Outside shooting was a big issue for the Bulls last season, but this preseason it has been a strength. The Bulls have made 34 of 90 three-point attempts (nearly 38 percent) in their first five games. Sharpshooter Kyle Korver is 5-for-13 (.384) after Friday night's loss to the Dallas Mavericks, but he isn't the Bulls' top shooter. That distinction goes to Keith Bogans, who's 10-for-17 (.588). Luol Deng, who has been encouraged by coach Tom Thibodeau to attempt more threes, went 5-for-7 on Friday night and is 11-for-20 (.550). Read more: http://www.suntimes.com/sports/basketball/bulls/2807188,CST-SPT-bullnt16.article
Lu quietly turned into a pretty good 3 pt shooter last year. I haven't seen too much of the preseason games, but he seems more comfortable with the shot and is taking it in different locations.....not just from the corner. I think Luol is well positioned to have a very effective year. With two guys who are clearly better than him on offense and the system Thibs is implementing, he should be very complimentary to what we have, although I doubt his stats will go up much from last year.
I think the stats mentioned in the OP are ultimately misleading. Lu is not a volume 3 pt shooter and he's not going to hit 55% from 3. Bogans isn't going to play very much (hopefully). That leaves Korver and his 0.384% shooting, which is not very good for him.
I think the signs point to Lu raising his volume a bit and still being effective, which is a pretty huge deal. Lu might have had the best pre season of anyone in terms of how much improved he looks. In this offense he seems back to his 06-07 form but with added range. At least from what vie seen so far. If he can credibly shoot the three, it really makes us more flexible with whomever we want to plug in on the other wing.
