Bold predictions with the Bulls No. 3: Vooch averages 4 assists per game down the stretch, and Zach LaVine averages 30 points per game
It should go hand in hand for the Bulls to see both LaVine and Vucevic improve each other’s games down the stretch this season. Few trades at the deadline earlier in the week were more proficient at putting together a better duo than LaVine and Vucevic. This now gives the Bulls a pairing of All-Star selections from this year.
Although it’s going to have a much different feel to it, Karnisovas still tried to get a similar pick-and-pop and screen-and-roll pairing between a talented guard and star big man to what he had during his time with the Denver Nuggets. Karnisovas was largely responsible for building the pairing that is now the star Nuggets duo of big man Nikola Jokic and guard Jamal Murray.
Now he’s got a similar situation in some respects between LaVine and Vucevic.
Vucevic is already averaging nearly four assists per game this season, but he’s not quite there yet. And LaVine is averaging around 28 points per game up to this point of the regular season. Pair these two together, and it’s not out of the question that LaVine could get a boost to average at least 30 points per game the rest of the way, and Vucevic gets lifted up over four assists per game.
Where LaVine and Vucevic have to hold some consistency in this respect is managing turnovers and finding open teammates effectively for the big man, and still shooting efficiently for the first-time All-Star shooting guard. LaVine has shot nearly 44 percent from beyond the arc so far this season, and Vucevic is averaging around less than two turnovers.