Nikola Mirotic

smokingcutler · Post #1 » by **smokingcutler** » Wed Mar 4, 2015 4:18 am

More Nikola Mirotic talk is needed. I think he played 15 straight minutes to end the game today? 20 points in the last two fourth quarters? Mirotic rarely has a bad game when given minutes. Love me some Niko.

NecessaryEvil · Post #2 » by **NecessaryEvil** » Wed Mar 4, 2015 4:18 am

Don't see how the Wiz are going to be an issue. Nikola is the mismatch and key to the whole series.

Post #3 » by **GimmeDat** » Wed Mar 4, 2015 4:27 am

You're right, he does play well when he gets big minutes -

"Chicago Bulls Nikola Mirotic averages 22.3 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 46.0% FG, 46.5% 3PT per 36 minutes when he plays over 30 minutes a game this season."

Come playoffs, it's clear he's still the 3rd string PF, I guess it will come down to whether we need an X-factor in a particular game and when he looks to be a favourable matchup. I imagine Thibs will still look to get him minutes at SF, but when he plays there he tends to shoot jumpers and not drive in as much, which makes him not nearly as effective.

errisal · Post #4 » by **errisal** » Wed Mar 4, 2015 4:32 am

GimmeDat wrote:You're right, he does play well when he gets big minutes -

"Chicago Bulls Nikola Mirotic averages 22.3 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 46.0% FG, 46.5% 3PT per 36 minutes when he plays over 30 minutes a game this season."

Come playoffs, it's clear he's still the 3rd string PF, I guess it will come down to whether we need an X-factor in a particular game and when he looks to be a favourable matchup. I imagine Thibs will still look to get him minutes at SF, but when he plays there he tends to shoot jumpers and not drive in as much, which makes him not nearly as effective.

He doesn't look as effective at the SF because Thibs doesn't utilize him in the post more against smaller SF's. As a PF he takes his man outside and uses his ball skills against the slower PF's. Against the smaller SF's he should be doing the opposite. With a few more 30+ minute games he'll gain enough confidence where hopefully Thibs will allow to use his mismatches more.

RebuildaBulls · Post #5 » by **RebuildaBulls** » Wed Mar 4, 2015 4:33 am

Niko is at his best at PF since he can board, take most bigs off the dribble, post up, get his hand in passing lanes and block shots. When he plays SF he really doesn't make a difference since hes not quick enough to beat SF's and they dont bite on his fakes plus he has to work extra harder to stay in front of quicker SF's. Hes a better PF by far

kodo · Post #6 » by **kodo** » Wed Mar 4, 2015 4:37 am

You joined RealGM just to make a Nikola Mirotic thread?

smokingcutler · Post #7 » by **smokingcutler** » Wed Mar 4, 2015 4:41 am

Agreed with all the posts above. I'm assuming the lane is too packed when he plays the 3 that's why he becomes a jump shooter. Mirotic needs more of a Draymond type at the 4 to play the three. Noah and Gasol simply don't create enough spacing for Mirotic to operate inside.

smokingcutler · Post #8 » by **smokingcutler** » Wed Mar 4, 2015 4:42 am

kodo wrote:You joined RealGM just to make a Nikola Mirotic thread?

I did I'm not much for posting, but I have been lurking for a while. I just wanted to read more about Mirotic hehe

jl342323 · Post #9 » by **jl342323** » Wed Mar 4, 2015 4:42 am

if everyone was healthy, he would be getting at most 15 mpg.

errisal · Post #10 » by **errisal** » Wed Mar 4, 2015 4:49 am

jl342323 wrote:if everyone was healthy, he would be getting at most 15 mpg.

I still think he will be getting 20+ minutes and Pau will have his minutes decreased to keep him fresh. There's 24 minutes apiece for 4 bigs and you can pull 8 of those minutes from Niko and play him those 8 minutes at SF successfully.

smokingcutler · Post #11 » by **smokingcutler** » Wed Mar 4, 2015 4:53 am

jl342323 wrote:if everyone was healthy, he would be getting at most 15 mpg.

I agree with this. While he deserves more, it is hard to justify not giving taj more minutes. You could cut Gasol's minutes, but he has been our best offensive player this year and while he isn't an anchor defensively he is still better than Miro.

However, with Butler's and Rose's absence I think we are going to get desperate for playmakers at times and that is when we could use Niko. The last two fourth quarters are evident of this IMO. All this is moot come playoff time considering that we will be screwed if Mirotic is our go to against the Cavs or Hawks.

smokingcutler · Post #12 » by **smokingcutler** » Wed Mar 4, 2015 4:56 am

I am the biggest Mirotic fan here I can guarantee that. However, I think he is useless at the 3. Both Snell and Dunlevey are more effective there. Unless of course it's to develop him.

Edit: I didn't mean useless as in horrible, but more so just less effective than Snell and Dunlevey.

bullslas · Post #13 » by **bullslas** » Wed Mar 4, 2015 5:13 am

Niko should cut Taj's minutes. Why is Taj entitled to those minutes? Taj is no longer our top bench player. Niko has proven it all season. When Taj plays, he stops the offense and his horrible rebounding and he's sketchy defense (this year) is costing us games.

If Taj is healthy we lose today. No queation, we lose.

IcemanGervin · Post #14 » by **IcemanGervin** » Wed Mar 4, 2015 5:13 am

I love how Niko competes. He clearly loves the moment and is not afraid. Paul Pierce was talking **** to him all game and he remained unfazed.

NecessaryEvil · Post #15 » by **NecessaryEvil** » Wed Mar 4, 2015 5:16 am

IcemanGervin wrote:I love how Niko competes. He clearly loves the moment and is not afraid. Paul Pierce was talking **** to him all game and he remained unfazed.

Not a tough guy, but a guy that plays tough...

--- ThreeKola Mirotic

Love LOVE how he took on the challenge of the Wiz bigs.

ElPolloLoco · Post #16 » by **ElPolloLoco** » Wed Mar 4, 2015 5:16 am

Mirotic is awesome, im very happy he is on the bulls. Lots of potential and mismatch nightmare at the PF spot.

logical_art · Post #17 » by **logical_art** » Wed Mar 4, 2015 5:18 am

He's only played over 30 minutes 7 times all season so that's a bit of a small sample size.

He's played over 25 minutes 16 games. In those games here are his numbers.

48% FG
42% 3PT
80% FT on 5.4 attempts
65% TS
15.6 PPG
7.9 Reb

Obviously there' a bit of a direction of causation issue. When he plays well, he plays more minutes. Still I think its pretty likely he'd be neck and neck with Wiggins for ROY if he went to a bad team where he could play more.

smokingcutler · Post #18 » by **smokingcutler** » Wed Mar 4, 2015 5:24 am

bullslas wrote:Niko should cut Taj's minutes. Why is Taj entitled to those minutes? Taj is no longer our top bench player. Niko has proven it all season. When Taj plays, he stops the offense and his horrible rebounding and he's sketchy defense (this year) is costing us games.

If Taj is healthy we lose today. No queation, we lose.

Taj's defense is still miles better than Mirotic's. While Taj hasn't been great, you are still underselling his defense and rebounding. Taj contests shots more than any other Bull. I would argue that Taj is never in position to rebound because of being more active on help D than the other Bulls. Maybe somebody who rewatches the games can confirm or disprove my assessment?

Clint Eastwood · Post #19 » by **Clint Eastwood** » Wed Mar 4, 2015 5:25 am

Clint Eastwood

smokingcutler · Post #20 » by **smokingcutler** » Wed Mar 4, 2015 5:28 am

logical_art wrote:He's only played over 30 minutes 7 times all season so that's a bit of a small sample size.

He's played over 25 minutes 16 games. In those games here are his numbers.

48% FG
42% 3PT
80% FT on 5.4 attempts
65% TS
15.6 PPG
7.9 Reb

Obviously there' a bit of a direction of causation issue. When he plays well, he plays more minutes. Still I think its pretty likely he'd be neck and neck with Wiggins for ROY if he went to a bad team where he could play more.

I hear this a lot. He plays more when he plays better. However, to me it seems that Mirotic has never gotten 30+ min with all four bigs healthy. Heck, id be suprised if he had more than 2 games with 25+ mins. For me it seems that mirotic gets 25+ min because others are injured not because he is playing well. Am I wrong?