As the NBA season kicks off, it’s time to explore key questions, storylines, and predictions in this season preview for the Windy City’s Chicago Bulls.<\/p>\n
The Bulls’ preseason was an overall disappointment, ending in a 1-4 record. Among the disappointment were a few bright spots that gave some semblance of hope for this team.<\/p>\n
Zach LaVine<\/a><\/strong> looked as impressive as ever in his limited minutes during this preseason. The explosive guard seemed comfortable handling the ball and barreling to the rack. LaVine shot 51% around the rim, but only 31% from three. However, coach Billy Donovan seems confident LaVine will be able to round that percentage back to above average.<\/p>\n Lavine is 28 years old this season, entering into his physical prime. He could take a major step forward as the number one option for the Bulls. With a summer of workouts in his pocket, he will look to be back to his All-Star form again. At his best, LaVine could be one of the most explosive three-level scorers in the league.<\/p>\n Freshly extended point guard\u00a0Coby White<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>had an unexpectedly impressive preseason, averaging 13 PPG on 54% from the field and 32% from deep. In the continued absence of Lonzo Ball<\/a><\/strong>, Chicago was faced with a major problem at the point guard spot<\/a>. White’s ascension could be the solution. As Donovan increases White’s usage, the Bulls can benefit greatly from the efficient 13-16 PPG he could contribute. Add in also becoming a more solid playmaker, and the young guard could be en route to a breakout season.<\/p>\n New Additions Looking Good<\/strong><\/p>\n This offseason, Chicago signed forward\u00a0Torrey Craig<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>and guard\u00a0Jevon Carter<\/a><\/strong>. The pair had a quiet preseason statistically, but both players bring grit defensively and will be the team’s “glue guys.” Craig has already proven valuable as a veteran presence, as illustrated by Billy Donovan:<\/p>\n \u201c[Craig] does not stop talking… i<\/em>t\u2019s not like he\u2019s instructing or giving direction, he\u2019s very positive on the bench and he\u2019s constantly communicating on the floor defensively.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n During training camp, Donovan emphasized the team’s need for a higher volume of threes and getting to the line more often. The preseason saw an increase in ball movement and fluidity opening up for more shots, but Chicago still ranked in the bottom five for both threes and free throws. To be competitive this season, the Bulls must maximize spacing and play more aggressively in the paint.<\/p>\n In the preseason, the Bulls had a bottom-10 defensive rating of 109.3 and ranked dead last in defensive rebounding. Chicago will look to Craig to add some much-needed toughness on the inside and increase their defensive rebounding numbers. He, Carter, and Alex Caruso<\/a><\/strong> will look to improve the team’s defensive credibility.<\/p>\nPotential Breakout Year for Coby White<\/h4>\n
Concerns and Questions Facing Chicago<\/h3>\n
Not Enough Threes or Free Throws<\/h4>\n
Underwhelming Defense<\/h4>\n
What Will Become of Patrick Williams?<\/h4>\n