Roll call: Can anyone explain Bogans starting?

I make a comment every preseason when there is talk of a battle over who is starting that it all works itself out very early. The coach always seems to settle on a lineup that I agree with (or at the very least I can defend to the point I am uncertain about where I stand.)

Is anyone here in favor of starting Bogans? Or, if not quite that strong, can anyone defend Thibodeau's decision on a theoretical level to continue to start Bogans?

I don't get it. This is a new one for me.

 

The only logic I can see is that there are at three guys who should be fighting for the job (Korver, Brewer, Watson), and that by starting Bogans, it is a way of saying "it doesn't matter who the starter is."

 

Look, we're all seeing the same things. The reason the Bulls are not playing particularly well, in both their wins and losses since Noah is out, is because Noah is out. Both Boozer's and Rose's flaws on the defensive end are magnified. But part of the reason the Bulls are suffering without Noah is that they need another scorer, and better defense from the two guard spot -- both of which Brewer provides. And even when Noah comes back, the Bulls can still use a more complete production from the spot. And Korver and Brewer are both struggling with their limited minutes.

 

It's simple...Thibs is trying to balance the scoring so he has Bogans (who can't score a lick) in when he knows his 3 best scorers will be on the floor, namely, the start of the game.

Of course this approach is based on the faulty assumption that Bogans must play.

 

In close games, having an average player logging heavy minutes at the 2 (Brewer) vs having the strange split which includes giving 15 minutes to an awful player (Bogans) could make a difference. Brewer, while not great by any stretch, is much better than Bogans.

Bogans is so damned horrible. Ick ick ick.

Rose 36 / Watson 12
Brewer 30 / Korver 12 / Watson 6
Deng 36 / Korver 12

I dunno, they really need to acquire someone. The roster is so very thin. Play Bogans a few minutes if those guys are terrible, not the other way around.

 

The season is pretty much what we all expected, no?

Noah played 80 games his second season, but has suffered an injury in each of the other seasons and missed games. Boozer isn't an 82 game player, either. Deng hasn't been an iron man himself, knock on wood for this season.

Deng's playing 39 MPG. He played 38 MPG in his best season. Vinnie played him 38 last season.

When the Bulls used their 2nd MAX cap space to sign (or S&T for) a handful of scrubs, and those scrubs play like scrubs, where's the surprise in it?

Utah wasn't sure Brewer was their answer at SG, so he probably isn't our answer either. However, he's the best SG we have and he's not getting consistent minutes or starting.

 

Okay let's list them:

(1) Thibs is trying to balance scoring and defense (TB)
(2) Thibs is trying to force the front office to make a move.
(3) Brewer's injury was much worse than was let on and Thibs is scared of him logging heavy minutes (if this is true, it's by far the best reason)
(4) Brewer and Korver haven't made the commitment in practice that Thibs expects.
(5) It's a way to sidestep the question of who should actually start between Brewer, Korver, and Watson (Denny)

Well, we have one good rationale and a bunch of junk. I wish a reporter would actually try to pin this down. If it is (3), then I'm willing to take back everything I've said.

 

Re: #5, whoever does get to start might start among that bunch for possibly the next 2 seasons is likely to ask for a considerable raise when their contract is up. Bogans, not so much, since he's fortunate to not be playing in China's equivalent of D-League.

 

Completely agree with your entire post!

 

I dont know why he is starting. Either Korver or brewer should start in his place.

What baffles me is the fact that Bogans can score if his past is any indication! He is either 3rd or 4th, all-time in scoring from Kentucky! Not too shabby.

 

They play basketball in Kentucky?

 

lol and in Indiana. Both states used to be known for their basketball. Especially High School.

 

Tonight was another game where Bogans struggled on the defensive end. Some people in this thread have argued that starting Bogans doesn't make that much difference. I think it does when you can't stop the opposing two guard. Ray Allen got hot until Brewer came in and slowed him down. On most nights, once Allen get's hot, he's going to be hot for the rest of the game. Thibodeau's decision to start Bogans seems more and more suspect with each game that passes.

 

Doc Rivers in a post game interview: Allen had no shots in the fourth quarter; Pierce had one.

That's on Brewer and Deng. I don't care how similar Deng and Brewer may be on offense. If Brewer is significantly better than Bogans on defense, and he is, you have to start him.

 

Brewer is better on offense and defense.

Thibbs said before the game that he likes the "defensive continuity" that Bogans brings to the starting lineup, whatever that means. I'm not seeing it.

I get wanting to have a few bullets to bring off the bench, and Brewer is the best guard off the bench. He got 33 minutes tonight, which is about right. One would think we'd rather see Korver get some more minutes, but on a night like tonight he's terrible too.

 

The problem really is we have a shooter (Korver), a scorer (Watson) and a defender (Brewer), and it's unfortunate none of those guys can do 2 of the 3 or all 3 (shoot, score, defend).