Pippen Ain't Easy
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Chicago Bulls Midseason Grades: Butler shines, Wade and Rondo shrug

By Hunter Kuffel

Dec 13, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler (21) reacts after making a basket against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the second half at the United Center. Minnesota defeats Chicago 99-94. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 13, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler (21) reacts after making a basket against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the second half at the United Center. Minnesota defeats Chicago 99-94. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports /
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Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /

Paul Zipser

Stats: 13.9 minutes, 4.1 points, 2.1 rebounds, 0.3 assists, 34.7 FG%, 32.4 3PT%, 80.0 FT%

Grade: B+

No one expected Paul Zipser to be playing serious minutes down the stretch of close games for the Bulls this season, but that’s the strange, bizarro universe in which we find ourselves. After riding the bench in 29 of the Bulls first 39 games of the season, the second-round pick from Germany started three games in a row for Chicago, filling in for a sick Jimmy Butler.

Since his brief starting stint, Zipser has averaged 23 minutes per game for the Bulls, often serving as the first man off the bench. He’s scored 9.5 points per game over the last six games, sunk at least one 3-pointer in five of them, and shown encouraging signs of an ability to guard shooting guards through power forwards.

Zipser is contributing to this team in a tangible way, providing crucial spacing and defense in his rookie year. If he keeps it up, he could be a regular member of the Bulls’ closing lineup. Why is it that all the “NBA ready” players that GarPax draft in the first round can’t do that?

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