© David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Arturas Karnisovas says training camp will decide who'll start at point guard: "I think it's going to be competition, fierce competition"
The Chicago Bulls are in Nashville, Tennesse, for the first stage of training camp, which they hope will provide them with an answer to the glaring question: who will start at point guard?
The team has a glut of guards on their roster but no obvious standout for the spot. Executive Vice President Arturas Karnisovas recently addressed the issue, saying that he hopes training camp will provide a clue as to who will emerge from the group of players vying for the starting job.
“I think it's going to be competition, fierce competition. It's going to be a lot of good guards,” Karnisovas said in an appearance at the WSCR-AM 670 studio.
Tough call
Bulls coach Billy Donovan has to make a tough call in the next few weeks. Between young and talented guards like Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, and Dalen Terry, to experienced veterans Jevon Carter and Alex Caruso, there are plenty of contenders for the starting point guard spot.
“That's the mentality we're going into training camp (with.) I'm looking forward to it. It's going to be hard for (coach) Billy (Donovan),” said Karnisovas.
Trying to change their shot profile
Karnisovas explained that the team is trying to change its shooting profile. The Bulls’ penchant for the midrange is well-known in the NBA, and the executive says adding efficient three-point shooters like Carter and forward Torrey Craig would give them a bump in that crucial category.
“We were lowest 3-point rate, lowest 3-pointers made last year. We're trying to change our shooting profile and play a little faster, move the ball better. Playing a little faster is going to create more 3-point attempts because a lot of 3-point attempts created in our league are on the fast break. Those are open 3s. The way you create 3s is you gotta run, or you gotta get to the paint. We didn't do a very good job last year getting to the paint,” Karnisovas said.
