Much was lost Tuesday—other than the game—in the closing tumult of the Bulls defeat by the Dallas Mavericks. There was Jimmy Butler’s next big shot, then the Mavs’ three to go ahead without the timeout, Jimmy with another attempt, the defense and lack of it, the Dwyane Wade miss, the questions, the disappointment of falling back under .500 for the season.
But as the Bulls prepare for the Friday/Saturday games in Atlanta and Saturday in the United Center against the Sacramento Kings, there was the new offensive addition from Robin Lopez with a personal season high 21 points, and continuing his own experimentation with the bomb. Call it the Chicago Project.
It’s the big man three, and it may be coming soon.
Taj Gibson, who was out with a sore ankle Tuesday but is expected to play Friday, has quietly been moving out his range. After not making a three pointer since 2010, Gibson made one last week in Washington and attempted three in the last two games. Gibson had a combined trio of three point attempts in the last two years. He had more than that in a week.
And now perhaps comes Lopez in this growing NBA trend of seven footers, even the formerly hulking inside ones, shooting the threes.
“That’s something I’ve been working on more this season,” Lopez revealed. “I don’t know if it’s game ready yet. That’s more of a confidence issue. Coach Pete (Myers) has me shooting corner threes before games. I think the way the NBA is going, I don’t see why not. If Brook (Lopez, brother) can do it, I definitely can.”
Robin probably can, though he never has made one in nine years in the NBA with five attempts.
He’s got one of the most reliable straight on mid range shots on the team. He’s averaging 9.4 points and 7.1 rebounds this season, both above his career averages. He’s a career 53 percent shooter, though below that this season. But the prankster born on April 1 was 10 of 15 against the Mavericks, most on jump shots and hooks, and has shot at least 50 percent in three of the last four games.
Not exactly ready to be prime offensive option, but Lopez can score.
“I think, obviously, we have our first and second options,” Lopez noted about Butler and Wade, the latter who could sit out the second of the back to back Saturday. “I think based on a game-by-game basis, it can kind of change depending on who’s feeling hot and who has a good matchup with that third or fourth option. I wasn’t too surprised (about Tuesday’s scoring). It’s something I got a little more comfortable with last season in New York. I was aware with them starting Dirk (Nowitzki) at the five they might be looking to go towards me a little bit more. Obviously, for me defensively, I’m not used to chasing guys around the perimeter. He’s the great stretch big. That was a fun matchup for me. Different matchups are always fun for me.”
It could have been fun for the Bulls, a defensive three-point challenge away from a three-game winning streak and good feelings all around. Instead, it was another day of reflection about how to be more committed and consistent.
Actually, 24 might have been enough the way the Bulls started the third quarter before rallying back to take a late lead. It’s been a trend, and positive in that they don’t give in; negative in that it takes that to still be hanging around .500.
“I think consistency has been an issue with us on a lot of different scales, from quarter to quarter and game to game,” said Lopez. That’s something we need to focus in on.” Lopez also said the Bulls seem to have a better commitment against the better teams, but so do most teams around .500.
“I really think it’s an issue of focus,” Lopez said of the 7-4 record against the league’s top 10 teams. “I think against the good teams we’ve displayed that focus. We’re a little more keen because we’re afraid of losing to good teams. There are moments I think where we take certain situations for granted and we have mental lapses.” Though Lopez didn’t want to say the Bulls take anyone for granted, as if they can.
“I want to phrase that as we’re afraid of losing to good teams in a good way,” said Lopez. “I think it’s a good fear. You go in against the Cavs or somebody, the champs, and you have that fear in your gut. That’s a natural instinct. That’s a good fear to have because it drives you to stay focused to be prepared. I don’t think we have that fear or level of respect at times for other opponents.”
Lopez was given a day off from practice Wednesday. He said he was good, and he has been good, consistent in his play all season, gobbling up offensive rebounds and blocks. He leads the team in both underrated categories and willingly and quietly has ceded the close of games lately to the more mobile Cristiano Felicio.
Lopez is not the All-Star game type, but valuable to teams. Butler and Wade will find out Thursday night on the TNT broadcast if they will be starters in this year’s All-Star game. Butler is certain to make the team, Wade probably if he wins the combined popular/player/media vote. The coaches select the reserves and there’s growing All-Star depth in the Eastern Conference.
Expanding even more in the NBA is the three-point shooting that is reaching lengths—and heights—never imagined.
It’s one thing for Stephen Curry to average 10 three-point attempts per game. But for Brook Lopez to average five is turning the game upside down.
“All our bigs, when we get time to shoot, we’re always practicing shooting threes,” said Lopez. “That's the way the game's trending. I don't know if it's a priority. You kind of look at it as something else to add to the arsenal. Taj has so much to his game. He has the ability pull up from three, so that makes him just that much more dangerous.”
The Bulls will see plenty of it Saturday from Sacramento’s DeMarcus Cousins, one of the most unrestrained big man shooters in the game. The Grizzlies Marc Gasol shoots almost 40 percent on threes. The Knicks Kristaps Porzingis is at 40 percent and others are threatening the mark, like Serge Ibaka, Kevin Love and Marressee Speights. In the 1980s when the shot became official, few guards were close to 40 percent.
Ready or not, here it comes.
“Hopefully tomorrow,” Lopez said when asked when he might bring the three to the regular season. “Is there a game tomorrow? No. (Then) Friday. As soon as possible.”