LaVine needs help to take next step
Markkanen in particular could be key to aiding Bulls guard, who is having an All-Star year
Zach LaVine is the biggest thing separating the Bulls from the Washington Wizards in the first quarter of the 2020-21 season.
It’s no longer a question of if LaVine, the only true scoring threat in Chicago night in and night out, is deserving of an Eastern Conference All-Star nod but whether toiling on a rebuilding team like the Bulls might hurt his chances of being voted in as a starter if the game is played.
Bulls coach Billy Donovan pointed to Bradley Beal’s numbers last season with the Washington Wizards when Beal was snubbed in the voting.
“I coached Brad Beal, and Brad probably had a year last year that warranted him being in the All-Star Game,” Donovan said before Saturday’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers at the United Center.
“I believe he maybe ended up getting there at the end of the day with some late scratches, but I think it’s not always going to be about numbers.
“Sometimes you look at guys that maybe don’t have the same numbers that Zach does, but they’re in the All-Star Game, and a lot of it is because their teams win, and their teams win at a very, very high level. Not to say they’re not good players. … Zach, what would be more important to him, would be for our group and this team to win. Through winning comes individual recognition.
“Zach is certainly aware of that. Since I’ve been with him I don’t think he’s ever played the game for numbers or points. He’s trying to play to win and do the right things and find ways to impact our group, but a lot of that (recognition) is going to be predicated on one, how well the team does, and two, (how) people vote, and there are a lot of really good players in this league.
“I’ve said this before, he has played, in my opinion, as well as anybody we’ve played against this year.”
LaVine obviously can’t make the Bulls winners by himself. But he has made them more watchable this season and keeps them competitive enough to dream of getting into the playoffs, which should suffice as progress for vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and the front office.
With the quad injury to Wendell Carter Jr., whose rebounding and passing in the post will be sorely missed while he rehabs over the next month, the onus is on LaVine to contribute even more.
“We’re going to obviously have to play without him for a little bit, and he’s going to come back and get right back into the swing of things,” LaVine said.
Unlike LaVine, Carter isn’t indispensable and still has much work to do on his game to be considered a keeper over the long haul. It’s a shame Karnisovas won’t be able to evaluate Carter over an entire season, putting him in the same boat with John Paxson, whose faith in his first-round pick never was rewarded because of untimely injuries over the last two seasons.
But Carter’s work ethic never has been in doubt, and his presence already is missed. It’s no surprise the Bulls have been outrebounded on the defensive end in the last three games going into Saturday’s rematch with the Trail Blazers, whom the Bulls beat earlier in Portland with a stirring 20-point comeback.
Daniel Gafford was inserted into the starting lineup for Carter but had a combined 10 rebounds and one assist over 47 minutes in the first three games. Donovan might have to continue to make do for the most part with a small-ball lineup, and thankfully grinder Thaddeus Young has provided some welcome relief off the bench, particularly at the end of games.
Without a veteran center, Lauri Markkanen could rotate inside more often, post up on occasion and play like a prototypical 7-footer. But that’s not his game.
He has averaged only 3.7 free-throw attempts per game over his career and only 1.2 offensive rebounds. Dennis Rodman could probably get more offensive rebounds than Markkanen playing with his eyes closed, but he was never averse to making contact under the rim.
In his defense, Markkanen never has been asked to bang around in the middle for 40 minutes against other big men.
“We haven’t talked about it too much,” Markkanen said of playing the five spot. “I’ve been getting mostly my reps at the four still, a couple (of reps) at the five.
“But I wouldn’t be too worried about it. I’ve been guarding bigger guys all my life.”
Donovan said Markkanen “has driven the ball, posted the ball, obviously shot it, put it on the floor and he’s played physical in terms of being able to attack and go downhill.”
Still, he’s 7-foot tall, or perhaps even 7-1, as he recently has been announced as during player introductions.
“Uh, maybe it’s my hair,” Markkanen facetiously said. “I don’t know.”
To paraphrase a classic Michael Jordan Nike ad, “It’s gotta be the hair.”
No matter his true height or whom he is guarding, Markkanen needs to play aggressively on both ends of the floor for the Bulls to have a chance against elite teams such as the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics.
“It has been a little bit different,” Markkanen said of guarding centers. “And then on the offensive end I think it’s a good look for us, just having me on the perimeter. I mean, of course I’m going to be inside, too, when I’m at the five. But I think I’m a mismatch (playing the perimeter), so it’s a good look for us.”
Donovan pointed out it’s still a “process” for Markkanen, adding he needs to learn what to expect from himself on a nightly basis.
“We want him to be aggressive,” Donovan said. “And whether it’s 20 (points) and 10 (rebounds) or whatever he’s doing, we want him to certainly have a big impact on the game.”