The Chicago Bulls are the number one seed in the Eastern Conference and they are true contenders for this year’s NBA Finals – but they’ve been experiencing a rough patch of games lately.
After going on a nine-game winning streak, the Bulls have lost five of their last seven games and haven’t been performing like the team we had seen all season.
There are multiple reasons for these losses but it can’t be ignored that the team has been struggling without one of their stars players, Zach LaVine
The Bulls can win without LaVine (in fact, they took down the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night while he was sidelined) but they definitely want him back as soon as possible so they can be restored to their former glory and continue to make a run at the Finals.
Zach Attack
LaVine has been having a downright incredible season, there is just no other way to describe it.
The 6-foot-6 player is averaging 24.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.2 assists a game.
That makes him a threat on both sides of the court, able to land shots and also protect the rim too.
Speaking of landing shots, he’s been sinking some wonderful ones this year.
LaVine’s three-point percentage sits at 41.2, meaning that he has to be defended no matter where he is on the court.
He’s just an all-around reliable, effective, and physically intimidating guy and that’s making him a huge part of the Bulls’ current success.
Team Troubles
The loss of LaVine comes at the same time that Chicago is missing a few other players, notably Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso.
This rash of absences has proven that the team is filled with terrific players who have all found a great way to work together.
Ball is doing dynamite work with this shot selection and play-making abilities.
Meanwhile, Caruso is actually one of the better defenders on the team and is a downright master of stealing the ball.
Lonzo Ball and Zach Lavine are a match made in heaven pic.twitter.com/gDJuGaSdSe
— PointsBet Sportsbook (@PointsBetUSA) January 13, 2022
With those two guys alongside LaVine’s skills and the leadership of star player DeMar DeRozan, the team has all found their own niches that work great in tandem.
However, when some of those pieces go missing, the squad starts to suffer.
The loss of LaVine along with Ball and Caruso should be a wake-up call for the Bulls.
The team needs to be better fleshed out and able to carry heavy loads even when star performers are off the court.
It’s good that the team is suffering these losses at this point in the season – it means they can tweak their lineup and adjust before the rest of the year.
Looking Ahead For LaVine
The Bulls can win without LaVine, they have proven that.
It is just much harder, especially when he is absent at the same time as other players on the team.
Thankfully, it sounds like he could be returning soon.
“I’m told there is hope that (Zach LaVine) will return in the near future…”
Our NBA Insider @ShamsCharania has the latest on Zach LaVine and Lonzo Ball, presented by @ATT 5G. pic.twitter.com/35UQaovmEW
— Stadium (@Stadium) January 20, 2022
If LaVine does return next week, it will be a welcome addition to the uneven Bulls.
They can try to shake off the issues they’ve been battling and once again become the powerhouse team they were.
