Pippen Ain't Easy
Fansided

5 goals for Lauri Markkanen to achieve during his rookie season in NBA

By Michael Whitlow

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 10: Lauri Markkanen #24 of the Chicago Bulls goes up for a dunk against the Atlanta Hawks during the 2017 Las Vegas Summer League on July 10, 2017 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 10: Lauri Markkanen #24 of the Chicago Bulls goes up for a dunk against the Atlanta Hawks during the 2017 Las Vegas Summer League on July 10, 2017 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
Lauri Markkanen, PF/C, Chicago Bulls
HELSINKI, FINLAND – SEPTEMBER 5: Lauri Markkanen of Finland and Thanasis Antetokounmpo of Greece during the FIBA Eurobasket 2017 Group A match between Greece and Finland on September 5, 2017 in Helsinki, Finland. (Photo by Norbert Barczyk/Press Focus/MB Media/Getty Images) /

Goal No. 5: Adding some mass to his young, thin frame

Pending on the outlet you look at, Lauri Markkanen weighs somewhere around 230 pounds heading into his first NBA season. He’s light on his feet on both ends of the floor, but his lack of strength and power was really noticeable at times during EuroBasket 2017.

Take this possession in Finland’s first game of the tournament against France. Markkanen takes a screen at the right elbow and France switches former NBA guard-turned-forward Boris Diaw onto Markkanen. As Markkanen looks to post Diaw up deep on the wing, he had a hard time moving Diaw around, which shouldn’t come as a huge shock to anyone being how big Diaw has gotten over his playing days.

Markkanen takes the entry pass and looks to work from the post on Diaw, but gets pinned on the baseline by the bigger Diaw and commits a turnover while he’s falling out of bounds.

Markkanen’s lack of strength showed under the basket during Finland’s loss to Italy in the EuroBasket Round of 16, too. The Italians had their way with Markkanen down low on missed shots and Markkanen looked like a 20-year-old against the Marco Belinelli-led squad.

(Thanks to The Athletic Chicago’s Stephen Noh for the GIF of Markkanen’s rebounding attempts.)

For Markkanen to find some success during his rookie season and beyond, he’s going to have to take a page from the Nikola Mirotic playbook and spend some time in the weight room. Although the game has changed and there’s been more focus on perimeter shooting than ever before, big men that can dominate the glass and limit second chances still have a role in the NBA.

With Markkanen’s ability to stretch the floor and handle the ball on the offensive end of the floor, if he can bulk up a bit and improve his rebounding abilities, it’d be a huge plus for him and the Bulls.

Home/Bulls News