Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine has been walking around with a bullseye on his back for years now. Calamitous front office leaks and cries of condescension from a media machine that’s condemned him for not being a ‘winning player’ have led to him being a permanent fixture on the trade block.
It’s almost like LaVine hasn’t averaged 24.7 points per game over the past six seasons. It’s almost like, in that time, he didn’t shoot 38.5 percent from three. One might even think he didn’t make a name for himself as one of the NBA’s best athletes before he solidified himself as one of the best scorers. On Saturday, LaVine reminded everyone who is, most importantly his head coach.
Bulls Head Coach Billy Donovan Reveals What Team Needs From Zach LaVine
“Zach was really decisive,” Billy Donovan tells reporters after LaVine scored 28 points in 22 minutes (h/t NBA.com’s Sam Smith).
Zach LaVine hit almost EVERYTHING in the preseason for Chicago!
📊 28 PTS, 4 AST, 9/12 FGM, 6/6 3PM, 22 MIN
Healthy LaVine is HERE! 💪 pic.twitter.com/SZ7t27ylFr
— Courtside Buzz (@CourtsideBuzzX) October 13, 2024
“He took his shots when they were there. What was encouraging on the threes, there was no hesitation; he just went up and shot it. He got off to a great start, shot unbelievable from three.”
With the Bulls’ desire to play at a higher tempo than season’s past, there will likely be more shot attempts. While that elicits thoughts of players racing up and down the court, speeding up the game also requires a certain mentality. As Donovan notes, players need to be decisive, not hesitant.
“He can get on a run. He can go 0-for-4 and then come back and make 6-for-6, so I never worry (if he’s missing). I thought he was really decisive, and when he had daylight and a crack he shot it. We need him to do that.”
Perhaps that’s been Donovan’s biggest gripe with LaVine. His inconsistency at the other end can be problematic but defense isn’t his forte and the Bulls knew that when they got him.
Scoring is what LaVine is known for. Unfortunately for LaVine, for all of his athleticism and touch, he pounded the air out of the ball. This slowed down the offense, draining the shot clock, putting his team’s in more compromising situations.
Against the Memphis Grizzlies, LaVine was cobra-like with his quickness and precision. Nobody is expecting him to shoot 75 percent from the field or 100 percent from three every game. He can carry over the way he thought the game though.
Doing so may not mean he remains with the Bulls, who are going younger. However, his potential metamorphosis could lead to other teams being more inclined to trade for him.
“When he’s got a head of steam, his athletic ability and his ability to shoot the ball and put it on the floor, he’s really hard to guard,” Donovan says.
