Well Pippen Peoples, we are one day closer to the Chicago Bulls getting to the depths of training camp, which means…THE SEASON IS ALMOST HERE! Ya’ll know the song, why don’t you sing along! Boy Pippen Peoples, you have no idea how happy a time it is for the staff of Pippen Ain’t Easy. No more documentaries, no more articles guessing who goes where. Now the team is set and we can now get down to the nitty-gritty. Now that training camp has started, NBA teams start loading up on players that have no business being on a NBA roster. But I could care less, I can actually do some analysis work. Let’s get to it.
Last Friday, the Chicago Bulls signed Kim English, Solomon Jones and Ben Hansbrough to training camp contracts. Pippen Ain’t Easy has already taken a look at Ben Hansbrough and Solomon Jones. For their back stories, check out the Pippen Ain’t Easy website and see if we think that they are a diamond in the rough or they will just have a rough time in training camp.
Next up…last maybe least, I don’t know, Kim English.
Get used to this phrase throughout this article…
Come on man!
Kim English is a four-year college player out of Missouri. As a freshman, he broke the starting lineup and played well enough to start 13 of 16 Big 12 games. He helped Missouri to the NCAA tournament.
Then English averaged 14 points per game his sophomore year to earn Third Team All-Big 12 honors becoming only the third Missouri underclassmen to do so. Not bad!
As a Junior, English scored ten points a game.
All together now…Come on man!
As a senior, Kim English bounced back averaging 14.5 points per game on the strength of 45.9% from the three-point line. He led Missouri to the 2012 Big 12 Men’s Basketball Tournament championship. He was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player averaging 23 points along the way.
Why all of the college history?
Here’s why…
Kim English was selected by the Detroit Pistons with the 44th pick of the 2012 NBA draft. By December of the same year he was in the D-League playing for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants. He was recalled a week later to post numbers like…
2.9 points per game.
Less than one rebound per game.
Less than one assist per game.
Less than one steal per game.
All of this while shooting 37.5% from the field and 28% from the land of the extra point.
All together now…Come on man!
The next year, the Detroit Pistons waived English after the 2013 Summer League. He was brought in to be a 3-and -D player (think Jimmy Butler role) and he turned out to be neither. As you can see the man couldn’t shoot and couldn’t stop the success of the opponents that did. Check out his position as Jeff Teague come to you through your computer screen…
Feb 25, 2013; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Atlanta Hawks point guard Jeff Teague (0) gets past Detroit Pistons shooting guard Kim English (24) during the second quarter at The Palace. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
English spent time overseas between two franchises. His first stop was with the Montepaschi Siena of Italian League IV for nine games and Chorale Roanne of the Pro A French League for 26 games. Let’s concentrate on the big body of work. With Chorale Roanne, he averaged 11.2 points and 2.4 rebounds in 26 minutes per game.
Will Kim English make the roster?
If you think that this guy has a chance, all together now Pippen Peoples…
COME ON MAN!
Apr 27, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler (21) dribbles the ball as Washington Wizards forward Trevor Ariza (1) defends in the first quarter in game four of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Pippen Peoples, if you remember Pippen Ain’t Easy’s Ashley Wijangco wrote a piece saying that Jimmy Butler was staying off the U.S. Select team this summer due to a groin injury. I’m going out on a limb here but with all of the rumors going on with the contract situation and this injury, there’s no need to put too much wear and tear on Butler. Especially after dealing with the marathon minutes that the “Thibby” plan required last season. Hopefully, the Bulls signed English to rest the groin of Jimmy Butler instead of something worse. Naturally the Chicago Bulls won’t breathe a sound either way, so Pippen Peoples that’s something to look out for in the coming weeks.
Oct 26, 2012; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons shooting guard Kim English (24) during the second quarter against the Atlanta Hawks at The Palace. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Well Pippen Peoples, I present to you, Kim English. Take a long look at him because he will be on the first thing smoking overseas after the month is over. Even though Kim English will be parting company with us soon, Pippen Ain’t Easy will be right here with all the in-depth analysis on all things Chicago Bulls. Keep it locked to Pippen Ain’t Easy, your best choice for Chicago Bulls news, previews and reviews. Leave your comment and let your voices be heard. We here at Pippen Ain’t Easy can’t stress this enough. YOUR COMMENTS COUNT! The Bulls are your team and this is your website to voice your opinion throughout the season. This is not a website where we sit around the campfire and spout NBA dreams. This is a website for smart and knowledgeable Bulls fans to talk hoops so we can all learn something. This is the evolution of Chicago Bulls talk revolution. Let’s talk about it.
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