There are no more calls to break up the Bulls, who improved to 7-3 in their last 10 games by beating the Lakers on Wednesday night, writes Jon Greenberg of The Athletic. Chicago has moved back into the race for a play-in spot with its recent hot streak after stumbling out of the gate with a 5-14 start.
The improvement coincides with the foot inflammation that knocked Zach LaVine out of the lineup, although no one connected with the team wants to say that directly. As Greenberg notes, there are several reasons for the success, such as DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic serving as the foundation of the offense, Alex Caruso becoming team MVP with his all-around play, and Coby White emerging as the star point guard the organization has been lacking since Lonzo Ball‘s injury.
L.A. is considered one of the prime landing spots for LaVine, and Greenberg suggests both teams might benefit from a trade. However, coach Billy Donovan dismissed the idea that the Bulls are better without LaVine and said he still has a role on the team.
“I think the biggest thing for us collectively is we get down the floor and flatten the defense out with everybody,” Donovan said. “I think that’s one of the things we’ve been preaching all along. I think Zach can play any style. For us, with him coming back in, I think he fits into how we’re trying to play.”
There’s more from Chicago:
- With White shooting a career-high 42.6% from long distance this season, Caruso is campaigning for him to be invited to the three-point contest at All-Star Weekend, adds Greenberg, who states that White’s recent play may put him in the All-Star conversation as well. “Yeah, I mean, I don’t like all the attention,” White said. “And that’s probably part of the reason why (Caruso) did it. Because he knows it makes me kind of uncomfortable.”
- The Bulls’ success is a result of playing at a faster tempo, says K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago. Whether it’s related to LaVine’s absence or not, the players have been more aggressive about pushing the ball upcourt over their last 10 games and creating more scoring opportunities in transition. “We’re all super unselfish guys. I feel like the ball is moving at a high rate,” White said. “The main thing we’ve been doing these last however many games is just playing a lot faster. Even on made baskets, we’re getting the ball out quick and trying to get up the floor, making us hard to guard so we can play less in the halfcourt.”
- Donovan expects Dalen Terry and Julian Phillips to have increased roles in the wake of Torrey Craig‘s plantar fascia injury, per Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times. Terry has been the main beneficiary so far, playing 21 minutes against the Lakers.
LaVine could easily be the best sixth man in the league, as much as it sucks to have 40 mil coming off the bench. It would probably be the best use of his talents given the way the rest of the team is working. Even DeRozan is doing a good job of fitting in, taking a lot of opportunities to set up his teammates. Averaging 7 assists per game over the nine games he’s played since LaVine has been out. Drive-and-kick to set up shooters and cutters, kind of like how Shai typically plays. Proves he’s more than just a middy.
If LaVine does get back into the starting lineup, proving that he’s willing to operate largely off-ball and moving around a lot on offense will probably get him traded faster without hurting the team.
The writing is on the wall for Zachs time I’m Chicago. The Bulls offense with Zach becomes dribble, drive, kick, with Zach being a black hole. Without him they have a higher offense rating and play much more fluid and not standing around waiting for a late in the clock 3.
It feels like every year there’s a story of a team with a small sample size of games where they seem better without their star. And every year as the sample size gets bigger everyone realizes that was a very silly suggestion.
And then the next year someone else falls for it all over again.
Any explains of this or are you just a chucklehead?
Happened w morant last year
There are some immensely gifted players who don’t happen to make their teams better, and Lavine is a textbook example.
LaVine is not suited for this system, and he is not the true star player who will lead the Bulls to the playoffs.
The team is better without him in the Starting Lineup and he is better at being a sixth man on this team.
What system? Run around like a chicken with your head cut off? You mean that system? At least without LaVine they pass the ball because they know now without LaVine they might actually get it back. Because when it gets to LaVine everybody just stops moving because that’s a black hole. No offense intended, Just unfortunate coincidence.
As I wrote he doesn’t fit their system of play.
LaVine needs to be on a bad team where he can touch the ball all the time.
LaVine can’t play defense and let’s be truly honest he is suited as the sixth man on this team at best.
I will repeat it again. This is Coby White’s team now.
The Bulls can be as patient as they want with LaVine. They are currently out of any rebuild discussions. It is now viable to move LaVine solely on the merits of getting a player(s) that you think is a better fit, as opposed to hauling draft capital.
Perhaps as was suggested he settles in as 6th man. The whole equation has changed for the Bulls.
I really hope the Lakers don’t star chase again. LeBron endorses the move which tells me it’s the wrong move to make.
Lakers need Lavine more than the bulls do…
Best deal for bulls would be kuminga, moody, pick(s) and paul for lavine.
That deal is not going to be available, but sure.