The NBA season is halfway through, and All-Star weekend is quickly approaching. The Chicago Bulls hope to maintain their relevance as a lower-tier playoff or play-in team following an agonisingly quiet trade deadline. What elements must Chicago play to their advantage for the remainder of the season?
Four Crucial Elements for Chicago Bulls’ Second-Half Season Success
Key #1: Keep Unlocking Dosunmu Ayo
Not just Coby White is a Bull experiencing a breakthrough campaign. Ayo Dosunmu, a former second-round selection, has subtly improved this season on both ends of the field.
The teenage guard has averaged 16.0 points, 3.3 assists, and 2.6 rebounds in his last ten games. During one of those games, Dosunmu scored a career-high 29 points against the Hawks. Shooting 12-for-18 from the field and 5-for-7 from three, he demonstrated excellent efficiency. Dosunmu’s consistent three-point shooting has changed the game for the team, who have had trouble shooting from beyond the arc.
Dosunmu is no slouch defensively. Along with his explosive offensive performance against the Hawks, Dosunmu recorded a steal and a block. Despite not being the strongest or most athletic, he is a crucial player on both ends because of his agility and hustle.
The Bulls must continue to develop Dosunmu if they want to fully utilise this team’s versatility. Dosunmu is a vital component of Chicago’s plans whether he starts or comes off the bench.
Key #2: Perform Drummond and Vucevic together
Head coach Billy Donovan has wavered during the season between centres that are anchored by Nikola Vučević or Andre Drummond. When the two are on the floor together, though, the squad has had some success.
Vučević’s exceptional pick-and-pop skills demonstrate his ability to stretch the floor as a big man, which adds to his worth. Conversely, Vučević isn’t the most dependable paint defender, particularly when facing bigger big men.
This brings us to Drummond. In the paint, the superior rebounder offers greater strength than Vučević. The fact that Drummond is a double-double machine and can consistently score 10–13 points in the dunker position doesn’t hurt either.
Starting these two together lets Chicago make the most of Vučević’s advantages instead of making him play mostly in the paint. With Drummond in the middle, they also have the advantage in rebounds on both ends. Chicago’s lacklustre frontcourt play may be strengthened by having Drummond in the paint and Vučević play more as a stretch four.
Third Tip: Condense the Order
Coach Donovan used various experimental rotations during the first part of the season. Julian Phillips and Dalen Terry, two young, inexperienced athletes, have had opportunities to demonstrate their abilities. There are high expectations for recent veteran arrivals like Torrey Craig and Jevon Carter to step up and cover for the “star” players.
It would be prudent for Coach Donovan to reduce his starting lineup to eight or nine players at this stage.
Carter has only shot 33.7% from three, but he was supposed to be Chicago’s go-to guy when it came to three-point shooting. Carter is among the least effective guards on this team in terms of defence. With a 23.3% three-point shooting percentage and little ability to generate opportunities for himself or others, Terry is an offensive black hole. Although Phillips is a talented rookie, he is currently too inexperienced to be of much use in a successful team.
Coach Donovan needs to cut the minutes of his underperforming players if he hopes to get the most out of his lineups. Increase the amount of time that Craig, Drummond, and Dosunmu spend playing. As they are prepared, provide top players and up-and-coming role players a heavier burden. Let the top players take the pitch!
Key #4: Hand the Keys to Coby
Among the season’s greatest tales! This season, White has truly become one of the league’s stars. In the past five games, the 24-year-old guard has averaged 23.8 points, 6.6 assists, and 5.2 rebounds. White scored thirty points in four games in January and February, including one against Cleveland when he shot over sixty percent from outside the arc.
Since he moved to Chicago, DeMar DeRozan has been the preferred choice. But now that Zach LaVine is out and DeRozan is nearing the end of his playing days, it’s time to hand up control of this team’s offensive. With White leading the charge as the main creator and scorer of the offence, it moves much more freely. Although DeRozan has improved as a willing passer, White’s three-point shooting opens up even more opportunities for his teammates.
White and Vučević play a pick-and-roll game that places them in positions where they can succeed. From an offensive standpoint, White and Dosunmu are identical guards who possess quickness and good ball-shooting skills. Despite their similarities, the two can nevertheless collaborate well.
Chicago’s shot to tie the game on Wednesday came from White in the game against Cleveland. The play that was set up for him instead of DeRozan, even though he missed, was a sign of the change that might be gradually taking place.
For the Chicago Bulls, this last key might be the most important of them all. With White, who is just in the first year of a three-year contract that is team-friendly, they have struck gold. Making this Coby White’s team could be crucial for Chicago’s future, if not for this season.
