Chicago Bulls: 3 post All-Star break hopes to finish the season

1. Lauri Markkanen returns to form – and is used more effectively

The big question surrounding the Chicago Bulls most of the season has been, “what happened to Lauri Markkanen?”. The reality is, no one outside of the organization really knows.

The season started with All-Star fantasies and after Markkanen’s 35 points and 17 rebounds in the season opener, it’s been a slow downward spiral since. His production has been down across the board as has his aggressiveness.

Only twice all season has the 7-footer attempted double-digit free throws and in 25 of his 46 games, he attempted two or fewer. Essentially, in this offense, he’s been relegated to a spot-up shooter, a severe misuse of a player with his talent.

After a promising second season, Markkanen is averaging 15 points per game and 6.5 rebounds while shooting 42.4 from the field and 34.4 from 3-point range.

He’s voiced his displeasure regarding the offense and his role in it and perhaps the All-Star break will give the coaching staff some time to diagram a better offensive gameplan to better suit one of their franchise foundational pieces. If the Bulls want to have a decent finish to the season, Markkanen has to be part of the solution.

Currently on the shelf with a pelvic injury, the Bulls big man should return to the court around the beginning of March. Hopefully, he’ll be back to displaying the skills that gave Chicago Bulls fans that playoff fever once again.

At one point, the Chicago Bulls thought they had turned the corner on their rebuild. Now, it’s fair to ask whether there is even any light at the end of the tunnel. We can only hope that the remaining games on the schedule provide a glimpse of a brighter future in Chicago, but at least we know that this disastrous season is mercifully almost over.