Bernstein: Loss To LA Highlights Boozer's Worth
Although he's 6-8 and 260 pounds and sitting at the end of the bench in a very expensive suit, it's easy to forget that the Bulls are playing – and playing well – without their second-best player.
The situation is strange. We don't know exactly how to "miss" Carlos Boozer, since we have never seen him play on this team for this coach. We know his game enough, but not how it relates to Derrick Rose and specific matchups or situations.
As the Lakers' defense continued to swarm Rose last night, it exposed a Bulls flaw that is the difference against elite teams and in hard-fought playoff series:
Rose is the only Bull right now who can create his own shot.
Even during another dazzling exhibition of jackknife drives to the basket and impossible-angle layups, it's clear that Rose needs a teammate to do something more than cut or spot up after setting a screen.
Joakim Noah's putbacks are nice. Taj Gibson can fan to the baseline and earn a little attention to his 15-footer. Luol Deng and Kyle Korver can make open shots. (As soon as we identify what Keith Bogans does, we'll get back to you)
But Boozer's return within the next couple weeks will provide a secondary initiation point that this offense lacks entirely. For the first time is this already entertaining season, the need for that option glared against a smart, long, tough, deep team that plays disciplined halfcourt defense.
As we try to hold Tom Thibodeau's team to a high standard, we are lulled by games against lesser foes or good teams employing a run-and-gun style that plays to the Bulls' strengths. We see that they can win when Rose's gravity pulls defenders away from shooters and the ball is rotated and reversed smartly. For them to be really dangerous, though, they need to force defenses to alter their rules.
Currently, Bulls opponents need a relatively simple defensive plan. We have seen immediate trapping of Rose to make him give the ball up and scramble to get it back in his hands with less time to work. We have seen athletic teams with similarly-sized players switch every perimeter screen to deny Rose's driving opportunities. And the Lakers flocked to Rose after his first move, then recovered as quickly as possible.
Several times already this year the Bulls have suffered through scoring droughts lasting minutes, or have not had the ability to contain or combat a withering run. Teams with any kind of post presence rarely have that problem, since a simple bounce to the big guy on the block can at least get a couple free throws.
As remarkable as Rose has been in powering everything they do offensively, it's clear how formidable they will be soon, when he doesn't have to.
