Fred Hoiberg's mettle will be put to the test in the 2015-16 NBA wars and the first order of business is perhaps to define each player and the roles he expects from each of them. That includes everybody, including stars Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler.
Even though Butler and Rose bare that there is no exiting rift, fans think otherwise. Regardless, it will be up to Hoiberg to shoot down all those rumors and it all begins with the new brand of ball that Bulls management is expecting next season.
If his stint with the Iowa State University is any indication, fans can expect a lot of movements, pick-and-rolls and an up-tempo brand of ball next season. With that in mind, the ball will not be limited to the hands of one player.
So that means Rose or Butler could have less touches on the ball and that they will not be pressured to take shots on their own. Rather, they will be expected to be part of a system where big men will be used as screens, offering more fluid offense with shooters waiting in the wings to make sure that their opponents cannot cheat on defense.
Hence, Hoiberg has all the tools to make that happen. He has good big men in Pau Gasol and Joakim Noah, shooters in Mike Dunleavy and Butler who could wait in the wings, and a ball distributor in Derrick Rose.
The changes? Well Rose will not be forced to take it to the hoop on his own most of the time. If all goes well, we could see Rose still driving but the thing is, the Bulls will have to throw opposing teams off guard first.
Surely this new system that Hoiberg is expected to employ will be rough at first. But then again, which team hasn't struggled when it comes to transitioning to a new kind of philosophy?
Given the ample time, something which Bulls management believes will work, Hoiberg could do better than predecessor Tom Thibodeau. Expect a lot of comparisons at first but in the end, if the system fits then the Bulls are one team to watch out for.
And to make all that work, Hoiberg needs to get everybody on the same page; including Butler and Rose.
