Norman Powell
Powell is the veteran scoring guard on a rebuilding Chicago team, and he has been a steady starter and shot-taker through three regular-season games.
Role
He started the Bucks game on Oct 23, when the lineup was Wilson, Powell, Buzelis, Giddey and Jalen Smith (Yahoo/ClutchPoints). Yahoo and ESPN game logs show 22 minutes in the opener at Toronto, then about 33 in each of the next two games, and ESPN lists a 29.0 average over three games. He is averaging 19.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists. CBS says he is taking 8.3 threes per game, and that pace would be a career high if he keeps it up. He is competing for shots with Giddey, Buzelis and rookie Caleb Wilson. A RotoWire headline reads "Not starting Sunday," but it is labeled 14 days old, and I could not tell what game it refers to. I have not found a back-to-back rest plan.
NBC Sports says his offensive role is slightly larger than he expected when he signed, which raises his ceiling. He was an All-Star last season and averaged 21.7 points in 58 games for Miami (CBS). He had 25 points in Milwaukee and 18 with four steals against Washington. He gets to the line a lot, making 7 of 7 against Washington and 9 of 9 in the Atlanta game, and that keeps his scoring afloat when his shot is off.
Chicago is playing young players, and NBC Sports notes this season is about developing Buzelis and Wilson. CBS says his output may be limited next to the young core. He is shooting 34.1% from the field through three games (ESPN), and only Buzelis took fewer shots among starters in the opener. He is 33, NBC Sports says he needs to stay healthy to deliver full value, and the Bulls lost the opener 135-92.
Where analysts split
The open question is whether he keeps a scoring-first usage role or gives up shots to the younger starters. CBS and NBC pieces from the opener expected limited shots, while later NBC and CBS notes say his role is bigger than expected. Three games is a small sample.
Research confidence: reported. Outlooks are grounded in web search over current reporting and refreshed through the season.
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