Mayberryn kausiennakosta Laurin osuus( kappalejakoja tiivistetty):
What is the plan to unlock Lauri Markkanen?
Media week, as the league is categorizing Tuesday-Saturday, would be a massive success in Chicago if Markkanen just came clean about his disappointing 2019-20 season. We all know he regressed. Nobody seems to know why. Maybe it was nagging injuries that plagued him more than anyone knew. It could have been coaching, or play calling, or teammates, or Markkanen himself. Maybe it was a mixture.All we know is Markkanen went from playing like a budding All-Star in February 2019 to a former lottery pick who looked like he might not get a second contract in Chicago only one year later.
Markkanen has vowed to bounce back, and his occasional glimpses of dominance keep you believing he will. Now in his fourth season, it’s up to him to show it. He’s running out of time. Believers are running short on excuses.
If Markkanen doesn’t begin to fulfill his promise this season, what more would be left to say? He’s healthy and, for the first time, has a proven head coach. The Bulls are under new management, LaVine is the clear No. 1 option and there is no playoff expectation. All that’s missing is a marquee point guard who can get Markkanen and others going. But Markkanen also has motivation, not just to bounce back from last season but also to play his way into a payday. He’s eligible to sign a rookie extension until Dec. 21. Given his erratic first three seasons, it would be a surprise to see the Bulls get a deal done before the deadline. There’s just too much uncertainty over who Markkanen is and who he will become.
Enter Donovan.
From Serge Ibaka and Jerami Grant to Danilo Gallinari and Darius Bazley, Donovan has worked well with 4-men, developing them or diagraming sets conducive to their success. It will be fascinating watching Donovan design sets for Markkanen, who was used primarily as a spot-up shooter last season.Markkanen, unlike LaVine, could stand to see an increased workload. Donovan certainly will love Markkanen’s unselfish nature and insistence on making the right read and proper play. But what will Donovan do about Markkanen’s minutes and usage rate, both of which dipped to his rookie levels? How will Donovan coax Markkanen into becoming more assertive and consistent?For the Bulls, these questions and more could linger as the biggest they face this season. In Markkanen, Chicago has either a budding star or a nice, slightly above-average piece.