7 October 2023
The Chicago Bulls rotation is a tough one to crack for a young guard.
Dalen Terry knows that better than anyone. A first-round draft pick in 2022, Terry struggled to get on the court last season, averaging 5.6 minutes in 38 appearances.
For Terry and rookie Julian Phillips, getting into the Bulls rotation this season will be an uphill battle as they fight for minutes in the secondary rotation behind Jevon Carter, Alex Caruso and Ayo Dosunmu. But both have begun to make their case in training camp.
Phillips had made a strong impression during summer league, shooting 56.3% (9-for-16) from the field and 44.4% on 3-pointers in four games. After practice Thursday, coach Billy Donovan praised Phillips for his ability to pick up the nuances of the professional game quickly, making a visible jump in his readiness to be on the court over the last four months.
“Julian’s been the guy that to me has really — from where he was at the start of summer league practice to where he is now — he just has a much better feel,” Donovan said. “He’s had a really good summer. You can see his growth.”
Terry’s summer league performance was less promising, highlighting the shooting inconsistency that continues to be a key weakness keeping him off the court. He averaged 44.4% from the field during his rookie season, then suffered up-and-down shooting throughout the summer league, going 4-for-14 in one game only to bounce back to shoot 4-for-5 from 3-point range in the final game of the tournament.
Donovan noted that Terry made progress in the months since then, particularly with his shot form.
“The game slowed down for him,” Donovan said. “He worked really hard on shooting. His shooting has gotten better, he can continue to get better there, but I do think you’ll be able to see what he’s been able to do.”
Donovan also emphasized the importance of Terry and Phillips finding other ways to get on the court, particularly utilizing their defense to make the most of their minutes.
Point guard battle begins
The first rounds of five-on-five scrimmages allowed Donovan to begin the process of selecting a starting point guard. The Bulls ran scrimmages Wednesday night in their second practice of the day, then again Friday morning.
On Wednesday, the team was divided into four groups. White ran point for one group while Dosunmu and Carter shared guard duties for another. Carlik Jones and Quenton Jackson helmed the other two groups.
After practice Thursday, Dosunmu voiced enthusiasm for playing alongside Carter, whose ball distribution helped open opportunities around the perimeter for spot-up shooting and downhill movement.
“Both those guys (Dosunmu and Carter) are comfortable with that,” Donovan said.
It’s clear White is an early front-runner for the starting point guard job, especially after making a major leap in his playmaking and leadership last season. White spent the majority of training camp with the ball in his hands, running through drills and scrimmages as point guard. Donovan also said he’s considering Carter as the guard for the second rotation, which would allow the Bulls to have a cohesive shift change when the bench unit enters the game.
The Bulls will continue to mix and match rotation combinations throughout training camp and preseason games. The first glimpse at a potential starting lineup will s Sunday when the Bulls travel to Milwaukee for the preseason opener against the Bucks.
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