To make playoffs, Bulls need their Big Three to evolve
Bulls season is about to begin, so let's just jump right into it with a prediction,
The Bulls will win 50 games this season.
Clarification: If properly utilized, this group of players has the ability to win 50 games.
Let's put that another way. There's enough talent on the roster to collect 50 victories, but it's on the players to decide how badly they want to win.
The story of this team is well-known. They were contending for first place in the Eastern Conference in 2021-22 until Lonzo Ball went out with a knee injury and they've struggled ever since.
A big part of the slide was the team's style had to change. With Ball and Alex Caruso on the floor, the Bulls could use one to double-team the ball and the other to jump into passing lanes. They'd create turnovers, then Ball could start the fast break, giving them enough easy baskets to be in position to win.
At the same time, DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic were still the three leading scorers while all this was going on, so they should be able to win without Ball.
The feeling here is all three have to change their mindset to make this work. They probably realize that, but can they avoid reverting to old habits?
DeRozan's game has always featured a heavy dose of iso ball. Get him the rock and let him score. There were no complaints in 2021-22 when DeRozan was scoring efficiently and nearly automatic in fourth quarters. Last season, he was slowed by a thigh injury and didn't produce the same results.
Now at 34, it's probably time for DeRozan to officially turn over top scorer duties to LaVine. DeRozan still does a lot of things right. He tends to lay low in the first quarters and let teammates get in a rhythm. He's not a great defender, but he'll take some charges and leave his man to grab a key steal sometimes.
Ever since Vucevic arrived in Chicago, it's been clear he is better offensively when he gets touches in the post, especially early in the games. That doesn't always happen. Now, is the burden on Vucevic to figure out a way to contribute or on his teammates to get him the ball more often? Combination of both, probably.
Vucevic averaged 17.6 points and 11 rebounds while shooting 52% from the field last year. It's easy to complain about his defense, but as a team, the Bulls ranked No. 1 in the NBA in defensive efficiency from Jan. 1 to the end of the season.
He could always do more, but the Bulls should be fine with Vucevic matching last year's numbers. It helps to have a reliable double-figure rebounder.
For LaVine, it's all about making winning plays. And that doesn't necessarily mean increasing his scoring average.
We've repeated this line many times since the rebuild began: LaVine was severely handicapped when he first reached the NBA because he was drafted by a terrible Timberwolves team, then was traded to a Bulls team that was trying to lose. It's tough to learn winning habits when playing for losing teams.
"When you play on a bunch of bad teams, you learn obviously what not to do," LaVine said this week at the Advocate Center. "You've also seen where we were really good two years ago.
"It just takes a complete winning mindset, winning plays. Once you get in a habit of having fun and winning, I think that's contagious. No one likes to lose. No one's going out there trying to do that."
This next part can be repeated until it's no longer true. When was the last time LaVine contributed an impressive defensive highlight? When has he used his amazing athleticism to block a shot or get a putback dunk in an important situation?
The memory banks contain more instances of LaVine failing to block out his man in a crucial situation, or losing focus on defense and having his man cut to the basket for a lay-in. Or when the Bulls need a basket in crunch time, how many times has he gotten to the rim, taken a bump, missed the shot and then glared at the referee? There's no bonus points for the "But I got fouled" approach. Make the shot or lose the game.
LaVine arguably had the best stretch of his career in the second half of last season. Now 28 and heading into his 10th year in the NBA, this is his time to shine.
Improvement from younger guys like Coby White and Patrick Williams will be important. To be winners this season, the Bulls need the Big Three to change and evolve.
Twitter: @McGrawDHSports