Bulls keeping faith in reserves
Lack of confidence holding bench players back
There will be better days. Jimmy Butler has to believe that about the Bulls’ bench.
That’s what Butler was holding on to after another disappointing performance by the second unit in the Bulls’ 107- 82 loss Saturday to the 4- 15 Dallas Mavericks.
The way Butler sees it, there is too much young talent and too many high- energy players for the bench not to start finding a rhythm.
‘‘ A lot of confidence in them,’’ Butler said when he was asked about the bench. ‘‘ But I think they need to have more confidence in themselves than we can put in them. That’s all it comes down to. We’ve got some really good players, but they have to believe it first before anybody else can.’’
Big man Bobby Portis still looks confused about shot selection and defense. Guard Jerian Grant disappears at times. Swingman Denzel Valentine still looks like a rookie. And forward Doug McDermott ( concussion) and guard Michael Carter- Williams ( wrist/ knee) still are dealing with injuries. All five were first- round picks by the Bulls or other organizations.
Then there’s Cristiano Felicio, who played like a promising big man late last season but seems to have taken some steps backward and isn’t getting much playing time.
But the poster boy for the bench’s struggles is forward NikolaMirotic. His inconsistency tops the list of the reserves’ seasonlong issues.
‘‘ Right now we’re struggling with the bench group to get the ball in the basket,’’ coach Fred Hoiberg said. ‘‘ That’s something where we’re going to continue to try and preach confidence to them and get them to play well, get them to try and go out there and play with energy. Again, give us a lift when we need them.’’
Hoiberg acknowledged the bench play should improve when McDermott and Carter- Williams return.
‘‘ Those guys are key pieces to our bench,’’ Hoiberg said. ‘‘ They were playing very good early. Doug had a 23- point game against Indiana. Michael is a guy who plays with great energy every time he’s on the floor. He can defendmultiple positions, get into the paint, give you another playmaker. So, yeah, those guys being out has affected our bench.’’
The confusing thing is that the bench players compete at a high level in practices and scrimmages. Now it’s about carrying it out to the court in games.
‘‘ They’re competing,’’ guard Rajon Rondo said. ‘‘ I mean, sometimes they beat the first squad [ in scrimmages]. But it’s a team game. It’s 15 guys. In this locker room, we don’t point the finger at each other.’’
If a lack of confidence is the issue, Butler said there is a logical solution.
‘‘ You’ve got to remind these guys that everybody is not a topfive pick, where they come in right away and be ‘ the guy,’ ’’ he said. ‘‘[ Besides a few players], everybody else had to work their way up. Work. Show that you deserve to be out there, and when the chance presents itself, go out there and show what you’re capable of.
‘‘ I think that’s what we have to keep these young guys — the bench, even the starters — realizing. Work is what’s going to get you out there, and production is what’s going to keep you out there.’’