Chicago Bulls: 3 Takeaways from 122-113 win over the Raptors

Chicago Bulls: Takeaway no. 2 – Zach LaVine in distributor mode

As Bulls fans already know and NBA fans, in general, should know by now, Zach LaVine can score with the best of them. Against the Raptors, he flashed his scoring prowess early but shifted his approach based on how the game was developing in front of him.

He scored 11 of the Bulls 33 first-quarter points and looked like he could go off for a big scoring night. Instead, he opted not to force it and displayed the Basketball I.Q. that has helped him take the next step to become an all-star this season.

He found his teammates and didn’t force up bad shots, and it paid off for both him and the team. The Bulls obviously got the win while LaVine set a new season-high in assists with 13. Only once in his career has he had more assists in a game than that, all the way back in his rookie season with the Minnesota Timberwolves when he finished a game with 14 dimes.

The numbers are impressive, obviously. Especially when you break it down and see he had 8 assists in the second half while turning the ball over just twice in that time. Still, it’s what these numbers represent and prove that is the true takeaway.

LaVine just wants to win. Early in the season, he was going wild scoring because it was his best way to help his team get W’s. Ever since the addition of Nikola Vucevic and the other players added at the deadline, LaVine has demonstrated he is committed to winning above all else.

He is shooting the ball less than Vooch and both are playing unselfishly. Things can’t come together as quickly as the Bulls need if the leaders of the team aren’t all in behind an unselfish approach.

It was awesome to see LaVine take over this game in a non-scoring way. It speaks volumes about the continuous developments he takes as a basketball player and should have Bulls fans even more excited for what is to come.