In recent years the NBA has become a league filled with "small-ball" and there have been people that think the center position is becoming extinct. Even with the small ball trend there was a report on Tuesday that the Atlanta Hawks were considering playing a bigger lineup with Paul Millsap at the small forward spot and now it seems like the Chicago Bulls might do the same. New head coach Fred Hoiberg is reportedly considering playing a big lineup with Nikola Mirotic moving over to small forward at points this season, according to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune.
Mirotic was tremendous for the Bulls as a rookie, earning first team All-Rookie honors, but most of his time last season was spent at the power forward position. Mirotic has the shooting range to be able to handle playing the three offensively but the questions will come on the defensive end guarding quicker, smaller players.
After much thought about changing it up, Hoiberg seems intent upon giving the Joakim Noah and Pau Gasol combination another shot as the starting frontcourt. If that's the case that would leave Mirotic and Taj Gibson as the backups but the problem is that rookie Bobby Portis has played so well this preseason that he has earned a spot in the rotation too. Portis' play is likely a big factor in Hoiberg wanting to try out a big lineup as all five big men really deserve minutes.
Another reason Hoiberg might try the bigger lineup is that the Bulls won't be very deep on the wings when the season starts. Mike Dunleavy is going to miss some time after having back surgery so that leaves the Bulls with Jimmy Butler, Tony Snell and Doug McDermott as rotation wing players. Mirotic would become the fourth player in that wing rotation if Hoiberg does want to play him at small forward a little bit this year.
The 24 year old from Montenegro is 6 foot-10 which is definitely big for the small forward spot but he can shoot it. Mirotic only made 32 percent of his threes as a rookie but he has a nice stroke and can heat up in a hurry. Mirotic appeared in all 82 games a season ago and averaged 10.2 points and 4.9 rebounds in 20.2 minutes per game.
It may be against the grain to play bigger nowadays but it wouldn't be a bad decision by Hoiberg as he would just be utilizing his personnel the best he can. When Dunleavy gets back from his injury the bigger lineup might stop but it doesn't have to if it works well early on. One thing is for sure and that is that this Bulls team has solid depth and that should be a big plus for them entering this season.
