It was a four-game preseason showcase that didn’t exactly scream “climb to stardom!’’
Heck, Lauri Markkanen’s exhibition play didn’t even whisper that phrase.
Considering the Bulls are counting on the forward to reach elite status in order for the rebuild to actually have some traction toward a deep playoff run, yeah, there should be some concerns. Specifically, why does a 7-footer still disappear so easily on the floor?
Instead, coach Jim Boylen is taking a less reactionary stance. More of let’s wait until “the lights really come on.’’
“I thought he had some good moments,’’ coach Jim Boylen said about Markkanen’s preseason. “I don’t always talk to him about his offense, to be honest with you. I talk to him about defending and rebounding and handling the ball. I’ve shown him some of his decisions in transition when he’s handled the ball, so we’ve worked on that.
“I want him to compete at the defensive end, rebound the ball, handle the ball, and everything else to me takes care of itself. I know he’s going to make shots. He’s historically been better when the lights really come on.’’
They come on Wednesday, and Boylen is counting on Markkanen shining with them.
The good news is that Markkanen has previously only played in Charlotte once because of past injuries, but what a game it was. It came last February, where Markkanen put in 33 minutes of work, and scored 30 points with nine rebounds.
A bit of a different look than the 11.3 points and 8.3 rebounds per game that Markkanen averaged this preseason.
Not that he didn’t have a few moments the last few weeks, but not real memorable ones.
In his preseason debut against Milwaukee, Markkanen did score 14 points and grab five rebounds in just 23 minutes of work, and followed that up with a 12-point, four-rebound performance against New Orleans. Boylen sat his starters in the game against Indiana, but Markkanen was back in last week in Toronto, scoring 15 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in what was his most impressive game of the preseason.
Then came the game against Atlanta, in which Markkanen played 23 minutes, shot 2-for-8 from the field, including 0-for-6 from three-point range, and finished with four points in the exhibition finale.
Yes, 11 rebounds were nice in that win over the Hawks, but there are still too many stints when Markkanen and Zach LaVine don’t mesh offensively like the Bulls have been looking for.
Like Boylen, Markkanen seemed very comfortable with checking boxes on a specific priority list throughout this camp, and scoring the ball wasn’t real high on it.
“Obviously, I didn’t forget about working on basketball stuff [this offseason],’’ Markkanen said. “I was just trying to focus on my body. Just like Zach, my goal is to play all 82 games and be available every night. So that’s a big goal for me. I’m trying to become a two-way player, work on my defense because I think that’s the key to success – have multiple guys who do it on both ends.’’
What Boylen wants to see from Markkanen on the offensive end is rebounds and then push the ball up the floor. The rest will work itself out, and do so sooner than later as far as the coach was concerned.
“We are working our way through that to where [Markkanen] finds his opportunities,’’ Boylen said, “but I think it’s going to be an adjustment period.’’
The Bulls better hope it’s a quick one.
