While Bulls guard Zach LaVine has been officially listed as questionable to return on Friday vs. Charlotte, he’s on track to play, according to K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago (Twitter link). Barring a setback that delays his return, it will be LaVine’s first game since November 28.
As Johnson notes in a full story for NBC Sports Chicago, the Bulls have posted a 10-7 record without LaVine, but recent losses to Cleveland, Philadelphia, and New York showed that the team could use the sort of scoring, play-making, and floor-spacing that the two-time All-Star can provide.
“We could’ve used that extra 20 to 25 to 30 points (on Tuesday),” DeMar DeRozan said after the Bulls mustered just 97 points in a loss to the Sixers. “Give another dynamic focal point of scoring, play-making. At the end of the day, it’s still Zach LaVine. And teams have to prepare for that. When we have him on the court, there are so many more options for us to execute.”
Here’s more on the Bulls:
- Bulls center Nikola Vucevic, who has missed the past five games due to a left adductor strain, appears to be nearing a return as well. He’s currently listed as questionable to play on Friday, Johnson notes (via Twitter). Big man Andre Drummond has averaged 14.0 points and an incredible 19.4 rebounds in 29.6 minutes per night during Vucevic’s absence.
- Bulls forward Patrick Williams hasn’t missed a game this season, but he was limited to 11 minutes on Tuesday due to a right ankle issue that he has been playing through for weeks, Johnson writes for NBC Sports Chicago. “It had been feeling stiff or sore,” Williams said. “A lot of times when I feel that way, I try to play through it and with the adrenaline of the game or when your body gets going, it starts to loosen up.” The former fourth overall pick was able to play 27 minutes on Wednesday in New York and is listed as probable for Friday’s game.
- Bulls rookie Julian Phillips played a season-high 17 minutes on Tuesday vs. the Sixers and was a plus-10 in the 13-point loss, with seven points and three blocks. Phillips saw just two minutes on Wednesday and has only logged more than 10 minutes in a game twice this season, but he’s unfazed by his inconsistent role and is determined to “go hard” whenever he gets the opportunity to play, he tells Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic. “Just trying to approach every game the same way,” Phillips said. “With the mindset of, I think Coach said, ‘If you play four minutes or you play 40 minutes, if you go into shootaround with that mindset you’ll be ready for whenever the opportunity is.’ So I try to adapt to that and stay ready at all times.”
Blow. It. Up. Already.
Having LaVine back to play in the rotation instead of Dosunmu would make the Bulls much better. In the last two games, Dosunmu missed so many easy shots.
Bulls have a lot of individual nice pieces. But there’s no reason to keep this group together. Lonzo was integral, that’s apparent. But not moving on from these vets would be such a bad move. Get some picks, take a flyer on some guys, maybe overpay a FA with upside. But move on from DeRozan, Drummond, Caruso, Pat Will, LaVine, etc… reboot.
I would keep P-Will. He’s still just 22, and he’s been consistently solid on offense in smaller samples (great percentages, but also a bit of creativity). Plus he’s played out of position his entire career. I’d like to see him get one season full time at SF and with a larger offensive load. Not an all-star, but good enough to keep around, given that he’s still pretty young and has shown health outside of that outlier sophomore season.
You’re right. The Bulls next five games are relatively easy. If the Bulls can win all five or at least four of five, the Bulls could limp into the playoffs. The trade deadline is February 8. If it looks hopeless leading up to that date, then the Bulls have no choice but to trade DeRozan even if he is a talent and a good guy.
DeM DeR >>>>>> to Knickerbockers ….
And offer them what exactly? We wanted Quickley, now there’s not a reasonable deal. And don’t say Fournier bc we know he isn’t viewed as a future type piece for this team. You wanted OG and paid a deep price to get him. Any and future talks about DDR to NYK is now just insane. He’s more likely to get traded to Miami or Phily than NYK.