It isn't fun to be Zach LaVine right now. After spending seven seasons not reaching the playoffs, the Chicago Bulls are projected to make it in the coming months. The thing is, their roster has been besieged by various injuries to their key players, which reduces their effectiveness in the process. And even with DeMar DeRozan taking a leap this year, it doesn't seem enough to make them real contenders in the East, or even boost his rookie cards to a whole new level.
Even though Chicago is among the top-tier teams in the Eastern Conference right now, there's still a chance of losing momentum, as seen in their recent losing streak. We tackle down below how those Zach LaVine cards are in danger if the Bulls continue to underperform.
Zach LaVine and the Bulls' recent struggles
When the current season started, all eyes were on the Bulls and how they can make their new roster work. With the addition of DeMar DeRozan, Lonzo Ball, and Alex Caruso, it seemed Chicago was well on its way to proving everyone wrong with how good they were on the court.
That was exactly what the Bulls did during the first 25 games. During that streak, Chicago went on a 17-5 blitz across the league, which included wins against the Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Lakers, and Denver Nuggets early in the season. Their new pieces elevated the team's shot-creation, defense, and playmaking, which in turn sparked them to the top of the Eastern Conference late last year.
While the early returns to his new lineup looked promising, the Bulls will have to contend with several challenges along the way. For starters, losing key pieces to various injuries. Earlier this year, Ball suffered an injury to his right knee while Alex Caruso's wrist got fractured a few days later, thanks to Grayson Allen. There was also a point in the weeks after when LaVine sat some games out due to soreness in his left knee.
The loss of these key players placed a heavier load on DeRozan's shoulders and weakened Chicago, especially against the top teams in the NBA. At the start of this month, the Bulls went 1-13 against strong squads, such as the Miami Heat and Phoenix Suns, among others.
Shifting from a team perspective to LaVine himself, the Bulls' starting shooting guard is still playing at a great level when it comes to offense. In 53 games this season, he's averaging 24.6 points on 48% shooting from the field, 40% from beyond the arc, and 85% from the free throw line. He's also adding 4.9 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 34.7 minutes per contest.
Those numbers would blow up in a match against the Nuggets last year when LaVine would go off for 36 points by hitting 14 of his 24 shots from the field, including 4 out of 9 from deep. This season-high explosion catapulted the Bulls over Denver with a 114-108 victory.
But as great as LaVine has been on the offensive end of the court, his defense leaves a lot to be desired. With Ball and Caruso unable to mask his defensive issues, opposing squads can blow past him to get an easy bucket or two. While this is an individual issue, it is one that has contributed to the Bulls' struggles in recent games.
As the regular season approaches its end soon, Chicago needs to play better, cement their spot in the East, and have the confidence to overcome other contenders. Otherwise, the skid they're on will be much longer and it'll be bad for those who have placed their bets on Zach LaVine cards.
The state of Zach LaVine rookie cards in the market
As of the moment, LaVine's stock in the card market is somehow reflecting the Bulls' recent struggles. In a three-month graph by Card Ladder shown below, his PSA 10 base Prizm rookie card has dropped from where it was late last year.
As shown above, the graded rookie card's price has gone down from $260 to $223. This is a 12.33% drop over the course of 27 confirmed sales in the market.
While the decrease isn't that big, it's still a drop nonetheless. And with the Bulls' struggles on the court and those against stronger teams, it's not hard to imagine LaVine's value isn't being affected by these issues.
The verdict on Zach LaVine rookie cards
Without a doubt, LaVine is among the top offensive players in the NBA right now. The All-Star guard is an elite scorer who can get buckets from anywhere on the court. With him in the lineup, along with DeRozan, the Bulls will have all the offense they need to make it to the playoffs.
But while that can't be denied, Chicago's woes and injuries to key players are threatening to bring the value of these Zach LaVine cards further. This can happen if the Bulls fall down the standings during the regular season or they fail to make a good impression in the playoffs.
With the Heat surging to the top, James Harden joining the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Boston Celtics turning things around, LaVine's squad is up for a challenge in the East. In any case, pulling the trigger on his cards is the safer bet at this point in time.
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