Chicago Bulls: 3 biggest storylines for the rest of the 2018-19 season

2. Will Lauri Markkanen overcome late season slump?

During the month of February, the Bulls’ second-year forward was flat out balling. In 11 outings, Markkanen compiled averages of 26.0 points, 12.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists per contest, which represents the best month he’s had during his young career with the team.

In March, though, it hasn’t been the same story. Following a 31-point, 17-rebound outing against the Atlanta Hawks on March 1, Markkanen went into a bit of slump. Over his next six outings, he shot just 34. 4 percent overall and a frigid 22.5 percent from beyond the arc.

Like most gifted shooters, Markkanen isn’t overly concerned about this recent stretch.

"“No, I’ve had these before and I’m doing everything the way I [did] it before and it’s been a couple games now and I’m trying not to look at it as a couple games”, he told NBC Sports Chicago. “I’m trying to look at a little longer period and see if it’s that bad. I recognize that it’s not going in right now but I’m not putting my head down because of that.”"

In Chicago’s recent outings against the Los Angeles Clippers and Sacramento Kings, he scored a total of 21 points to go along with just 11 rebounds. From a positive standpoint, he is shooting the ball at a more efficient clip, going 7-for-16 (43.8 percent).

Even though he’s gotten off to a slow start this month, Markkanen has shown the ability to bounce back from such stretches and there’s little reason to believe that he isn’t capable of doing so once again.