Pippen Ain't Easy
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It’s early, but the Chicago Bulls have problems at two positions

By Michael Whitlow

DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 04: Bobby Portis #5 of the Chicago Bulls drives to the basket against J.J. Barea #5 of the Dallas Mavericks in the first half at American Airlines Center on October 4, 2017 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 04: Bobby Portis #5 of the Chicago Bulls drives to the basket against J.J. Barea #5 of the Dallas Mavericks in the first half at American Airlines Center on October 4, 2017 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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It’s unhealthy to truly react to two *preseason* games from the rebuilding Chicago Bulls. But, through those two games, it’s clear that Fred Hoiberg has more questions than answers about the point guard and power forward positions.

Two of the underlying questions surrounding the Chicago Bulls coming into the 2017-18 season were: who was going to be the starting point guard and if Nikola Mirotic was coming back, would he become a solid full-time starter?

Through two games in the preseason, there’s no further clarity for either question. Jerian Grant and Kris Dunn each had solid games against the New Orleans Pelicans in the preseason opener on Tuesday night and then both had awful nights (like the Bulls as a whole) on Wednesday evening in Dallas against the Mavericks.

In the opener against the Pelicans, the Grant-Dunn duo combined for 22 points with 12 assists. Each played a shade over 20 minutes and looked comfortable playing in a more modern NBA offense under Fred Hoiberg.

On Wednesday night, the duo combined for 11 assists, but shot 3-of-14 from the field combined and scored just seven points with two combined free throw attempts. Dunn also was a key component of the worst sequence of the night against the Mavericks.

Both Mirotic and Bobby Portis have looked bad in the first two games with neither looking like a viable option to start next to Robin Lopez in the Bulls front court on Opening Night against the Toronto Raptors. Consistency has been the major issue for Mirotic and consistent minutes for Portis has eluded him in his short NBA career.

In the first two games, Mirotic and Portis have combined for 33 points on 11-of-37 shooting, including 6-of-22 shooting from 3-point range. That’s just bad all over.

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None of the four have been able to separate themselves from their teammate/counterpart and that’s an issue for the Bulls. When he’s healthy, Zach LaVine will come back to hold down one of the starting spots along with Robin Lopez at the center position. It appears that Paul Zipser is probably going to be the small forward moving forward.

That leaves the point guard and power forward positions.

Of course, each positions is missing a piece to the competition puzzle. Lauri Markkanen put on a dazzling display of offense in EuroBasket 2017, but has yet to play in the preseason because of back spams. Cameron Payne is on the shelf until at least November after yet another foot surgery; his third as an NBA player. (Payne has little-to-zero chance of ever starting for the Bulls, but the previous notes still remain.)

There’s no panic button to hit. That’s the beauty of being a rebuilding franchise. There’s really no rush for the Bulls. This is one of the league’s youngest and most inexperienced rosters. It’s not like this team will be jockeying for playoff positioning, even in the woeful Eastern Conference.

Next: Bulls get absolutely obliterated by Mavericks

However, there’s still the element of, “Hey, the season starts in two weeks. It’s time to figure this stuff out already.”

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