Chicago Bulls Could Have Best, Deepest Bench in the NBA

By Kristen Fazio @Kristen_Fazio on October 30, 2014

The Chicago Bulls‘ bench was on full display in their season opening win over the New York Knicks, and they didn’t disappoint. Led by Taj Gibson‘s 22 points, the new bench mob trounced the Knicks’ bench 55-37, and more impressively the Knicks’ starters 55-43. When Gibson entered late in the first quarter it changed the direction of the game.

The original bench mob consisted of Kyle Korver, C.J. Watson, Omer Asik, Ronnie Brewer and Gibson, but this bench has the potential to be even better, particularly because it is more than just one shooter. Doug McDermott, Nikola Mirotic and Aaron Brooks all shoot the ball exceptionally well, while Gibson is far and away a better player than he was three years ago. Kirk Hinrich provides a veteran and defensive presence to round out the group.

Brooks follows a long line of point guards to resurrect their careers with the Bulls, and he can score in bunches and create his own shot — something the Bulls have been lacking. He shoots the three at a high percentage, and on Wednesday night he had six assists and only one turnover. McDermott, Mirotic and Hinrich all knocked down three-point shots — another area where the Bulls needed to improve upon from last season.

Gibson could start for the majority of NBA teams, but by coming off the bench he gives the Bulls one of the best big man rotations in the league and is thought of as the front-runner to win Sixth Man of the Year award after finishing in second last season.

It’s much too early to tell how good the bench will be just yet, but it has the potential to be the best, and certainly the deepest, in the league.