Bulls, Nikola Vučević’s interior focus apparent in preseason

new balance

free keto book

Nikola Vučević’s interior focus apparent in preseason originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago

Nikola Vučević has opened his team’s scoring in each of the Chicago Bulls’ two 2022 preseason games thus far. And he has done so in an interesting fashion.

Trailing 6-0 against New Orleans, Vučević ran a side pick-and-roll with Zach LaVine that flowed into a catch on the left block; after backing down Jonas Valančiūnas with two dribbles, he feigned a pump with his left hand, then spun back right with the Pelicans center off balance, and finished a right-handed layup.

Less than a minute into Friday’s win over the Nuggets, and the Bulls trailing 2-0, Vučević and LaVine again found themselves on the same side of the floor. This time, LaVine caught the ball on the wing and entered a pass into Vučević, who was matched with Deandre Jordan in the post.

Catch. Turn. Three dribbles. Fall-away jumper. Splash.

Vučević went on to score 14 points on 6-for-8 shooting (2-for-4 from 3-point range) to go along with 7 rebounds and 4 assists in that game, building on a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double in the opener that featured similarly sharp shooting splits (6-for-10 from the field, 2-for-4 from deep).

While it would be foolish to read too much into preseason makes or misses, Vučević’s apparent comfort level speaks to the tweaks the Bulls plan to make to his usage when the games count.

See also  Draymond Green addresses mom's tweet, vows to 'figure it out' in Game 5

“I just try to play a little closer to the basket, be more involved within the offense where it’s not just outside the [3-point line],” Vučević said. “Just me trying to put more of an emphasis on me forcing my way to get to those spots a little more so it’s easier for me to play and get going, things like that.”

Vučević was candid on media day about feeling out of rhythm at the offensive end in 2021-22. In the process of adjusting to a new system, new teammates and new usage patterns, he said he often found himself floating on the perimeter and camping around the 3-point line, behind which he shot his lowest percentage (31.4) since 2017-18.

While Vučević’s 3-point attempt rate (.287) was on par with the standard he set in 2020-21 (.315) and 2019-20 (.280), it was clear to observers he was used differently in 2021-22 than in his best individual offensive seasons — mainly, by ratcheting up his pick-and-roll and pop opportunities while dialing back his post-ups (5.4 per game, his lowest since NBA.com began tracking in 2013-14 and nearly six less than his 11 per game in 2020-21).

See also  Donovan Mitchell joins ambitious Cavaliers after Knicks balk at parting with RJ Barrett, Quentin Grimes

The 3-point shot, Vučević often says, is a weapon he has developed throughout his career to make him a more versatile offensive threat. But it was never meant to be the primary tool in his kit.

“When I have an opportunity to get into the paint, whether it’s through cutting, or if I roll, seal, things like that, for sure I try to exploit that,” Vučević said. “It’s obviously my main strength playing close to the basket, back to the basket, is where I’m at my best. But also from the elbows and different areas where I can be effective, where my playmaking can come in and we do different things.”

Balance, in this respect, will be key. But not only would more often establishing Vučević’s interior presence help him settle into games — and make him a more comfortable outside shooter — it also stands to benefit the Bulls as a team.

Billy Donovan often points to his team’s low standing in paint touches — they ranked 29th with 18.2 paint touches per game in 2021-22 — as a symptom of a stagnant offense. When the Bulls puncture the painted area, their head coach maintains, it puts more pressure on defenses and can lead to efficient offense, from rim attempts to free-throw line trips to spray-outs for catch-and-shoot 3s.

See also  Denver Nuggets cruise past Miami Heat in Game 1 of NBA Finals

So this season, Donovan has emphasized his group establishing proper spacing on a possession-by-possession basis and clearing out the middle of the floor to open driving and cutting lanes.

That has been an adjustment for Vučević, who has throughout his career been mostly deployed in that middle “tunnel” area.

“But it gives us ways to use everyone, different looks, be a little more versatile so we’re not easy to guard,” Vučević said. “And I think that was the issue for us last year, it was kind of repetitive what we were doing. I think this way it gives us different actions, different ways of attacking, you put guys in different positions to give the defense different looks.”

That is, indeed, the mission statement of this season’s Bulls offense.

Even in a perceived down year, Vučević still averaged 17.6 points, 3.2 assists and converted the second-highest percentage of 2-point field goals (53.7) of his career in 2021-22. As a scorer, floor-spacer and facilitator, he is a plus for his position.

If the Bulls can concoct the right usage strategy for him in 2022-23, he has the potential to key plenty of improvement — for himself and the team — at the offensive end.

Click here to follow the Bulls Talk Podcast.

Download

Download MyTeams Today!

anti radiation

new balance


Source link

crypto quantum