Not-so-free throws for Zach LaVine: Bulls guard looks for respect

LaVine came into the game Monday against the Celtics feeling like NBA officials have been shy with the whistle on his forays to the rim, and the numbers back him up.

SHARE Not-so-free throws for Zach LaVine: Bulls guard looks for respect
Entering Monday’s game against the Celtics, the Bulls’ Zach LaVine was averaging 4.3 free throws, his lowest total since the 2016-17 season with the Timberwolves.

Entering Monday’s game against the Celtics, the Bulls’ Zach LaVine was averaging 4.3 free throws, his lowest total since the 2016-17 season with the Timberwolves.

John Raoux/AP

BOSTON — Guard Zach LaVine is way more businessman than salesman when it comes to the free-throw line.

He has been trying to figure out how to change that but still finds himself looking for a little respect.

LaVine seemingly has never been given the benefit of the doubt by NBA officials when it comes to attacking the rim and drawing fouls.

With two All-Star appearances on his résumé and a max contract in the bank, he was figuring that situation could change a bit coming into the season. It hasn’t. If anything, it has gotten worse.

“I don’t know,’’ LaVine said. “I keep attacking; I try to at least. It’s not like I’m not going to the hole and trying to get contact. It’s frustrating. I try to play through it.’’

Entering the game against the Celtics on Monday, he was averaging 4.3 free throws, his lowest total since the 2016-17 season with the Timberwolves.

“Maybe I have to learn how to sell it a little better,’’ LaVine said. “I’ve never been good about selling it to get calls. I try to get the and-one. I’ll keep fighting through it. If not, there are other ways to combat it and get to the line. I’ll figure it out.’’

For someone who has made attacking the rim a big part of his game, LaVine makes a good point about the lack of whistles. His best season for getting to the free-throw line was 2018-19, when he averaged six attempts per game.

To put that in perspective, teammate DeMar DeRozan, who attacks midrange in the paint and has elite footwork, was averaging 8.2 free throws and has been below six free throws per game only once in the last decade.

Crash Caruso

Alex Caruso was back in the rotation after recovering from an ankle sprain that cost him two games.

It has been a strange last month for the Bulls’ best wing defender. He missed six of the previous 15 games with different ailments but watched his teammates go 4-2 in his absence.

Still, coach Billy Donovan knows the Bulls are a better team with a healthy Caruso. The problem is how to keep him healthy. Monitoring his minutes remains the most logical answer.

“One of the things that we had talked about at the end of last year was his availability,’’ Donovan said. “He brought it up when he and I talked about it [in the exit interview]. Even talking to him, throughout his career, he hasn’t really played as many minutes as he’s played for us.

“But I also think with the way he plays and how hard he plays, there are certain guys, I think just the way they are, who can absorb 36 [minutes] night after night. I’m not saying Alex can’t endure it; he just hasn’t been asked to do that through a good portion of his career.’’

Green update

Javonte Green remained sidelined with a sore right knee, and the team is waiting to see how he recovers after the therapy he has been undergoing with trainers.

“They want to basically continue to do treatment on him and just see where he is after a week or so,’’ Donovan said. “I think he’s still having some discomfort. See where it goes from there.’’

Green has missed 13 games because of the knee issue.

The Latest
Fans, some in costume, tailgate in the parking lots of Guaranteed Rate Field hours before the White Sox and Detroit Tigers kick off the 2024 seasons Thursday afternoon. Some weigh in on the proposed South Loop stadium.
Two weeks after the migrant eviction policy went into effect in Chicago, members of the Council’s Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights said not enough information on migrants exiting the shelter system has been provided.
Zoo officials were tipped off something was wrong after Bana stopped eating as much as she regularly did and appeared lethargic.
Mayor Brandon Johnson did not commit to spending a specific amount of public money to lakefront infrastructure improvements, but vowed that whatever public money is invested, it must be committed to creating more housing and jobs and “a sustainable, clean economy.”