Chicago Bulls' Mirotic continues to fight crisis of confidence

Chicago Bulls' Nikola Mirotic ais currently averaging 10.5 points and 5.5 rebounds a game, but he says he struggles with confidence at times. "Sometimes I'm too hard on myself," he said. Associated Press

Nikola Mirotic is up to his old tricks, you could say.

He has been inconsistent this season and virtually disappeared in some games. But he also has done some good things and has been in many of the Chicago Bulls' most effective lineups.

Mirotic delivered maybe his best game of the season in Saturday's win over Washington, finishing with 17 points, 11 rebounds and hitting 6 of 7 shots from the field.

After the game, coach Fred Hoiberg talked about a meeting he had with Mirotic in Miami, coming off a 2-point performance the previous night in Atlanta.

"I said, 'If anybody can relate to having struggles in the league it's me,'" Hoiberg recounted. "You feel like you're on an island, the world's against you. But it's never as bad as you think it is. I told him just go out and try to have fun.

"The big thing for Niko, you could see in his face, just the stress, and it's hard to play basketball. Sometimes that rim looks like a little thimble up there."

Mirotic joined the Bulls in 2014 with high expectations. He was a two-time winner of the EuroLeague rising star award when he played for Real Madrid. Throughout his three seasons, Mirotic has had stretches where he resembled a future star, along with plenty of others when he seemed overwhelmed by NBA competition.

Mirotic admitted Saturday he's had a problem with putting too much pressure on himself. He'll be looking for a new contract when this season ends.

"Sometimes I'm too hard on myself," Mirotic said. "This year is an important year for me. It's (my) third year, I need to be much more solid than I was before, because I know I can do that.

"I know (the Bulls) need me. I'm just feeling bad about it because sometimes they try to find me and they find me but I'm not making those shots and I know I can do that. That's the reason sometimes I'm feeling bad."

Hoiberg probably has the right idea on how Mirotic should approach each game. He's been an inconsistent outside shooter during his NBA career, but his best trait might be his versatility. At 6-10, Mirotic can drive to the basket, score in the post and get out on the fast break.

On the season, Mirotic is averaging 10.5 points and 5.5 rebounds, similar to what he did in his first two seasons with the Bulls. He's hit double-figure scoring in six of 10 games and shot 33 percent from 3-point range.

"I said, 'Just go out and defend and rebound.' When you go out and search for your offense, it usually doesn't come," Hoiberg said. "When you go out and do those other things, the game has a tendency of working out for you. Tonight he did that, hit some big shots, hit a big 3. I was actually going to sub Taj (Gibson) and Taj told me to leave (Mirotic) in. Pretty good self (sacrifice) by Taj and it paid off."

The Bulls begin the annual circus road trip on Tuesday at Portland. Their next home game is not until Nov. 30.

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