Pippen Ain't Easy
Fansided

3 fixes for the Chicago Bulls to make the playoffs

By Adi Bhatta

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MARCH 21: Head Coach Billy Donovan of the Chicago Bulls looks on during the second quarter of the game against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on March 21, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MARCH 21: Head Coach Billy Donovan of the Chicago Bulls looks on during the second quarter of the game against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on March 21, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) /
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Coby White, Chicago Bulls
Coby White, Chicago Bulls (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) /

2. Helping Nikola Vucevic out offensively

There was absolutely 0 doubt about Vucevic’s ability to put the ball in the basket. And while his defensive struggles have already been highlighted, something that also needs to change in regards to him is other players scoring around him.

Outside of LaVine (who is now out indefinitely), there is even more of an onus for the likes of Patrick Williams, Lauri Markkanen and Coby White to step up. In the last 4 games, between the 3 of them, only Coby White has scored in double digits (netting 11 in both the game against Atlanta and Minnesota).

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It’s a little more excusable for Williams to not be as aggressive and polished as a scorer, considering he is a rookie that isn’t known to have the most well-versed offensive game. But both Lauri Markkanen and Coby White are not rookies anymore and are both known as score-first players.

If they can’t score and aren’t playing great defensively, it makes it hard to build a case to play them big minutes. As a result Coach Donovan may be forced to give more minutes to the likes of Daniel Theis, Thaddeus Young and Tomas Satoransky, all of whom are good players in their own right but are not great scorers that can help Vucevic on offense.

If the Chicago Bulls want to make some sort of a playoff run, they are going to need some production outside of the big man in the middle, especially if their defense can’t hold up. If this doesn’t happen, things could get ugly very fast in a lot of these games.

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