Zach LaVine is a confusing player at this stage of his NBA career. The Chicago Bulls man has proved that he can be an All-Star and an elite offensive force, but he has been unable to step up and become a superstar.
Zach LaVine‘s offense has never been in question, he has averaged 25.6 points per game for the last 4 seasons with decent efficiency. But his defense has been questioned by many, with LaVine hitting back at his doubters.
“People can talk about my defense all they want to,” said LaVine, according to Sam Smith of NBA.com. “I’ve always been one of the best on-ball defenders. One-on-one situations, there’s not a lot of people that are going to get by me.”
That is a tall claim from LaVine, who has never really been known as an excellent defender in NBA circles. He came up big in the Bulls’ latest win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, pouring in 39 points to go along with 49 points from DeMar DeRozan.
The Chicago Bulls could have done with Zach LaVine stepping up this season, especially with all the issues Lonzo Ball continues to face with injury. However, he hasn’t been able to do that at the level they need, and the Bulls are struggling to stay in the final play-in spot in the Eastern Conference.
What Can The Chicago Bulls Realistically Achieve This Season?
If Zach LaVine can find some late-season scoring form alongside DeMar DeRozan, the Chicago Bulls could make it into the playoffs in the East. They are currently the 10th seed and 1.5 games behind the 9th-seeded Toronto Raptors. But the Bulls have to keep looking over their shoulder as both the Indiana Pacers and the Washington Wizards are just 0.5 games behind them.
The team could still choose to try and improve their odds of landing Victor Wembanyama. There is almost no chance that they can beat any of the Eastern Conference’s Top 3 seeds even if they make it to the playoffs, so they do have a decision on their hands. Zach LaVine’s future is uncertain at the moment too, he has been linked with a potential trade to the New York Knicks, while the Lakers rumors also continue to persist. It’s been an odd season for both LaVine and the Bulls.
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