The Bulls looked like the best team in the East when Lonzo Ball ran the show in Chi-Town. The Bulls were 22-13 in the games he played. Chicago posted a 27-13 record and was the best team in the Eastern Conference when Lonzo got hurt.
According to Bulls' starting center Nikola Vucevic , Ball was clearly the main catalyst for the Bulls. With his ability to push the pace with his speed dribble and capability to space the floor with his three-point shooting, he elevated the Bulls on offense. Defensively, he and Alex Caruso were a menace to NBA backcourts.
"He brought us all together, sped up the game, meant a lot on defense, guarding the best players with Caruso. Although his numbers might not have been impressive, he meant a lot to us," said Vucevic.
The Bulls had the East's best record when Zo got hurt
In 35 games with the Bulls, Lonzo averaged 13.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. But as Vooch said, his value went beyond the stats he produced.
The five-man lineup of Zo, Caruso, DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Vucevic was the second-most used Bulls quintet when Lonzo was healthy. That quintet played in a total of 95:24 minutes together and were an impressive +11.2 in points per 100 possessions. Meanwhile, the Bulls' defense was 7.8 points better when he was on the court. Things went downhill when he got hurt.
"We tried with young players, and then we had numerous injuries," added Vucevic. "Trade talks also affected us, preventing us from achieving the results we thought we could, but when results don't follow, changes come. DeRozan left, Caruso left, the team got younger, and they wanted to go in a different direction."
The Bulls are a different team now
It's been two-and-a-half years since Lonzo last played. During that period, the Bulls have posted a record of 98-108, including 39-43 last season. They missed the playoffs during the previous two seasons, finishing as the East's 9th seed both years. But there's good news. Ball is back to playing 5-on-5 on the court and recently declared that he will be back next season .
However, he will return to a different team as Chicago lost both DeRozan and Caruso this offseason while acquiring Chris Duarte and Josh Giddey, plus draft picks. The Bulls also drafted G League Ignite star Matas Buzelis with the 11th pick of the 2024 NBA Draft.
As Vucevic said, it remains to be seen how the team's decision to go young will play out, but the next season will be crucial for the current core. While LaVine still has two years and an option left in his contract, Vooch has two more. Meanwhile, Zo will be playing in the final year of his deal.
Related: "I'm the best point guard in the league" - Lonzo Ball on his pre-injury performances with the Bulls
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