Chicago Bulls: 3 Players to watch vs Suns

Chicago Bulls player to watch: Lauri Markkanen

Now is where we enter the players to watch that we know are capable of doing more in LaVine’s absence or limited play. Lauri Markkanen is the team’s third-best scorer after LaVine and Nikola Vucavic and that is why he needs to step up to help his team get the win.

Even after a move to the bench, Markkanen is still someone this team will rely heavily on for the rest of the season. That move was more about fit next to their new center than it was about his talent itself.

That talent comes on the offensive end and will be a key part of carrying the offensive load with Lavine’s situation entering the game. Markkanen needs to step up in this opportunity now only to help the Bulls win tonight, but also to start showing the team why they should consider investing in him this offseason.

Markkanen hit three of four perimeter shots last game on his way to 13 points in 22 minutes. Not terrible, but not assertive. That makes some sense as it was his first game coming off the bench and it may have been in his head.

Tonight, that’s not acceptable. If his shot is falling at that rate from outside he needs to keep putting them up. Additionally, Markkanen needs more total shots than the nine he took last night. With LaVine either being out or limited, it’s likely Markkanen will have more plays drawn up for him. Let’s see what he does with those plays tonight.

Chicago Bulls player to watch: Nikola Vucevic

The only repeat player from last games player to watch is big man Nikola Vucevic who will be playing his third game as a Chicago Bull. Fans will obviously closely watch their new all-star in every game, but tonight is a great chance to see what he can do even when not paying alongside an All-Star.

He’s a versatile offensive threat that is going to get his with or without an All-Star but watching him tonight should help fans increase their appreciation for him. His scoring comes in all aspects of the game: Finishing inside, pick and pop in the mid-range, and extending the floor past the three-point line.

He went 9-13 from the field last game and only missed his three-point shots, which he missed all four of. He added nine rebounds and six assists. Part of the problem was that all six assists came in the first half.

Tonight, Vucevic needs to continue finding teammates in their spots for all 48 minutes. This group is most comfortable playing off LaVine who creates opportunities for others with his style of play and what he does to opposing defenses.

In order to win tonight, the big man will have to focus on finding teammates in good spots. That all comes after establishing his scoring which he will have no problem doing. Vucevic will show fans how far his talent truly goes tonight and if the Bulls are going to win he will be the most obvious crucial part of picking up the W.