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Chicago Bulls film study: Is Lauri Markkanen making the grade?

By Megann Horstead

CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 7: Lauri Markkanen #24 of the Chicago Bulls shoots the ball against the Oklahoma City Thunder on December 7, 2018 at United Center in Chicago, Illinois. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 7: Lauri Markkanen #24 of the Chicago Bulls shoots the ball against the Oklahoma City Thunder on December 7, 2018 at United Center in Chicago, Illinois. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Drawing comparisons to Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki, Chicago Bulls forward Lauri Markkanen has a lot of hype to live up to. Is he making the grade?

Chicago Bulls forward Lauri Markkanen has taken the NBA Twitter-verse by storm in more ways than one.

Is Markkanen living up to all the hype?

That is debatable, especially considering the way the Bulls are utilizing the second-year big man at times.

Let’s breakdown Markkanen’s performance and the highlight reel that he’s created to this point in the 2018-2019 season.

Markkanen did his part to keep the floor spaced in this sequence by setting a hard pick and stretching the court to the three-point line only to drive baseline and throw it down. In doing so, he showcases his ability to handle the ball, a feat not too often seen in big men.

Markkanen proves he’s too much for the Toronto Raptors and their defense in this sequence. With the shot clock winding down, he goes clutch.

https://twitter.com/theScore/status/1076307704707252225

Markkanen refuses to take a deep shot in a close game situation during a meeting with the Orlando Magic. Instead, he gets to the rim to posterize the defender with one of his emphatic dunks.

https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1073441407640264704

In a late game situation, Markkanen sets a pick for his teammate, Kris Dunn, creating space all the while to score a bucket of his own from deep.

Markkanen is not slacking on this play. The Bulls gains possession of the ball only for the second-year forward take it nearly the entire length of the floor and throw it down.

Markkanen sets a pick for his teammate, Shaquille Harrison, only to free himself from his defender so much he is able to bury a shot from deep.

With the game all tied up, Markkanen takes over the game by faking a pass, spinning and finishing with a bucket at the rim.

Early on, Markkanen had been sidelined out of game time action this season due to an elbow injury. That did not appear to interfere with the second-year forward’s ability to get a bucket from deep in his first game back.

Progress report:

The jury is out, and the grades are in.

Markkanen has earned a ‘B+’.

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