Pippen Ain't Easy
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Chicago Bulls at Atlanta Hawks Takeaways: Chicago’s Abysmal Performance

By Matthew Price

Jan 20, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler (21) is defended by Atlanta Hawks center Dwight Howard (8) and forward Mike Scott (32) in the third quarter at Philips Arena. The Hawks won 102-93. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 20, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler (21) is defended by Atlanta Hawks center Dwight Howard (8) and forward Mike Scott (32) in the third quarter at Philips Arena. The Hawks won 102-93. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 20, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Dwyane Wade (3) in action against the Atlanta Hawks in the first quarter at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 20, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Dwyane Wade (3) in action against the Atlanta Hawks in the first quarter at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /

Dwyane Wade is as Cold as the Icy Gatorade Commercial he Stars in

It’s a cold, January night. 

The Bulls are in trouble; in their second game of a back-to-back, the players look tired even before tipoff and they’re undermanned. Because of this, despite coach Fred Hoiberg’s assertion that Dwyane Wade would not play in back-to-backs, Hoiberg inserts Wade into the starting lineup in hopes to get a boost. 

Rather than help the team, however, the fatigued and sore Wade struggles, shooting 2-for-10 from the field, 0-for-2 from deep. But it’s okay… we can’t hate on Wade for this poor game, because he was battling through injury and played in two consecutive nights.

The story above would have been a good reason to excuse Wade’s struggles last night against the Hakws. Unfortunately, it’s not the truth. In reality, Wade hadn’t played a game since Tuesday, was feeling just fine, and still managed to have one of his worst games with the Bulls.

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Yikes.

It’s not just Saturday’s game where Wade has been ineffective for Chicago, but rather the entire month of January.

In the seven games this month that Wade has played in, he has only shot above 39 percent twice. And the two times he did shoot over that threshold, the Bulls still couldn’t win either of the games.

Beyond January, the 35-year-old is still putting up 18.4 points per game for Chicago, but he’s doing it on 42.3 percent shooting, the worst mark ever in his career.

I’m not questioning Wade’s talent or the profound impact he’s had on the Bulls youth off the court (especially with Jimmy Butler), but it’s fair to wonder whether Wade’s best days are behind him, both in his career and with Chicago.

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