3. Thaddeus Young’s lack of playing time
For the first time since his rookie season, former Indiana Pacers forward Thaddeus Young is playing in less than 22 minutes per game. And for the first time since the 2011-12 season, when he played for the Philadelphia 76ers, Young doesn’t look like he’ll start in more than half of his games he played in.
Young has no starts this season, despite all the Chicago Bulls struggles on the wing and at the four spot. Fix the usage and supporting cast for Young and his numbers will start to improve and the Bulls might start winning more. This team needs veteran leadership and more consistency and the three and four spots. Why Young is spending less than half of each game on the floor is a mystery.
Maybe it was a change of pace for the Bulls when third-year power forward Lauri Markkanen was struggling so badly from the field, or with all the small forwards out with injuries, but Young needs to get more starts. Or, Boylen just needs Young to fill the Bulls sixth man role so that there is more structure in his lacking rotations.
An incorrect role, poor schemes, lack of playing time, and inconsistent supporting cast could all be reasons why Young is struggling with his production so far this season. Young is averaging just 8.8 points per game, 4.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.0 steals. He’s also shooting only 40.9 percent from the field, but about his career average from three-point range at 32.9 percent.