CHICAGO (670 The Score) – As the Bulls' offense has languished as the 23rd-ranked unit in the NBA, one of the factors contributing to their struggles has been center Nikola Vucevic's 3-point shooting woes.
Vucevic is shooting 27.0% from long range on 4.0 attempts per game, which represents a healthy volume for a big man. That 27.0% mark ranks dead last in the NBA among the 195 players who have attempted at least 100 3-pointers this season. In other words, Vucevic shooting from deep has been one of the least efficient shots in the entire NBA this season.
For some players and teams, such a poor shooting figure might be a reason to scale back the volume or make an adjustment in strategy, but that doesn't appear to be the Bulls' plan.
"If he's open from three, we want him taking those shots," coach Billy Donovan said.
Donovan made that comment late Tuesday after the Bulls suffered a 118-107 loss to the Raptors at the United Center. Vucevic's 3-point shooting wasn't a detriment on this evening, as he shot 2-of-5 from behind the arc, but the Bulls' offense was certainly a problem.
Trailing 90-89 entering the final period, the Bulls scored just 18 points in the fourth quarter while shooting 5-of-14 and committing six turnovers. Star forward DeMar DeRozan had 13 of those points in the period, but he and the Bulls struggled once the Raptors sent more forceful double teams as the quarter wore on.
If he'd gotten good looks late, Vucevic wouldn't have shied away from taking them. Asked about his 3-point shooting woes, he remained steadfast that he needs to be aggressive.
"I'm getting good looks," Vucevic said. "I think on some of them, I rush them a little bit. I don't take my time getting settled. Some of them do look good and I feel like they're going in, but they're just not. Obviously, it's been frustrating for me not to make those. I know my teammates find me in great positions, and they would help us a lot. I just got to stick with it, continue to shoot it. It can turn around at any point. I feel like everywhere else, I've been playing really efficient and doing my thing. The 3-point shot is something that obviously would help me but especially the team if I can shoot it better, for sure."
Vucevic then responded "no, no" when asked if he has considered attempting fewer 3-pointers.
"I don't feel like I'm forcing it or anything," he said. "It's good looks from us playing, and I get those whether it's drive-and-kicks or pick-and-pops, trailers, whatever it is. They're shots that I've been taking since whenever I started shooting threes. So no, I just got to continue to shoot it when I'm open and stick with it, stay confident in them and hopefully it will turn around soon."
The 33-year-old Vucevic shot 34.9% from 3-point land on 4.2 attempts per game last season, and he's a 34.2% shooter from deep in his career.
"It would help us for sure if I could make more of those," he said. "First just offensively, our percentages would be better, we'd score more points. And then also things would just open up for us a little more if I'm able to make those, whether teams would stay a little more toward me or they'd help less. And then it would open up more stuff for guards to drive. It would also probably open more opportunities for me to drive – guys would run at me a little more. There's a lot that comes out of it. It's just, I've got to knock them down, that's all."
Cody Westerlund is an editor for 670TheScore.com and covers the Bulls. Follow him on Twitter @CodyWesterlund.
