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EIGHT QUESTIONS FOR THE BULLS STRETCH RUN
By Sam Smith ddrose譯
The All-Star game is over, the one-week break is done, Cabo San
Lucas hotels’ extra long beds are available again, the TRADING
deadline is past. It’s the stretch run in the NBA, the approximately
30 game race to seeding and the playoffs. It began Thursday with
the TNT doubleheader, and the rest of the NBA gets to the center
jump Friday with the Bulls in Auburn Hills to play the Pistons.
明星賽已經結束，各隊準備下半季的衝刺
The Bulls open the unofficial—and unmathematical—second half
probably in as good overall physical state as they have been all season
with no significant injuries and everyone available.
在球員沒有重大傷病情況下，公牛狀態處於本季最好的狀況
They figure to have their starting lineup in tact for just the 17th time all
season, 13-3 thus far with Derrick Rose, Jimmy Butler,Mike Dunleavy,
Joakim Noah and Pau Gasol. The Bulls are 34-20, third in the Eastern
Conference behind Atlanta and Toronto and leading the Central Division.
Their current first round playoff opponent would be Milwaukee. They’ve
won four straight, though they shouldn’t be fooled as one was after
Anthony Davis was hurt and another when Orlando coughed up a game
that seemed impossible to lose in the last 30 seconds. But the Bulls,
primarily Rose and Noah, seem as healthy as they’ve been all season
with Rose playing at his highest level, averaging a team high 21.5 per
game the last 10 games. Gasol and Butler are coming off playing in the
All-Star game, and Tony Snell is coming off a week of his best play as a
pro.
本季公牛只有17次完整先發，他們戰績是13勝3敗，目前東區第三的公牛，季後賽預計對
上公鹿，本季對公鹿4-0橫掃，但公牛別高興太早，最近對上鵜鶘是AD受傷，對上魔術是
他們太菜，最後30狂失誤，公牛才贏得比賽。Rose近十場場均21.5分Gasol Jb入選明星賽
，Tony Snell也打出生涯最棒的一週。
The Bulls have, at least according to win/loss, one of the easiest
schedules to close the season, ranking in the top five least taxing against
top opponents. And even with a first 54 games of some confusion and
indecision and rumors of even a coaching change and a decline in play,
the Bulls are 10th in overall point differential, third in the East. That’s a
reliable indicator of team strength.
公牛下半季賽程算是前幾輕鬆的，即使上半季隊內充滿矛盾，以球員交易謠言滿天飛，甚
至換掉總教練風波，但是公牛依舊是聯盟前十，東區前三球隊，這證明了球隊的韌性。
The Bulls, also according to NBA statistics, are eighth in field goal
defense, sixth in three-point defense and third in rebounding, all
numbers which suggest title contending and not the much concerning
defensive slippage. The Bulls, however, don’t do as well in advanced
statistics at 17th in pace—we know they often play too slowly—13th
in points per 100 possessions on defense, and 14th in true shooting
percentage to account for all shooting.
根據聯盟統計，在FG防守上公牛在聯盟排名第八，三分防守排第六，籃板排第三，比上季
退步不少，在進階數據方面，進攻節奏是第17名，我們都知道公牛進攻節奏緩慢，100次進
攻位子防守排第13，真實投籃命中率排第14。
It suggests an overall mixture of a team with numerous injuries in its
first 54 games that with 28 to go can have a strong finish. But there
still are questions the Bulls face in these last two months. Here’s a look
at the major ones:
以上是這支球隊在充滿傷兵的前54場比賽表現，他們大有機會在最後28場比賽強力收尾，
但這支球隊依舊有幾個問題。
Will they change the starting lineup?
Of course not. Coach Tom Thibodeau doesn’t do such things as he
won’t get into a media discussion on so called demotions. But changes
have been made subtly. Joakim Noah is a center. Noah’s sacrificed a lot
accepting a power forward role when he was the league’s best center
last season. So coming off surgery and working his way back he
accepted a role to accommodate Gasol, and more than anyone Noah
is about team. But it’s time he played his best position and the best
position for the team. Thibodeau has quietly been going that way with
Noah after starting with Gasol playing often with a second group that
includes Taj Gibson. Thibodeau will have to make some tough decisions
sometimes finishing with them and not Gasol. Noah and Gasol can start,
though perhaps an earlier substitution for Noah is in order to have him
play longer with a defensive second group, and also with Rose. Noah and
Gasol are fine together, but they have to be used better. The Bulls used
to do more a double high post set, their so called “horns” look, with two
big men at the elbows in what you might also see in the triangle pinch
post. Then you can operate off that with two of the best passing big men
in the game. The Bulls need to use those sets more.
公牛會調整先發陣容嗎？
當然不會，老席不會如此作，但是已經產生些微變化，像是中鋒Noah犧牲自己改打大前鋒
，只為了能跟Gasol配合，他是一位團隊至上的球員，老席已經悄悄的更早換下Noah，讓他
能夠跟Taj配合打第二隊，提供防守，還有搭配Rose，Noah跟Gasol配合沒有問題，只是錯
開他們能夠將兩人各自效益極大化，公牛以前常打雙高位戰術，兩名大個站在腰位，形成
三角，接著你可以運用兩名皆善於傳球的大個發動，公牛應該多打這戰術。
Will Tony Snell play more?
Perhaps. The latest big Thibodeau test is whether he’ll go back to
playing Kirk Hinrich more after Hinrich was out pre-All Star with turf toe
and Snell had his best games as a pro and a highlight game defending
LeBron James. Snell’s play is what the Bulls have been waiting for, to
finally show aggression and being unafraid to shoot, make mistakes and
be yanked. He’s done so and it’s apparent with he and Mike Dunleavy
playing, the floor is so much more open for Rose. With Rose having that
sort of space he can get to the basket easier. But it also enabled him to
pass. There was much talk of Rose with a pair of seven-assist games
and few turnovers and now looking to pass. But that’s all due to the
spacing. He’s always looking to pass. With the defense collapsed the
way it had with Dunleavy out and a poor shooting Hinrich playing, Rose
had few passing or driving lanes, the lack of which was often blamed on
him. Hinrich always figured to be a below 20-minute per game reserve,
but stepped in with teammates injured. He isn’t the sort to complain, but
he’s thus more likely to break down. It would be a disservice to the team
not to at least see if Snell can maintain his improvement.
Tony Snell會打更多時間嗎？
也許吧，最近在Kirk的缺陣下，Tony打得棒極了，包括防守LBJ，很明顯，當他或者
Dunleavy在場上時，能夠提供Rose更多切入空間，Rose一直都是以傳球為優先的球員，因
為球員受傷，而讓投射不佳的Kirk在場上時，空間拉不開，Rose找不到人可以傳，伴隨著
低助攻，高失誤，Rose只能自己扛批評。因此如果Tony能保持好表現，至少可以分擔幫倒
忙的Kirk上場時間。
Will Doug McDermott play?
Probably not, though it’s been a mistake. You can’t play everyone, of
course. And he did need knee surgery, which set him back. But when
you have a relatively average three-point shooting team (16th in attempts)
, you need to take a look at one of the best ever three-point shooters in
college and a four-year player. I would have started McDermott over
Dunleavy this season to enable Dunleavy, who is an excellent shooter,
passer and floor spacer, to give balance to a second unit with little ball
movement because of Gibson and Aaron Brooks. It’s still not too late to
get a look at McDermott. If a guy can make shots he can win a playoff
game for you no matter his age or experience.
McD會上場嗎？
應該不會，雖然這是錯誤決定。雖然開季的受傷讓他挫折，且你不可能讓每個人都有時間
打，但是當球隊三分出手數是聯盟16名, 你應該讓大學史上最棒射手McD上場，我會讓McD
先發取代Dunleavy，以平衡第二隊實力，讓Dun搭配Taj 小AB，現在用McD還不會太晚。
What’s the role for Nikola Mirotic?
It’s been in decline, but here’s another guy who can make shots and
spread the floor. It’s tough giving minutes to four big men. I agree with
that. But the way the NBA is now you are going to see stretch fours,
and especially from your conference rivals with Kevin Love in Cleveland,
Chris Bosh in Miami and basically everyone shooting in Atlanta. The
way teams have zoned up the Bulls at times the Bulls have not been able
to take advantage with their size. As good as Gasol is, he’s not a classic
power post up player. In the latter part of the first half as he’s played a
lot of minutes, he’s been pushed off the low block and had to play outside
face up more. He’s excellent at that, which negates being moved outside.
Gasol has thrived in two-man play with Rose because of Gasol’s ability
to shoot. But if you had someone like Mirotic opposite, it could open the
lane more and enable him to have more deep post opportunities. One of
the reasons for the Bulls’ stagnant play on offense has been spending
time watching Gasol trying to get post position, then pushed outside
and either trying to repost or getting a quick shot. The Bulls need to
move into that post action more quickly and then rotate the ball instead
of standing around watching to see if it can happen.
Mirotic的角色是什麼？
我知道分配時間給四個大個子不容易，但是聯盟趨勢就是大後鋒來拉開空間，包括Love
Bosh甚至老鷹隊，Mirotic不是傳統的PF，他的風格跟Gasol比較相似，Gasol跟Rose的兩人
配合很棒，因為Gasol有中長距離投射能力，但如果你再放上Mirotic可以拉開空間，讓
Gasol可以在更深更佳的位子拿到球，公牛大部分時間都是看Gasol在低位拿球，由他發動
，他會選擇打掉，外傳，或是外傳完再回傳Gasol打低位，常常在過程中進攻時間到點而倉
促出手，這讓公牛進攻有點停滯，公牛應該讓球塞到低位更快速。
Can Rose and Jimmy Butler coexist?
Of course. There was some notion of rivalry, which I haven’t seen. The
Rose/Butler issue is that Butler isn’t the classic shooting guard to
space the floor. He eventually will be given you see the work he does
in the summer. He’ll need another summer to expand that range, and
he’ll get there. But he’s not there yet. So some of those three-guard
rotations with Hinrich have not worked because you can’t have the
defense back off two guys. Jimmy does so many things with getting to
the line and rebounding it’s important he play a lot, though perhaps not
as much as he has. Snell could fit in with his shooting and perhaps
Brooks as Thibodeau has gone some long stretches with Rose and
Brooks. Remember, Thibodeau makes a point of insisting in the stretch
run he prefers to cut the rotation. The Bulls are as healthy now as they
have been all season. So perhaps this is a good time to stretch out the
rotation so the Bulls can come into the playoffs just as healthy.
Rose跟JB能夠共存合作嗎？
當然可以，傳統存在的敵對競爭，我在他們身上沒有看到，JB不是傳統上擅於三分的SG，
我相信給他一個暑假這點他可以長出來，和Kirk的三位輪替在防守上不佳。然而JB在場上
可以做很多事，可以要犯，抓板，Snell的投射可以替代JB，或是我們常看到的，讓小AB跟
Rose配合，老席有自己用人的堅持，但是現在全員健康，應該要好好研究一下各種可能陣
容，來面對季後賽。
Can the Bulls be a better three-point team?
Yes. The big element is health, which is good now. The way the game
is played in much of the NBA now, players run to the three-point line in
transition. The Bulls rarely do that because they don’t shoot threes as
well—or often—and too often have post play calls. Rose needs to push
the ball even after made baskets and basically ignore a lot of the play
calls. These are smart guys who know how to play. You could see that
against the Cavs the way Rose kept Snell high on the weak side to
occupy LeBron and thus keep him out of the passing and driving lanes
for steals. The Bulls in transition are a thing of beauty. And while I
believe you take your best shot no matter the shot, some more going to
the three-point line on drive and kick should open the court and provide
for more flow, ball movement and transition game.
公牛可能變成一隻更好的三分球隊嗎？
只要健康，當然可能，現在聯盟在轉換快攻時，常常投三分，Rose應該忽視一些戰術下達
，而更快速地推進球，騎士對公牛時，Snell在弱邊高位，就成功讓LBJ必須對位，而無法
幫忙禁區以及斷球，別忘了，公牛的快攻可是很華麗的，而要達成，你需要良好的流動球
以及轉換快攻
Is Derrick Rose back?
Enough. This narrative of Rose having to be the MVP player he was
seems off base and inappropriate. His game is under a microscope like
few in the NBA. He’s had a marvelous season the way he should,
basically in stages to show, especially to himself, he can be healthy and
then taking on a little more and a little more. He’s done that seemingly in
quarters and it’s worked well as he prepares for his stretch run and last
20 games. He’s shown, especially lately, he can produce against top
opponents and the best point guards. He cannot do it every game and
every time because that would put too much stress on his body. It
wouldn’t be smart. Similarly, it’s why Rose, appropriately, doesn’t throw
himself at the basket constantly or try to dunk much. The team wants
him best for the playoffs and he does as well. His arc remains upward,
which seems the best way to handle the season.
MVP Rose回來了嗎？
足夠了，Rose現階段必須成為MVP的論述，都是不適當且不公平的，他的一舉一動都被拿著
顯微鏡檢視，他本季的表現已經很棒了，只要保持健康，他可以循序漸進地再次把球隊一
點一滴放到自己肩膀上，至少他證明了，對上聯盟其他控衛，他是不居下風的，當然他不
可能每次都贏，或表現良好，顯然，本季不常見到他雙手爆扣，或是不顧一切飛向籃框，
球隊希望到季後賽時他再拿出他的MVP身手，而他也知道。
Does the rest of the regular season matter?
In a big way. If you want to be a champion you can’t worry about avoiding
anyone. If you are the best you need to beat the best. But winning the Central
Division would be vital for the Bulls. That presumably would keep Cleveland at
a distance and likely have the Bulls in the third spot in the Eastern
Conference. Getting in the 2-3/6-7 playoff spot avoid the Atlanta Hawks, who
surely will get the No. 1 seed. The Bulls dream scenario presumably would be
to hold off the Cavs and have them open the playoffs with the Wizards and the
winner playing Atlanta. But that probably requires winning the Central Division.
The Cavs will be tough to hold off the way they won 14 of 15 before the Bulls
beat them to go into the All-Star break.
...Thundering down the stretch!
剩下的比賽重要嗎？
如果想成為冠軍，你必須擊敗任何人，不能閃躲，贏下中央組冠軍對公牛很重要，最好是
拉開跟騎士的差距，拿下第二或第三種子是最佳狀況，因為第一種子大概確定是老鷹，對
公牛的最佳劇本是讓騎士巫師老鷹，在同邊撕殺，贏得球隊東冠再對上公牛，而要達到這
劇本，必須能夠確保中央組寶座。別忘了，騎士在被公牛擊敗前可是贏了14 15場球，
公牛衝阿！
心得:
McD現階段能夠做的Mirotic也能夠做到，希望McD別氣餒，看好McD Mirotic JB Rose成為
公牛未來的主要陣容。而Kirk在全員健康下，應該把他放回他習慣的替補PG。才能發揮他
的最大效益，公牛熬過上半季艱苦賽程，下半季看似輕鬆，但公牛擅長輸給五成以下球隊
，且騎士也追很緊。另外公牛本季對上西區季後賽球隊皆贏過，只差雷霆(還沒打過)。另
外公牛聯盟目前只有兩隊沒贏過，老鷹(還有一場沒打)和雷霆(本季還沒打過)。