Lauri:' I can make the comeback'

[Indomitable]

The solution for Lauri is pretty obvious. It was the same solution for McDermott who has now become a decent player on a playoff team.

Drop the charade of Lauri being some sort of versatile scorer. He doesn't have the talent for that.

His entire game should revolve around bombing 3's. He has no other meaningful gift offensively.

Have him watch Bertans and Duncan Robinson tape. That's his only path to being a plus player.

Both of those guys are smarter and better shooters. He has the worst defensive instincts on the team and people believe he deserves another contract.

Trade him for a man with some fire.

[Clocian]

The solution for Lauri is pretty obvious. It was the same solution for McDermott who has now become a decent player on a playoff team.

Drop the charade of Lauri being some sort of versatile scorer. He doesn't have the talent for that.

His entire game should revolve around bombing 3's. He has no other meaningful gift offensively.

Have him watch Bertans and Duncan Robinson tape. That's his only path to being a plus player.

Both of those guys are smarter and better shooters. He has the worst defensive instincts on the team and people believe he deserves another contract.

Trade him for a man with some fire.

Nah, we need to trade Zach, and build around him. Lauri is only sucking because he's holding him back

[JimmyJammer]

Lauri is who he is, a streaky shooter who can occasionally drive to the basket. He is also soft, with a lack of awareness on defense. I wonder Who we are going to blame for this? Donovan? Zach?

[coldfish]

In the two games now, Lauri is actually *trying* to help on defense. The dynamic has been interesting. He is really bad at it and his late and weak rotations are pretty obvious. Its ironic that he is actually catching more flak for his defense as a result and I think its because in the past, he wouldn't even try so many fans didn't realize he was supposed to be helping.

Kudos to Donovan for pushing Lauri.

Overall, Lauri does not look good. He has always been streaky as hell. It used to be that people gave him excuses for his bad streaks but that might be changing. Last night in particular, he was rushing his shot and it screws with his mechanics.

If he ever got into a playoff series and had an opponent gameplanning for him, he would be in trouble. Smaller defenders really get in his head.

Before, I was OK with the Bulls giving him a small extension but if this continues I wouldn't want him at all.

[fleet]

The weird thing for me about Lauri is that he becomes less athletic and more stiff looking every season to my eyeballs. Less decisive and less IQed too. Perhaps a case of not seeing him in the proper light or something. Or his body is deteriorating. A couple years ago he was looking really good, and then came word about various injuries like the back thing. I don’t know man.

[Indomitable]

In the two games now, Lauri is actually *trying* to help on defense. The dynamic has been interesting. He is really bad at it and his late and weak rotations are pretty obvious. Its ironic that he is actually catching more flak for his defense as a result and I think its because in the past, he wouldn't even try so many fans didn't realize he was supposed to be helping.

Kudos to Donovan for pushing Lauri.

Overall, Lauri does not look good. He has always been streaky as hell. It used to be that people gave him excuses for his bad streaks but that might be changing. Last night in particular, he was rushing his shot and it screws with his mechanics.

If he ever got into a playoff series and had an opponent gameplanning for him, he would be in trouble. Smaller defenders really get in his head.

Before, I was OK with the Bulls giving him a small extension but if this continues I wouldn't want him at all.

I always pointed it out.

[Indomitable]

The weird thing for me about Lauri is that he becomes less athletic and more stiff looking every season to my eyeballs. Less decisive and less IQed too. Perhaps a case of not seeing him in the proper light or something. Or his body is deteriorating. A couple years ago he was looking really good, and then came word about various injuries like the back thing. I don’t know man.

It was always overhyped. He still does decent in space against guards. He never helped on D. He was never much of a team defender.

He had vets like Robin who help mask it. Carter does sometime.

[sco]

Some really good points raised:

1) Is he, should he be mainly a stretch 4? IMO, there are 3 types of PF's - Traditional post guys (Taj), Stretch 4's (Bertans), and Playmaking 4's (Giannis). I think we've tried him in all 3 roles over the years and he lacks the post skills to be the first, he lacks the ball handling skills in the half-court to be the last, so that leaves his best use as a stretch 4. Now they are not mutually exclusive, but I think his best use is making 3's (the most valuable shot today), but he can still become more effective in that role.

2) How can he adjust to shooting over wings? I think this is the key to his success/failure and it's a mental/practice thing because his shot is quick enough that it isn't getting blocked. Also, going from our second option guy to our 3rd/4th option should reduce the number of times he's guarded by wings on the perimeter this season.

3) Is he a bad defender? Yes, but I think it is more about looking slow in a new system, his feet move well. Awareness will improve as he gets comfortable in the new system.

[coldfish]

In the two games now, Lauri is actually *trying* to help on defense. The dynamic has been interesting. He is really bad at it and his late and weak rotations are pretty obvious. Its ironic that he is actually catching more flak for his defense as a result and I think its because in the past, he wouldn't even try so many fans didn't realize he was supposed to be helping.

Kudos to Donovan for pushing Lauri.

Overall, Lauri does not look good. He has always been streaky as hell. It used to be that people gave him excuses for his bad streaks but that might be changing. Last night in particular, he was rushing his shot and it screws with his mechanics.

If he ever got into a playoff series and had an opponent gameplanning for him, he would be in trouble. Smaller defenders really get in his head.

Before, I was OK with the Bulls giving him a small extension but if this continues I wouldn't want him at all.

I alwaye pointed it out.

There were a lot of people saying that Lauri's defense was fine or even good in the past. I have been surprised by the number of people commenting on his terrible help defense this year and I don't know why its more vocal this year. The thing that struck me is that he actually has tried to do it some this year and that may have caused people to realize that he was supposed to.

[Indomitable]

In the two games now, Lauri is actually *trying* to help on defense. The dynamic has been interesting. He is really bad at it and his late and weak rotations are pretty obvious. Its ironic that he is actually catching more flak for his defense as a result and I think its because in the past, he wouldn't even try so many fans didn't realize he was supposed to be helping.

Kudos to Donovan for pushing Lauri.

Overall, Lauri does not look good. He has always been streaky as hell. It used to be that people gave him excuses for his bad streaks but that might be changing. Last night in particular, he was rushing his shot and it screws with his mechanics.

If he ever got into a playoff series and had an opponent gameplanning for him, he would be in trouble. Smaller defenders really get in his head.

Before, I was OK with the Bulls giving him a small extension but if this continues I wouldn't want him at all.

I alwaye pointed it out.

There were a lot of people saying that Lauri's defense was fine or even good in the past. I have been surprised by the number of people commenting on his terrible help defense this year and I don't know why its more vocal this year. The thing that struck me is that he actually has tried to do it some this year and that may have caused people to realize that he was supposed to.

Some people have reached the acceptance stage for Lauri. People once spoke about him as if he was special. I always saw Ryan Anderson light. For the right price he could be part of a good team but he is a very flawed player. This acting like he is a core player is a joke.

[Leslie Forman]

There were a lot of people saying that Lauri's defense was fine or even good in the past. I have been surprised by the number of people commenting on his terrible help defense this year and I don't know why its more vocal this year. The thing that struck me is that he actually has tried to do it some this year and that may have caused people to realize that he was supposed to.

His arc here has basically been the Andrew Wiggins-in-Minnesota arc.

Given a big minute role immediately, allowed to take a ton of shots, put up superficially impressive counting stats, and all his gigantic, glaring flaws glossed over. Then some big ol' meanie (Thibs/Jimmy) comes in and just destroys all his confidence/mojo/whatever ambiguous meaningless term, and it's all their (Boylen's) fault.

Nope, he actually just always stunk.

[R3AL1TY]

Lauri's main concern to me is still his health. When he gets these nagging injuries where he is leaving games early or missing weeks, he can never string together a series of good games like when he was healthy. He gets stuck in working his way back up. But at least he's not just settling for 3s so far.

[coldfish]

There were a lot of people saying that Lauri's defense was fine or even good in the past. I have been surprised by the number of people commenting on his terrible help defense this year and I don't know why its more vocal this year. The thing that struck me is that he actually has tried to do it some this year and that may have caused people to realize that he was supposed to.

His arc here has basically been the Andrew Wiggins-in-Minnesota arc.

Given a big minute role immediately, allowed to take a ton of shots, put up superficially impressive counting stats, and all his gigantic, glaring flaws glossed over. Then some big ol' meanie (Thibs/Jimmy) comes in and just destroys all his confidence/mojo/whatever ambiguous meaningless term, and it's all their (Boylen's) fault.

Nope, he actually just always stunk.

Unfortunately, he is a streaky scorer and that's one of the toughest things for fans to digest in a young player. Its automatic that people wonder "if he could just play at his peak all the time, he would be a superstar!!!"

So, Lauri has had good games. He has been "good". Lots of young players do that though. In order to be a positive net player you need to have something else in your game that allows you to contribute even when your shot is off and he doesn't have it. Its early but right now, it sure doesn't look like he added it in his long offseason.

[bullsnewdynasty]

I would absolutely be on board with pumping up Lauri's trade value early in the year and getting a young asset from another team still transfixed by his potential.

Because potential is only there for so long before players are what they are. And Lauri is getting pretty close to that point. Not going to risk him getting some ridiculous contract and having to let him walk. PF is one of the deepest positions in the league, it's not like we can't find another 16/8 guy who can shoot 35% from 3.

At least Ryan Anderson was hitting high volume and percentage from 3. For a "shooter" Lauri is not close to being consistent enough to have that reputation.

[Kukoc-Lauri]

Main problem for Lauri he is playing with awful playmakers. Give him ball in transition, while he is cutting, on move, involved him frequently to get in the flow of a game, recognize mismatch. He is shooter, but he dont see ball for 5 minutes, than he is rushing his shot, because White and Lavine stuck their head in floor and playing one on one or one on five. I understand Zach, because he is hitting more than he misses, but he have a little feel for passing, while with White he is just not good passer. Lavine is almost finished product, but in my opinion PWill and Lauri only have star potential in this roster. I am pretty sure if Markkanen played with Doncic or James as pg he would become 20 point scorer.

[PlayerUp]

Should have sold him on draft day.

[Dez]

Main problem for Lauri he is playing with awful playmakers. Give him ball in transition, while he is cutting, on move, involved him frequently to get in the flow of a game, recognize mismatch. He is shooter, but he dont see ball for 5 minutes, than he is rushing his shot, because White and Lavine stuck their head in floor and playing one on one or one on five. I understand Zach, because he is hitting more than he misses, but he have a little feel for passing, while with White he is just not good passer. Lavine is almost finished product, but in my opinion PWill and Lauri only have star potential in this roster. I am pretty sure if Markkanen played with Doncic or James as pg he would become 20 point scorer.

People need to stop blaming Lauri’s problems on everyone else, put the blame on him for a change.

Lauri does not have anything close to star potential, to date he's shown he is an average at best shooter who can't do anything else.

[Leslie Forman]

Unfortunately, he is a streaky scorer and that's one of the toughest things for fans to digest in a young player. Its automatic that people wonder "if he could just play at his peak all the time, he would be a superstar!!!"

So, Lauri has had good games. He has been "good". Lots of young players do that though. In order to be a positive net player you need to have something else in your game that allows you to contribute even when your shot is off and he doesn't have it. Its early but right now, it sure doesn't look like he added it in his long offseason.

And let's not forget that everyone eventually gets scouted out. If you don't constantly add new wrinkles to your game, or drastically improve the skills you already have, you will become a worse player simply by being the same player. Simply not improving at a pace higher than the league's understanding of how to play against you is the same as regressing.

Lauri, as bad as he has been, isn't even the worst culprit. Brandon Jennings, of course, had his greatest ever performance in his seventh game. Michael Carter-Williams had his greatest performance in literally his first ever game.

I would absolutely be on board with pumping up Lauri's trade value early in the year and getting a young asset from another team still transfixed by his potential.

Most likely, all another couple months is going to do is expose his awful defense and lack of overall skills even more.

The league has sussed him, and players like him, out. Ryan Anderson is only 32 and completely out of the league now.

[D_GoLow]

He is a different player without Lavine

[RedBulls23]

In the two games now, Lauri is actually *trying* to help on defense. The dynamic has been interesting. He is really bad at it and his late and weak rotations are pretty obvious. Its ironic that he is actually catching more flak for his defense as a result and I think its because in the past, he wouldn't even try so many fans didn't realize he was supposed to be helping.

Kudos to Donovan for pushing Lauri.

Overall, Lauri does not look good. He has always been streaky as hell. It used to be that people gave him excuses for his bad streaks but that might be changing. Last night in particular, he was rushing his shot and it screws with his mechanics.

If he ever got into a playoff series and had an opponent gameplanning for him, he would be in trouble. Smaller defenders really get in his head.

Before, I was OK with the Bulls giving him a small extension but if this continues I wouldn't want him at all.

People excused bad defense his rookie season because most rookies tend to struggle how to play defense on this level (which makes Pat Wills defensive instincts that much more impressive early on, though we'll see how he does once games speed up in the regular season), but last year you saw how poor his awareness was regardless of effort or not.

Offensively he's a center, but he's bad defensively overall and he has it stuck in his head that he's a multifaceted offensive player. Someone mentioned how he needs to stop acting like Doug early on thinking he can be what he was in college (and for Lauri on the Finnish team too) and figure out how to really improve his shooting.