Zach LaVine did his thing to the tune of 27 points, even if his scoring output, on 10-for-25 shooting, recalled performances from seasons past rather than his uber-efficient production this season.
Thad Young again played Best Supporting Actor, finishing with 14 points and nine rebounds that will do nothing to diminish his trade value as Thursday’s deadline approaches.
But on a night that coach Billy Donovan called “important” for the Bulls’ young core, a test against the team with the NBA’s best record, their highlights proved few and far between.
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The Jazz prevailed 120-95, and the blowout showcased just how far the Bulls remain away from the league’s elite.
And if Lauri Markkanen is sitting for close to a 13-minute stretch from early in the third to early in the fourth quarters and Wendell Carter Jr. and Coby White are coming off the bench, the path to close the gap is foggy.
“These are the kinds of games in my opinion that Wendell and Lauri and Coby need to play in---high-level teams. I think that’s where they can learn and grow and get better,” Donovan said. “I think sometimes their production could be down because of the quality of teams we’re playing against. Hopefully, they can continue to learn and grow and get better in those situations.”
Hopefully, indeed. Really, what else is Donovan supposed to say? This game wasn’t close. And until a strong finish that included drawing a foul from Rudy Gobert and powering another layup over him, Markkanen was a no-show.
NBA
He finished with eight points and seven rebounds but only shot those two free throws late and missed nine of 12 shots.
“A rough night. These kinds of things happen,” Markkanen said. “I tried to stay aggressive and get to the rim, and I think I did that. Just wasn’t going in. That’s the game. I think I have to do other things when the shot is not falling. Try to rebound, play defense.”
As for Carter and White, the former packed six points, eight rebounds, two assists and one steal into 18 minutes while the latter reached double figures but on 4-for-12 shooting. Trying to remember an impactful play from either is about as fruitful as trying to score over Gobert, who had a career-high nine blocks.
Thad Young didn’t address reporters postgame until after a lengthy delay, which ultimately produced a positive. Young said he was talking to Carter and White.
That’s why he’s not worried about those players drifting despite playing in less prominent roles now, coming off the bench the last six games.
“They’re locked in at all times,” Young said. “If they were drifting, we wouldn’t be sitting in the locker room an hour after the game still talking. They’re trying to figure it out. They’re focused on trying to get better and trying to help this team win games.
“They’re staying in the film sessions and after practice when we do have practice. They’re getting shots up on days we’re not even supposed to be in the gym. They’re doing all the right things. I don’t think they’re veering off course. They understand what they have to do and know they have bright futures in this league. They’re going to continue to play. My job is to help guide those guys, and I’m definitely not going to let them drift off.”
Markkanen said he not only didn’t question Donovan sitting him for so long against the Jazz but also supported the coach not playing him in overtime of the recent loss to the Nuggets.
“I told him at Denver that I respected his decision. That game, I don’t think I deserved to be out there down the stretch,” Markkanen said. “I trust Billy 100 percent. He doesn’t need to explain anything to me personally. If it comes up, we can talk about it. He was trying to find a new lineup that worked. I’m not questioning him at all.”
No, the only questions are: Can the Bulls’ young core consistently impact games to help LaVine and Young? Will management keep it intact to try to do so?
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