The Chicago Bulls have started the 2015 season going 2-0 after out shooting the Nets 115-100 on Wednesday night in Brooklyn. The transition from Tom Thibodeau’s style to Fred Hoiberg’s has looked like a smooth one, but there is still a learning curve to overcome. There have been some good things and bad things in the first two games of the season so let’s dig a little deeper.
The Good:
As a team, the Bulls have been shooting the ball extremely well. Against the Nets, they shot 53.8% (42-78) from the field and finished with 14 three pointers on 28 attempts. Chicago has also proven that they can withstand late runs by opposing teams and still find a way to get the victory.
Nikola Mirotic has been the most consistent player so far early in the season. He is averaging 18.5 points per game with an average of 9 rebounds to go along with it. What is most impressive about Mirotic is that he has hit on 58.3% of his three balls. Mirotic looks as if he will be enjoying the high motion offense that Hoiberg runs.
The Bulls have one of the deepest teams in the entire league. Hoiberg used 11 different players last game against the Nets and six of these players scored in double digits.
The Bad:
There are some things that need to be worked on throughout the season. The first is turning the ball over less. Against the Nets, the Bulls as a team turned the ball over 20 times. They will not be able to be successful over the course of the season if they turn over the ball this much. It seems like the Bulls are still figuring out the offense and what combination of lineups work best for what Hoiberg is looking for.
The Bulls have managed to hold off late runs by the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night and the Nets Wednesday night, but they need to work on not even being in that position. Against the Nets, they let two double-digit leads get within single digits, which will hurt you over the course of the entire season.
Overall, the Bulls have looked impressive and it should be a very exciting season to watch.
