Markkanen's slump, poor starts -- Bulls' revised lineup has problems
The Chicago Bulls' new lineup has two games under its belt, and two problems stand out.
The Bulls have gotten off to terrible starts in both games and Lauri Markkanen had the worst two-game stretch of his rookie season.
The exact relationship between these two issues is anyone's guess right now. But it does seem clear Markkanen is going through a harsh shooting slump and the Bulls' starting lineup is still searching for the right chemistry.
"We're having trouble getting organized, on both ends," coach Fred Hoiberg said after Saturday's loss in Minnesota. "We're not communicating on the defensive end, which is costing us. We're not doing a good job of rotating over on the baseline when we get beat. We're not cracking down when we help the helper."
Here are some of the ugliest numbers: Against the Timberwolves, the Bulls fell behind 17-6, which wasn't quite as bad as Thursday against Philadelphia, when they trailed 25-7. Markkanen, meanwhile, is 2-for-16 from the field in those two games and scored just 3 points in each.
"I see myself thinking too much," Markkanen said in Minnesota. "That normally doesn't happen that I think about it on the floor, but that's how it is right now."
These seem to be mostly separate issues. Most shooters go through tough stretches during the course of the season. This being Markkanen's first time through the NBA, a slump is understandable considering he has played 53 games and has a newborn at home.
"He's struggling right now with his confidence, there's no question about it," Hoiberg said. "As a shooter, you've got to keep looking to be aggressive, take the opens ones and take the lid off the basket. It just takes one game to get that confidence back."
Markkanen has been a constant in the starting lineup this season. But point guard Kris Dunn just returned from 11 games off with a concussion, and Zach LaVine made his season debut on Jan. 13 after recovering from ACL surgery.
Center Cristiano Felicio and small forward David Nwaba were added as starters coming out of the break because the Bulls wanted to look more at their younger players.
Nwaba has responded well to the switch, producing a combined 35 points and 18 rebounds. An undersized small forward at 6-feet-4, he has thrived by using his athleticism to get to the basket and being aggressive on the boards.
Otherwise, the starters are struggling to get on the same page. At the start of Saturday's game, Minnesota coach Tom Thibodeau put Felicio in pick-and-rolls on most every trip and the Bulls failed to cover the openings. It's not all on Felicio. Dunn, LaVine and Markkanen have played together in just five games all season. On the bright side, the same lineup did much better at the start of the second half.
"Yeah, it's different," Markkanen said. "We played 40 games with Kris (before LaVine came back). It's not been too many games yet with all three of us back. Every game we play together, every practice we have, I think we're going to get better. So I wouldn't worry too much about that."
LaVine still limited:
The Bulls confirmed that Zach LaVine will not play in back-to-back games, so he likely will sit Tuesday when the Bulls play in Charlotte. They visit Brooklyn on Monday.
The move is a precaution since LaVine is coming back from ACL surgery in his left knee. The Bulls have yet to announce whether veterans Justin Holiday and Robin Lopez will return to action this week.
Butler has surgery:
Former Bulls guard Jimmy Butler, who injured his right knee Friday against Houston and didn't play against the Bulls, had surgery Sunday to repair meniscus cartilage.
The Timberwolves said Butler will be sidelined indefinitely and updates on his progress will be issued during the course of his rehabilitation process. There seems to be some hope Butler will be able to return before the playoffs.
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Bulls vs. Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center, 6:30 p.m. Monday
TV: WGN
Radio: WSCR 670-AM
Outlook: Brooklyn traded away its 2018 first-round draft pick long ago to get Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, but the Nets (19-41) are having a hard time getting out of tank mode. They've lost eight in a row and 12 of their last 13. PG D'Angelo Russell is the top scorer at 15.8 ppg. Skills contest champ and former Bull Spencer Dinwiddie isn't far behind at 13.5 ppg. SF Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (14.3 ppg) has missed 11 games with a groin injury but could return soon. SG Caris Levert has been out five games with a knee injury. This is the first of three meetings between these teams. The other two are slated for the final week of the regular season.
Next: Charlotte Hornets at the Spectrum Center, 6 p.m. Tuesday
- Mike McGraw