Chicago Bulls: 3 keys to stopping their devastating losing streak

Key No. 2 to stop the bleeding for the Chicago Bulls: Improve 3-point shooting

Former New York Knicks head coach Jeff Van Gundy famously coined the phrase “It’s a make or miss league.” In 2021, that’s truer than ever.

During Monday’s loss to the Grizzlies, Chicago shot a dismal 16.1 percent from 3-point land. Over the course of their recent four-game losing streak, their opponent has outpaced them from beyond the arc in every game except one. Zach LaVine, Lauri Markkanen, Coby White and Nikola Vucevic are all very capable 3-point shooters. When a team has a variety of shooters capable of knocking down threes but fails to do so, there has to be another explanation.

The fact is not all looks from beyond the arc are equal. A shot created by ball movement is almost always better than a shot off the dribble. This becomes increasingly true the further away from the basket the shot comes from. Over the past few seasons, the step-back 3-pointer has become so popular that it is now being taught to aspiring players at basketball camps. This is in stark contrast to the norms of years past when a shot like that would earn a player a spot on the bench. While the occasional made “step-back” may look great on a highlight tape, the fact is it’s still a low percentage shot that should be used sparingly.

Billy Donovan won back-to-back NCAA championships as head coach of the Florida Gators by emphasizing passing and player movement without the ball. Although he’s in the pros now, those principles still apply. If the Chicago Bulls want to shoot better from 3-point land, they’re going to have to remember that.