LaVine shows off versatility in Bulls' loss to Brooklyn
This wasn't a great day for the Chicago Bulls, but top scorer Zach LaVine showed some impressive offensive versatility Sunday against Brooklyn.
LaVine led the Bulls with 27 points and did most of his damage by driving to the basket. He attempted 2 shots from 3-point range and 3 free throws, making all five of those. The Bulls played well at times, but lost to the streaking Nets 117-100 at the United Center.
Two days earlier, LaVine unleashed a barrage of 3-point baskets to help send a game against Indiana to overtime. Given the choice, Bulls coach Jim Boylen would take Sunday's method of producing points.
"I'm proud of Zach LaVine. He got 27 points on two 3s," Boylen said. "That's, to me, who he's got to be. Drive that ball and attack, attack. Hopefully we can get some free throws, as we go forward, for him. I love that - 27 on two 3s. That's who I want him to be as a driver and an aggressive downhill guy."
It's easy to see where Boylen is coming from, but driving to the basket in the NBA is dangerous business. The Bulls have had a couple of the league's best at getting to the basket and both took plenty of hits along the way: Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler.
As everyone knows, Rose's career in Chicago was thwarted by a pair of knee surgeries. Butler fared better, but usually was knocked out of action at least once per season. So it's worth asking if LaVine agrees with Boylen's vision for his career.
"He (Boylen) is a tough-minded dude, so he knows I can get to the hoop," LaVine said. "I think I can get to the hoop whenever I need to. But I'm the one playing, I'm going to read it."
LaVine is in the argument for most athletic player in the NBA. He started off the season getting to the foul line frequently and now ranks 14th with 6 attempts per game. He's pretty good at gliding past defenders for baskets, but on Sunday he also drew contact from Brooklyn center Jarrett Allen a few times in order to finish without getting his shot swatted.
"I know I can score the ball in many ways, I work on that," LaVine said. "If it's a game I need to get to the hoop and put pressure on the defense, I'm going to do that. If it's a game where I need to hit perimeter shots or if they're giving me the midrange, I can do that too. I think it's just reading the game. But (Boylen's) a tough-minded dude and I can respect that because I think we need to get tougher as a unit."
LaVine did come up hobbled in the third quarter. He scored on a drive, then took an intentional foul a few seconds later so he could go to the bench. He returned without incident a few minutes later. After the game, he said he got hit in the groin area and just wanted to make sure it was nothing serious.
"I'm all good," he said. "I just wanted to be careful. I was a little tired anyway too, so I took a foul."
Brooklyn (20-21) has won 12 of its last 15 games. The Bulls fell behind by 12 in the first half, then pulled into a 55-55 tie by halftime. But the Nets pulled away again in the third quarter and this time the Bulls didn't recover.
The Nets tossed up 46 attempts from 3-point range, making 16. The Bulls actually shot a better percentage, but were far less frequent, hitting 7 of 18. D'Angelo Russell went 6-for-14 from long range and led the Nets with 28 points.
"We're focused on trying to get the ball downhill, trying to drive the ball, trying to get paint points and then spray out for open shots," said Boylen, pointing out the Bulls won points in the paint 62-46. "I don't want to make it all about our offense. We can't give up 117 at home. I'm disappointed in that."
Bobby Portis scored 17 points in his return from an ankle injury, while Kris Dunn finished with 16 points and 7 assists. Jabari Parker did not play.
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