For the Chicago Bulls to make the playoffs this season, Lauri Markkanen and Zach LaVine will have to play like All-Stars.
LaVine and Markkanen are the two best players on the Bulls. Markkanen says the next step for him and LaVine is being more consistent.
“We’ve been on the same team and practiced the whole time,” Markkanen said, via Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times. “We’ve come along really well. Now it’s just a matter of taking it across the street [to the United Center]. I think we’ve had good periods of time, but the next step for us is just doing it consistently.”
Markkanen averaged 18.7 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game last season while shooting 43.0 percent from the field, 36.1 percent from beyond the arc and 87.2 percent from the free-throw line.
The stretch forward recorded 20 double-doubles for the Bulls.
LaVine, meanwhile, established himself as one of the top young scorers in the league last season. The high-flyer put up 23.7 points and shot 46.7 percent from the floor and 37.4 percent from the 3-point line.
LaVine has completely recovered from the ACL tear he suffered during the 2016-17 campaign with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Bulls haven't made the playoffs since 2017. Chicago will start Tomas Satoransky, LaVine, Otto Porter, Markkanen and Wendell Carter Jr. this season. They open the season on Wednesday against the Charlotte Hornets.
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