Zach Lavine: I'm tired of people talking S- about my defense

[UcanUwill]

Oh, and re the poll, I went Booker. His shooting, size and playmaking potential are all real. I don't think he'll get there, but it's possible. Call it 5-10%

Whereas I think Levine can become a plus starter and outplay his contract (as a best case) but he'll never be the man on a good team.

I think you are underrating Lavine. a year ago I would have said Booker > Lavine, and its not close, but Lavine was legit good last season.

[Rendei]

This dude's perception amongst league wide fans severely lags behind his actual ability. The guy is a star.

I mean, that's true among guys even on winning teams. Look at James Harden.

[3toheadmelo]

Based off what I’ve seen from preseason.... LaVine looks like he’s gonna have a better year than Booker

[bearadonisdna]

Based off what I’ve seen from preseason.... LaVine looks like he’s gonna have a better year than Booker

Its only preseason but he is at 55% fgs and 57% on 3’s.
The bulls were tanking the last 2 years so people ragging on his defense has been kind of lame.

[JN61]

Bulls need to trade him if he makes to all-star team this year, I feel. Make Markkanen clear number one and cash out on Lavine when he has high value.

[ChiCitySPORTS#1]

Looked good thus far. Will see if it carries over through the season

[The_Hater]

While some players definitely get pigeon holed as poor defenders early in their career and have trouble shaking that label after they improve, I’m not sure Lavine has a leg to stand on here. Both visually and statistically I haven’t seen much proof to support his ‘good defender’ claim and even his teams finish in the bottom 5-6 every season.

[BlazersBroncos]

If he can even play mediocre defense (IE 0 net d rating) then he is going to elevate to All Star status. I like the talk and confidence. He seems hungry and previously one of the bigger flags with him was a bit of 'coasting' due to his natural talents. He certainly has the natural talents to be a good defender, just needs the effort. Not likely that he has the gift of insane defensive awareness that just sorta comes easy to some guys (IE JJJ) but with more effort he can be passable.

[Infinite Llamas]

And Curry plays **** defense and nobody thinks twice because he has/had Iggy, Draymond and Klay in his team. Some bad defenders get a pass, some don’t. Maybe if the Bulls had a legit big man defender, people wouldn’t focus so much on LaVine

[mplsfonz23]

Lol... why you got to bring up book?

They had similar flaws and Book is another SG people are waiting on for a defensive improvement. (Same with Wiggins)

We’re waiting on everything with Wiggins.

Yeah, I wish Wiggins had Zach's heart and mentality. He could be a beast on the offense end. Guess we will see if he reverts back to the long two's or start to attack the rim again. And for heavens sake stop with the spin move. Gets stripped half the time.

But Zach, your D sucked, so people are going to talk sh*t.

[johanliebert]

i get surprised when any guard in the nba players defense i never understood why lavine is singled out.

[bearadonisdna]

They had similar flaws and Book is another SG people are waiting on for a defensive improvement. (Same with Wiggins)

We’re waiting on everything with Wiggins.

Yeah, I wish Wiggins had Zach's heart and mentality. He could be a beast on the offense end. Guess we will see if he reverts back to the long two's or start to attack the rim again. And for heavens sake stop with the spin move. Gets stripped half the time.

But Zach, your D sucked, so people are going to talk sh*t.

Well zach wasnt negative in bpm, neither was booker. Both on tanking teams.
Maybe both these guys are underrated for what they bring to The court.

[Crives]

Booker playing better D last night as he didn’t have to carry the entire suns offense .. hopefully more to
come

Read on Twitter

?s=21

[mplsfonz23]

We’re waiting on everything with Wiggins.

Yeah, I wish Wiggins had Zach's heart and mentality. He could be a beast on the offense end. Guess we will see if he reverts back to the long two's or start to attack the rim again. And for heavens sake stop with the spin move. Gets stripped half the time.

But Zach, your D sucked, so people are going to talk sh*t.

Well zach wasnt negative in bpm, neither was booker. Both on tanking teams.
Maybe both these guys are underrated for what they bring to The court.

Not a big Booker guy, like him, but just haven't seen him enough. Did see ZL and I don't think he is underrated, and that is because of his lack of D. EVERYBODY knows the boy can plat out score, and he makes dunking look easy. He still is one of my fav's in the NBA. And I make a point to get him in FBB.

Saw him shopping once early in the morning at Burlington, (day of Flip's funeral) and he took time out to take a pick with my son, and even gave a shout out to my daughter (by name) to her in a video. He did that twice. (Once after a game) She's 15 now and is a huge Bulls fan because of him. She literally cried when I told her he was traded.
Really cool down to earth dude.

[cool007]

People need to stop basing Bulls lack of success on Lavine's shoulders. Bulls were tanking and sat him at the last half of the season and the first half of the season he was playing with G-League players (Blakeney/Felicio/Payne/Regressed Dunn/Not a team player Parker/etc) with so many injuries and not to mention coaching change. Yet, he was still brilliant and played like a borderline all-star last year.

When he did have horses like Markkanen/Porter etc, Bulls were one of the better teams in the East in Feb/March. I can even say you put most of the so called all-stars in place of Lavine last year and the team record would have been very similar. So putting that on Lavine for lack of Bulls' success is totally unfair.

This is why if Bulls are healthy enough and with actual NBA roster, I really like Bulls' chances of making playoffs and Lavine making the all-star team.

[lijoge]

ugh. two players who don't make a difference
zach is an unlikeable personality, though.
i pick booker

LOL...what?

[NjtoBk201]

Lavine is my dark horse MVP candidate.

*insert perplexed Nick Young meme*

[mplsfonz23]

ugh. two players who don't make a difference
zach is an unlikeable personality, though.
i pick booker

LOL...what?

Lol......What?

What doesn't this person not like about him? He is a great person, and a smooth player. Never complains, plays hard when healthy, and is the poster boy for gym rat.
Some people just prefer players like Harden or Curry I guess.

Edit: 458 post and only 3 and 1's. Not that it matters, just shows he must only make negative post.

[gabri3l3]

Lol... why you got to bring up book?

They're the exact same player

lol no way ...book is in a whole another realm

[cool007]

Lol... why you got to bring up book?

They're the exact same player

lol no way ...book is in a whole another realm

Whole another realm? Wow!! Seriously, I wish people were more objective then subjective.