Joe Smith hasn’t shot well this month as he’s only hitting 36.7% from the floor and that will need to improve if he’s going to continue starting for the Bulls. Smith has played in 4 games (3 starts) this month and he is averaging 19.8 minutes, 7.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game. Smith better shoot better if he wants to hold off Nocioni for the starting job at power forward.

Last season the strength of the Bulls was the shooting prowess of their guards and this season they are clanking shots and it has hurt the team bad. Ben Gordon (39%), Kirk Hinrich (35.2%) and Chris Duhon (33.3%) need to shoot better or the Bulls will be watching the playoffs on T.V. and that would be a shame based on how tough they were in the playoffs last season. These three guards are only averaging 34.3 points per game and that’s not nearly enough seeing how Luol Deng is the only other big-time offensive player on the Bulls.

P.J. Brown has moved back into the starting lineup for the Bulls but he hasn’t been too productive. He’s only shooting 36.7% from the floor and is averaging 6.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game. The Bulls need Brown to help out with the rebounding and defense because Tyrus Thomas isn’t ready for the job, Michael Sweetney can’t get in shape and Malik Allen is having problems with his heart.

Mike Sweetney is a very skilled post player in the NBA, but until he can get his weight under control he’ll never be able to stay on the court long enough to make a difference for the Bulls. He’s only averaged 8.6 minutes per game this season and he scored 3.7 points and grabbed 2.7 rebounds per game. If you project those numbers out to 35 minutes per game, Sweetney would average a very solid 15 points and 11 rebounds per game….but those numbers are a pipe dream for him right now.

The Bulls brought in P.J. Brown to start at power forward, but he couldn’t hold onto the job. He suddenly is playing like a man his age should…..which isn’t good. In his last 6 games he’s averaged 22.0 minutes, 4.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 0.7 assists. Those numbers will not get him his starting job back.