{"id":92309,"date":"2024-08-25T23:59:15","date_gmt":"2024-08-26T03:59:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=92309"},"modified":"2024-08-31T02:16:26","modified_gmt":"2024-08-31T06:16:26","slug":"bulls-nikola-vucevic-considers-lonzo-ball-reason-franchise-demise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/08\/25\/bulls-nikola-vucevic-considers-lonzo-ball-reason-franchise-demise\/","title":{"rendered":"Key Bulls Contributor Considers Reason For Franchise Demise"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nikola Vucevic<\/a> has been in the NBA for 13 years. A two-time All-Star selection in his time with the Orlando Magic, the Swiss-Montenegrin center hasn\u2019t quite been able to replicate that success with the Chicago Bulls. Traded to the storied franchise midway through the 2020-21 season, he\u2019s averaged 18.1 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game in the time since.<\/p>\n

Those numbers certainly standout in a vacuum. However, they pale in comparison to his All-Star seasons, the big man posting 22.0 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game. More importantly, Vucevic was able to put the Magic in playoff contention. Indeed, Vucevic has been in more postseason battles with Orlando (10) than Chicago (5).<\/p>\n

Bulls\u2019 Nikola Vucevic Considers Reason For Franchise Demise<\/h2>\n

With the Bulls trading DeMar DeRozan<\/a> and Alex Caruso<\/a> this offseason, Chicago is unlikely to clinch a playoff berth for yet another season. The jury is still out on whether the Bulls are better off without Zach LaVine<\/a>, who they failed to trade. Yet, the veteran insists that Lonzo Ball<\/a>\u2019s lengthy absence has been the primary factor for their frustrating finishes.<\/p>\n

\u201cSince Lonzo Ball\u2019s injury, we haven\u2019t been able to achieve the results we could have. It disrupted us a lot<\/a>,” Vucevic tells Milun Nesovic of Meridian Sports (h\/t BasketNews<\/a>).<\/p>\n

“When he played, we were at the top of the East for a while, which maybe wasn\u2019t a realistic result, even though we were playing well, but with him, we would have fought for anything between third and sixth place in the end.<\/p>\n

The rest of us focus more on scoring: LaVine, DeRozan, and me. He brought us all together, sped up the game, meant a lot on defense, guarding the best players with Caruso\u2026 Although his numbers might not have been impressive, he meant a lot to us.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Vucevic isn\u2019t breaking news by saying that Ball was key to the Bulls\u2019 success. Though a different breed of point guard reigns supreme these days, traditional floor generals have plenty of value. For example, Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Mike Conley<\/a> is a key player for a championship contender.<\/p>\n

Ball is built in the same mold. He\u2019s not too focused on scoring, though he became a very reliable 3-point threat. Instead, he focuses on using his pace, court vision, and passing ability to create scoring opportunities for his teammates. At the other end, Ball\u2019s just as effective, suffocating ball-handlers and jumping passing lanes.<\/p>\n