1) Disappointing Chicago Bulls through 3 games
Zach LaVine, Shooting Guard
The final spot on this list was a toss up between two Bulls players. But the solid, and ultra-efficient night, out of third-year center Wendell Carter Jr. in the loss to the Warriors kept his name off this list in the end. That’s what made way for the standout 25-year-old 6-foot-6 shooting guard Zach LaVine to get the final slot among the Bulls most disappointing players so far.
Coming into this regular season, it looked like LaVine was the set in stone face of this Bulls starting five. He definitely looked like he would once again be the highest usage player in the starting five.
And while his usage rate is through the roof through three games played this season, his efficiency hasn’t really improved at all. In fact most of his advanced metrics are good for career lows if the season were to end today.
LaVine has started in all three games he’s played in so far this season. And he’s averaging just south of 30 minutes on the floor per game. So far this season, LaVine averaged 24.0 points per game, 3.3 rebounds, 2.0 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 0.7 blocks. And he’s shot 47.3 percent from the field, 30.8 percent from beyond the arc, and 85.7 percent from the free-throw line.
In the loss to the Warriors, LaVine did make up a lot of ground. While he did turn the ball over a season and game-high seven times, he was really good in other parts of the game. He registered a team-high 33 points, seven rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocks. LaVine shot a solid 11-of-23 from the field, 4-of-12 from beyond the arc, and 7-of-9 from the free-throw line.
From here on out, LaVine still needs to manage turnovers better, and improve his effort and efficiency in one-on-one perimeter defense. LaVine’s inept play on the defensive end of the floor so far this season did a lot to push the Bulls to have a franchise low 116 defensive rating as a team.