Why Nikola Mirotic is the Man of March (and some April, too)

Nikola Mirotic 2016-17: Contract Year

I’m pretty sure that we know how this season unfolded, because we’re all watching it wrap up right now, just three games left in the regular season. Hoiberg is in his second season in charge and gone are all of the old faces that were once the Chicago stars, leading the team into battle. The only player that remains from the good old days is Butler, having the best season of his career and for third consecutive season is leading the team in win shares. At the time that this is being written, the Bulls are 39-40, seventh in the Eastern Conference. The team ranks 20th in offensive rating and 10th in defensive rating. The roster is still upside down, but they’re trying to make it work.

Mirotic Season Line: 66 G, 23.9 MIN, 41.4 FG%, 33.7 3PT%, 5.4 REB, 1 AST, 10.5 PTS

This season has been a very bad one, even by the mild standards of Mirotic. He played terribly for more than 50 games and was benched on multiple occasions. It seemed pretty obvious that he was going to be allowed to leave as a restricted free agent this summer or retained on a very team-friendly deal. With three games left in the season, Niko has played the same number of games as the previous year, 66, but has started 27 fewer games to date. However, it is very likely that he will start the final three games of the season, because he has been on fire of late.

Mirotic March/April Streak: 13 G, 29.1 MIN, 51 FG%, 46.9 3PT%, 6.8 REB, 1.5 AST, 17.2 PTS

In what is fast become “normal” behavior from Hoiberg, Mirotic’s most recent stretch of elevated play has come immediately after being benched. Niko received two DNPs and then an inactive before coming off the bench to score 24 points against the Charlotte Hornets on March 13, a Bulls win. He came off the bench twice more, outperforming Bobby Portis – the starter – both games. Since then, he has started each of the last 10 games.

And look at his numbers yet again, it’s almost unbelievable. He is shooting an incredible 51 percent from the field and his 3-point shooting is only slightly lower than his hot streak from the prior year. Once again his points and minutes have surged. He’s passing well, he’s trying on defense – the passing being more important – and he is hitting so many of his shots. There is a real pattern here.

The pattern? Taj Gibson was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder at the trade deadline in February. Mirotic struggled in the first few games after the All-Star Game, then was benched, and since that time has been on fire.