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Will Second Season Differ for Doug McDermott?

By Paul Steeno

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After another standout performance in Last Vegas this summer, Chicago Bulls second-year forward Doug McDermott looks to carry over this momentum to the regular season. After failing to do this as a rookie, questions abounded regarding his ability to play at a high level when it actually matters.

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However, a number of factors have changed since last season, and McDermott will become a solid contributor this time around.

For the second straight season, McDermott earned a spot on the All-NBA Summer League First team after averaging 18.8 points per game on 48.8 percent shooting in 31 minutes of playing time per game. On three-point attempts, McDermott shot only 13.5 percent — noticeably lower than his 32 percent average in limited opportunities in his rookie season and his 45.8 percent average in his four-year collegiate career at Creighton University.

However, we have seen this script before. Last season, McDermott averaged 18 points per game on 44 percent shooting in 28.8 minutes of playing time. In addition, he shot over 44 percent from behind the three-point line. But, McDermott was unable to carry over this success into the regular season due to a lack of playing time and a knee injury. Under former head coach Tom Thibodeau, McDermott averaged only three points per game on 40 percent shooting from the field. He shot 31.7 percent from behind the three-point line.

The Chicago Bulls traded their 16th (Jusef Nurkic) and 19th (Gary Harris) picks in the 2014 NBA Draft to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Doug McDermott (picked 11th) and Anthony Randolph. The Bulls gambled on McDermott because they believed that he could make an instant impact on a team poised for a championship run — at least on paper. The gamble appeared to pay off in the Las Vegas Summer League, however; that hope quickly faded away once the regular season ran its course.

Has enough changed this time around to prevent a reciprocation of this trend?

Jul 11, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Doug McDermott (3) looks on during a stoppage in play of an NBA Summer League game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Thomas & Mack Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

The fact that McDermott will likely receive substantive minutes next season coupled with the installation of a new offensive system, will prevent a repeat of his disappointing rookie season. Although a Jimmy Butler-like increase in performance is unlikely, McDermott appears poised to become an important contributor moving forward.

McDermott’s performance in Summer League competition solidified his argument for playing more minutes next season. Even more impressive was that he struggled with his shot but still produced standout numbers.

McDermott showed that his contributions can transcend his three-point shooting. As previously noted, he was an All-NBA Summer League First team selection despite shooting 13.5 percent from beyond the arc. Although he showed that he can compensate for poor outside shooting, McDermott is confident that he will rediscover the stroke on his three-point shot.

"“I’m not worried about it [his shot]. I think it’s kind of how the defense is playing me. I’m not getting a lot of great looks. When I’ve had to shoot them, it’s been off pick-and-pops, which I haven’t done in probably two years. That’s where most of my threes have come from. I’m just trying to get used to it. But if there’s one thing I’m not worried about in my game, it’s my shooting.”—-Quote obtained by Bleacher Report writer Sean Highkin"

Hoiberg has “a lot of confidence in Doug [McDermott]” and believes that he can become an impact player in this league. The confidence displayed by McDermott coupled with the confidence that his coach has in him will equate to more playing opportunities next season.

Last season, Thibodeau played McDermott an average of 8.9 minutes per game. As it became clear to Thibodeau that McDermott wasn’t an NBA-ready defender, the minute totals diminished. In the months of January and February, McDermott played a combined total of 13 minutes.

In the playoffs he was a non-factor, averaging 3.3 minutes per game.The spotty minutes disallowed McDermott from establishing a shooting rhythm in his rookie season, therefore he was a non-factor for most of last year. Hoiberg will likely flip this script.

Hoiberg’s hiring as the new head coach of the Bulls will likely have a positive impact on the career of McDermott. The two men already have developed a positive relationship with each other stemming from mutual roots in the state of Iowa.

Both men attended Ames High School in Iowa and McDermott said he used to talk to Hoiberg at events involving mutual friends.

"“I actually saw him at a couple of weddings, just with people that we knew mutually so we actually got to know each other a little bit there. So it was good to really get to know him a little beforehand.”—-Quotes obtained by CBS Sports writer Sam Vecenie"

In order to maximize talent, a solid relationship between coach and player is a good place to start. McDermott said that he really likes Hoiberg as a person, even describing him as “an awesome guy.” The relationship not only clicks at a personal level, but also at a professional level. McDermott loves the up-tempo, free-flowing offensive system that Hoiberg is likely to impose and believes that he is a great fit in this new system.

"“I have a good sense of his style. I think I’ll fit in great. He has a great offensive mind. His team shot a lot of 3s. They ran a lot of pick-and-rolls and I assume Derrick (Rose) will be in a lot more pick-and-rolls. I feel I can be a great spacer for the team and show my versatility a little more. I can see (Hoiberg) playing like the Warriors, going small and using shooters.“—-Quote obtained by Chicago Tribune reporter K.C. Johnson"

First and foremost, Hoiberg’s system can benefit Doug McDermott because of its heavy reliance on the three-point shot. Last season under Hoiberg, 40 percent of the Iowa State Cyclones’ offense came from three-point attempts.

College basketball expert Randy Sherman explained how Hoiberg was able to generate so many looks from outside last season:

"His “fist” action uses screen the screener action where a shooter sets a cross screen for a post player and then receives a down screen for a shot. But the main way is spacing around pick-and-rolls. The penetration created by the pick-and-roll allows for kick-outs to open shooters. Hoiberg almost always has a shooter spaced on the weak side from the ball screen.—-Information courtesy of Randy Sherman, originally used by Bleacher Report writer Kelly Scaletta"

An important element of Hoiberg’s offensive system is spacing around pick-and-rolls. In this situation, the ball-handler gets the opportunity to penetrate towards the basket leaving the defender to decide whether to collapse on the ball-handler or defend McDermott, who in theory would be open after curling off another screen.

McDermott will have the opportunity to display all the elements of his offensive game under Fred Hoiberg. According to Bleacher Report and Today’s Fastbreak writer Kelly Scaletta, Hoiberg allows his small forward opportunities to handle the ball much more than a normal offense, meaning that McDermott will have a chance to create his own offense and showcase his versatility. In a sharp contrast to his experience under former head coach Tom Thibodeau, Hoiberg’s offense won’t restrict McDermott.

After an underwhelming rookie season, McDermott will have the opportunity to redeem himself in a new system catered towards his skill set. It is up to McDermott to make the most of this new opportunity and the consistent minutes that come with it. If he fails in this perfect setup under Hoiberg, there is very little chance that he will become successful elsewhere in the NBA.

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