NBA ANNOUNCES ALL-STAR ROSTERS
LaVine was hoping to make All-Star reserves, but Bulls’ poor record didn’t help his chances
In Year 3 of the Bulls’ rebuild, the body blows just keep coming.
After myriad injuries, bad losses and deficient play, the organization was hoping that Thursday at least would provide a small victory.
Not on the court — the team was idle and enjoying some R&R in Brooklyn. No, this was a win that would’ve at least signaled the roster development is going in the right direction.
That’s what Zach LaVine being named an All-Star reserve would’ve meant.
Instead, it was just more disappointment in a season running out of room in that drawer.
The reserves — as voted on by the coaches — were announced, and LaVine was on the outside looking in, even with the Feb. 14-16 festivities taking place in Chicago, his backyard.
“I think [LaVine being an All-Star would be] the next step in our progression [as an organization],’’ coach Jim Boylen said earlier this week. “We’d like to win,
we’d like to play good basketball every night. Good teams that win more have All-Stars. To me, it’s important for the organization, it’s important for him and it’s a great story.’’
LaVine was considered to be just on the All-Star fringe, so if a player pulls out because of injury, he still could be in play for a spot.
Either way, LaVine knew it wouldn’t be an easy path, considering all the backcourt competition in the Eastern Conference and the Bulls’ poor record.
LaVine might be 12th in the league in scoring at 25.1 points per game, but playing on a team with a 19-31 record, including a 1-19 mark against .500-orbetter opponents, doesn’t really help a candidacy.
“It makes sense because they’re playing for something more than us,’’ LaVine said last week. ‘‘They’re going to the postseason, competing for championships and things like that, and that’s where you want to strive to be, so I guess you can make an argument for that.’’
He also refused to criticize the voting system.
The All-Star starters are voted in by a combination of fans, players and media members. That’s how secondyear guard Trae Young got in even though his Hawks are 13-36.
“It’s just something that you’re used to, being in this culture,’’ LaVine said of the process. “I’ve been in the NBA for six years, been able to get some votes for the last two to three. Before my knee injury, I got some votes. It’s all I really know, so I don’t really have any comments on [the process] because it’s just what you grew up in.’’
LaVine could still entertain the home crowd, however. He was hoping for an invitation to the three-point contest and hasn’t completely ruled out a return to the dunk competition he has won twice.
But there’s a bigger picture Boylen is hoping LaVine sees and understands. The Bulls will face Brooklyn on Friday, then play in Toronto on Sunday. They trail the Nets by three games for the No. 8 playoff seed with the Feb. 6 trade deadline looming.
There’s a lot at stake over the next week.
“I don’t [foresee] us not playing well or not competing,’’ Boylen said of this weekend. “I don’t do that. This group has not done that. We’ve played well; we’ve played poorly; we’ve played hard. We’ve had nights where we didn’t play as hard as we’d like. We’ve had nights we’ve played really well. That’s what a young team is; that’s what we do.’’