2) Chicago Bulls off to the worst start through 6
Zach LaVine, Shooting Guard
The leading scorer for the Bulls so far this season is also one of the best scorers in the Eastern Conference in the modern NBA. The former UCLA Bruin and standout 25-year-old 6-foot-6 shooting guard Zach LaVine is still doing great things at times for the Bulls, but he’s not off to the start that many expected him to be through six games.
LaVine had another career year last season for the Bulls, where he nearly got his first All-Star nod of his NBA journey to date. And he’ll be hoping this season to get that elusive first career All-Star selection, in whatever form that serves.
As one of the Bulls players that has logged heavy minutes in the starting five so far this season, LaVine will play an integral role in the team’s success moving forward. He’s started in all six games he’s played in so far this season for the Bulls, averaging around 31.5 minutes per game. And LaVine averaged 22.2 points per game, 4.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.7 blocks, and a whopping 4.3 turnovers. He shot 43.7 percent from the field, 29.5 percent from beyond the arc, and 88.5 percent from the free-throw line.
That all has amounted to a 15.5 player efficiency rating, .008 win shares per 48 minutes, 0 total win shares, 56.4 true shooting percentage, and a 98 offensive rating/113 defensive rating. When it’s all said and done this season, LaVine will have needed dramatically improve his play on the defensive end of the floor, and be more efficient when he’s the primary ball handler in this offense.
The turnover rate LaVine is sporting so far this season, at 18.1 percent, is very high and needs to progress in the very near future.