NBA 2015-16 season: Grading every team’s performance
By Tom West
Chicago Bulls (D-)
On wins and losses and failing to make the playoffs for the first time in nine years, the Bulls’ 2015-16 campaign has been a total disaster. Of course, Derrick Rose hasn’t reached a physical point where he can be his MVP-self and Jimmy Butler can’t do everything, making the barrage of injuries enough to deplete the rest of the team.
The Bulls started the season fairly strong as they routinely do, going 22-12 by January 7 before an onslaught of heath problems came. New head coach Fred Hoiberg was still at the stage of the season where he could be partly excused for early offensive issues, and health wasn’t as troubling.
Once Joakim Noah suffered another dislocated shoulder that sent him out for the season, Butler was ruled out for 15 games through February and March, and Nikola Mirotic missed February, it was clear that a complete roster wouldn’t be on the Bulls’ side. During such times, the up-tempo offense that Hoiberg tried to instil struggled even further and the defense faltered, too.
Once the injuries set in, it was even harder for the changes under Hoiberg to reap much return. The Bulls crawled to a 26th ranking in offensive efficiency, and without much guard talent beyond Butler (when heathy) and a crowded frontcourt rotation that never seemed to work, the defense was far less imposing, too.
Chicago deserves a partial pass after dealing with so many injury problems and losing a key interior defensive presence and emotional leader on the court like Noah. As of late, the team has just lost its fight, though. And no matter what Pau Gasol can do by himself or what sudden poster dunk Doug McDermott can muster, a sometimes uncertain Butler-Rose dynamic (again, partly due to injuries) and no Noah has cost them dearly after the slew of injuries.
Next: Detroit Pistons