Chicago Bulls Recap: Preseason Final Grades…Backcourt

Well, well and well Pippen Peoples. The preseason is all over and the Chicago Bulls open the regular season against my squad the New York Knicks. Boy is this going to be fun. For months I have stated my opinions and analysis about the Chicago Bulls starting with the lack of  coaching acumen of Tom Thibodeau. I rattled cages, annoyed Chicago Bulls fans, been accused of bad analysis just because I’m a New York Knicks fan. Well all of the speculation and foreshadowing is over. On Wednesday night at 8:00 on ESPN, we all get to sit back and see what goes down.

For real this time. No excuses like…it’s just the preseason.

But first things first. We have to wrap up the analysis of the preseason. Pippen Ain’t Easy will break down the backcourt and give out their final grades for the preseason. What do you think? Did these Chicago Bulls guards ace the pre-test or are they on their way to flunking the NBA Final? Let’s take a last look at the backcourt of the Chicago Bulls.

Oct 24, 2014; St. Louis, MO, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose (1) shoots the ball during the first quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Scottrade Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Derrick Rose.

I’m through talking about this man’s knees. That’s over. Let’s get to the basketball. Derrick Rose’s game came up from the ashes after an embarrassing FIBA World Cup. He might have called his performance an “A”, but hey we all have dreams right? I’m still waiting for Shakira to call.

Whatever issues that he had in  the FIBA World Cup was dealt with emphatically by the end of the Minnesota  game. During the World Cup, you could see the lack of timing and confidence in Rose’s game. Nothing illustrated Derrick  Rose’s problems more than that broke jumper of his. Rose shot 25% from the field which included 1-of-19 from three. In the preseason, Rose started to put things together on the offensive end. In limited action, Rose averaged 16.5 points per game. The explosion and quickness to his game is now combined with an aggressiveness and belief that he can score when he wants. When he’s on the break, and he cuffs the ball and goes in the lane, he is pretty much impossible to stop these days. In short, he’s going to score.

Pippen Ain’t Easy has been very consistent in talking about how Derrick Rose needing to adapt his  game. Derrick Rose speaks about changing his game by adding floaters and three pointers to his game. I don’t know about those floaters but the three pointers are definitely in effect right now.

Derrick Rose shot 43% from three point land in the preseason. That can be a good thing and a bad thing.

Derrick Rose needs to adapt but in more ways than just shooting floaters and threes. Derrick Rose now has to show that he can run Chicago’s half court offense (whatever that is). In his MVP season, the Chicago Bulls offense was basically rolling the ball out to Rose and let him do everything. The Cleveland game is a perfect example. He destroyed Kyrie Irving and the rest of the Cavs guards, but when he sat down, the Cavs as a team beat down the Bulls.

Why?

Because his teammates especially Pau Gasol, lost their offensive rhythm. Derrick Rose is going to have to find a way to get his team involved as a unit.

If you’ve noticed, when Derrick Rose has dominated on the offensive end, the Bulls have lost.

Grade: B+

Oct 7, 2014; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich (12) moves the ball on Detroit Pistons guar atKentavious Caldwell-Pope (5) in the first half at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Kirk Hinrich.

Let’s get the good part out of the way. When Jimmy Butler injured his thumb against the Charlotte Hornets, Hinrich stepped in and scored 26 points helping the Chicago Bulls win. He did well enough for one of the Pippen Peoples call me out to see if I actually watched the game. For the record, I did. I had to see how in the world the man actually scored that many. It was shock more than anything else.

Since then, well Hinrich has done little but wage a debate about his value to the Chicago Bulls that would put political candidates to shame. Maybe staff writer Ashley Wijangco and I should have a debate instead of these candidates going to Washington. At least, it would be more interesting and informative.

When the preseason started, I really thought Aaron Brooks should be the primary back up to Derrick Rose. Then after the Detroit Pistons game, I thought Hinrich was a waste.

He’s not.

Hinrich still can’t shoot a lick and stay in front of quick guards, but the Chicago Bulls need him. Hinrich  is the only point guard on the team that will get the Bulls into their offense (whatever that is).  Plus as long as Tom Thibodeau swears by this dude, I’ll have to roll my eyes and grit my teeth and watch the city of Chicago get brick donations every game Hinrich plays.

To all Chicago Bulls fans, the first Hall of Hin”Bricks” meeting starts after the game.

Grade: C-

Oct 7, 2014; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Brandon Jennings (7) moves the ball defended by Chicago Bulls guard Aaron Brooks (0) at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Aaron Brooks.

He’s here because he’s cheap (salary less than one million)  and the Bulls have gotten what they paid for. Brooks can’t stop a soul on defense and he is shooting in the low 30% range. Couple that with the fact that the offense basically stops if his shot does not fall, it bears the question. Why is he here?

Outside of Brooks going off against the Detroit Pistons, he’s been pretty bad. What Kyrie Irving put on him exposed him in a  bad way. Let me put it this way, Aaron Brooks has been such a liability that Tony Snell might make it out of the doghouse. Considering how much trouble Snell was in, that says it all right there.

Grade: D

Oct 19, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler (21) drives to the basket against Charlotte Hornets center Al Jefferson (25) during the first half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

Jimmy Butler.

Deadline is Friday. Jimmy Butler is the reason the Chicago Bulls even have a .500 preseason record. He is personally responsible for the wins against Denver and Atlanta. Sign the man! He’s the story of the preseason. Oh by the way, the Chicago Bulls haven’t won since he’s been hurt.

Just sayin.

Grade: A++

There you have it Pippen Peoples. The final preseason grades on the backcourt. What do you think? Leave your comments below and let your voices be heard. Keep it locked to Pippen Ain’t Easy for all the analysis on all things Chicago Bulls. Enjoy the Knicks game. Somehow I think I’ll be enjoying it more at the end.

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