Jimmy Butler thinks Bulls' offense is fine, numbers say otherwise
The Chicago Bulls have been known as a hard-nosed defensive team for the past few seasons under Tom Thibodeau, but a new head coach in Fred Hoiberg was brought in during the offseason in order to maximize the team's weapons on offense.
But 12 games into the season, it hasn't worked out that way just yet.
Jimmy Butler has been cautious about the focus on the offense ever since Hoiberg was hired, because he believes that defense is the key to winning over a long stretch of games. But Butler is a bit wrong about where the team's strengths and weaknesses lie, at least to this point of the season.
The numbers say that Butler has it backwards.
The Bulls are currently sixth in the league in defensive efficiency, allowing 97.7 points per 100 possessions. On offense, however, the team ranks just 23rd, scoring 98.9 points per 100 possessions.
It's going to take some time for this Bulls team to reach its full potential. Joakim Noah needs to find his rhythm, Pau Gasol needs to be properly utilized in the new system, and the team needs to remain healthy so that the lineups become more consistent.
But it's clear right now that Hoiberg is right to focus on the offense, because that's where the improvement is needed the most.
"We've got guys who can score so well on offense, but then you forget how important it is to play defense," he said. "You start thinking you can outscore guys. That's where we have to get better. We've got guys who can score. Everybody on the team and league knows that. But we also have to get stops."
