Just after beating the Bucks, the bull was instantly hit by his opponent. In Game 3 of the NBA's first round of the playoffs, the Bulls' 81-111 home defeat was missing Middleton's Bucks, and bulls shooting guard LaVine's performance was once again mediocre.
On the field, LaVine played 31 minutes, shooting 6-of-13 and 2-of-4 from three-point range for 15 points, five rebounds and five assists. In a game of 30 points, LaVine, who played more than 30 minutes, obviously did not help the team to win, let alone win. The mediocre performance also makes his plus-minus -22.
In fact, Lavine's overall performance so far in this series has not been good. In three games, he averaged 37 minutes per game, averaging only 17.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game, shooting only 42.2%. Compared with the regular season average of 24.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 35 minutes per game, shooting 47.6% of the performance, LaVine's performance in the playoffs has declined significantly.
It was the first playoff game of LaVine's career, and his playoff experience was indeed lacking, but that didn't make for his sluggish play. After all, he is now a two-time All-Star, and he has been selected last season and this season, and is no longer just a dunk king.
More critically, the playoffs are often the best opportunity for players whose contracts are about to expire to compete for big contracts. If they can play better in the playoffs, players who have not yet received the contract of their choice obviously have more opportunities to fight for big contracts.
Like Lavin. Before the start of the season, he had hoped to sign a maximum salary with the Bulls, but in the end he did not get his wish. To that end, playoffs this season have become critical for him, but now, LaVine's performance is so mediocre, the five-year, $200 million or more top salary contract he craves has become very dangling, even if he chooses agents like James and Davis, Rich Paul.
Last season, LaVine did prove himself further, averaging a career-high 27.4 points, 5 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game, making him an All-Star for the first time in his career. But perhaps because the Bulls didn't make the playoffs, LaVine's performance needs more testing. For this reason, the Bulls did not renew his contract in advance.
After the Bulls introduced DeRozan this season, Lavin has largely been overshadowed by DeRozan. In the regular season, when DeRozan continued to storm, LaVine also began to be ignored by the outside world. At present, Lavine's performance is so mediocre, with only 20 points in three games or even a single game, and it is difficult for Lavine to win a top salary contract, especially in a team like the Bulls, which has never been generous in terms of prices.