Bulls guard Zach LaVine has been playing through a right hand contusion, and it has been affecting his performance. Including Tuesday’s loss to Indiana, in which Chicago blew a 21-point lead, LaVine has gone 6-of-36 (16.7%) from three-point range over his past five games.
K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago asked him about his struggles after the game.
“I’m playing with a messed-up finger obviously on my shooting hand,” LaVine said. “You can see by the numbers I’m not shooting the ball well from three. I can still get to the cup and shoot free throws, shoot mid-range. Obviously, you can see by the numbers it’s affecting my shot. But it’s not going to keep me from trying to go out there and help and contribute.”
As Johnson notes, LaVine wasn’t on the injury report prior to the game and was previously only listed as probable after suffering the injury on January 11. The 27-year-old is getting regular treatment and is playing with a brace, and while he says it’s painful at times, he’s not using it as an excuse.
“If I’m out there, I’m healthy enough to play,” he said, per Johnson.
Here’s more out of Chicago:
- The Bulls held a team meeting after their three-game win streak came to an end in disappointing fashion against Indiana on Tuesday night, but it remains to be seen whether it will help get the team out of a cycle of inconsistency and mediocrity, writes Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic. “Honestly, there’s not much to be said,” Nikola Vucevic said after the Bulls were outscored by 22 points in the second half of a six-point loss. “There’s nothing you can say. It’s just a lot of frustration. We did all the talking. So we’ve just got to do it or this is where we’re going to be.”
- There’s still some uncertainty surrounding Javonte Green‘s recovery following knee surgery, as Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times relays. The Bulls forward has yet to resume running or jumping, according to head coach Billy Donovan. “I’ll probably get a better idea of where he’s at physically once they say he can get on the court and start moving around a little bit, but he has not been able to do any of that,” Donovan said.
- Former fourth overall pick Patrick Williams hasn’t necessarily developed at the rate the Bulls had hoped, but the team views performances like Monday’s 18-point, 10-rebound showing as a sign that he’s continuing to move forward, even if the progress is slow, Cowley writes for The Sun-Times. “One of the most versatile players on this team,” DeMar DeRozan said of Williams. “Once he gets comfortable and realizes what he’s doing now it’s going to help us even more.”
Rory Maher contributed to this post.
To anyone who watched the Bulls’ collapse last night against the Pacers, their problem goes much deeper that LaVine’s dinged up finger.
Yep. This team ain’t it. Trade away Lavine, DeMar, and Vuc while we can still get something for them. Trade Caruso because his value is high now. We could net young talent from a team like GS (Caruso is great. I’d hate to see him go but a contender would love to get their hands on him…and we need young talent to build around. Hell, if the rumors are true and the Rockets really would trade for Lonzo send him off too. I want out of that contract asap with this weird knee issue.
Hand the keys to Ayo and PWill. Let PWill know he needs to go out and get 20 a game. Force him to be more aggressive. Then just pray for some ping pong ball luck. Even if we end up losing the pick I still think it’s the right move. Nothing worse in basketball than having an old team who are too good to be in contention for top picks but not good enough to make any noise in the playoffs. But we know how much ownership loves being in basketball purgatory as long as they can get that nice nice playoff paycheck. So I don’t foresee us doing anything. At most I to think we trade Coby for a decent vet wing who won’t move the needle at all.
LaVine is pure trash. Hand contusion lol give me a break. This clown isn’t THE guy. He’s proven that. I feel for DeRozan. Get him out of Chicago. That man deserves better.
I watched the game last night. Pacers fan here. The Bulls gave up, didn’t match the Pacers energy and Vucevic was checked out mentally down the stretch after crying all game. Blow it up Chicago!
Lavine: My fingers hurt…
Billy Donovan: Oh, well, now your back’s gonna hurt because you just pulled landscaping duty. Anybody else’s fingers hurt? I didn’t think so.
Based on last night’s game, and other similar ones, this current Bulls roster will never win a championship.
Though our best and most reliable scorer, I hope the Bulls trade Derozan as they will not win a championship before he’s too old or out the door. Get value while it’s there.
Also, I’m OK with trading Lavine after watching him this year. I’m not sure he is a leader, and your max contract player has to be. He plays with tunnel vision where he is expecting to be fouled. I don’t enjoy complainers on the court, but at least be able to consistently back it up with strong play. I feel he sets a weak precedent for the young and lower-salaried players.
I like Vuc. He’s smart and plays team ball. He can be too tepid and inconsistent with rebounding, but I like what he does for the culture. However, with the team stuck in the mud, I’d trade him while there’s value, just like derozan.
Overall, the team is weak mentally. I can’t help but attribute this to their big 3 being so bad on defense. If you’re top players cannot defend, it sets a bad tone.
I hope javonte comes back healthy. He plays hard and selflessly. It’s getting old to hear Billy repeat “We’ll have a better idea once he can run and jump.” Maybe it’s time for a new training/conditioning staff.
Lastly, I don’t think it’s coincidence that the WSox and Bulls both have culture issues. Luckily I have plenty of life to live without JR in ownership. For all that is holy, please let Michael Reinsdorf be less greedy, secretive, and incompetent.
I guess the love affair with last yrs Bulls. Is Over …… Fickle fans omg.
With Vucevic a FA. I think it makes sense to move him. And also move DeRozan. At 33 he’s not really on time line with this team.
I like Williams a lot. Need patience here. He’s going to be a top 2way player.
Knicks would do DeRozan. Cause he fits in as SG. And would help them to be a playoff team. He can get us in right direction as a playoff team. Make playoffs fun again in NY. He’s the closer we need desperately imo.
DeRozan, Vucevic >>>> to Knicks
Mitch, Rose, Obi1, McBride, plus two #1 picks.
I like Obi1 and McBride. Believe both have big future.
That is a pretty good deal for both teams, I would do it in a minute. Of course the Bulls would have to add 2 players to the deal or cut 2 from the roster.
I would do that trade in a heartbeat. I’m hoping we blow this team up. I don’t care if we have been beating good teams. If we can’t put away Indy with Haliburton out we are never going anywhere in the playoffs
Unfortunately our ownership loves making the playoffs and being one and done. So I doubt we will go into rebuild mode even though it’s the obvious route to take. Plus, Billy left the Thunder because he didn’t want to rebuild…so I doubt he’d be okay with it here where the rebuild would have much less young talent.
When guys sit out with potentially playable injuries people call them soft..
Yet, when they play with those same injuries people say their making excuses and they just suck..
Real easy to be a hater, especially when you’re the type to whine and cry about a hangnail..Yet, question a player’s toughness when they’re actually hurt..
People complain about Zach because he is full of excuses and has not learned enough to be a max player. He makes idiotic mistakes in the closing minutes and personally lost them the Pacers game by just being plain dumb as a rock.