass if Thib's resorts to Kirk playing 25-30 minutes a game again, and worse, starting.

 

[Gustavus Adolphus]

MJ led the league in minutes played 3 times (5 total times in the top 3) and had a career average of 38.3 mpg. He also played 37 mpg as a 40 year old.

I mean maybe I'm just old school but players complaining about minutes, or days off, or wanting less preseason, or less reg sesason games, and blahblahblah, I find utterly ridiculous. And the fan's obsession over it is equally ridiculous to me.

I think you are old school, and surely Thibs is old school as well. Just take a look at this link:

http://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/mp_season.html

I'd like to say Thibs' minutes is a deviation from the new norm, but it's really not. Luol Deng from 2010-11 is the only player on a Thibs' coached Bulls team who has cracked the top 250. Then there is this:

http://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/mp_top_10.html

Currently Jimmy Butler is 4th in minutes played this year, but the Bulls only since Thibs' first year did he have a player in the top ten of minutes played, of course that season both Deng and Rose topped that list. If you look at that second link, you'll see that Damien Lillard has been in the top ten of minutes the last two seasons, plus this current one. I can't speak to his playoff performances, but are any Blazers fan worried about him breaking down?

The more and more I look at it, the more and more I think the minutes issue is overblown.

 

[Gustavus Adolphus]

To add to my last post: and I WAS one of those people who fretted over those minutes.

 

[Scoot26]

Given the injuries the Blazers have incurred over the years, they should freak out over his minutes.

 

[clonetrooper264]

I think you are old school, and surely Thibs is old school as well. Just take a look at this link:

http://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/mp_season.html

I'd like to say Thibs' minutes is a deviation from the new norm, but it's really not. Luol Deng from 2010-11 is the only player on a Thibs' coached Bulls team who has cracked the top 250. Then there is this:

http://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/mp_top_10.html

Currently Jimmy Butler is 4th in minutes played this year, but the Bulls only since Thibs' first year did he have a player in the top ten of minutes played, of course that season both Deng and Rose topped that list. If you look at that second link, you'll see that Damien Lillard has been in the top ten of minutes the last two seasons, plus this current one. I can't speak to his playoff performances, but are any Blazers fan worried about him breaking down?

The more and more I look at it, the more and more I think the minutes issue is overblown.

Oh look...Pau was on that list not too long ago.

 

[clonetrooper264]

Given the injuries the Blazers have incurred over the years, they should freak out over his minutes.

I think that has nothing to do with minutes and everything to do with those players being injury risks in the first place.

 

[clonetrooper264]

Well, it's my opinion that he could have handled it better. That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it. But yes, I will probably be a pain in your ass if Thib's resorts to Kirk playing 25-30 minutes a game again, and worse, starting.

I don't think you can argue Kirk over Snell starting at SG at this point if one of them has to start. Imo that's now Snell's spot to lose. With a fully healthy roster though, I don't think we'll see Kirk get more than maybe 22 minutes on average if Snell's playing well. At the same time though, there will be games where we'll need Kirk more than others. He runs the bench unit well when he's playing PG over Brooks so do expect to see Kirk getting occasional 25+ minute games, just not every game. I think everyone will be ok with that.

 

[Gustavus Adolphus]

Oh look...Pau was on that list not too long ago.

I'm not sure what that has to do with minutes management of Thibs.

 

[clonetrooper264]

I'm not sure what that has to do with minutes management of Thibs.

It doesn't. I was just surprised.

 

[Scoot26]

I'm not sure what that has to do with minutes management of Thibs.

Freakout jury: It means he has lots of miles on him and if Thibs keeps playing him 35 mpg hes going to break down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Bear Pride]

I don't think you can argue Kirk over Snell starting at SG at this point if one of them has to start. Imo that's now Snell's spot to lose. With a fully healthy roster though, I don't think we'll see Kirk get more than maybe 22 minutes on average if Snell's playing well. At the same time though, there will be games where we'll need Kirk more than others. He runs the bench unit well when he's playing PG over Brooks so do expect to see Kirk getting occasional 25+ minute games, just not every game. I think everyone will be ok with that.

Yeah, but for me it's not so much the minutes total, but when they get the minutes. IE, I'm tired of Thib's closing the game with the wrong players. A lineup like Pau, Taj, Rose, Butler and Kirk sucks when we need to score points at the end of a game.

 

[Axl Rose]

times are changing...i already showed how the whole league is trending toward less minutes

i remember when thibs played Jimmy Butler 48 minutes IN A PRESEASON GAME...lol thats ridiculous

him playing Gasol for 12 minutes straight in the a quarter is also ridiculous...his minute management sucks

 

[Scoot26]

times are changing...i already showed how the whole league is trending toward less minutes

it only takes you took to look at last years playoffs to see how tired and worn out this team was...you also have to keep in mind we have a fragile team...but thibs apologist love to make excuses for everything

i remember when the guy played Jimmy Butler 48 minutes IN A PRESEASON GAME ...thats ridiculous

him playing Gasol for 12 minutes straight in the a quarter is also ridiculous...his minute management sucks

K, who is your replacement coach?

Will his requirement for you be that his players can only ever play 30 mpg....No starter can play an entire quarter?

 

[Axl Rose]

K, who is your replacement coach?

Will his requirement for you be that his players can only ever play 30 mpg....No starter can play an entire quarter?

Hoiberg

no 34/35 or so minutes is fine...older players 30/33

not every game and definitely not a 34 year old one

 

[Scoot26]

Hoiberg

no 34/35 or so minutes is fine...older players 30/33

not every game and definitely not a 34 year old one

What about Hoiberg makes you think he'll be a good NBA coach?

 

[Scoot26]

This article alone should tell you Hoiberg is not coming here.

Hoiberg is living his dream job working in the town he grew up for, the college he went to, and the town he's always lived in.

In April 2013, Hoiberg signed a 10-year contract extension with Iowa State worth $20 million. Hoiberg's contract has a $2 million buyout clause if he leaves for another college coaching position, but the buyout is only $500,000 if he leaves to become an NBA head coach or general manager.

But he’s still in Ames because that’s where he wants to be. If he really wanted to coach in the NBA right now, he would be. The Golden State Warriors wanted him, and he’d have an All-Star point guard and talented roster to work with. But he didn't want to go to the Bay Area.

The advantage he has at Iowa State right now is that the university’s administration supports him and his decisions. It’s no secret that Hoiberg has signed transfers who were considered risks at their prior stops. But the influx of talent has enhanced, not harmed, the program. You can't do that everywhere, though. The only way to pull that off is with a strong bond and trust between management/leadership and the coaching staff.

If Hoiberg takes an NBA job, that’s something he’ll demand. He wouldn’t leave Ames to take a hands-off NBA gig that offered limited personnel control and a weak connection with management. He’d want a say in the makeup of his roster.

He’s had opportunities to join NBA franchises that boasted strong rosters. But he’s rejected the interest.

A source close to Hoiberg said that any NBA offer “would have to be ridiculous for him to leave Iowa State right now.”

The Bulls don't offer ridiculous contracts to coaches.