Chicago Bulls: 2017-18 player grades for Zach LaVine

Highlights

Although there were only 24 outings to choose from, LaVine did have a few memorable moments during the 2017-18 season.

In a late January meeting against the Portland Trail Blazers, the Bulls were a bit shorthanded, with Markkanen (personal matter) and Dunn (concussion) out of the lineup. LaVine paced Chicago’s attack with 23 points on 8-of-13 shooting and 4-for-7 from beyond the arc.

Thanks to Blazers’ guard C.J. McCollum going off for 50, LaVine’s production was not enough to keep his undermanned squad from losing its fifth game in a row, as the Blazers defeated the Bulls 124-108.

A few days later, in a road game against the Sacramento Kings, LaVine poured in 27 points to go along with three rebounds and two assists. However, the Bulls still managed to drop their seventh straight (104-98) despite leading by a 28-9 margin after the first quarter.

When it comes to sports, more times than not, there is usually an added element of motivation involved when players face off against their former team. Ironically enough, LaVine’s best outing took place back on Feb. 9 in a home game against the Timberwolves.

With the team’s former coach on the opposing bench and fan favorites (Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson) in different uniforms, the stage was sent for a memorable evening and the two teams didn’t disappoint.

Minnesota did go up by as many as 17 points in the third quarter, but thanks to LaVine, who scored 35 points, including 15 in the final frame, the Bulls escaped with a 114-113 win to halt their seven-game losing skid.