NBA Playoffs 2017: 5 things we learned from Celtics beating the Bulls
By Noah Torr
4. The Chicago Bulls desperately need shooters
The Bulls’ starting lineup consists of a big man to rule the paint (Robin Lopez), a power forward who has been inconsistent from deep all season (Nikola Mirotic), two guards who are best suited in the paint or below the 3-point line (Dwyane Wade and Jimmy Butler), and a point guard who can’t hit the broad side of a barn (Rajon Rondo). That’s not a workable lineup in the modern NBA.
The 3-pointer has become such an intricate part of the game that it is now impossible to ignore. The 3-pointer is no longer a novelty, rather a tool that NBA teams use daily to excel in the league. The Bulls did not embrace that with their lineup. They traded away their second best 3-point shooter (Doug McDermott) to go after Cameron Payne, who barely played down the stretch. He didn’t even play a single minute in against the Celtics. That leaves Nikola Mirotic. He has been inconsistent this entire season and virtually disappeared from the Bulls playoff games during the series.
If the Bulls are ready to win now — as their current lineup suggests they’re trying to do — they should go after shooters in the offseason. J.J. Reddick will be a free agent this summer and he is one of the best shooters in the league. Kyle Korver will also be an unrestricted free agent in the summer, and if the Cavaliers fail to win a championship this year, he will probably move on from the Cavs and look to make more money elsewhere.
The Bulls need to bolster their lineup with shooters. They don’t need to suddenly turn themselves into the Houston Rockets, but they need to add a few more pieces around Jimmy Butler in order to succeed.