Donovan says Bulls' Vucevic can't be ignored
Bulls center Nikola Vucevic has had a rough season from the 3-point line, but he's started to heat up this month.
He's shooting 39% from long range in March, compared to 31.7% over the full season. Now the Bulls need to do a better job of getting him the ball, according to coach Billy Donovan.
"I do think it would make the game easier in terms of allowing him to connect sides for us to offensively to help us get downhill and get some penetration," Donovan said before Saturday's game in Cleveland. "I do think we've got to find ways to get his skill level into the game."
Involvement in the offense has been inconsistent for Vucevic this season. He tends to get more opportunities when Zach LaVine or DeMar DeRozan are not playing, but there have been times when the Bulls have gotten all three rolling at the same time.
Changing lineups has been an issue, along with a number of younger players who haven't been playing together very long.
"They definitely miss him, there's no question," Donovan said of Vucevic's teammates. "I showed a couple clips from the game in New Orleans where the ball gets sprayed out, he's at the top and the next guy's trying to put it on the floor and there's no need to. You've just got to spray it to him.
"He hasn't shot it great from behind the line, but he's a pretty-level IQ player. He knows the ones he needs to take and the ones he needs to get off of, just based on his experience. It's more of in the heat of the moment, the awareness of making those quick decision and even having an awareness that it's there."
Seeing what's next:
Coach Billy Donovan brought up another issue from a recent film session as the Bulls try to figure out how to regain their early-season success.
"In film, DeMar (DeRozan) was talking about some of those clips, about the ability to (see), 'OK, what is the defense about to do?'" Donovan said. "That's one thing I think we struggle with a little bit is the anticipation of what's getting ready to happen on both ends of the floor. And that's because of youthfulness in certain areas, this group playing together for the first time."
Thompson fined:
The NBA announced Bulls center Tristan Thompson had been fined $20,000 for directing profane language at a game official. Thompson received two technical fouls and was ejected with 21.2 seconds left in Thursday's loss at New Orleans.
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