Chicago Bulls: Zach LaVine has a potential All-Star season ahead

Zach LaVine is entering his prime with this Chicago Bulls team. Though its only preseason, he has shown he now belongs in the NBA’s élite.

LaVine is the prototypical modern scorer. He is big and athletic. He can score inside and out. He can play make. And most importantly he is now surrounded by players on the Chicago Bulls that raise his floor. In yesterdays preseason game against the Pelicans he showed he is on a different level to most other guards in the league.

Another important thing to note is that he now has supreme confidence. He has the mentality that he is the best player on the court and he want to beat the opponent into submission. He will pull up from anywhere or dunk on people’s heads if given an inch of space. Right or wrong, after injuries and a trade from Minnesota he hasn’t been given the credit he deserves.

With this Chicago Bulls squad about to put the league on notice LaVine has a chance to show he is a deserving All-Star and maybe even an All-NBA player. That change in attitude from LaVine shows you where his game is heading. He knows he can be one of the best players games, and he has all the tools to do it.

His outside shot dropped to the rate of 37.3 percent last year. After shooting it at 37.8 in Minnesota this is probably looking to go up. His stroke is so nice now and athletically he can rise up over anyone and knock it down.

Last season he took the rock to the basket one in every two shots. This aggression is one thing on a team with weak spacing. On a Bulls team that now has a fit Otto Porter and Lauri Markkanen as well as additions Coby White and Tomas Satoransky, he will have more driving room than ever. Its almost certain that he will keep taking it to the rim at this rate meaning there will be less mid range shots. LaVine will still take this shot if given to him but he will shoot more threes.

The extra spacing as well as the strong point guard play will enable him to take better shots. Earlier in the clock, as well as better looks. The ball movement in the second preseason game was something to behold, this kind of ball movement and fluidity makes a player like LaVine a nightmare to guard.

The one area that LaVine knows he needs to improve is his defense. In the preseason though it was clear that the defense will be better this year. Both LaVine and his teammates were locked in. LaVine showed on ball defense where he was engaged and looking to make plays on that end.

He wont ever be a Marcus Smart type defender but he has the attributes to be a good defender. A step forward on the defensive end combined with his other worldly scoring may put him in the ALL-NBA discussion.

It may seem hasty to put LaVine on an All-Star pedestal before the season has begun. But the reality is he was already there last season. He was more efficient than All star guards Victor Oladipo and Kemba Walker, he just didn’t have the team success. When the Bulls start this season with a bang, LaVine will be front and center, able to take his place in the NBA’s elite.