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jograde Chicago Bulls Final Season Grades: Joakim Noah

Grade:  B+

Season Averages: 10.2 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.4 BLKPG

Season Highlight:  On February 22, Joakim Noah became the third big man in Chicago Bulls history to record a triple-double.  He had 13 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists in a win against the Milwaukee Bucks.  With the Bucks sticking by the “double Rose” game plan, Joakim Noah became the go to guy and was able to showcase his playmaking abilities at a premier level.  The performance further solidified Noah as the Bulls second best playmaker behind Derrick Rose.  Joakim was the 4th best assisting Center this season averaging 2.5 – but he also out-rebounded all three players ahead of him on that list.

Season Lowlight: The 6’11” Center went through a sporadic stretch in January where he put up a bunch of single point/rebound games and just didn’t bestow the normal Joakim Noah electricity the city of Chicago had grown to love. Back-up Omer Asik began to see his minutes grow as Noah continued his regression. On January 7, Noah went 0-4 with 1 point and  He later opened up and admitted that his new pay-raise that kicked in was bearing weight on his shoulders as he felt the pressures on himself to do more. Once he got over that hump and realized he did not need to force the issue and go back to playing the way that got him that got him that $11.3 million, he went on a tear the remainder of the season.

Final Judgement:  If it wasn’t for that dry spell and uncertainty, he would have had an A season.   In the league-best 29 wins, Joakim Noah averaged 11 points and 10.4 rebounds.  When Joakim Noah is in his element, he is unstoppable on the glass, especially the offensive end, his speciality – where he averaged 3.7 a game this season – and 4.1 in wins. He is the ultimate heart and hustle of the Bulls team, and when he is energized – his emotions are downright contagious.

What’s Next: Joakim Noah suffered a severe ankle sprain in Game 3 of the first round of the playoffs vs. Philly.  Joakim Noah preached all season about the hard work him and his team had put in to move towards their ultimate goal, a championship.  When their “ace”, Derrick Rose, went down with an ACL tear, Joakim Noah took it upon himself to step up his game on a new level.  In the two games without Rose, Joakim averaged 16.5 ppg on 78% shooting, 7.5 rpg, and 3.0 apg.  If this is any sign of what is to come next season, we are in for a good ride.  Noah plans to work out with the great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar this summer to improve his offensive game and is also set to play for Team France in this 2012 London Olympics, barring any ankle setbacks.