{"id":59637,"date":"2023-12-11T16:53:55","date_gmt":"2023-12-11T21:53:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=59637"},"modified":"2023-12-11T16:53:55","modified_gmt":"2023-12-11T21:53:55","slug":"zach-lavine-injury-trade-chicago-bulls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2023\/12\/11\/zach-lavine-injury-trade-chicago-bulls\/","title":{"rendered":"How Zach LaVine’s Absence Impacts The Chicago Bulls"},"content":{"rendered":"

During an In-Season Tournament game against the Celtics, Chicago Bulls star\u00a0Zach LaVine<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>exited prematurely, seeming to have worsened a foot injury from a few games earlier. After initially being reported out for one week, Bulls PR<\/a> eventually reported that he would miss an additional 3-4 weeks with right foot inflammation. Despite losing their second-leading scorer, the Bulls have gone 4-0 without LaVine in the lineup. How does Zach LaVine’s continued absence affect the rest of the Bulls’ season?<\/p>\n

How Zach LaVine’s Absence Impacts Chicago’s Season<\/h2>\n

Before losing LaVine, Chicago had just come off a five-game losing streak. The Bulls have posted a bottom-10 net rating<\/a> in the league this season. In the four games since losing LaVine, Chicago has surprisingly turned things up a notch.<\/p>\n

Chicago is riding four straight wins, including one over the juggernaut Milwaukee Bucks. In those wins, the Bulls have played a more fluid and unselfish brand of basketball, averaging season-highs in team assists.<\/p>\n

Before his injury, LaVine was averaging 21 points, 3.4 assists, and 4.9 rebounds. His three-point efficiency was comparatively low at 33.6%–he has traditionally been a near-40% shooter from behind the arc. His slow start led to much speculation about if the Bulls wanted to keep LaVine around or trade him<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Analyzing the LaVine-less Bulls<\/h3>\n

Bulls insider K.C. Johnson reported<\/a> that executive VP Art\u016bras Karni\u0161ovas is not rushing any trades but rather using Zach LaVine’s absence to analyze his team without the star scorer. LaVine’s extended absence gives Karni\u0161ovas a chance to see whether this team needs a full rebuild or just a retooling.<\/p>\n

One of the brightest spots of this mostly-dark Bulls season has been the emergence of Coby White<\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong>White has been averaging a career-high 15.6 points while also shooting a career-high 41.7% three-point percentage. In four games without LaVine, White has averaged 24.3 points, including a 31-point performance against the New Orleans Pelicans. In his four seasons with Chicago, White has struggled to find consistent minutes in the crowded backcourt featuring LaVine, Alex Caruso<\/strong><\/a>, and Lonzo Ball<\/strong><\/a>. Now, without two of those starting-level guards, White is fulfilling what Chicago hoped he could be when they drafted him.<\/p>\n

\n

Coby White last 4 games:<\/p>\n

24 PTS | 6 AST | 5 3P
19 PTS | 9 REB | 5 AST
31 PTS | 9 REB | 6 AST
23 PTS | 7 AST | 4 3P<\/p>\n

Bulls have won 4 in a row. https:\/\/t.co\/GuALxCyPYD<\/a><\/p>\n

— StatMuse (@statmuse) December 9, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n