Why LaVine's fast start is a nice sign for Chicago Bulls' rebuild
When a guy can jump out of the gym, his potential should be through the roof.
In a league loaded with freak athletes, Zach LaVine has stood out since he entered the NBA draft in 2014 after one year at UCLA.
His draft-combine measurements were very good, featuring a 41.5-inch vertical, but he really excelled in the eye test. The 6-foot-5 LaVine brought the combination of speed and leaping ability, while making it all seem so effortless.
The star potential was obvious. The question was whether he could put it all together. At the start of his fifth NBA season, the answer appears to be yes.
LaVine has posted four straight 30-point games to open the season. The only other player in Chicago Bulls history to accomplish that feat was Michael Jordan in 1986.
LaVine is averaging 32.3 points, third in the NBA behind Blake Griffin and Steph Curry, while shooting an impressive 57.1 percent from the field.
This Bulls season is more about player development than victories, so this is obviously an encouraging sign. LaVine was just one of three players acquired from Minnesota in the Jimmy Butler trade. The other two, Kris Dunn and Lauri Markkanen, are out with injuries.
LaVine has shot the ball well from 3-point range, but the key to his success is a willingness to attack the basket. He's averaging 9 free-throw attempts per game and has scored 40.3 percent of his points inside the paint.
LaVine's points at the basket are a good number for a shooting guard. For perspective, that's slightly below a couple of all-star-caliber guards, Indiana's Victor Oladipo and Utah's Donovan Mitchell. Houston's James Harden is at 35.1 percent in the paint this season.
On Wednesday against Charlotte, LaVine got two chances to put the Bulls ahead in the final 10 seconds. The first time, he settled for a 21-foot jumper and missed. After forcing a turnover, he went to the basket, got fouled and hit the winning free throws with 0.5 seconds on the clock.
“I know I can get to the hoop and put pressure on the defense,” LaVine said after the game. “I just go into the game trying to be aggressive. It was a tough game, lot of skipping and grabbing. You have to be competitive enough to keep going back in there. I still have confidence in my jump shot; I just knew I could get to the hoop.”
LaVine's speed has been evident in his drives to the basket. Bulls fans surely remember Derrick Rose's acrobatic, weaving drives, which involved plenty of big-man opposition and hard contact.
LaVine is blowing past people and often meeting no resistance at the rim. Looking at some of his drives, it's clear one of his strengths is the ability to change directions quickly.
LaVine had three driving baskets in the final five minutes against the Hornets. On one, he took a couple of dribbles toward the wing, then changed directions, and Nic Batum couldn't keep up. LaVine got all the way to the rim for a dunk.
Another time, he found Marvin Williams guarding the basket, but with a quick sidestep was able to finish a lay-in without much of a contest.
Another quality LaVine showed Wednesday was being patient with his opportunities. He scored 4 points in the first quarter, 6 in the second, 12 in the third and 10 in the fourth. LaVine went 1-for-5 from 3-point range and didn't try to force jumpers.
Eventually, defenses will tailor games plans to stop LaVine from getting to the rim. Charlotte already did, which explains the slow start.
It helps when the Bulls have a 3-point shooter to keep the defense honest. Cameron Payne became that guy Wednesday, hitting 7 of 9 from long range in the second half. Markkanen's return should help eventually.
In a season that's about development, LaVine's 30-point streak is a great sign. Never before has he been the top scoring option on his team, so finishing top-5 in scoring this season seems plausible.
Defenses are going to respond quickly, though, and it will be up to LaVine to meet the challenge.
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