Fixing Fred Hoiberg’s Coaching Misfires with the Bulls

Mar 23, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg looks on from the sidelines during the first half against the New York Knicks at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 23, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg looks on from the sidelines during the first half against the New York Knicks at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 8
Next
Fred Hoiberg, head coach, Chicago Bulls
Apr 13, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg during the first quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports /

“It’s okay to shoot if think you got a good shot.”

That was a preseason admonition by Fred Hoiberg to his team. As good as this is as a confidence builder, it tends to create too much confidence in all players on the team to treat each game like a scrimmage. Missed shots tend to accumulate if all players think they have the green light to chuck it up.

More from Pippen Ain't Easy

Guys like Aaron Brooks, Jimmy Butler and even Taj Gibson are guilty of this. Instead of swinging the extra pass to the corner three-point gunner or the open cutting player, they missed a ton of shots.

Joakim Noah and Cristiano Felicio know their roles and are better at looking for the best shooter or hot hand. Doug McDermott or even Tony Snell getting good passes from both bigs for either rim attacks or open threes.

If the Bulls had the defensive rebounding role players to grab the bulk of those misses, a shooting clinic would be easier to sustain.

But, with the opposing team running for a quick three or layup after each Bulls miss, we saw how all the effort building a lead gets lost once percentages catch up with the team.

Next: For those that should be shooting, make your shots