The Bernstein Brief: Bulls Have A New Look
By Dan Bernstein-
Editor's note: Always full of thoughts, Dan will start sharing a few more quick hits with you every week in The Bernstein Brief. Consider it a morning thought that may evolve. As always, tune into the Boers and Bernstein Show at 1 p.m. to hear more.
(CBS) Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau made his name as a defensive specialist, pacing the sideline like a caged animal while barking instructions on how to stop opponents with relentless helps and recoveries.
When he finally got a top job, that didn't change -- his Bulls teams have been defensive stalwarts in his four-plus seasons in Chicago, while never averaging more than 98.6 points per game. Over the last two years, the Bulls have have averaged 93.5 points per game, regularly struggling to create shots in the absence of injured star Derrick Rose.
Something else is happening now, however, in the admittedly limited sample size of the first 11 games.
The Bulls are averaging 102.5 points, above the league average of 99.5. They are connecting on shots at a .469 clip, fourth-best in the NBA.
Rose or no Rose, and even last night without Pau Gasol, the Bulls scored 105. They have five players averaging double figures and are using a variety of well-spaced sets to create good shots in the half-court. They lack the kind of ball-stoppers and bad shot-takers who throw off offensive pacing, and they are looking -- albeit still in the very early going -- like a different kind of Thibodeau team.
Dan Bernstein is a co-host of 670 The Score's "Boers and Bernstein Show" in afternoon drive. Follow him on Twitter @dan_bernstein and read more of his columns here.