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Chicago Bulls: New Windy City Big 3 emerging?

By Andrew Miller

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 22: Lauri Markkanen #24 of the Chicago Bulls disputes a call by the official in the first quarter against the Orlando Magic at Amway Center on February 22, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. 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. (Photo by Harry Aaron/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 22: Lauri Markkanen #24 of the Chicago Bulls disputes a call by the official in the first quarter against the Orlando Magic at Amway Center on February 22, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. 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. (Photo by Harry Aaron/Getty Images) /
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There are some young talents developing in the Windy City as the Chicago Bulls could be rising in the Eastern Conference soon.

This is a great run we’ve seen of late for the Chicago Bulls, and it’s mainly charged behind the efforts of three players. The string of solid performances for the Chicago Bulls is largely thanks to the play of power forward Lauri Markkanen, small forward Otto Porter Jr., and shooting guard Zach LaVine.

If this connection for the Chicago Bulls among this potential new “big three” continues to develop, it could be something to watch for big time contenders in the Eastern Conference. The Bulls are so far out of the playoff picture in the East right now that the team is just an afterthought for contenders like the Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics, and Milwaukee Bucks.

The rebuild for the Chicago Bulls has to be expected to take another two or three seasons before this team is able to truly contend for an NBA Title. That is at the very least too. It would take some very good fortune in the NBA Draft lottery for the Bulls to get in a position to contend immediately come next season.

However, the trio that encompasses Markkanen, Porter Jr., and LaVine is a unique group that is worth a shot for the Chicago Bulls and head coach Jim Boylen. That is also if the front office plans to keep Boylen as the head man moving forward.

Yet, all three of these aforementioned players for the Bulls had career scoring nights within the past five games. The career night for Markkanen came in the Feb. 23 win over the Boston Celtics where he posted 35 points and 15 rebounds.

Meanwhile, LaVine edged out his previous career scoring high of 41 points earlier this year against the New York Knicks by putting up 42 in that same win over the Celtics. And, the career night for Porter Jr. came in a win over the Memphis Grizzlies just before the All-Star Break with 37.

The career nights from these three players helped the Bulls to get a three-game winning streak rolling through the All-Star Break. That all came crashing down with a 117-106 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Feb. 25.

If the Chicago Bulls are looking to add the 17th win of the season on Feb. 27, it will have to happen against star point guard Mike Conley and the Grizzlies. The win over the Grizzlies previous to All-Star Weekend is what kicked off one of the season’s best winning streaks in the first place. It could start yet another one to round out the month of February.

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It’s fitting that three of the leading scorers for the Chicago Bulls this season are these three players. Porter Jr. is an exception since he was just acquired from the Washington Wizards a few weeks back. But, he’s been hot ever since he arrived in the Windy City. This could be a very solid trio the Bulls are building with LaVine, Porter Jr., and Markkanen.

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