Atlanta Hawks Game Preview: Jan. 25 Chicago Bulls
Thing to Watch For Chicago: Who Starts At Point Guard?
The Chicago Bulls have been playing a game of musical chairs with the point guard position. It’s been a little discombobulated. Rajon Rondo began the season as the starter. Apparently Chicago’s front office contains the only human beings in the world that don’t realize Rondo is no longer a good basketball player. Well, they didn’t realize it last summer. They know it now.
Rondo has played 37 games this season, he’s averaging 6.5 points and 6.6 assists per game on 36.2 percent shooting and 30.2 percent from three-point range. I don’t need to tell you how bad that is. Rondo has been relegated to a bench role in recent weeks and rumors suggest Chicago is trying to trade him. Good luck finding a suitor.
They don’t just have Rondo, they’ve got another point guard that can’t shoot in Michael Carter-Williams. They have cornered the market on poor-shooting point guards. Sadly, I don’t think that’s the new market inefficiency. MCW assumed the starting role when Rondo was initially benched. He’s performed so poorly that now he himself has been benched. He didn’t even play in their most recent game.
Who’s next in the batting order? Step right up, Jerian Grant! Grant was inserted into the starting lineup last night against the Orlando Magic. He only played 20 minutes, scoring seven points and grabbing three rebounds on 1-for-4 shooting.
Grant has promise. He was instrumental in Chicago’s comeback effort against Atlanta last week. If I’m Chicago, I ride with Grant unless a better option presents itself at the trade deadline. Living with Grant’s growing pains is a far better option than rolling out two known quantities that won’t be on your roster next season.
Who will start tonight is anyone’s guess. Until the starting lineups are announced neither of these three names would surprise. God bless Fred Hoiberg. He’s trying to figure this out and he has the Bulls currently in a playoff position. Not all heroes wear capes.