This current Chicago Bulls team is falling apart.
It’s as if the Nerdlucks from Space Jam have stolen the Chicago Bulls’ powers and health.
Joakim Noah had surgery on his shoulder a while back and is out for the season. Nikola Mirotic had his appendix removed and doesn’t have a return date to action. Jimmy Butler went down last week with a sprained left knee and is expected to miss about the next month. Derrick Rose is coming back, but is still constantly in and out with different injuries.
The Bulls have won just one game in February. They have won just five of their last 17 games. They have a record of 27-24 and sit just a game and a half in front of the Charlotte Hornets (9th in the East).
“We had straight defensive guys, hungry dogs. Now we have guys coming in, offensive-minded, that shoot the 3. We used to be scrappy. Now we’re trying to mold these guys into getting scrappy,” said Taj Gibson via ESPN‘s Nick Friedell.
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Fred Hoiberg is trying to change this team from a defensive-minded team to an offensive-minded team. Changing the culture of a team can be difficult. The players are having to change their game for the team. It is something that is going to take time.
But in the meantime, what is in the future for the Bulls? At the rate they are at this month, they are not even going to make the playoffs.
Who has “Michael’s Secret Stuff” right now?
Derrick Rose (if healthy) and Pau Gasol are the only original starters that are still in the lineup. Tony Snell is healthy, but has been in and out as a starter all season. Jimmy Butler is out due to injury.
Others would argue Derrick Rose can lead and guide this team out of the current funk. Rose is a huge asset, but he cannot lead this team alone. When healthy, he helps the team significantly, but staying healthy has been a struggle this season.
Gasol is leading the team in rebounds and blocks per game and is the only healthy constant the Bulls have right now.
Another person who has been solid for the Bulls right now is Taj Gibson. He is averaging 11 points a game and is shooting 49 percent from the field in February.
Kirk Hinrich has his moments, but is just too old to do work day in and day out. Aaron Brooks can catch fire and be a real threat, but it’s never a consistent thing.
Players like Snell, E’Twaun Moore, Doug McDermott, Bobby Portis and Mike Dunleavy have their nights, but for the most part don’t do too much. They are not consistent scorers. (Dunleavy just returned, so it’s not fair to really blame him for anything.)
Next: Gasol to Replace Butler in NBA All-Star Game
Somebody needs to show up for the Bulls if they are going to hold on to this season and make something out of it.
Only time will tell who that will be or if that will be.