Bulls bigs burdened: Markkanen wants to earn more minutes, Carter to take more shots

Not in either of his first two seasons as an NBA player. Not at Arizona before that. Not during his experience playing in international tournaments for his native Finland.

Never, people — that’s how long it has been since Lauri Markkanen was in a funk like the one he’s in now.

So many bad games, so little time.

“Probably [never] this much,” the 7-footer said Monday before the Bulls were kicked around by the Trail Blazers 117-94 at the United Center. “Obviously, we go through stuff as players, but when you play so often — already played, what, [18] games? — they come quick. I don’t think I’ve had this long of a stretch.”

And it isn’t just a three-point-shooting funk for Markkanen, although that’s clearly a huge part of his problems. His .283 three-point percentage — down from .361 last season — factors into everything from his drop in overall field-goal attempts (from 15.3 per game to 11.4) to his measly scoring (from 18.7 points to 13.6) and his shrinking minutes (from 32.3 to 29.5).

This has become a bit of an emotional funk, too. You know, a funk-funk.

“Basketball is always fun,” Markkanen said. “But, obviously, it’s more fun when you’re winning and playing better individually.”

Or as coach Jim Boylen put it, “He’s putting some pressure on himself.”

The pressure is mounting. Markkanen hit a season low in minutes in Friday’s loss to the Heat, then did it again in Saturday’s comeback win at the Hornets. He tied his career low with three points in the latter contest, the 15th time in 16 games since his 35-point season opener that he failed to reach 20 points.

“Once I start playing better, I think my minutes are going to go up,” Markkanen said.

He isn’t the only one of the Bulls’ core big men who’d like to see his role expand. There’s also Wendell Carter Jr., who’s certainly holding his own in his second season in the league — but who can’t seem to rely on ever really getting his mitts on the ball unless he goes and gets it himself.

In an offense built around three-pointers and drives to the rim, it stands to reason that Carter isn’t out there firing at will. But is being under double digits in shots in 12 of the team’s 18 games really cutting it?

Just last week, the 6-10, 270-pounder with powerful hands and a soft touch had games of three, six and seven shots.

“It’s definitely hard,” Carter said. “For me, just being human, the more the ball is in my hands, the more I feel like, OK, I’m a part of this team. I feel more assertive.

“But, at the same time, I’m a competitor, so no matter if I get three or 10 shots, I’m going to still play the same way.”

According to Boylen, Carter is being encouraged to shoot corner threes. If he has an open, uncontested midrange shot and has time to set his feet, he’s free to take it.

But if there’s truly a green light flashing for him, Carter doesn’t seem to see it. He is beginning to vocalize his desire to get more shots up, though, and believes it’s being received well.

“Everybody understands that [I’m] going to give us what we need on the defensive end, on the rebounding side,” he said. “They respect it. We’re all men at this level. They understand how I feel about it.”

Boylen isn’t up at night worrying about Carter’s lack of shots. The Markkanen situation is a much bigger, stinkier fish to fry.

“What I think is important is he stays with it,” Boylen said. “That’s what you do, you stay with it. Don’t let any doubt creep in about who you are or what you can do for the team, and keep your body language and emotions at a good level and keep grinding along.”