Chicago Bulls: 3 players surpassing expectations in first half of season

3) Chicago Bulls players surpassing expectations in first half

Tomas Satoransky, Combo Guard/Wing

The first name up on this list might be the most underrated player producing at a high level for Donovan and the Bulls through almost the entire first half of the regular season. Former Washington Wizards combo guard/wing and 29-year-old Tomas Satoransky is playing much better for the Bulls this season than he did last.

Sato is actually playing at a much more efficient level at this point of the season than the starter at the one for the Bulls. Second-year former North Carolina Tar Heels point guard Coby White is having another up and down start to a season, and Sato is proving the stability in the backcourt rotation in his place off the bench.

There is also a special connection going on between the likes of the Bulls star shooting guard and Sato.

All told, Sato might be one of the two most valuable players coming off the Bulls bench so far this season. He’s been stellar in 21 games played so far this season, averaging around 21 minutes on the floor per game. And he’s averaging 7.6 points per game, 2.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 0.5 steals, and 0.2 blocks. Sato shot 56.3 percent from the field, 50.0 percent from beyond the arc, and 89.7 percent from the free-throw line.

Forget being a guard that can amass a 50/40/90 stat line. Sato is looking to register a 60/50/90 stat line of shooting percentages at this point of the season. He’s playing at a new level this season compared to his inaugural run with the Bulls, and providing a huge boost for this backcourt rotation coming off the bench.