The 16-8 Bulls are off to a terrific start to the season, led by strong play from stars Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan. Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic writes that they looked like the best tandem in the league in road wins over the two New York teams on Nov. 2 and 4. DeRozan says the two players are relentless in their pursuit of success.
“A commitment that we talked about long before we even played on the court was just having each other’s back, being there for one another,” DeRozan said. “That’s all I needed to hear. That’s all he needed to hear from me. As long as we could walk, we’re going to be out there and try to lead this team to be as successful as we can.”
Here’s more from the Central Division:
- Within the same column, Mayberry notes that sign-and-trade acquisition Lonzo Ball has been inconsistent from game-to-game shooting from deep, but he doesn’t appear to lack confidence, which is key. Mayberry says the Bulls need the threat of Lonzo’s shooting in order to space the floor for DeRozan and LaVine. Overall, Ball is shooting a career-high 42.3% from three on 7.0 attempts per game.
- Ricky Rubio was initially displeased when he found out he was traded to the Cavaliers last summer, but he’s played a key role in the team’s surprising start and is happy with how things have worked out, according to Joe Vardon and Kelsey Russo of The Athletic. “In the past, I would get traded and get frustrated, like, ‘Oh I have to start over again in my role,'” Rubio said. “And I was frustrated because of my ego. But when you set your ego aside and you just make the best of the role that you have and take advantage of that, there’s no better thing to do on a team than everybody accepting what they have to do.”
- Fourth-year guard Donte DiVincenzo is nearing a return for the Bucks, per Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link). DiVincenzo has been assigned to the Wisconsin Herd, Milwaukee’s G League affiliate, and Charania says DiVincenzo could make his season debut in December. He’s been recovering from left ankle surgery. DiVincenzo will be a restricted free agent this summer if the Bucks tender him a qualifying offer.
What kind of fools complain about a guy’s consistency in shooting 3s when he’s over 40% overall?
It’s like complaining your wife has some days she doesn’t look so hot when generally she’s just a beautiful model. So there are bad days. Boo hoo.
So what you’re telling me is that you’d smash Lonzo Ball?
Just like Rudy, he’s gay for ball
Inconsistent game to game is a true statement dude, Lonzo has been a phenomenal addition but I’m sure even he would say he can be inconsistent game to game on 3ptr results, like when your wife looks hot one day and then looks like a gremlin the next because she can morph into different fictional species
Exactly my girlfriend is only hot 28 days a month
Yeah, I was expecting them to say he was shooting like in the low 30’s from deep or something. Although, overall, if he’s averaging 2/5 each night from 3, then that’s exactly what the Bulls could hope for and need.
I mean, at the same time, you can be shooting 40% and be inconsistent from one game to the next, and that’s probably what the article is alluding to would be ky best guess. If he’s going 0-5 one game and then 4-5 the next, he’s still shooting 40%, but he’s inconsistent from one night to the next..
If you look at his stats that is the case. He had a 7/7 night I believe. But he does have those 1/7 0/5 nights. Takes nothing away from his impact. He plays D rebounds, distributes, and is simply a smart basketball player.
Yes, that’s exactly what Mayberry is talking about. Check out his game log. Over the past six games, for example, Lonzo averaged 42.6% from three, but he was over well over 50% in three games, and below 30% in the three others. Only four out of 24 games has he shot in the 40-50% range, even though he’s shooting 42.3% overall. Still a great percentage, he’s just been pretty feast or famine.
Look at who was defending him on each of those nights, mystery solved.
I would love a 42% from three guy on my team inconsistent or not.
I would take 45% during sex.
I truly have a lot of respect for Ball. He was a horrible shooter from the FT line and 3pt range but he’s kept working at it and has basically improved each and almost every year. Ben Simmons can learn a few things from him.
I still confusing why ben didnt learn it. Lonzo can do it,valanciunas can do it, ben could do it too..