The Mirotic thread: New Niko or March come early? Merged

madvillian · Post #1 » by **madvillian** » Tue Dec 12, 2017 6:15 pm

Discuss his play here with or without trade and future context. I do wish it was March already (man it's already been a long winter) but he has shown some signs of improvement.

I'm surprised how good he looks after the long layoff. He looks more polished in all aspects of his game. Maybe he's not going to be the 20-22 ppg stretch four we all envisioned but there's plenty of use for Mirotic in Chicago and around the league.

I think you can tell he worked hard on his body this year. He's shed the baby fat (Val, take notes) and as the Celtics crew said last night he "bodied up Smart" and that's not that easy to do in the post.

His shooting motion looks a little more fluid to me although it could just be that he's swishing so many. If nothing else he seems to be realizing that he doesn't have to take a 24 ft three even if he's "open" and can play more within the flow of the offense.

Defensively I thought he looked great last night. He's not a leaper but he's quick laterally for a big man and his added strength and stamina is helping him mostly on that end.

What sort of offers do people want to see him gone for? I'm asking for a top 20 pick. If the move is there make it. I could probably be talked into a late 1st if the tank isn't going so well and Niko is part of that.

Lauri_Legend · Post #2 » by **Lauri_Legend** » Tue Dec 12, 2017 6:22 pm

This is the new Niko. He skipped his national team commitment to put in extra work into his game. I don't believe in coincidences. Dude worked hard and it's paying off. I won't get ahead of myself too much, he's still a 15ppg caliber player, but he'll be way more efficient and consistent.

madvillian · Post #3 » by **madvillian** » Tue Dec 12, 2017 6:46 pm

Lauri_Legend wrote:This is the new Niko. He skipped his national team commitment to put in extra work into his game. I don't believe in coincidences. Dude worked hard and it's paying off. I won't get ahead of myself too much, he's still a 15ppg caliber player, but he'll be way more efficient and consistent.

Yea good point. He seems dedicated to his pro career now. Maybe it helped settling into the US with his family and let him focus 100% on basketball this offseason.

MrSparkle · Post #4 » by **MrSparkle** » Tue Dec 12, 2017 6:48 pm

Lauri_Legend wrote:This is the new Niko. He skipped his national team commitment to put in extra work into his game. I don't believe in coincidences. Dude worked hard and it's paying off. I won't get ahead of myself too much, he's still a 15ppg caliber player, but he'll be way more efficient and consistent.

Agreed. Thought the FIBA games were a disaster for him. He wasn't playing a solid/defined role on the Spanish team, and he kept coming into the NBA season looking like he hadn't hit the weight room.

The past 3 games, he looks very confident in the post. Standing his ground, just looks like a tough player all around... and his speed is the same, but he has more pep in his step (conditioning).

IMO strength/conditioning was the top priority for him to improve. Prior years he was pushed around like a pasta noodle. I imagine he saw J. Noah's post 2013/14 workout routine and got inspired (to not work out). This Niko right here is a solid NBA player and possibly not worth throwing away for a Cameron Payne (assuming that's Gar's idea of a desperate return).

League Circles · Post #5 » by **League Circles** » Tue Dec 12, 2017 6:55 pm

new Niko. I've been looking forward to good play from him. Always thought it was a very solid chance of coming to fruition. Hopefully he can continue.

madvillian · Post #6 » by **madvillian** » Tue Dec 12, 2017 6:55 pm

MrSparkle wrote:
Lauri_Legend wrote:This is the new Niko. He skipped his national team commitment to put in extra work into his game. I don't believe in coincidences. Dude worked hard and it's paying off. I won't get ahead of myself too much, he's still a 15ppg caliber player, but he'll be way more efficient and consistent.

Agreed. Thought the FIBA games were a disaster for him. He wasn't playing a solid/defined role on the Spanish team, and he kept coming into the NBA season looking like he hadn't hit the weight room.

The past 3 games, he looks very confident in the post. Standing his ground, just looks like a tough player all around... and his speed is the same, but he has more pep in his step (conditioning).

IMO strength/conditioning was the top priority for him to improve. Prior years he was pushed around like a pasta noodle. I imagine he saw J. Noah's post 2013/14 workout routine and got inspired (to not work out). This Niko right here is a solid NBA player and possibly not worth throwing away for a Cameron Payne (assuming that's Gar's idea of a desperate return).

Yea I think conditioning was his main problem. He looked winded when he tried to play both ways. And to his credit he really does hustle on defense. He was moving his feet big time last night. I remember one time I think it was Rozier tried to iso and drive after Mirotic switched on him up top and Mirotic managed to stay in front of him and force him into a tough 17 ft jumper.

Post #7 » by **Ice Man** » Tue Dec 12, 2017 7:01 pm

The thesis of new Niko seems as like to be true as was the thesis of "the real Derrick is back."

madvillian · Post #8 » by **madvillian** » Tue Dec 12, 2017 7:07 pm

Ice Man wrote:The thesis of new Niko seems as like to be true as was the thesis of "the real Derrick is back."

I dunno about that. Hard to compare a guy settling into a new country, putting in a lot of time on his body in the offseason and perhaps coming into his own a little later than expected with a guy coming off a series of major knee surgeries and not playing basketball for basically two years.

rowseyna · Post #9 » by **rowseyna** » Tue Dec 12, 2017 7:08 pm

New Niko. I have no trouble envisioning him putting up good numbers the rest of the year:

20-24 MPG, ~48% FG, 40+% 3P, ~80% FT, ~5 RPG, ~1 APG, ~1 SPG, ~1 BPG, ~16 PPG

Post #10 » by **Ice Man** » Tue Dec 12, 2017 7:11 pm

madvillian wrote:I dunno about that.

OK then, the MCW, who was the key to our team for his first 3 games of last year, which we won. You've been here a long time, you know how these narratives go. They don't often prove to be true.

madvillian · Post #11 » by **madvillian** » Tue Dec 12, 2017 7:16 pm

Ice Man wrote:
madvillian wrote:I dunno about that.

OK then, the MCW, who was the key to our team for his first 3 games of last year, which we won. You've been here a long time, you know how these narratives go. They don't often prove to be true.

Oh for sure, but it's fun to talk about and I don't think anybody can argue that physically, he isn't improved. How well that will translate on the floor over a season is anybody's guess but kudos to the guy for working hard.

Dan Z · Post #12 » by **Dan Z** » Tue Dec 12, 2017 7:20 pm

I'd need to see more before I can properly judge. If The Bulls do trade him what teams need a PF?

Post #13 » by **Ice Man** » Tue Dec 12, 2017 7:27 pm

madvillian wrote:Oh for sure, but it's fun to talk about and I don't think anybody can argue that physically, he isn't improved. How well that will translate on the floor over a season is anybody's guess but kudos to the guy for working hard.

I'd love to see him crush it this year, don't get me wrong.

NZB2323 · Post #14 » by **NZB2323** » Tue Dec 12, 2017 7:30 pm

It's a 3 game sample size. We've seen stretches where Niko looks fantastic for 3 games before.

In the first 3 games of 2016 he averaged 20 ppg, 8 rpg, 2 steals per game while shooting over 50% FG, 50% from 3, shooting 4.6 free throws per game, making 4.3 of them.

GDRO10 · Post #15 » by **GDRO10** » Tue Dec 12, 2017 7:43 pm

Given how incosistent Niko has been in the past 2 years, i think we have to wait before calling this a breakout season for him. But he indeed looks stronger and improved in the post. The question here is, if he continues his strong play do you trade him while he has value or do you keep him thinking he's a good player for you moving forward?

Warren G · Post #16 » by **Warren G** » Tue Dec 12, 2017 7:51 pm

Niko has never been this swagged out before. It's an entirely new animal we're dealing with.

He's **** on the best defense in the NBA and then referring to himself in the third person afterwards.

FriedRise · Post #17 » by **FriedRise** » Tue Dec 12, 2017 7:55 pm

New Niko. The old Niko would've pump-faked a lot more times and wouldn't have been able to take advantage of a smaller Marcus Smart in the post. One game sample size.

Red Larrivee · Post #18 » by **Red Larrivee** » Tue Dec 12, 2017 8:24 pm

I don't see how we can say this is the new Mirotic based on a 3 game sample size of unsustainable shooting.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

Hangtime84 · Post #19 » by **Hangtime84** » Tue Dec 12, 2017 8:38 pm

Lauri_Legend wrote:This is the new Niko. He skipped his national team commitment to put in extra work into his game. I don't believe in coincidences. Dude worked hard and it's paying off. I won't get ahead of myself too much, he's still a 15ppg caliber player, but he'll be way more efficient and consistent.

I believe in Niko but i feel like another team will benefit from him.

Mech Engineer · Post #20 » by **Mech Engineer** » Tue Dec 12, 2017 8:46 pm

We have seen 3 years of Niko...that's enough of a sample size. And, we have seen his problems. The last thing the Bulls need is to get enamored with Niko's game. And, it is not like Popovich is coaching the Bulls either to utilize him/mentor him. The Bulls have to accept their reality of what they are doing and how uphill the climb is for them to get back to even as an average level team.

It is not like Niko is a mentor to Lauri either. He is going to suck minutes from him/he has had his own issues with professional attitude and obviously going to look out for himself/stats.