Mid-Season Grades: Small Forward

Probably the best aspect of the Bulls this year has been the production and growth as small forward. Luol Deng is having a breakout year in terms of his confidence and his importance to the Bulls. After all he’s an All-Star and although some people are claiming this as a pity vote — with certain Chicagoains claiming it’s worthless because one All-Star bid for the eighth overall pick in the draft isn’t enough. But detractors with their mindless critiques aside, Deng is a refreshing edge the Bulls needed bad last year. With production at shooting guard painfully mediocre, the swagger the forwards have shown is much needed.

Points: Luol Deng – 15.9ppg (8th in NBA/5th in Eastern Conference)

Rebounds: Luol Deng – 6.9rpg (3rd IN NBA/2nd in Eastern Conference)

FG%: Luol Deng – 42.0% (11th in NBA/3rd in Eastern Conference)

The Good

Obviously Luol Deng is a glowing plus for the Bulls this season. He’s an All-Star, he’s been Derrick Rose’s sidekick and the Bulls have been winning because of him. Early in the season Deng showed off his confidence and the Bulls confidence in him when Derrick Rose was used as a decoy for Deng to score the game winning bucket against the Hawks. Without Deng the Bulls have lost games they otherwise wouldn’t have with prime examples being games against the Pacers and Heat. Had Deng played in these games, the Bulls would have won which signifies his importance to this squad.

But Deng isn’t the only small forward on the team. Jimmy Butler has spent time behind Deng as well as Kyle Korver and even ROnnie Brewer. Deng doesn’t have a true back up which has been a bit of an issue with his time missed. Butler has showed off talent when he’s played and Korver and Brewer seems right at home when they are in for Deng. By far the small forward production and growth has been an amazing surprise for the Bulls and a very pleasant one at that.

The Bad

This surrounds Deng’s back ups, as mentioned above. Brewer has had to spend almost all of his time filling in for Rip Hamilton at shooting guard and Kyle Korver has been hit or miss so far this season coming off the bench.

The real travesty is the non-priduction from Jimmy Butler due to his being benched all the time. Butler hasn’t nearly seen the minutes he could be and that’s making Chicago suffer. The lack of true small forward depth may have been one of the reasons Deng had to rush back from his wrist injury and ay end up hurting the Bulls down the stretch if Deng goes down again.

The Ugly

Unfortunately like he other positions, injuries have plagued the Bulls at small forward as well. Right when Rose starting having injury woes, Luol Deng tore a ligament in his wrist causing him to miss two weeks worth of play. Deng missed critical games against the Heat and the Pacers — both of which were games the Bulls lost. If Deng misses more games, the Bulls need to really play things cautiously as he’s a crucial assets and things will get ugly without him.

The slack of depth is also a problem that is getting ugly but with Deng back, hopefully the bleeding on that problem has been clamped.

Overall

Overall it’s been a success for the Bulls at small forward. Luol Deng is carrying the load and he got an All-Star nod for his efforts. The lack of depth is unsettling and may get worse but it’s not horrible at the moment. Jimmy Butler needs more minutes either at forward or guard which will mean Ronnie Brewer will be able to play a dual role as well. The Bulls have a lot of potential for game schemes with so many big men that double as guards and with Deng semi-healthy again things are looking up for Chicago.

Grade: A-