In the first half Friday night against the Hornets, Zach LaVine — back on the court for the Bulls for the first time since late November — didn’t look like the player he was at the start of the season.
The two-time All-Star guard passed up multiple shots, drove to pass and was active defensively. Toward the end of the half, he started looking for his shot. He ran the floor hard and slammed down a two-handed dunk. Then he took a pass from forward DeMar DeRozan in the right corner and drilled a three-pointer.
That kind of performance — LaVine was a team-leading plus-10 in the first half — is what the Bulls need for the rest of the season. Active. Engaged.
“I think the film will be good to watch,” coach Billy Donovan said after a 104-91 win at the United Center in which LaVine played just short of 30 minutes off the bench. “Zach can play any kind of style. He’s a great transition player, obviously. He can shoot the three. I actually thought there were some opportunities he could have shot the ball a little bit more tonight, but he’s trying to make sure the ball’s moving in, and he’s making quick decisions.”
On one possession late in the second quarter, LaVine dug down and forced a turnover. His critics often point to his lackadaisical defense. But he seemed intent on making a difference on that end — a big first step.
Whether he’s still with the Bulls past the Feb. 8 trade deadline is beside the point. It’s best for both LaVine and the Bulls if he’s playing at a high level and using skills — fluid ball movement with quick, decisive passes — that would make him attractive to potential trade suitors.
He didn’t dominate the ball much against the Hornets, working mostly in an off-ball role, attacking in transition and meticulously picking his spots in the half court.
The Bulls finished with 29 assists on 40 field goals. Five players finished in double figures in scoring, led by guard Coby White with a team-high 22 points. But the game wasn’t aesthetically pleasing: The Bulls struggled to score offensively, shooting 35.7% from the three-point line.
Donovan said he was pleased with how LaVine handled closeout situations.
“I think Zach is really good at [closeouts] when he’s decisive like that,” Donovan said. “It opens up things for himself and for others because there’s more to Zach’s game than just him being this scorer.”
Although it was against an inferior opponent, the Bulls (16-21) showed that with LaVine back from a foot injury, they can still play the style of ball that has revived their season. The ball was still mostly in White’s hands, and guard Ayo Dosunmu still made his usual trips to the rim.
“A couple of times, guys told me to shoot it,” LaVine said. “Obviously, they know what I do, but I just wanted to feel my way into the game. . . . We moved the ball, played with pace and just competed.”
The Bulls’ next stretch will be more telling. They host the Rockets on Wednesday and the Warriors on Friday. Against two quality opponents, LaVine can say a lot with his play, no matter if he remains with the team the rest of the season.
