Chicago Bulls: Zach LaVine has an opportunity to make a statement

The Chicago Bulls’ roster has a shocking lack of talent due to some recent injuries. Now, Zach LaVine has an opportunity to make a statement.

Zach LaVine entered the 2019-20 season with big expectations. He, along with the rest of the Chicago Bulls, was expected to take a big step forward and contend for one of the final playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. While Zach has taken a step forward, and the Bulls are indeed still fighting for a spot in the playoffs, the season hasn’t been as pretty as most fans hoped it would be.

Three starters are sidelined with injuries (Lauri Markkanen, Wendell Carter Jr., and Otto Porter Jr.), and Zach LaVine is the only real offensive threat left to shoulder the load for Chicago.

On paper, this isn’t great for LaVine. Defenses will be locked in on containing him. They won’t be scared of anyone else the Bulls have on the floor. This is actually a good opportunity for Zach, though. He can have the All-Star-worthy moments he’s been desperately craving.

LaVine is still fighting the “good stats, bad team guy” label he’s had glued on his forehead for a while. A lot of people in the basketball world think he’s a losing player. This is the chance for Zach to prove those people wrong. He’ll have the ball in his hands constantly, and any wins will be fueled by his play. The team will only go as far as he can carry them.

On January 25 against the Cavs, LaVine showed Bulls fans he’s capable of putting the team on his back and leading them to victory. He finished the game with a monstrous 44 points on 16-of-30 shooting from the field to go along with 10 boards and eight assists. Yes, the Cavs are one of the worst teams in the league so the win should be taken with a grain of salt, but wins are still hard to come by in the NBA. Every win means something.

LaVine did everything in that game. He passed up good shots to get teammates great shots. He rebounded the ball aggressively. He got to the free-throw line. He finished around the rim. He was effective from behind the 3-point arc. It was a masterful performance, and he hardly had any help.

Zach LaVine’s All-Star status is still up in the air for this season. I think he deserves it, but I don’t think he’ll get it. The Bulls just haven’t won enough games to earn the respect of most voters. This upcoming stretch of basketball, though, where the Bulls are without Markkanen, Carter and Porter could be what LaVine needs to show everyone who he truly is: a good player in a bad situation.

LaVine and Co. will close out the month of January with games against San Antonio, Indiana and Brooklyn — three teams that are all capable of getting beaten on any given night.