POINTS OF INTEREST
Led by Butler, Bulls’ offense finally is on a roll
Hoiberg’s offense finally takes shape, with better efficiency, passing, scoring
So this is what coach Fred Hoiberg’s hyped-up offense was supposed to look like.
This is why Hoiberg has stressed terms such as “thrust’’ and “pacing’’ since Day 1. This is “Hoiball.’’ Finally. And there are numbers to back up its emergence.
Through the first 16 regular-season games, Hoiberg’s offense was tied for ninth in pacing with 100 possessions per game but was ranked 27th in offensive efficiency. In other words, the Bulls were pushing the ball better than last season but running into bad possessions.
After their 117-106 victory Tuesday against the Bucks, the Bulls were still ninth in pacing (98.9 possessions per game), but the efficiency was up to 22nd overall.
That tells just part of the story. Through the first 16 games, the Bulls were averaging 98.9 points. Over their last 17, they’re averaging 105.2.
And since Jimmy Butler’s proclamation Dec. 19 that Hoiberg needed to coach the team “harder,’’ they’re averaging 108 points.
“I think the big thing is we’re playing unselfish basketball,’’ Hoiberg said. “It’s not sticking nearly as much as it was early in the year. The ball is going side to side, which is very important for our team. I think our guys are recognizing mismatches on the floor, which they’ve evolved into. I thought earlier in the year, you might have a cross-match coming down the floor, you don’t recognize it. We’re starting to recognize those things now.
“The big thing is when we swing that ball side to side and attack when the defense shifts, we’re so much more effective, and we’ve been doing amuch better job. I think that’s the key to our numbers going up.’’ It’s a big key but not the only one. Taj Gibson has been inserted into the starting lineup, Bobby Portis is in the rotation, Joakim Noah is sidelined with a shoulder injury, Derrick Rose is finally listening to Hoiberg and Butler is coming to grips with stardom.
That last development might be the biggest factor.
Since Butler put the spotlight on himself with his comments about Hoiberg, he’s averaging 24.3 points. Over that same span, Rose missed three games, and the Bulls won all three. Even Rose is recognizing that he’s Robin to Butler’s Batman.
“For one, we’re getting out and running, but Jimmy has been playing unreal right now,’’ Rose said. “He’s ballin’ right now, so keep going to him until he doesn’t want the ball anymore. It’s just that everything’s clicking. We just gotta be able to rebound better on both sides.
“We have to get the rebound whenever we get the stops, so we can keep putting pressure on them ’cause me and Jimmy, we’re very dangerous out on the open court, and then you throw in Niko [Mirotic], a three-point shooter, or [Tony Snell], Doug [McDermott] out there. How are you going to stick with us if we’ve got two playmakers and we’ve got shooters around? “We haven’t hit the ceiling yet.’’ Hoiberg was hoping they haven’t. There are still plays to be installed, and there are still a lot of things to clean up.
“I don’t know if I had a specific goal,’’ Hoiberg said of all the statistical improvements. “I like the way we’re playing right now. Offensively, we’re playing the right way, and hopefully we’re trending in the right direction, and it keeps going that way.’’