Billy Donovan unveiled a new line following the Bulls’ 125-120 victory over the Rockets Monday night at the United Center.
“We’ve got to be a team that we always say, ‘From paint to great,’” the Bulls’ head coach said. “You got it to the paint, let’s get something great out of it.”
It’s still early. But dare it be time to say this Bulls’ offense could be great?
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The recent ball movement has been sublime, the shot-making supreme. Kickouts from the paint to open shooters -- paint to great -- have happened naturally and frequently.
If the Bulls could whittle down their 29th-ranked turnover rate, who knows what could be accomplished?
“Like I mentioned back in November, I just kind of envisioned the group as being a team that’s going to have to move and cut and generate shots collectively together,” Donovan said. “And I think if we can do that, then we can be a good offensive team.”
The victory marked -- deep breath here -- the fourth time this season the Bulls have placed seven scorers in double figures; the sixth straight game with 115 or more points; just the second time in franchise history that five players sank three or more 3-pointers; 20 3-pointers overall; and another example of the continued evolution of Zach LaVine.
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“I envisioned trying to play like that,” Donovan said. “I’ve always felt if you can get five to seven guys every night in double figures, it keeps everybody engaged. I think the ball finds the open man. I think guys shoot the ball more comfortably.”
It’s showing. In fact, thanks to LaVine, Lauri Markkanen, Garrett Temple, Denzel Valentine and Ryan Arcidiacono each making at least 3-pointers, the Bulls ran their season total to 195. That’s the highest total in franchise history through the first 14 games of a season.
“We got a lot of firepower,” LaVine said. “I think we’re all starting to learn to move the ball a little bit. I think I’ve done a really good job this year picking my spots, understanding when to shoot and when to pass. I think other guys have started to do that as well. So it’s been fun.”
Indeed, LaVine continued his recent mastery with 33 points on 11-for-16 shooting with seven assists. When the Rockets made a run, LaVine asserted himself offensively, scoring 14 third-quarter points. Then, in closing time, LaVine hit two of three shots and dished three of his seven assists, including to Lauri Markkanen for the clinching 3-pointer with 46.9 seconds left.
“It was no hesitation from me,” LaVine said. “I just read the play.”
LaVine now has seven 30-point games this season, trailing only Damian Lillard’s eight. That it came following a game in which he didn’t force the action, posting his first double-double of the season against the Mavericks with 10 points and 10 assists, showed the full spectrum of his growth.
“Zach knows now that he's gonna do his numbers. He's gonna get what he needs to get for us throughout the course of a game because he's gonna have the ball in his hands a lot,” Thad Young said. “The question is: Can he get us involved and active into the game to help him out? And he's been doing a really good job.
“Last year, I used to tell him all the time, 'Zach, let us help you out. And then in the fourth, hey it's your show. We don't want to tire you out before we get to the fourth. That's when we really gonna need you.' And he's been doing that. He's been doing a really good job of just executing and making sure that he makes the right plays and the hard reads. But when he gets his guys and there's no double-team, then he knows he can beat anybody 1-on-1.”
Valentine heaped praise on LaVine as well.
“His care for winning went to another level. He's watching more film, he's talking to guys more about where they like the ball,” Valentine said. “After practice the other day, he's talking to Lauri and Wendell (Carter Jr.), trying to figure out the pick-and-roll.
“I think he's just maturing as far as trying to just be a winner, and he's trying to take himself to that next level. We know that he can score. We know that he's a great player, All-Star caliber player. But I think for him he wants to show people that he can be that kind of player and win at the same time.”