WT: Bulls Undecided Between MDJ and McD For Starting SF

[fleet]

With the news on Jimmy, it seems as though the Bulls are laying the groundwork for him to miss some games. So expect whoever works best with Kirk to start the year, and possibly stay with the starters when Jimmy returns. I think it'll be MDJ and Kirk just to be a more steady consistent unit while the Bulls try to get that 1st quarter going.

[musiqsoulchild]

With the news on Jimmy, it seems as though the Bulls are laying the groundwork for him to miss some games. So expect whoever works best with Kirk to start the year, and possibly stay with the starters when Jimmy returns. I think it'll be MDJ and Kirk just to be a more steady consistent unit while the Bulls try to get that 1st quarter going.

If Butler misses a few games, then you are spot on!

[weneeda2guard]

We should def be looking for another starter

But we know thst won't happen

To be honest I think the best way to go

Is to start
Rose
Kirk
Jimmy
Pau
Noah

Kirk can guard most 2 guards in this league and he is a threat from 3, at least enough to keep teams honest and not leave him wide open. Defensively that starting line up is going to drive teams crazy.

Then

Brooks, dougie, dunleavy, taj mirotic as our core bench mob with snell getting some small minutes until he can prove he can hit a damn shot.

And when we facing the better teams kirk and Jimmy log more minutes with the bench and less minutes for the rooks.

[panthermark]

I honestly don't care either way. I'm honestly more concerned about who our starting wings are at the start of the play-offs, not the start of the regular season.

Unless McD becomes one of those generational rookies, I really don't want to see either guy out there next to Butler.

For all I care they could flip-flop starts each game and each play exactly 24 minutes a game all season.

You are all about the playoffs...

I think one of Mirotic, McDermott and Pau have to be able to manufacture some points when Derrick gives them the ball and not look scared. Based on how Pau shows his ability during game situations, the importance of McDermott/Dunleavy starting makes a difference. Dunleavy will be steady while McDermott might be inconsistent.

Yeah, I do tend to be focused only on the play-offs. I know I need to enjoy the ride a bit more...but I want rings. There are no titles for regular season champs.

I guess if I were forced to chose one, it would be McD....only because the regular season does not mean much and it would give him every oppornuity and plenty of time to see if he has the tools to be a starter for a contender this season. But that is just me...because I would also be willing to bench McD after the All-Star break if he wasn't getting it done. I'm not sure if Thibs would do that. Mitoric has shown more flashes, but there just too much talent in front of him.

[dmk08]

I would start Doug myself. Watching pre-season Taj needs someone else on the 2nd unit that can score with him and bring a veteran presence. You can also hide Dougs defense more with the starting unit including Noah, Pau, and Butler.

[panthermark]

Looks like MDJ will be be the starter.

The question now is.........will it be all season or will McD get another shot?

[BrooklynBulls]

I would start Doug myself. Watching pre-season Taj needs someone else on the 2nd unit that can score with him and bring a veteran presence. You can also hide Dougs defense more with the starting unit including Noah, Pau, and Butler.

Most coaches just start the best players, barring 6th men instant offense types. We don't even have a 6th man type. Dunleavy right now is visibly better than McDermott and he should start. I don't even see the need for a debate about this-- McDermott is very much a rookie doing rookie things right now.

[Rerisen]

I would start Doug myself. Watching pre-season Taj needs someone else on the 2nd unit that can score with him and bring a veteran presence. You can also hide Dougs defense more with the starting unit including Noah, Pau, and Butler.

Most coaches just start the best players, barring 6th men instant offense types. We don't even have a 6th man type. Dunleavy right now is visibly better than McDermott and he should start. I don't even see the need for a debate about this-- McDermott is very much a rookie doing rookie things right now.

Indeed. The comfort and ease of Dunleavy right now is making him look like Chris Mullin compared to Doug, who is just second guessing, out of place a lot, and not hitting shots right in his wheelhouse. He has a case of Snell-itis so far.

[Stratmaster]

I would start Doug myself. Watching pre-season Taj needs someone else on the 2nd unit that can score with him and bring a veteran presence. You can also hide Dougs defense more with the starting unit including Noah, Pau, and Butler.

Most coaches just start the best players, barring 6th men instant offense types. We don't even have a 6th man type. Dunleavy right now is visibly better than McDermott and he should start. I don't even see the need for a debate about this-- McDermott is very much a rookie doing rookie things right now.

Indeed. The comfort and ease of Dunleavy right now is making him look like Chris Mullin compared to Doug, who is just second guessing, out of place a lot, and not hitting shots right in his wheelhouse. He has a case of Snell-itis so far.

:O

[NDave79]

I would start Doug myself. Watching pre-season Taj needs someone else on the 2nd unit that can score with him and bring a veteran presence. You can also hide Dougs defense more with the starting unit including Noah, Pau, and Butler.

Most coaches just start the best players, barring 6th men instant offense types. We don't even have a 6th man type. Dunleavy right now is visibly better than McDermott and he should start. I don't even see the need for a debate about this-- McDermott is very much a rookie doing rookie things right now.

Indeed. The comfort and ease of Dunleavy right now is making him look like Chris Mullin compared to Doug, who is just second guessing, out of place a lot, and not hitting shots right in his wheelhouse. He has a case of Snell-itis so far.

Yeah, it really shouldn't be surprising. NBA vets have struggled to pick up Thibs schemes at first. If a regular NBA rookies transition is like going from highschool to college, I feel for Bulls rookies it's like going from highschool to grad school. I think Thibs is much more detailed and demanding of his system being run exactly correct and that is one of the reasons he is a good coach. I think McDermott is expending so much of his mental energy on just running things properly, that scoring is kind of an afterthought right now. I predict we see a huge jump in effectiveness and efficiency for Doug once the plays and schemes are second nature to him and he can go back to focusing on just playing basketball.

[Bluewaterheaven]

We should def be looking for another starter

But we know thst won't happen

To be honest I think the best way to go

Is to start
Rose
Kirk
Jimmy
Pau
Noah

Kirk can guard most 2 guards in this league and he is a threat from 3, at least enough to keep teams honest and not leave him wide open. Defensively that starting line up is going to drive teams crazy.

Then

Brooks, dougie, dunleavy, taj mirotic as our core bench mob with snell getting some small minutes until he can prove he can hit a damn shot.

And when we facing the better teams kirk and Jimmy log more minutes with the bench and less minutes for the rooks.

On one hand, while having Kirk next to Rose really frees Rose up because there is a second ball handler, I am just not sure his body can take a starting position for 82 games and a deep playoff run. I honestly think if the Bulls want the most effective Kirk, then need to play him 18-20 minutes a night, preferably against the second unit. That way, when we make it to the playoffs, and actually really do need that second ball handler next to Rose for when all the trapping starts, Kirk is physically ready to handle the increased minutes he will be seeing.

[Red Larrivee]

Looks like MDJ will be be the starter.

The question now is.........will it be all season or will McD get another shot?

McDermott starts next season. We just don't know what we're going to get from him each night to justify starting him. Dunleavy isn't great, but in cases like this you have to roll with the veteran especially if you're trying to win a championship.