It definitely wasn’t the effort of the front court of the Chicago Bulls that ultimately led to the team falling short against the Bucks. Pending buyout candidate and veteran center Robin Lopez is playing well despite the rumors that he could be on the move soon. Lopez posted 17 points, four rebounds, and one block.
This is also the opportunity for Lopez to step up his game and impress some of the contenders that could be looking his way if the Bulls do decide to move forward with the buyout process. Lopez could’ve been a bit more effective on the glass, but he was a solid 8-for-13 from the field and a plus-1 when he was on the floor.
Robin Lopez Grade: B+
Moreover, this front court that is void of rookie standout center Wendell Carter Jr. is clearly missing the presence that it needs to succeed consistently. Power forward Lauri Markkanen continued his solid streak of scoring performances, and also had a breakthrough outing on the boards.
Markkanen wound up posting 20 points and 17 rebounds, but his shooting efficiency fell off in the second half. That let him finish up as one of the worst shooters for the Bulls in this game, going 6-for-21 from the field and 1-for-7 from beyond the arc. His rebounding performance helped to make up for the lapse in shooting and he was perfect in seven attempts from the free-throw line.