The 2018-19 Chicago Bulls are off to a rocky 1-3 start. The team’s defense is the NBA’s second-worst and they have been hit hard by the injury bug. Entering the season, the Bulls looked like they had a very outside shot at sneaking into the playoffs. However, recent results have quickly muted those possibilities. The only consistent bright spot so far has been the play of guard Zach LaVine.

This is the first year of his four-year, $78 million contract, and he has been hot out of the gate. LaVine has kicked off the 2018-19 campaign by scoring at least 30 points in each of his team’s first four games. This puts him in rarefied air: only 16 other players in NBA history have accomplished this feat. Michael Jordan is the only other Bull to do it, pulling it off at the beginning of the 1986-87 season.

So far, LaVine is averaging 32.3 points per game, third-most in the NBA. He has netted those points with a raw field goal percentage of 57.1 percent, tied for sixth-highest among leaderboard-qualifying guards. His 44 made field goals are the eighth-most by a player in the association.

Let’s take a look at BBall Index’s Created Points Over Expectation stat to give numerical context to Zach LaVine’s phenomenal start. cPOE is a stat that looks at how many points a player has scored compared to the average player. It accomplishes this by weighing a player at a given position or role against Synergy Sports playtype data. From there, we see if the player is producing in accordance with players similar to him in profile.

So far this season, LaVine (who rightfully fits the offensive role of a “creator”) has created 30.5 Points Over Expectation. That averages out to 7.6 points over expectation per game, a number that sets him in the 99th percentile of the entire league. Breaking down how he created those points on his 44 made field goals gives a better understanding of the magic behind Zach LaVine’s hot start.

LaVine has created positive points over expectations in six offensive playtypes. He is most prolific in the pick-and-roll game, creating 20.7 points over expectation as the ball-handler in such setups. That’s the second-most in the league in that playtype, trailing only Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker‘s 27.6 cPOE.

While most of his points come off of screens, LaVine has also produced 5.0 cPOE on Isolation plays. He has only posted up four times this season, but has still managed to come up with 4.7 cPOE on those plays. LaVine has also contributed 1.5 cPOE on cuts, 1.4 cPOE on handoffs, 0.6 cPOE in transition, and broke even on off-screen plays.

How does Zach LaVine do it? Basically, it comes down to his quick first step. In pick-and-rolls and isolations, he only needs one sizeup stride and he’s gone. In most cases, it’s over once he gets downhill. Opponents rarely have the lateral quickness to cut him off, and he isn’t afraid to draw contact once he gets to the rim.

powered by Advanced iFrame free. Get the Pro version on CodeCanyon.

However, LaVine still has something for those that can get in front of him. He possesses an arsenal of off-the-dribble moves and can change direction on a dime in order to get around his opponent.

powered by Advanced iFrame free. Get the Pro version on CodeCanyon.

powered by Advanced iFrame free. Get the Pro version on CodeCanyon.

It’s almost a little surprising that LaVine still has so much athleticism even after a torn ACL. One would expect such a player to be much more conservative with his offensive game. Instead, LaVine returned from his injury and picked up where he left off. That was evident even in the 24 games he played last year.

LaVine isn’t just a slasher, either. He is confident enough to shoot from anywhere. Though he’s more than capable of creating space for himself, he doesn’t always need it to get his shot off. Finally, when defenses think that have caught on to him, he has just enough passing ability to keeps opponents honest.

Zach LaVine has gotten off to an amazing start for the Chicago Bulls this season. That’s apparent in both the advanced numbers and with the human eye. He wants to become a star in the NBA, and this high-scoring outburst puts him on the right path. With so many injuries on the roster, Bulls fans are likely about to endure some tough times. Luckily, Zach LaVine’s ascendance serves as a beacon of hope and a great reason to keep watching.