Bulls seek new Mr. Big Shot
By TOM MUSICK - tmusick@nwherald.com
CHICAGO – Say what you will about former Bulls guard Ben Gordon, but he almost always stepped up to take the big shot when the game was on the line.
Somebody else must fill that role this season for the Bulls. It might be five or six somebodies – after all, the team’s biggest acquisition to replace Gordon (18.5 career points a game) was veteran role player Jannero Pargo (6.9).
“You can’t replace Ben,” Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro said. “Ben is a unique player in this league. He was obviously very, very instrumental in our success last year.”
Yet the Bulls insist that they will be a better team without Gordon. They beat the Milwaukee Bucks, 87-86, on Tuesday at the United Center to improve to 3-1 in the preseason.
Del Negro has emphasized stingy defense and points in transition during the preseason. Both of those contrasted with Gordon’s style of play, which included too many defensive lapses and a half-court, set-and-shoot mentality on offense.
Despite those flaws, Gordon could pile up points in a hurry. He led the Bulls in scoring in each of the past four seasons, and his fourth-quarter scoring bursts will be tough to replace.
Del Negro is hopeful that a tandem of players will fill Gordon’s shoes when the regular season tips off Oct. 29 against the San Antonio Spurs.
Derrick Rose
Rose, 21, averaged 16.8 points a game in a Rookie of the Year season before improving to 19.7 points a game in the playoffs. He worked hard on his jump shot this summer and will have the option to shoot or to pass in the final seconds of any close game.
“This year, they just want me to be more aggressive off the pick-and-roll,” Rose said. “If we don’t have anything, just by me attacking will free up the guys that are on the court.”
If Rose has an open shot, Del Negro wants him to take it.
“Obviously [we will] not put it all on one player, but Derrick will have the ball in his hands in a lot of those key situations,” Del Negro said.
• John Salmons
Salmons emerged to score 18.3 points a game after arriving from Sacramento in a midseason trade last season. He never had averaged more than 12.5 points a game in six seasons before that, but the Bulls are confident he will excel at shooting guard.
Salmons mostly played small forward last year with Luol Deng injured.
“He played a lot of two-guard at Sacramento and had success playing two-guard at both ends of the floor,” Bulls general manager Gar Forman said. “We’re pretty comfortable, and most importantly, he’s comfortable that he’ll be able to make the adjustment.”
• Kirk Hinrich
Hinrich is eager to re-establish himself after injuries limited him to 51 games in 2008-09. He also failed to average double-digit points for the first time in his six-year career.
With Rose and Salmons starting in the backcourt, Hinrich will be the first option off of the bench.
“I thought it was Kirk Hinrich’s best summer since he’s been with this organization,” Forman said.
• Jannero Pargo
Pargo played overseas last season after averaging 8.1 points a game with New Orleans in 2007-08. He is a poor man’s Gordon who is more likely to hit a pair of quick three-pointers in a game than he is to reach 20 points.
Pargo’s 39.5 percent career field-goal percentage could deter the Bulls from trusting him with many big shots. Only Lindsey Hunter, Anthony Roberson and Linton Johnson III shot worse last season for the Bulls.
