Zach LaVine has been in the midst of a career-best season, garnering his first NBA All-Star nod. The Bulls star, however, has looked like a completely different player in their last two games.
Bulls coach Billy Donovan has taken note of LaVine's lackluster performances, leading him to bench his leading scorer in the final quarter of their Monday matchup against the Golden State Warriors (via KC Johnson of NBCS Chicago).
Billy Donovan confirmed he took Zach LaVine out near end because he didn't look right. Said his running and shooting both were off. Donovan also praised LaVine for playing through sore ankle.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) March 30, 2021
LaVine is sixth in the NBA in scoring this season, averaging 27.9 points per game on 51.8 percent shooting from the field, including 43.3 from long range.
But in the Bulls’ past two contests, he has not come close to the heights that are expected of him. In Saturday’s loss to the San Antonio Spurs, LaVine dropped 18 points on a 40 percent clip, including a meager 20 percent from three-point land. Against the Warriors, things went from bad to worse as LaVine only managed 12 points. Not only was his scoring output a season-low, but his efficiency was also abhorrent, going 4-of-16 from the field and 1-of-7 from beyond the arc.
The Bulls recently acquired All-Star center Nikola Vucevic from the Orlando Magic to give LaVine the help he needs to lead the team to the postseason. But in the last couple of contests, it has been LaVine who needs help from his supporting cast.
The defeat against the Warriors extended the Bulls' losing streak to four outings. They will be eager to break it against the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday. If they have any hope of getting out of their funk, they will need Zach LaVine to get back into his All-Star groove.
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