Week 3 NBA Power Ranking – Debates over load management rule the week

Chicago Bulls

Offense: (101.9 ) – 26th
Defense: (106.5) –  15th
Net: (minus -4.6 ) – 24th

Record: 3-7
Games Week 3: (1-2) Win vs. Hawks, lost to Lakers, Rockets
Games Week 4 (3 games): Tuesday, Nov. 12 vs. Knicks | Thursday, Nov. 14 at Bucks | Saturday, Nov. 16 vs. Nets

Following up on last week’s insights on Lauri Markkanen‘s perplexing lack of touches this week offered further material.

In the game versus the Lakers, the Bulls were up by 19 and were leading by 13 entering the final frame. Boylen took Markkanen out of the game at the 6:00 minute mark of the third quarter and didn’t reinsert him until 8:53 of the fourth (Lakers by this point had pulled ahead 94-93).

He immediately grabs a defensive rebound and shortly after misses a 3-point attempt. It was his eighth shot in the game. By the time he checks out at 1:05, he hasn’t taken another shot. Granted he had a couple of turnovers but how does Boylen not call another play for him over the next seven minutes? Notably, Zach LaVine (18), rookie Coby White (15), Otto Porter (12) and Wendell Carter (9) all took more shots.

In the next game versus the Hawks, the forward takes 11 shots and LaVine takes 10.

The point is there are certain players who are marvelous athletes like LaVine who can shoot the lights out of the gym but does the team win when they do?

This, in my opinion, is something that falls on Boylen. Since he’s such a taskmaster he needs to ensure Markkanen’s consistency both in terms of his playing time and his touches.