There’s a lot that goes into the decision of the starting five for next season. Sam Smith claims Hoiberg announced that Pau Gasol and Joakim Noah will not be starting together next season. So it’s safe to assume one will be starting, but which one will it be? Who will come off the bench? Will starting positions be based off salaries like how Tom Thibodeau ran his team, or will Hoiberg try to evenly distribute the starting lineup to the bench like how Steve Kerr did last season.
There’s a lot of mix and matching when it comes to the Bulls front-court. Pau Gasol and Joakim Noah did not compliment each other’s games at all. Pau was significantly more skilled offensively while Joakim still had the advantage on defense despite his knee issues. Will Taj Gibson finally get his well deserved start or will Nikola Mirotic snake him from that position since he’s better fit for that position in the Hoiberg system?
It’s hard to determine what the starting five will be when the season starts, but conceptually on paper this is what the starting five should look like midway into the season. It’s important to note that a starting five lineup isn’t about the five best players, it’s about evenly distributing talent and chemistry from the starting five to the bench.
Point Guard: Derrick Rose.
The former MVP looks to return to his elite form this season after working on his game. Rose being one of the major leaders of the team will be the deciding factor of how far the Bulls will go depending on his health. His season averages took a dip last season, but he looks to revive his MVP game under Hoiberg’s system.
Shooting Guard: Jimmy Butler.
After inking in a $95 million deal, the reigning Most Improved Player will take on a major role. He’ll be the second leader on the court next to Derrick Rose. The Bulls will heavily rely on Butler’s defense to hold the fort since they’re changing their entire philosophy of defense after Thibodeau’s exit. There will be a lot resting on the shoulders of Butler, and he’ll have to prove he’s worth the $95 million deal he signed.
Small Forward: Mike Dunleavy Jr.
This may be an obvious to some, to others it might be a bad sign. Dunleavy is a serviceable forward in the league that can knock down shots and find the open player. His shooting ability should help Rose create room for himself to score. However, it’s possible Tony Snell sneaks in mid-season and steals his position at Small Forward. For now, it’s safe to bet Dunleavy will be the starter given his consistency and experience.
Power Forward: Nikola Mirotic.
Will it be Taj? Pau? Niko? Heck, McDermott? There’s so many options, it’s almost impossible to go wrong with any of the choices. However, even though Niko is in his second year, the Bulls are putting all their eggs in his basket in hopes he develops into a star. The only way that’s possible is if he gets the minutes to develop. It’s possible Niko doesn’t get the start going into the season, but he sure will have a strong shot at receiving the starting four position by mid-season.
Center: Joakim Noah.
Yes. Pau Gasol is better, yes. A million times yes. It’s not about who’s better and who’s worse, it’s about balancing offense vs defense and it’s about chemistry. Sure, Nikola Mirotic and Pau Gasol have ton of chemistry as they’ve played in Spain together, but that’s too much offense with absolute no defense for unnecessary reasons given Butler and Rose are already on the court. Joakim lacks offense, it’s best to put him on the court when Bulls have three other offensive firepower in the lineup which helps Noah focus on defense and rebounding. Pau Gasol coming off the bench would help the Bulls score the ball, especially if guys like Tony Snell and Taj Gibson are being relied on to score points. Gibson will balance out offense vs defense with Pau, and Noah will do the same with Niko.
