PORTLAND – There were more than a handful of excuses a few weeks ago.
And Bulls big man Lauri Markkanen was well-versed in them all.
New system, new teammates, sore oblique, needing the ball more to get into a rhythm, better communication … pick one, any one, and believe what you want.
Following a Sunday practice at Portland State University, however, Markkanen was out of the excuse game. The only place he wanted the blame to go was on the guy in the mirror.
“I can’t really say anything about [the system] at this point,’’ Markkanen said. “We’ve played a good amount of games now in this system already, so it should have come.’’
It hasn’t. Not even close.
Markkanen has not only been the biggest disappointment on his own roster, but maybe in the entire NBA. Through 20 games, the 7-footer was averaging 13.3 points and seven rebounds per game, while averaging 34.9 percent from the field and a dismal 28.2 percent from three-point range.
This from a player that averaged 18.7 point, nine rebounds per game last season, and along with Zach LaVine, was deemed one of the pillars the rebuild was being built on.
The biggest indictment of how bad things have been for Markkanen this season, though, has been late in close games. There have been a handful of instances so far in which coach Jim Boylen has opted to sit Markkanen for the likes of Ryan Arcidiacono and rookie Coby White.
No wonder Markkanen showed up an hour early to practice on Sunday, looking to get some extra work in.
“I believe he does,’’ Boylen said, when asked if he felt Markkanen has the make-up to get out of this slump. “I believe he has the make-up to overcome a difficult situation, some adversity. Again, I go back to the work. If you work I think you can fight through anything. You work and care, and I think he does care.
“I want him to handle in-game adversity better, move to the next play, put that one behind you, win the next play. Those are kind of the things we talk about.’’
More of those talks went on after the practice, as Boylen called Markkanen over to center court for a quick heart-to-heart.
A reminder that the three-pointer is falling in practice, has fallen the previous two seasons, and will start falling again.
Markkanen was a 36.2 percent three-point shooter as a rookie, and 36.1 percent last season. Those are the numbers the Bulls believe in when it comes to the versatile stretch-four.
“I’m not worried about my shot,’’ Markkanen said. “It’s going to come. It feels good and I’ve shot it well in practice, so I know I can do it. I just have to do it in the game. That’s not a concern for me, it’s going to fall. It’s more the overall play, obviously I put the highest pressure on myself, so I’m trying to reach that level and it’s been frustrating that I’m not getting there.
“At the same time, it works as motivation and keep pushing me to work hard.’’
Just in case, Boylen is always there to try and help in that motivation department.
I believe in his shooting,’’ Boylen said. “I believe in him as a player. He came here an hour early this morning, and got his workout in. Then he went through the full practice. So he’s doing what I think you have to do, which is work your way out of it, and I’m confident he will.’’
