Fred Hoiberg and the Chicago Bulls started out the season well, winning by 20 points out of the gate with and the “Three Alphas” were humming until Jimmy Butler decided he had to get 40 points a game.
Butler’s play slowed down the team and their inconsistent play started with impressive TNT Thursday victories against the Cleveland Cavaliers and head-scratching losses to weaker teams like the New York Knicks.
Hoiberg started experimenting with both starting fives and second units like a Las Vegas casino card shuffler. Rajon Rondo got benched, then played in the second unit while the other guards on the roster all had their turn as a starting playmaker alongside Dwyane Wade and had a slow-starting offense in the first quarter of most games.